Camera Head Configuration via Storage Device Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording apparatuses require manual adaptation of camera heads to camera control units, leading to inefficiencies in handling and compatibility issues between different camera heads and control units, especially when updating configuration data.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a storage device with camera-head-specific information that can be connected via an interface to a configuration unit in the camera control unit, allowing for automatic identification and configuration of the camera head, with configuration data stored separately and updatable independently of the camera head, enabling seamless adaptation and updating of image signal pre-processing units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adaptation of camera heads to camera control units is performed, then flexibility in handling different camera heads is achieved, but time consumption and potential for errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera head automatically identifies itself to the camera control unit through the interface by providing camera-head-specific information, eliminating the need for manual adaptation. The system performs self-configuration, where the camera head serves itself by automatically transmitting its identification data and allowing the control unit to retrieve corresponding configuration data.
Solution Approach 2:
Camera-head-specific information is stored in advance in a machine-readable form within or on the camera head. The configuration data is pre-stored in the camera control unit, ready to be automatically retrieved and applied when the camera head is connected, eliminating the need for manual configuration steps.
2Loss of information
If camera-head-specific information is stored in the camera head with sufficient capacity, then complete configuration data can be stored locally, but storage device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The information storage is divided into two segments: camera-head-specific information (identification data) is stored in the camera head in a compact form, while the complete configuration data is stored separately in the camera control unit. This segmentation allows the camera head to have minimal storage requirements while ensuring complete configuration data is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface acts as an intermediary that enables the camera head to provide its identification information to the camera control unit, which then retrieves the corresponding configuration data from its own storage. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to function as if all data were stored locally in the camera head, while actually using distributed storage.
3Reliability
If configuration data is stored in the camera head, then it is tightly coupled with the camera head, but updating configuration data becomes difficult and requires access to the camera head
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration data is extracted from the camera head and stored separately in the camera control unit. Only the essential camera-head-specific identification information remains stored in the camera head. This extraction allows configuration data to be updated independently in the control unit without requiring physical access to or modification of the camera head.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera control unit serves multiple functions: it acts as the storage repository for all configuration data, the processing unit that matches camera heads with appropriate configuration data based on identification information, and the configuration application unit. This universal role of the control unit centralizes configuration management and simplifies updating.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement of an image recording apparatus 1 with a storage device (9) on a side of an interface (8) with a camera control unit (2) that faces the camera head (3) and for implementing in the camera control unit (2) a configuration unit (10) with which camera-head-specific information is readable from the storage device (9) and transmittable to an image signal pre-processing unit (4) of the camera head (3) for configuration.