Camera Start-Up Time Reduction via Lens Data Caching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera systems with exchangeable lens units experience slow start-up times due to the need to acquire and transmit lens data every time the camera is switched on, leading to delays in reaching a photographable state and increased risk of missing shutter opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A camera apparatus with a detachable lens unit that includes a memory for storing setting information, a communication part for data exchange, a mounting detector for monitoring attachment/detachment, and a controller that checks stored detection information to determine whether to acquire setting information from the lens unit or stored data, allowing for quick start-up by omitting unnecessary data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lens data is transmitted to the camera unit every time the camera system is switched on, then the camera unit can perform various kinds of settings based on the lens data, but the start-up time of the camera system becomes much slower
Solution Approach 1:
The lens data is transmitted to and stored in the camera unit before the camera system is switched on. The system detects when the lens unit is mounted and automatically transmits the lens data in the background, so that when the camera is switched on, the settings are already prepared and can be applied immediately without delay.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting the entire lens data every time, the system creates a copy of the necessary settings information and stores it in the camera unit's memory. This copy can be quickly retrieved and applied during start-up, avoiding the need to transmit and process the complete lens data set each time the camera is powered on.
2Extent of automation
If lens data is acquired from the lens unit every time the camera unit is switched on, then the camera unit can control the lens unit operations, but it takes a long time to obtain a photographable state
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the data transmission and settings preparation in advance, before the camera is switched on. The lens data is transmitted to the camera unit and the necessary settings are configured during the lens mounting process or in the background, so that when the camera is powered on, the automatic control functions are already prepared and can operate immediately without waiting for data transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the camera unit performs processing of acquiring lens data from the lens unit every time it is switched on, then the camera unit can perform settings such as autofocusing control, autoexposure control, or zoom control, but the state cannot be shifted to a photographable state immediately
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits lens data and prepares control settings in advance before the camera is switched on. The lens data including autofocusing, autoexposure, and zoom control parameters are transmitted to the camera unit and stored in memory during the lens mounting process or in the background, so that when the camera is powered on, all control functions are already configured and the camera can immediately enter a photographable state.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera apparatus and a camera system of the present invention are configured so that a lens unit is attachable/detachable. The lens unit contains at least a lens and an iris, and contains a memory storing setting information required for operating the lens and the iris. When a camera microcomputer checks detection information stored in a memory in a sub-microcomputer at a time of start-up of the camera apparatus, and first detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from the lens unit. When second detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from another memory in the camera apparatus. Due to this configuration, the time for shifting the switch-on to a photographable state is shortened, and the ease of convenience can be enhanced.