Lens Barrel Data Transmission for High Frame Rate Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of actuators in the lens barrel increases, the amount of information that needs to be transmitted to the camera body in real time also increases, leading to longer data communication times, which reduces the available time for image sensor operation and makes it difficult to drive the image sensor at a high frame rate.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a lens barrel information transmitter that regularly transmits reduced data to the camera body, allowing the image sensor to operate at one of two different frame rates, with the second frame rate being higher than the first, thereby optimizing communication and reducing data transmission when the image sensor is driven at the higher rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amount of data transmitted from the lens barrel to the camera body is increased to provide real-time lens status information, then the reliability of lens control is improved, but the communication time increases and the image sensor cannot operate at high frame rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively transmitting only essential lens barrel information (such as focus position, aperture state, and zoom position) to the camera body, rather than transmitting all available lens status data. This selective transmission reduces communication overhead while maintaining sufficient control reliability, enabling the image sensor to operate at higher frame rates without compromising lens functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of data transmission volume by dynamically adjusting the amount of information sent from the lens barrel to the camera body based on operational requirements. During high-speed continuous shooting, the system reduces transmitted data parameters to minimize communication time, whereas during normal operation, more detailed lens status information can be transmitted for enhanced control reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of actuators in the lens barrel is increased to improve lens functionality, then the adaptability of the lens system is improved, but the amount of information to be transmitted increases and communication time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the most critical lens barrel information parameters to the camera body, separating essential control data from supplementary information. This extraction approach allows the lens to maintain multiple actuators for enhanced functionality while minimizing communication time by transmitting only the necessary subset of data required for camera body control.
3Productivity
If data transmission from the lens barrel is reduced to enable high frame rate operation, then the image sensor productivity is improved, but the amount of lens status information available to the camera body is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by transmitting a curated subset of lens barrel information that contains the essential parameters needed for camera body operation at high frame rates. This selective data transmission maintains sufficient lens status information for effective control while reducing overall data volume to enable high-speed image sensor operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device is provided that includes a camera body, a lens barrel, a lens barrel information transmitter, and an image sensor driver. The image sensor is housed in the camera body. The lens barrel is attachable to and detachable from the camera body. The lens barrel information transmitter regularly transmits information of the lens barrel to the camera body. The image sensor driver drives the image sensor at one of at least two different frame rates where a second frame rate is higher than a first frame rate. The amount of data being transmitted is reduced by the lens barrel information transmitter when the image sensor is driven at the second frame rate, compared to the amount transmitted when the image sensor is driven at the first frame rate.