Accessory Communication Control for Faster Camera Startup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image pickup systems experience responsiveness issues due to time lags in acquiring necessary information from accessories during startup, particularly when the system is in an uncommunicable state, which impairs the overall system responsiveness.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of SPI and I2C communication protocols between the image pickup apparatus and accessories, allowing for efficient data exchange and accessory detection upon attachment, ensuring rapid information acquisition and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the image pickup apparatus waits for complete startup before acquiring information from the accessory, then the system can ensure stable communication, but the responsiveness of the system is impaired due to time lag

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidstartup time lag
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory performs preliminary actions during its startup sequence by preparing and storing information (such as accessory type, model, and capability data) in its memory before the image pickup apparatus completes its startup. This allows the information to be immediately available once communication is established, reducing the overall time lag while maintaining communication stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication protocol is designed to be dynamic, allowing the image pickup apparatus to initiate information acquisition at different stages of its startup process. The system can adaptively determine when to start communication based on the accessory's readiness, optimizing the balance between communication stability and startup responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the image pickup apparatus initiates communication immediately upon accessory attachment, then startup responsiveness is improved, but the accessory may not be ready to communicate yet

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveresponsivenessVSAvoidcommunication readiness
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory performs preliminary initialization of its communication interface and prepares essential data (accessory identification, supported functions) before attempting to communicate. This ensures that when the image pickup apparatus initiates communication, the accessory is already ready to respond, improving both responsiveness and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication protocol includes feedback mechanisms where the accessory can signal its readiness status to the image pickup apparatus. If the accessory is not yet ready, it can indicate this through specific communication signals, allowing the apparatus to wait appropriately without sacrificing overall responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4080871B1Electronic apparatus and its control method, and accessory and its control method
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 CANON KK
  • EP4080871B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4080871B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4080871B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An electronic apparatus (100) attachable to an accessory (200) includes a first processing unit (101) that can communicate with the accessory and receive accessory information by a first communication method, and a second processing unit (102) communicable with the accessory by a second communication method based on the accessory information. The electronic apparatus has a first power state and a second power state in which power is lower than that of the first power state. The first processing unit communicates with the accessory by the first communication method in the first power state and the second power state. The second processing unit communicates with the accessory by the second communication method in the first power state, but does not in the second power state.