Camera Body Contact Unit Positioning for Lens Adapter Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing imaging systems face challenges with electrical connections between the camera body and interchangeable lenses due to varying contact positions caused by different mount adapters and lenses, leading to increased cost, weight, and risk of communication failure.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical configuration with a contact unit that moves along the optical axis to ensure direct electrical connection between the camera body and interchangeable lenses, accommodating different lens and adapter standards by adjusting its position according to the mounted lens or adapter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mount adapter is provided with electrical contacts for relay communication between the camera body and interchangeable lens, then communication compatibility is improved, but cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical contact function from the mount adapter and relocates it to the interchangeable lens. The lens now contains both the accessory side contact portion and the camera side contact portion, eliminating the need for relay contacts in the mount adapter. This reduces the mount adapter's weight and complexity while maintaining communication compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The interchangeable lens is designed to universally accommodate different camera bodies and mount adapters by integrating multiple contact configurations. The lens can directly contact the camera body or relay contacts through the mount adapter, providing multi-functional communication capability without requiring different lenses for different mounting scenarios.
2Reliability
If the interchangeable lens is designed with direct electrical contact to the camera body, then communication reliability is improved, but the position of electrical contacts must change according to different lens and adapter combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic contact system where the position and configuration of electrical contacts in the interchangeable lens can adapt to different mounting scenarios. The lens contains both accessory side contact portions (for mount adapter contact) and camera side contact portions (for direct camera body contact), allowing the system to dynamically select the appropriate contact path based on whether a mount adapter is present.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount adapter serves as an intermediary that can facilitate electrical contact between the interchangeable lens and camera body when direct contact is not possible. The adapter contains camera side contact portions that interface with the lens's accessory side contacts, enabling communication relay without requiring the lens to have fixed contact positions for all scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electrical contacts are provided in the mount adapter for different lens types, then compatibility with various lens standards is improved, but the risk of communication failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical contact system into distinct components: accessory side contact portions in the lens for interfacing with mount adapters, and camera side contact portions for interfacing with the camera body. This segmentation isolates the complexity of multiple contact configurations to the lens and adapter components, while the camera body maintains a simplified, stable contact interface, reducing the overall risk of communication failure.
Data Source
AI summary
A body of an imaging apparatus comprises a mount section on which an interchangeable lens and a mount adapter can be mounted. A contact unit is movable in the direction of the optical axis by a moving mechanical unit and has a first contact portion composed of a plurality of contact terminals. If the interchangeable lens is mounted on a body via a first mount adapter, the first contact portion is movable to a first position that contacts a second contact portion formed in the interchangeable lens. If the interchangeable lens is mounted on the body via a second mount adapter, the first contact portion is movable to a second position that contacts the second contact portion of the interchangeable lens.