Image Capturing Apparatus Clock Signal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image capturing apparatuses with detachable devices face challenges in continuing image processing when the clock signal supply is stopped, leading to increased circuit complexity to address this issue.

Innovation Solution

The image capturing apparatus is designed to continue clock signal supply to the detachable device by issuing dummy commands during analysis processing, preventing the need for additional circuitry and maintaining processing continuity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the clock signal supply is stopped to save power when communication is not performed, then power consumption is reduced, but image processing cannot be properly executed in the detachable device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidimage processing execution
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The image capturing apparatus issues a dummy command before stopping the clock signal supply to ensure that any ongoing image processing operations are either completed or properly suspended. This preliminary action allows the system to maintain power saving mode while ensuring image processing reliability when the clock signal is restored.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A dummy command mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the host apparatus and the detachable device. This dummy command serves as a signal to the detachable device to prepare for clock signal interruption, allowing the system to switch between power saving and processing modes without data loss or processing errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a circuit for detecting clock signal stop and switching to self-running clock signal is added, then image processing can continue when clock signal is stopped, but the circuit scale increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage processing continuityVSAvoidcircuit scale
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image capturing apparatus monitors the communication state with the detachable device and provides feedback through dummy commands when clock signal interruption is anticipated. This feedback mechanism allows the host apparatus to control the detachable device's operation mode without requiring complex self-detection circuits in the detachable device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The detachable device is designed to respond to host apparatus commands for clock signal management rather than implementing its own complex detection and switching circuits. The device serves itself by properly responding to dummy commands and automatically resuming normal operation when the clock signal is restored, without requiring additional detection circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4221245B1Image capturing apparatus, attachable device, control method thereof, and computer program
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 CANON KK
  • EP4221245B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4221245B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4221245B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image capturing apparatus (110) including a mounting part for enabling attachment and detachment of a device (100), comprising generating means (304) for generating a first command for supplying clock signals for the device to execute analysis processing and communicating means (306) for, in a state where a device having a function of executing the analysis processing is attached to the mounting part, transmitting an image to the device, transmitting an execution instruction for executing the analysis processing on the image, and receiving a processing result obtained according to the execution instruction, wherein the communicating means transmit the first command, after transmitting the execution instruction and at least in a period until the analysis processing performed on the image is ended in the device.