Camera Accessory Authentication via Dynamic Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In an interchangeable lens camera system, the fixed address limitations of the I2C bus lead to prolonged authentication communication times and potential malfunctions when unknown accessory apparatuses are connected, especially if incompatible or exceeding the permissible number, causing delays and communication failures.
Innovation Solution
The camera system employs a communication method that switches between broadcast and point-to-point communication modes, allowing the camera body to authenticate and communicate with multiple accessory apparatuses efficiently by designating specific communication counterparts and shifting incompatible or excess accessories to a sleep state, thereby preventing malfunctions and communication failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the camera body performs authentication communication with all possible addresses (0 to n) to identify connected accessory apparatuses, then the system can detect incompatible or excessive accessories, but the authentication time becomes excessively long and imaging startup is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
Accessory apparatuses automatically transmit their identification information to the camera body without requiring the camera body to query each address. The accessories actively provide their identity, eliminating the need for time-consuming sequential authentication attempts at all possible addresses.
Solution Approach 2:
Accessory apparatuses pre-transmit their identification information to the camera body before formal communication begins. This preliminary action allows the camera body to immediately know which accessories are connected and their types, avoiding delayed authentication.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the camera body uses fixed I2C bus addresses for communication slaves, then the communication protocol remains simple and compatible, but the system cannot adapt to unknown or varying numbers of accessory apparatuses without prolonged authentication
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system transitions from static address assignment to dynamic identification. Accessory apparatuses dynamically transmit their identification information, allowing the camera body to adapt to any number and type of accessories without predetermined address configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera body's communication interface is designed to universally receive and process identification information from any accessory apparatus type. This universal reception capability allows the system to work with unknown accessories while maintaining protocol simplicity through standardized identification transmission.
3Productivity
If the camera body quickly authenticates accessories using limited address ranges, then imaging startup is fast, but incompatible or excessive accessories may cause malfunctions or communication failures
Solution Approach 1:
Accessory apparatuses provide feedback by transmitting their identification information to the camera body. The camera body uses this feedback to determine compatibility and appropriate communication parameters, enabling fast startup while ensuring system stability through informed decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera body performs preliminary identification of accessories by receiving their identification information before imaging begins. This preliminary knowledge allows the system to quickly configure communication parameters and detect incompatible accessories, ensuring both fast startup and system reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
[PROBLEMS] To avoid a malfunction and a communication failure in an image pickup system [SOLUTION MEANS] A camera 200 is usable while a plurality of accessory apparatuses 100 and 300 are connected to it. The camera includes a camera communication unit 208 connected to a data communication channel used for a data communication between the camera and each of the plurality of accessory apparatuses, and a camera controller 205 configured to perform the data communication with each of the plurality of accessory apparatuses via the data communication channel. The camera controller transmits to at least one sleep target accessory apparatus among the plurality of accessory apparatuses through the data communication, a sleep request command for shifting the sleep target accessory apparatus from an operation state for performing processing in response to a data transmission from the camera to a sleep state that does not perform the processing regardless of the data transmission.