Image Link Lock Signaling With Error-Checked Serial Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The reliability of notification information in image transmission systems is compromised due to the vulnerability of single-ended LOCKN signals to external noise, leading to potential errors in communication status notifications between image reception and transmission apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

An image transmission and reception system that includes a receiving circuit to extract a clock signal, change the lock signal state, and add error detection information to code information, which is transmitted as serial data, ensuring reliable communication by validating the code information and error detection before outputting the lock signal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If notification information is directly superimposed on the LOCKN signal for transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of notification information deteriorates due to noise vulnerability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidreliability of notification information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary encoding mechanism that transforms notification information into a noise-resistant format. The LOCKN signal transmission control unit encodes notification information into code information with error detection information, creating an intermediary representation that protects against noise while maintaining signal integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary error detection by calculating error detection information before transmission. The LOCKN signal transmission control unit performs encoding and error detection preparation in advance, so that even if noise affects the transmitted signal, the receiving side can identify and correct errors through the pre-prepared error detection information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If error detection information is added to code information, then the reliability of notification information is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional processing units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of notification informationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the LOCKN signal transmission function with the notification information transmission function. The LOCKN signal transmission control unit performs both lock signal generation and notification information encoding in a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate transmission circuits and reducing overall device complexity despite adding error detection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The LOCKN signal transmission control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a lock signal generator and a notification information encoder. This universal component handles multiple tasks including error detection information calculation, code information generation, and serial data output, reducing the need for dedicated separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the LOCKN signal is used as a single-ended signal for simplicity, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to noise vulnerability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability of notification information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter representation of notification information from direct voltage levels to encoded code information with error detection capabilities. By transforming the notification information into a coded format with redundancy, the system maintains the simplicity of single-ended signaling while improving noise immunity through parameter transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4708059A1Image transmission and reception system, program, and image transmission and reception method
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • EP4708059A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4708059A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4708059A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An image transmission and reception system includes an image reception apparatus including a receiving circuit that extracts a clock signal from transmission data transmitted from an image transmission apparatus, acquires image data from the transmission data by using the extracted clock signal, and in a case where the clock signal is extractable from the transmission data, changes a lock signal, which indicates whether or not communication is established, from a first logical state indicating that the communication is not established to a second logical state indicating that the communication is established, and a lock signal transmission control unit that adds error detection information calculated by using code information, which includes information on a logical state of the lock signal output from the receiving circuit and notification information other than the logical state of the lock signal, to the code information, and outputs the code information with the error detection information as serial data to the image transmission apparatus, and the image transmission apparatus including a transmission circuit that transmits the transmission data in which the clock signal is superimposed on the image data to the image reception apparatus in a case where an input lock signal changes from the first logical state to the second logical state, an image transmission control unit that controls transmission of the image data to the image reception apparatus via the transmission circuit, and a lock signal receiving control unit that receives the serial data transmitted from the image reception apparatus, outputs notification information corresponding to the code information included in the received serial data to the image transmission control unit in a case where there is no inconsistency between the code information and the error detection information included in the received serial data, and outputs the lock signal in the logical state indicated by the code information to the transmission circuit.