Interchangeable Lens Logic IC Interface Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera systems with interchangeable lenses face challenges in reducing the number of communication lines and signals between the camera body and the lens, while also efficiently processing data for sophisticated features like AF and zooming, which requires direct reading of zoom and distance codes from the lens.
Innovation Solution
An interchangeable lens design that includes a logic IC as an interface to selectively switch connections with the lens memory and controller, allowing communication without increasing signal lines, and featuring zoom and distance code detectors to transmit relevant codes to the camera body, along with memory capacity information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If communication lines are switched between lens memory and lens CPU, then data communication capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A logic IC is introduced as an intermediary component that mediates between the camera body and the lens memory/CPU. The logic IC receives communication signals from the camera body and selectively connects them to either the lens memory or lens CPU based on the signal type, thereby enabling versatile data communication without requiring the camera body to directly manage complex switching between lens components.
2Loss of time
If the camera body reads zoom code and distance code directly from the lens, then communication time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is equipped with zoom code and distance code detectors that automatically detect and output these codes. The logic IC then selectively connects the camera body's communication signals directly to these code detectors, enabling the camera body to read the codes directly from the lens without intermediate processing steps, thereby reducing communication time while maintaining simplicity through automated detection.
Data Source
AI summary
An interchangeable lens which can communicate with a camera body to which the interchangeable lens is detachably attached to exchange data of the interchangeable lens, includes a logic IC serving as an interface via which the interchangeable lens communicates with the camera body; a memory which is provided independent of the logic IC, connected to the logic IC, and stores the data of the interchangeable lens; and a controller, connected to the logic IC, for controlling operations of the interchangeable lens. The logic IC selectively switches connections of terminals thereof with the memory and the controller for communication therewith upon receiving a communication signal from the camera body.