Interchangeable Lens Communication Channels 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 multiple dedicated communication channels for command and data transmission between the camera, interchangeable lens, and adapter, including a first channel for lens control commands, a second channel for optical data from the lens to the camera, and a third channel for adapter-specific data, enabling seamless communication and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single communication channel is used for all data transmissions between camera, interchangeable lens, and adapter, 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 multiple dedicated channels: a first communication channel for camera-to-lens commands, a second communication channel for lens-to-camera data, and a third communication channel for adapter data. This segmentation eliminates data transmission conflicts and enables simultaneous operations, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and high communication speed.
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 when data must be transmitted from adapter to camera
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates separate dedicated channels for different communication directions and purposes. The third communication channel specifically handles adapter data transmission independently from the camera-lens communication channels, enabling concurrent operations and improving overall communication efficiency without increasing structural complexity.
3Productivity
If data transmission amount from interchangeable lens increases or imaging cycle shortens, then imaging quality and responsiveness improve, but communication bandwidth requirements increase causing bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission paths into dedicated channels, with the second communication channel specifically optimized for high-speed lens data transmission to the camera. This dedicated pathway eliminates bottlenecks by providing a dedicated high-bandwidth channel for optical data, supporting high frame rates and large data amounts without interference from other communications.
Data Source
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AI summary
A camera (20) to which an interchangeable lens apparatus (10) is connectable via at least one adapter apparatus (30, 40) comprises a lens-camera communication controller (205, 207) configured to communicate with the interchangeable lens apparatus (10) by using a camera-lens communication channel (100) and an adapter-camera communication controller (205, 209) configured to communicate with the adapter apparatus (30, 40) by using a camera-adapter communication channel (300) provided separately from the camera-lens communication channel (100). The camera-lens 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 a communication between the camera and the interchangeable lens apparatus, and the camera-adapter communication channel (300) consists of a second data communication line (DATA) used during the data communication and a second notification line (CS) that is used for a notification of a timing of a communication between the camera and the adapter apparatus and is provided separately from the first notification line (LCLK).