Imaging device and accessory

Abstract

This imaging device, to which an accessory having a plurality of first electrical contacts can be attached and detached, comprises: a plurality of second electrical contacts that respectively contact the plurality of first electrical contacts; and a control unit that controls the transmission and reception of data between the imaging device and the accessory, wherein the plurality of second electrical contacts include a plurality of third electrical contacts for transmitting and receiving data to and from the accessory according to a first communication method, the control unit transmits and receives data to and from the accessory according to the first communication method via the plurality of third electrical contacts when the accessory is a specified accessory, and transmits and receives data to and from the accessory according to a second communication method via the plurality of third electrical contacts when the accessory is an accessory other than the specified accessory.

Description

Imaging Equipment and Accessories

[0001] This invention relates to imaging devices and accessories.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Imaging devices having an accessory shoe to which a camera accessory such as a flash device can be attached and detached are known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-144998).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-180914

[0004] According to a first aspect, an imaging device is an imaging device to which an accessory having a plurality of first electrical contacts can be attached and detached, and is equipped with a plurality of second electrical contacts that respectively contact the plurality of first electrical contacts, and a control unit that controls the transmission and reception of data between the imaging device and the accessory, wherein the plurality of second electrical contacts include a plurality of third electrical contacts for transmitting and receiving data with the accessory according to a first communication method, and when the accessory is a specified accessory, the control unit transmits and receives data with the accessory according to the first communication method via the plurality of third electrical contacts, and when the accessory is an accessory other than the specified accessory, transmits and receives data with the accessory according to a second communication method via the plurality of third electrical contacts.

[0005] According to a second aspect, the accessory is an accessory that can be attached to and detached from an imaging device having a plurality of second electrical contacts, and includes a plurality of first electrical contacts that respectively contact the plurality of second electrical contacts, and a control unit that controls the transmission and reception of data between the imaging device, and when the control unit is attached to the imaging device, it transmits information to the imaging device for identifying the communication method between the imaging device and the accessory, and then starts communication with the imaging device.

[0006] The configurations of the embodiments described below may be modified as appropriate, and at least a portion of the configuration may be replaced with other components. Furthermore, components that are not particularly limited in terms of their placement may be placed in any position that can achieve their function, not limited to the placement disclosed in the embodiments.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camera according to an embodiment. FIG. 3A is a view of an accessory shoe as viewed from the +Z direction, FIG. 3B is a plan view of the accessory shoe as viewed from the +Y direction, FIG. 3C is a view of a connector as viewed from the −Z direction, and FIG. 3D is a plan view of the connector as viewed from the −Y direction. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a camera body and an accessory. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a body control unit. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by the body control unit. FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating processing executed by the body control unit. FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating processing executed by the body control unit. FIG. 9A is a view of an accessory shoe according to a modified example as viewed from the +Z direction, and FIG. 9B is a plan view of an accessory shoe according to a modified example as viewed from the +Y direction.

[0008] A camera 1 according to one embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the scales of the shapes, lengths, thicknesses, etc. of the various parts shown in the embodiment do not necessarily correspond to the actual products, and some elements may be omitted from the drawings to facilitate understanding.

[0009] 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a camera 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1 and 2, the camera 1 includes a lens barrel 200 and a camera body 100. The lens barrel 200 may be detachable from the camera body 100, or the lens barrel 200 and the camera body 100 may be integrated.

[0010] An image sensor 102, such as a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, is provided inside the camera body 100. The image sensor 102 converts the subject image formed by the imaging optical system (lens barrel 200) into an electrical signal.

[0011] A release switch 103 is provided on the housing top surface 20 of the camera body 100. Various buttons 104 are provided on the housing rear surface 30 of the camera body 100. The user uses input devices such as the release switch 103 and buttons 104 to input instructions for shooting, instructions for setting shooting conditions, etc. to the camera body 100.

[0012] A rear monitor 105 is provided on the rear housing surface 30 of the camera body 100. The rear monitor 105 is a display device that uses, for example, a liquid crystal display, etc. The rear monitor 105 displays, for example, a live view of a subject image and a menu of shooting settings.

[0013] An accessory shoe 106 to which an accessory 300 can be detachably attached is provided on the housing top surface 20 of the camera body 100. The accessory shoe 106 includes a shoe seat 106a and a holding portion 106b.

[0014] The accessory 300 includes a connector 301. By inserting and removing the connector 301 into and from the accessory shoe 106, the accessory 300 can be detachably attached to the camera body 100.

[0015] Accessory 300 may be, for example, an accessory that provides an electronic viewfinder (EVF) function, a flash device that emits fill light onto a subject, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light, a tally lamp, a microphone, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, an auxiliary imaging device, or a device that combines these.

[0016] Fig. 3(A) is a view of the accessory shoe 106 as viewed from the +Z direction, Fig. 3(B) is a plan view of the accessory shoe 106 as viewed from the +Y direction, Fig. 3(C) is a view of the connector 301 as viewed from the -Z direction, and Fig. 3(D) is a plan view of the connector 301 as viewed from the -Y direction. Note that the holding portion 106b is not shown in Fig. 3(B).

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3B, 26 electrical contacts PB1 to PB26 are provided on the end 10 of the shoe seat 106a of the accessory shoe 106, aligned in a row in the X direction along the end 10.

[0018] 3(C) and 3(D), 26 electrical contacts PA1 to PA26 are provided on the underside 13 of the connector 301, aligned in a row in the X direction along the edge 12 of the underside 13. When the connector 301 is inserted into the accessory shoe 106, a portion of the connector 301 is held by a holding portion 106b of the accessory shoe 106, and the connector 301 is fixed to the accessory shoe 106. "Attaching the accessory 300 to the camera body 100" refers to inserting and fixing the connector 301 into the accessory shoe 106.

[0019] When the accessory 300 is attached to the camera body 100, each of the 26 electrical contacts PA1 to PA26 provided on the underside 13 of the connector 301 comes into physical contact with each of the 26 electrical contacts PB1 to PB26 provided on the shoe seat 106a of the accessory shoe 106. This electrically connects each of the 26 electrical contacts PA1 to PA26 to each of the 26 electrical contacts PB1 to PB26. Note that, while in this embodiment, the camera body 100 and the accessory 300 each have 26 electrical contacts, this is not limited to this, and the number of electrical contacts may be 25 or less, or 27 or more.

[0020] 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the camera body 100 and the accessory 300. The camera body 100 includes a body control unit 110.

[0021] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the body control unit 110. As shown in Fig. 5, the body control unit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111, a RAM (Random-Access Memory) 112, and a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 113.

[0022] The ROM (Read-Only Memory) 113 stores, for example, a program for controlling the entire camera body 100 and a program for controlling data transmission and reception with the accessory 300. The RAM 112 stores temporary data and the like.

[0023] The body control unit 110 controls the entire camera body 100 by reading and executing a control program stored in advance in a ROM 113. The body control unit 110 also controls data transmission and reception with the accessory 300 by reading and executing a program for controlling data transmission and reception with the accessory 300, which is stored in the ROM 113.

[0024] Returning to Figure 4, in this embodiment, the 26 electrical contacts PB1 to PB26 provided on the accessory shoe 106 include one electrical contact to which a signal for detecting attachment or detachment of the accessory 300 to the accessory shoe 106 is connected, four electrical contacts to which signals for SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication are connected, and two electrical contacts for supplying power to the accessory 300.

[0025] In this embodiment, the electrical contact to which a signal DET for detecting attachment / detachment of the accessory 300 to the accessory shoe 106 is connected is designated as electrical contact PB17. In addition, four electrical contacts to which signals used in SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication are connected are designated as electrical contacts PB9, PB10, PB11, and PB12. More specifically, a clock signal SCK for SPI communication is connected to electrical contact PB9, a ready signal RDY for SPI communication is connected to electrical contact PB10, a signal MOSI transmitted from the camera 1 to the accessory 300 is connected to electrical contact PB11, and a signal MISO transmitted from the accessory 300 to the camera is connected to electrical contact PB12.

[0026] Furthermore, two electrical contacts for supplying power to the accessory 300 are designated as electrical contacts PB14 and PB15. Voltages VDD and VBAT are respectively supplied to electrical contacts PB14 and PB15 from a power supply circuit 130 connected to the battery 120 under control of the body control unit 110. Electrical contact PB14 has a weaker voltage than electrical contact PB15 and supplies power for controlling the accessory 300. Electrical contact PB15 supplies power necessary for the accessory 300 to function, and voltage VBAT is higher than voltage VDD and its voltage value varies depending on the function of the accessory 300.

[0027] The other electrical contacts are assigned the following functions, for example: Electrical contacts PB2 to PB7 are contacts for transmitting video data signals to the accessory 300. Electrical contact PB13 is a contact for transmitting a strobe signal. Electrical contacts PB16 to PB19 are contacts used to exchange release signals, insertion / removal detection signals, half-press signals, and multi-function signals, respectively. Electrical contacts PB24 to PB26 are contacts for transmitting audio data signals to the accessory 300. Note that electrical contacts PB1, PB8, and PB23 are grounded, and electrical contacts PB20 to PB22 are vacant terminals (spare terminals).

[0028] It should be noted that which signal is connected to which electrical contact is not limited to this embodiment, but can be set arbitrarily.

[0029] Accessory 300 includes accessory control unit 310 and functional unit 320. Functional unit 320 is a component for achieving the functions of accessory 300, and if accessory 300 is an EVF, functional unit 320 is a display device, if accessory 300 is a GPS receiver, functional unit 320 is a GPS module, and if accessory 300 is a flash device, functional unit 320 is a light-emitting device.

[0030] The accessory control unit 310 includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and controls the entire accessory 300 and the function unit 320 based on data transmission and reception with the body control unit 110 .

[0031] Next, the processing executed by the body control unit 110 will be described.

[0032] Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the processing executed by the body control unit 110. The processing in Fig. 6 is executed when the power of the camera 1 is turned on. The processing in Fig. 6 will be described below with reference to the timing charts in Figs. 7 and 8.

[0033] 6, the body control unit 110 first determines whether the accessory 300 is attached to the accessory shoe 106 (camera body 100) (step S1). Specifically, the body control unit 110 determines whether the accessory 300 is attached to the accessory shoe 106 based on the signal DET input from the electrical contact PB17. For example, if the signal DET is HIGH in FIG. 7, the body control unit 110 determines that the accessory 300 is not attached to the accessory shoe 106.

[0034] If the accessory 300 is not attached to the accessory shoe 106 (step S1 / NO), the body control unit 110 repeats step S1 until the accessory 300 is attached to the accessory shoe 106.

[0035] When the accessory 300 is attached to the accessory shoe 106 (step S1 / YES), the body control unit 110 receives information for identifying the accessory 300 from the accessory 300 (step S3). For example, in Fig. 7, when the signal DET changes from HIGH to LOW at time t1, the body control unit 110 determines that the accessory 300 has been attached to the accessory shoe 106. Thereafter, the body control unit 110 starts supplying the voltage VDD to the accessory 300 via the electrical contact PB14.

[0036] When the camera 1 supplies the voltage VDD and enables operation, the accessory control unit 310 changes the ready signal RDY from LOW to HIGH. When the ready signal RDY input from the accessory 300 via the electrical contact PA10 (RDY contact) and the electrical contact PB10 changes from LOW to HIGH at time t2, the body control unit 110 starts supplying a clock signal SCK to the accessory 300 within a predetermined time. The cycle and frequency of the clock signal SCK are predetermined values ​​from time t3 to time t4. After changing the ready signal RDY from LOW to HIGH, the accessory control unit 310 of the accessory 300 transmits information for identifying the accessory 300 to the body control unit 110 in synchronization with the clock signal SCK input from the camera 1. In FIG. 7 , the accessory control unit 310 transmits information for identifying the accessory 300 to the body control unit 110 using the signal MISO between time t3 and time t4. The body control unit 110 receives information for identifying the accessory 300 from the accessory 300 via the electrical contact PB12.

[0037] The information for identifying the accessory 300 is, for example, one-byte data including information about the type of the accessory 300. The information about the type of the accessory 300 may be, for example, the type of the accessory (EVF, microphone, etc.), or the model number or name of the accessory.

[0038] Returning to FIG. 6 , the body control unit 110 determines whether a communication protocol is to be used for communication between the camera 1 and the accessory 300 (whether a communication protocol exists) based on the information for identifying the accessory 300 received from the accessory 300 (step S5). Specifically, the body control unit 110 determines whether to perform SPI communication with the accessory 300. The ROM 113 pre-stores a table that associates information for identifying the accessory 300 with whether the accessory 300 uses a communication protocol. The body control unit 110 can determine whether a communication protocol is to be used for communication between the camera 1 and the accessory 300 based on the table. Note that the table may be stored in a non-volatile storage unit (e.g., flash memory, hard disk drive, solid state drive, etc.) instead of the ROM 113. After transmitting the signal MISO, the accessory 300 temporarily sets the ready signal RDY to LOW. After receiving the signal MISO, the camera 1 starts supplying a voltage VBAT corresponding to the accessory 300. After determining whether to use the communication protocol, SPI communication or GPIO communication, which will be described later, is performed.

[0039] If a communication protocol is used for communication with the accessory 300 (step S5 / YES), the body control unit 110 transmits setting information for communication using the SPI communication method to the accessory 300 (step S7). For example, in FIG. 7 , the body control unit 110 transmits the setting information to the accessory 300 via the electrical contact PB11 between time t5 and time t6. The setting information may include the period and frequency of the clock signal used in SPI communication. The period and frequency of the clock signal used in SPI communication may be different from those between time t3 and time t4.

[0040] 6, the body control unit 110 then uses the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 to perform SPI communication with the accessory 300 (step S9). That is, in FIG. 7, after time t6, the body control unit 110 uses the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 to perform SPI communication with the accessory 300 as needed. Through SPI communication, it is possible to perform, for example, firmware upgrades for the accessory 300, sending power information commands, sleep control of the accessory 300 from the camera 1, sleep control and power control of the camera 1 from the accessory 300, and notification of the details of an abnormality occurring in the accessory 300 to the camera 1.

[0041] On the other hand, if a communication protocol is not used for communication with the accessory 300 (step S5 / NO), the body control unit 110 uses the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 to communicate with the accessory 300 based on the GPIO communication protocol (step S11). For example, in FIG. 8 , if the body control unit 110 determines that a communication protocol will not be used for communication with the accessory 300 based on the information for identifying the accessory 300 received from time t3 to time t4, the body control unit 110 uses each of the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 for sending or receiving 2-bit data from time t10. In this embodiment, all four electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 are used for communication based on the GPIO communication protocol, but depending on the accessory, communication may be performed using only some of the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 rather than all four.

[0042] The body control unit 110 continues the process of step S9 or step S11 until the accessory 300 is removed from the accessory shoe 106 (step S13 / NO, step S15 / NO). To determine whether the accessory 300 has been removed, the signal DET may be used, or an operation on the camera 1 (such as powering off) may be used.

[0043] Then, when the accessory 300 is removed from the accessory shoe 106 (step S13 / YES, step S15 / YES), the process returns to step S1 and the process from step S1 is executed.

[0044] As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the camera 1 to which the accessory 300 having a plurality of electrical contacts PA1 to PA26 can be attached includes a plurality of electrical contacts PB1 to PB26 that come into contact with the plurality of electrical contacts PA1 to PA26, respectively, and a body control unit 110 that controls transmission and reception of data between the camera 1 and the accessory 300. The electrical contacts PB1 to PB26 include a plurality of electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 for transmitting and receiving data with the accessory 300 in accordance with the SPI communication method, and if the accessory 300 is an accessory for which a communication protocol exists between the camera 1 and the accessory 300, the body control unit 110 transmits and receives data with the accessory 300 in accordance with the SPI communication method via the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12, and if the accessory 300 is not an accessory for which a communication protocol exists between the camera 1 and the accessory 300, the body control unit 110 transmits and receives data with the accessory 300 in accordance with the GPIO communication protocol via at least some of the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12.

[0045] Some accessories that can be attached to the camera 1 do not support SPI communication. Making an existing accessory that does not support SPI communication compatible would require significant changes to the accessory's firmware. Therefore, it is desirable to control the accessory in as simple a manner as possible. In this embodiment, the system first determines whether the accessory 300 attached to the accessory shoe 106 supports SPI communication. If the accessory does not support SPI communication, data is transmitted and received according to the GPIO communication protocol using at least some of the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 provided for SPI communication. Therefore, even if an accessory 300 that does not support SPI communication is attached to the camera 1, the accessory 300 can be controlled using signals based on the GPIO communication protocol using at least some of the electrical contacts PB9 to PB12 for SPI communication. Furthermore, even if the accessory 300 does not support SPI communication, the camera 1 can control the accessory 300 by communicating based on the GPIO communication protocol.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the ROM 113 stores information for identifying the accessory 300 and whether or not a communication protocol is used, in association with each other. However, the ROM 113 may store only identification information for accessories 300 that use a communication protocol. That is, if the accessory 300 is a specific accessory stored in the ROM 113, the body control unit 110 may determine that a communication protocol is to be used and perform SPI communication, and if the accessory 300 is an accessory other than the specific accessory stored in the ROM 113, may perform communication according to the GPIO communication protocol. Also, the ROM 113 may store only information for identifying accessories 300 that do not use a communication protocol. That is, the body control unit 110 may determine that an accessory 300 not stored in the ROM 113 uses a communication protocol.

[0047] In the above embodiment, when a communication protocol exists between the camera 1 and the accessory 300, SPI communication is performed, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a communication protocol exists between the camera 1 and the accessory 300, bidirectional communication such as I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) communication may be performed.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the accessory shoe 106 has electrical contacts PB1 to PB26, but this is not limiting. Figures 9A and 9B show an accessory shoe 106A according to a modified example. In Figure 9B, the holding portion 106b is not shown.

[0049] The accessory shoe 106A has electrical contacts PSB1 to PSB4 in the center of the shoe seat 106a, in addition to electrical contacts PB1 to PB26. The electrical contacts PSB1 to PSB4 are used when the accessory 300 is, for example, a flash device. In this way, the accessory shoe 106A may have other electrical contacts in addition to the electrical contacts PB1 to PB26.

[0050] The above-described embodiment is a preferred example of implementation, but is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist, and any constituent elements may be combined.

[0051] 1 Camera 106 Accessory shoe 110 Body control unit 113 ROM 300 Accessory PA1 to PA26 Electrical contacts PB1 to PB26 Electrical contacts

Claims

1. An imaging device to which an accessory having a plurality of first electrical contacts can be attached and detached, a plurality of second electrical contacts respectively contacting the plurality of first electrical contacts; a control unit that controls transmission and reception of data between the accessory and the control unit; Equipped with the plurality of second electrical contacts include a plurality of third electrical contacts for transmitting and receiving data to and from the accessory in accordance with a first communication method; the control unit, when the accessory is a predetermined accessory, transmits and receives data to and from the accessory via the plurality of third electrical contacts in accordance with the first communication method, and, when the accessory is an accessory other than the predetermined accessory, transmits and receives data to and from the accessory via at least some of the plurality of third electrical contacts in accordance with the second communication method. Imaging device.

2. The predetermined accessory is an accessory that has a communication protocol between the imaging device and the accessory. The imaging device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit acquiring information for identifying the accessory from the accessory using at least two of the plurality of third electrical contacts; determining whether a communication protocol exists between the imaging device and the accessory based on the information; 3. The imaging device according to claim 1.

4. the control unit determines whether a communication protocol exists between the imaging device and the accessory by referring to a storage unit that stores information for identifying the accessory and whether a communication protocol exists between the imaging device and the accessory in association with each other.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1.

5. the first communication method is a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) communication method, The second communication method is a GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output) communication method.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1.

6. An accessory detachable from an imaging device having a plurality of second electrical contacts, a plurality of first electrical contacts respectively contacting the plurality of second electrical contacts; a control unit that controls transmission and reception of data between the imaging device and the control unit; Equipped with When the control unit is attached to the imaging device, the control unit transmits information for identifying a communication method between the imaging device and the control unit to the imaging device, and then starts communication with the imaging device. Accessories.

7. the plurality of first electrical contacts include a RDY contact for transmitting information indicating whether communication with the imaging device is possible or not to the imaging device, The control unit When the camera is attached to the imaging device, the signal from the RDY contact changes from LOW to HIGH, When information for specifying a communication method between the image capture device and the image capture device is transmitted to the image capture device, the signal from the RDY contact is changed from HIGH to LOW, and then communication using the communication method is started. The accessory of claim 6.

8. the communication method is bidirectional communication between the imaging device and the accessory, the control unit transmits information for identifying a communication method between the image capture device and the control unit to the image capture device, and then receives setting information for the two-way communication from the image capture device. An accessory according to claim 6 or claim 7.