Interchangeable Lens Camera Communication Split for High-Speed Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems with interchangeable lenses face communication bottlenecks due to the use of a single communication channel, which hinders expedited data transfer between the camera, interchangeable lens, and adapter, particularly in high-speed imaging scenarios.
Innovation Solution
Implementing separate communication channels for camera-lens and camera-adapter interactions, including dedicated data and notification channels, to facilitate seamless data exchange and command transmission among the camera, interchangeable lens, and adapter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single communication channel is used for camera-lens and camera-adapter data transmission, then device complexity is reduced, but communication speed and efficiency deteriorate due to data transmission conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication system into separate channels: a first communication channel for camera-lens data transmission and a second communication channel for camera-adapter data transmission. This segmentation eliminates data transmission conflicts and allows parallel operations, resolving the contradiction by sacrificing minimal structural complexity to achieve significantly improved communication speed and efficiency.
2Device complexity
If a single communication channel is used for one-to-many communication among camera, interchangeable lens, and adapter, then device complexity is reduced, but communication efficiency deteriorates during high-frame-rate imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication pathways by providing a dedicated first communication channel for lens data and a second communication channel for adapter data. This allows the camera to simultaneously communicate with both the interchangeable lens and adapter without waiting for channel availability, thereby maintaining high-frame-rate imaging productivity while using only minimal additional structural complexity.
3Speed
If separate communication channels are provided for camera-lens and camera-adapter interactions, then communication efficiency and data transfer speed are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by creating separate first and second communication channels for distinct data transmission purposes. Although this increases structural complexity, the patent manages this trade-off by keeping each channel simple and dedicated, allowing parallel independent operations that significantly boost communication efficiency and imaging productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each communication channel is designed with multi-functionality, handling both data transmission and timing notification functions within the same channel structure. This universality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving improved communication efficiency.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A camera (20) to which a lens apparatus (10) is connectable via at least one adapter apparatus (30, 40), comprises a first communication controller (205, 207) configured to communicate with the lens apparatus (10) by using a first communication channel (100), and a second communication controller (205, 209) configured to communicate with the adapter apparatus (30, 40) by using a second communication channel (300), the second communication channel (300) being provided independently from the first communication channel (100), wherein the first communication channel (100) includes a first data communication line (DLC, DCL) used during a data communication and a first notification line (LCLK) used for a notification of a timing of the data communication via the first data communication line (DLC, DCL), and wherein the second communication channel (300) consists of a second data communication line (DATA) used during the data communication and a second notification line (CS) used for a notification of a timing of the data communication via the second data communication line (DATA).