Camera Accessory Terminal Arrangement for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camera systems face challenges in efficiently attaching and detaching interchangeable lenses due to complex terminal arrangements, which can lead to noise interference and wear issues affecting communication and data stability.

Innovation Solution

The camera system incorporates a terminal arrangement where the HCLK terminal is positioned between the HDATA and DATAL terminals, and the CLK terminal is positioned between the DATAL and RDY terminals, with power supply terminals separated from communication terminals to minimize noise and wear, ensuring stable data communication during attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If terminals are arranged close together to reduce attachment area, then attachment area is reduced, but noise interference between terminals increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment areaVSAvoidnoise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal arrangement is segmented into distinct functional groups: power supply terminals (VBAT, V33, GND) are separated from communication terminals (CLK, HCLK, DATAB, HDATA). This spatial segmentation reduces electromagnetic interference between different signal types while maintaining compact overall attachment area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the terminal arrangement are assigned different functional qualities: power supply terminals are positioned in one local area, communication terminals in another, with specific spacing and orientation. This local quality differentiation minimizes noise interference by isolating high-current power terminals from sensitive communication terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If terminals are arranged to minimize wear during attachment/detachment, then wear is reduced, but terminal arrangement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal durabilityVSAvoidterminal arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal arrangement is pre-configured with power supply terminals positioned to make initial contact during attachment and maintain contact throughout the attachment/detachment cycle. This preliminary positioning ensures that power terminals are always engaged first, protecting them from wear while simplifying the overall arrangement logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal layout uses intermediate positioning where certain terminals serve as buffers or mediators in the contact sequence. The arrangement allows progressive engagement of terminals during attachment, with the layout itself acting as an intermediary mechanism that distributes wear across multiple terminals rather than concentrating it on a single contact point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If clock terminals are positioned far from the contacting portion, then noise interference is reduced, but signal transmission distance increases causing potential signal degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise interferenceVSAvoidsignal transmission distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal arrangement optimizes the balance between distance and noise by adjusting the positional parameters of clock terminals (CLK, HCLK) relative to the contacting portion. The specific distances and orientations are parameterized to achieve optimal signal quality while maintaining adequate noise isolation, representing a careful parameter optimization between conflicting requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces noise interference and wear on terminals, maintaining stable communication and data integrity during the attachment and detachment of interchangeable lenses, preventing erroneous recognition and ensuring reliable camera system operation.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member provided at a position corresponding to the camera-side protruding portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10845563B2Camera accessory including a plurality of contact terminals

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 NIKON CORP

AI summary

An accessory for a camera body including a plurality of camera-side terminals, a camera-side protruding portion, and an elastic member, the accessory includes: a first terminal that changes a voltage at the first camera-side terminal by contacting with a first camera-side terminal; an eighth terminal to which a first clock signal is input by contacting with a first camera-side clock terminal; a tenth terminal that outputs a second clock signal by contacting with a second camera-side clock terminal; and an accessory-side protruding portion that is to be pressed toward the camera body side by the elastic member, wherein: the accessory-side protruding portion has a contacting portion to contact with the elastic member; and a distance between the eighth terminal and the contacting portion and a distance between the tenth terminal and the contacting portion are shorter than a distance between the first terminal and the contacting portion.