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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera system is composed of a camera body and a lens
unit removably attached to the camera body. The lens unit has a
timing generator (TG) for controlling drive timing of each part
of the lens unit. The camera body also has a TG for controlling
drive timing of each part of the camera body. When a still image
capture mode or a movie capture mode is selected by a mode selection
dial, a camera controller switches to a first mode for operating
the camera body side TG in synchronization with the lens side TG.
When a playback mode is selected, the camera controller switches
to a second mode for operating the camera body side TG without synchronizing
with the lens side TG.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera system including a lens unit having a taking
lens and a solid state imaging device, and a camera body to which
said lens unit is removably attached, said digital camera system
comprising: a lens side timing generator provided in said lens unit
for controlling drive timing of each part of said lens unit; a camera
body side timing generator provided in said camera body for controlling
drive timing of each part of said camera body; and a mode selector
for selecting one of a first mode and a second mode, operation of
said camera body side timing generator being controlled by said
lens side timing generator in said first mode, the operation of
said camera body side timing generator not being controlled by said
lens side timing generator in said second mode.
2. A digital camera system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when
an image capture mode is selected, said mode selector selects said
first mode and when a mode other than said image capture mode is
selected, said mode selector selects said second mode.
3. A digital camera system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
lens side timing generator has an output terminal for outputting
a reset signal which resets said camera body side timing generator
and said camera body side timing generator has an input terminal
for receiving said reset signal, when said reset signal is input
to said input terminal in said first mode, said camera body side
timing generator being restarted.
4. A digital camera system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
lens unit has a first contact connected to said output terminal
and said camera body has a second contact connected to said input
terminal, when said lens unit is attached to said camera body, said
first and second contacts making a contact with each other, and
said output and input terminals being electrically connected to
each other.
5. A digital camera system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
reset signal is a vertical synchronizing signal generated by said
lens side timing generator for driving said solid state imaging
device.
6. A digital camera to which a lens unit having a taking lens,
a solid state imaging device and a lens side timing generator is
removably attached, comprising: a camera body side timing generator
for controlling drive timing of each part of said digital camera;
and a mode selector for selecting one of a first mode and a second
mode, operation of said camera body side timing generator being
controlled by said lens side timing generator in said first mode,
the operation of said camera body side timing generator not being
controlled by said lens side timing generator in said second mode.
7. A digital camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said camera
body side timing generator has an input terminal for receiving a
reset signal output from said lens side timing generator, when said
reset signal is input to said input terminal in said first mode,
said camera body side timing generator being restarted.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera system
and a digital camera in which a lens unit having a taking lens and
a solid state imaging device is removably attached to a camera body.
[0003] 2. Description Related to the Prior Art
[0004] A digital camera is widely used, and includes a solid state
imaging device such as a CCD image sensor for capturing an image
to store data of the image to a data storage. A digital camera system
in which a lens unit having a taking lens and a solid state imaging
device is removably attached to a camera body is also known (for
example, Japanese patent laid-open publication Nos. 10-191122, 10-233953,
2000-50138 and 2000-106640).
[0005] In digital camera systems disclosed in the above publications,
a desired lens unit is selected from among various lens units with
different focal lengths of taking lens or with different types of
solid state imaging device, and the selected lens unit is attached
to a camera body.
[0006] Moreover, in the digital camera systems disclosed in JP-A
10-191122 and JP-A 2000-50138, the camera body controls timing for
activating each part of the digital camera system, and the lens
unit works in accordance with a timing signal generated by the camera
body. However, a suitable timing signal varies widely according
to the type of the solid state imaging device. It is therefore difficult
to provide versatility with the camera body to be able to drive
various kinds of lens units.
[0007] In the digital camera system disclosed in JP-A 10-233953,
the problem like the above publications have does not arise since
the lens unit has a built-in timing generator. However, synchronization
of operations between the lens unit and the camera body is not taken
into account. The synchronization of the same is not considered
in JP-A 2000-106640 as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present
invention is to provide a digital camera system and a digital camera
capable of synchronizing operations of a lens unit and a camera
body regardless of kind of the lens unit.
[0009] In order to achieve the above and other objects, a digital
camera system of the present invention is composed of a lens unit
having a taking lens and a solid state imaging device, and a camera
body to which the lens unit is removably attached. The lens unit
has a lens side timing generator and the camera body has a camera
body side timing generator, and one of the lens unit and the camera
body has a mode selector. The lens side timing generator controls
drive timing of each part of the lens unit. The camera body side
timing generator controls drive timing of each part of the camera
body. The mode selector selects one of a first mode (lens-led type)
and a second mode (camera body-led type). In the first mode, operation
of the camera body side timing generator is controlled by the lens
side timing generator. In the second mode, the operation of the
camera body side timing generator is not controlled by the lens
side timing generator.
[0010] It is preferable that the mode selector selects the first
mode when an image capture mode is selected, whereas the mode selector
selects the second mode when a mode other than the image capture
mode is selected.
[0011] Moreover, the lens side timing generator has an output terminal
for outputting a reset signal which resets the camera body side
timing generator and the camera body side timing generator has an
input terminal for receiving the reset signal. The camera body side
timing generator is restarted and generates a predetermined timing
pattern when the reset signal is input to the input terminal while
the first mode is selected by the mode selector.
[0012] The lens unit has a first contact connected to the output
terminal and the camera body has a second contact connected to the
input terminal. When the lens unit is attached to the camera body,
the first and second contacts make a contact with each other, and
the output and input terminals are electrically connected to each
other.
[0013] The reset signal is preferably a vertical synchronizing
signal generated by the lens side timing generator for driving the
solid state imaging device.
[0014] A digital camera of the present invention to which a lens
unit having a taking lens, a solid state imaging device and a lens
side timing generator is removably attached includes a camera body
side timing generator and a mode selector. The camera body side
timing generator controls drive timing of each part of the digital
camera. The mode selector selects one of a first mode and a second
mode. In the first mode, operation of the camera body side timing
generator is controlled by the lens side timing generator. In the
second mode, the operation of the camera body side timing generator
is not controlled by the lens side timing generator.
[0015] According to the present invention, the operations of the
lens unit and the camera body can be synchronized regardless of
kind of the lens unit.
[0016] Since the first mode is selected when capturing images,
the camera body side timing generator does not need to generate
a timing signal corresponds to each kind of the solid state imaging
device. Owing to this, the camera body can correspond to various
lens units with different types of the solid state imaging device,
thereby improving its versatility.
[0017] In the first mode, the reset signal output from the lens
side timing generator is input to the camera body side timing generator.
Therefore, the camera body side timing generator can be synchronized
with the lens side timing generator. This reset signal is the vertical
synchronizing signal, and therefore it is unnecessary to generate
any new signals as the reset signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a digital camera
system in which a lens unit is detached from a camera body;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a mode selection dial;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a lens side mount portion;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a camera side mount portion;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure
of the digital camera system;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a block diagram explaining synchronization between
a timing generator in the lens unit and a timing generator in the
camera body;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a flow chart explaining operation of the digital
camera system;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a timing chart explaining reset and restart of
a vertical drive signal VB and a horizontal drive signal HB by an
input of a vertical synchronizing signal VL;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a flow chart explaining synchronization processing
between operation of the lens unit and operation of the camera body
with V-cycle at 33 ms when a through image is displayed; and
[0028] FIG. 10 is a flow chart explaining the synchronization processing
between the operation of the lens unit and the operation of the
camera body with V-cycle at 50 ms when the through image is displayed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, a digital camera system 10 is composed
of a camera body 11 and a lens unit 12. The lens unit 12 is removably
attached to the camera body 11. At a front surface of the lens unit
12, a taking lens 13 is exposed. A lens side mount portion 14 is
formed at a rear surface of the lens unit 12.
[0030] The lens side mount portion 14 has three bayonet claws 15
arranged at regular intervals along an outer periphery of the lens
side mount portion 14. Inside of the lens unit 12 is provided a
CCD image sensor (hereinafter, CCD) 16 for capturing a subject image
focused by the taking lens 13. As the lens unit 12, several kinds
of the lens units with different focal lengths of the taking lens
13 or with different numbers of pixels in the CCD 16, or those capable
of monochrome photography, infrared photography or the like are
prepared.
[0031] A camera side mount portion 18 is formed at a front surface
of the camera body 11. The camera side mount portion 18 has three
bayonet gaps 19 arranged at regular intervals along an outer periphery
of the camera side mount portion 18. In order to attach the lens
unit 12 to the camera body 11, the bayonet claws 15 are forced into
the bayonet gaps 19, and the lens unit 12 is rotated in clockwise
direction, thereby coupling the bayonet claws 15 with the bayonet
claws 19a in a meshed manner.
[0032] A mount lid 21 is contained inside the camera side mount
portion 18. The mount lid 21 is biased by a spring in a forward
direction, so as to prevent dust or the like from entering to the
camera body 11 while the lens unit 12 is not attached.
[0033] Moreover, the camera side mount portion 18 is provided with
a lock pin 20. When the lens unit 12 is attached to the camera body
11, the lock pin 20 becomes engaged with a pin hole (not shown)
of the lens side mount portion 14, and rotation of the lens unit
12 is locked. Owing to this, the lens unit 12 is prevented from
dropping off from the camera body 11.
[0034] A lock release button 22 is located near the camera side
mount portion 18. When the lock release button 22 is depressed while
the lens unit 12 is attached to the camera body 11, the lock pin
20 is moved backwards and released from the engagement with the
pin hole (not shown). When the lock release button 22 is depressed,
and the lens unit 12 is rotated, the lens unit 12 is detached from
the camera body 11.
[0035] A flash unit 24 is disposed on the upper front surface of
the camera body 11. A shutter button 25 and a mode selection dial
26 are disposed on an upper surface of the camera body 11. The shutter
button 25 is depressed when images are captured. The mode selection
dial 26 is rotated to select one of a movie capture mode, a still
image capture mode, an image transfer mode for transferring the
captured images to a personal computer and the like, a setup mode
for making various settings, and a playback mode for reproducing
recorded images. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, when "Cam"
represented on the mode selection dial 26 is positioned to an arrow
27, the still image capture mode is selected. Similarly, "Mov"
selects the movie capture mode, "PC" selects the image
transfer mode, "Setup" selects the setup mode and "Play"
selects the playback mode.
[0036] A power operating button 78 (see FIG. 5) and an LCD 71 (see
FIG. 5), which are described later, are disposed on a rear surface
of the camera body 11 (now shown).
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the lens side mount portion 14 is provided
with a lens connection contact group 30. The lens connection contact
group 30 is composed of twenty four connection contacts PL1 to PL24.
Each bayonet claw 15 has eight connection contacts.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the camera side mount portion 18 is
provided with a camera connection contact group 31. As in the case
of the lens connection contact group 30, the camera connection contact
group 31 is composed of twenty four connection contacts PB1 to PB24.
Each of the connection contacts PB1 to PB24 is connected to each
of the connection contacts PL1 to PL24 of the lens unit 12 when
the lens unit 12 is attached to the camera body 11. For example,
the connection contact PL1 is connected to the connection contact
PB1, and the connection contact PL24 is connected to the connection
contact PB24.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, the lens unit 12 has a lens controller
40 for controlling each part of the lens unit 12. The lens controller
40 is provided with a ROM 40a and a RAM 40b. The ROM 40a stores
a program for controlling each part of the lens unit 12. The RAM
40b temporarily stores work data. The lens controller 40 controls
each part of the lens unit 12 based on the program stored in the
ROM 40a.
[0040] An analog front end (AFE) 42 is connected to the lens controller
40 through a data bus 41, and is controlled by the lens controller
40. As shown in FIG. 6, the AFE 42 has a correlation double sampling
circuit (CDS) 43, a variable gain amplifier (VGA) 44, an A/D converter
45 and a timing generator (hereinafter, TG) 46. The TG 46 is a lens
side timing generator, and generates a timing signal under the control
of the lens controller 40. Based on this timing signal, the CDS
43, VGA 44 and A/D converter 45 are driven.
[0041] The TG 46 also generates a horizontal synchronizing signal
HL, a vertical synchronizing signal VL and drive signals (H1 to
H4, V1 to V8 and the like). The CCD 16 connected to the AFE 42 is
driven when the drive signals are input.
[0042] The CCD 16 photoelectrically converts the subject image
focused by the taking lens 13 into an electric signal and outputs
it as an image signal. After noise is removed in the CDS 43, the
image signal output from the CCD 16 is amplified in the VGA 44 and
then converted into image data in a digital signal form in the A/D
converter 45.
[0043] A digital signal processor 48 connected to the TG 46 is
driven when the timing signal is input from the TG 46. The digital
signal processor 48 is also connected to the A/D converter 45 and
the image data is input from the A/D converter 45. The digital signal
processor 48 applies various image processing such as YC conversion,
gradation conversion, white balance correction and the like to the
image data.
[0044] An AE/AF detector 49 is connected to the A/D converter 45
and the image data is input from the A/D converter 45. The AE/AF
detector 49 detects an AE detection value and an AF detection value
based on the image data. The AE detection value is a value at which
most appropriate exposure is obtained. The AF detection value is
a value at which highest integration value of high-frequency components
in the image data is obtained.
[0045] The AE/AF detector 49 is connected to the lens controller
40 through the data bus 41, and the AE and AF detection values are
input to the lens controller 40. The lens controller 40 controls
electric shutter speed of the CCD 16 based on the AE detection value,
and moves a focus lens of the taking lens 13 to an in-focus position
by controlling a motor (not shown) based on the AF detection value.
[0046] Besides the lens controller 40, AFE 42, digital signal processor
48 and AE/AF detector 49, a high-speed serial driver 50 and a universal
asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) 51 are also connected to
the data bus 41, and controlled by the lens controller 40.
[0047] The high-speed serial driver 50 is, for example, a low voltage
differential signaling (LVDS) circuit which transfers data by serial
transmission. The high-speed serial driver 50 is connected to the
lens connection contact group 30. The high-speed serial driver 50
converts the image data of a parallel signal form into a serial
signal form, and sends the image data to the camera body 11 through
the lens connection contact group 30.
[0048] The UART 51 converts the parallel signal into the serial
signal and vice versa, and also sends and receives the control signals
with the camera body 11. The UART 51 also sends status information
to the camera body 11.
[0049] A power controller 52 and a DC/DC converter 54 are connected
to the lens connection contact group 30, and the DC/DC converter
54 is also connected to the power controller 52. An electric power
is supplied to the DC/DC converter 54 from the camera body 11 through
the lens connection contact group 30. The power controller 52 controls
the DC/DC converter 54 to decrease the voltage supplied from the
camera body 11 to a predetermined value. Owing to this, the electric
power is supplied to each part of the lens unit 12.
[0050] The camera body 11 has a camera controller 60 for controlling
each part of the camera body 11. The camera controller 60 is provided
with a ROM 60a and a RAM 60b. The ROM 60a stores a program for controlling
each part of the camera body 11. The RAM 60b temporarily stores
work data. The camera controller 60 controls each part of the camera
body 11 based on the program stored in the ROM 60a.
[0051] A high-speed serial driver 62, a UART 63, a RAM 64, a compression/decompression
circuit 65, an LCD driver 66, a media controller 67, a flash controller
68, a TG 69 and an I/O port 70 are connected to the camera controller
60 through a data bus 61, and controlled by the camera controller
60.
[0052] The high-speed serial driver 62 is connected to the camera
connection contact group 31. The high-speed serial driver 62 is
the LVDS circuit. The high-speed serial driver 62 receives the image
data sent from the high-speed serial driver 50 of the lens unit
12 through the camera connection contact group 31, and converts
the image data of the serial signal form into the parallel signal
form. The image data received by the high-speed serial driver 62
is transferred to the RAM 64 in a direct memory access (DMA) manner.
That is, the image data is directly transferred to the RAM 64 without
going through the camera controller 60.
[0053] The UART 63 sends and receives data such as the control
signals with the lens unit 12, like the UART 51.
[0054] The compression/decompression circuit 65 applies compression
or decompression processing to the image data temporarily stored
in the RAM 64. That is, the compression/decompression circuit 65
compresses image data received from the lens unit 12, and decompresses
image data recorded in a recording medium 72 when the image data
is reproduced. Note that the recording medium 72 is, for example,
a memory card removably connected to the camera body 11.
[0055] Image data for a through image received from the lens unit
12 or image data recorded in the recording medium 72 are input to
the LCD driver 66 and displayed as the through image or the reproduced
image on the LCD 71.
[0056] The media controller 67 receives image data from the lens
unit 12 during the image capturing and records the image data in
the recording medium 72 to sort out from the through image data.
The media controller 67 also reads out the image data in the recording
medium 72. The flash controller 68 controls the flash unit 24 so
as to emit flash light.
[0057] The TG 69 is a camera body side timing generator, and generates
a timing signal under the control of the camera controller 60. Based
on this timing signal, each part of the camera body 11 is driven.
The I/O port 70 sends and receives signals with the lens unit 12
through the camera connection contact group 31.
[0058] A power controller 75 is provided in the camera body 11.
A battery 76 and a DC/DC converter 77 are connected to the power
controller 75. The battery 76 is also connected to the DC/DC converter
77. The power operating button 78 is connected to the power controller
75.
[0059] The power controller 75 is turned ON/OFF by an operation
signal input from the power operating button 78. When turned ON,
the power controller 75 controls the DC/DC converter 77 to decrease
the voltage of the battery 76 to a predetermined value. Owing to
this, the electric power is supplied to each part of the camera
body 11. The battery 76 is also connected to the camera connection
contact group 31 and supplies the electric power to the lens unit
12.
[0060] The shutter button 25 is connected to the camera connection
contact group 31 and the camera controller 60. The shutter button
25 outputs a shutter signal S1 when it is depressed halfway and
outputs a shutter signal S2 when it is fully depressed. The shutter
signals S1 and S2 are sent to the camera controller 60 and also
to the lens controller 40 through the camera connection contact
group 31 and the lens connection contact group 30.
[0061] The mode selection dial 26 is connected to the camera controller
60. As mentioned above, the mode selection dial 26 is rotated and
outputs a signal corresponding to the rotated position to the camera
controller 60. The camera controller 60 sets the mode corresponding
to the received signal.
[0062] The camera body 11 is provided with two drive modes: a first
mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the TG 69 in the camera
body 11 is controlled by the TG 46 in the lens unit 12, and each
part of the camera body 11 is driven in synchronization with the
operation of the lens unit 12. In the second mode, each part of
the camera body 11 is driven without synchronizing with the operation
of the lens unit 12.
[0063] The camera controller 60 switches between these two drive
modes when the mode selection dial 26 is operated. The camera controller
60 sets the drive mode to the first mode when the still image capture
mode or the movie capture mode is selected. The camera controller
60 sets the drive mode to the second mode when the mode other than
the above capture modes, that is, the image transfer mode, setup
mode or playback mode is selected. Note that the lens unit 12 may
be provided with an operating member for switching these two modes.
[0064] Hereinafter, a changeover between the first mode and the
second mode is explained. As shown in FIG. 6, the TG 46 in the lens
unit 12 has an output terminal 46a for outputting the vertical synchronizing
signal VL (reset signal). The output terminal 46a is connected to
the connection contact PL24 (first contact) through a signal line
80a. The TG 69 in the camera body 11 has an input terminal 69a for
receiving the reset signal. The input terminal 69a is connected
to the connection contact PB24 (second contact) through a signal
line 80b and a buffer 81. A pull-up resister 82 is also connected
to the input terminal 69a.
[0065] When the lens unit 12 is attached to the camera body 11,
the lens side connection contact PL24 and the camera body side connection
contact PB24 are connected, thereby electrically connecting the
TG 46 and the TG 69 through the signal lines 80a and 80b. Note that
the connection contacts PL24 and PB24 are explained as an example
here, but other connection contacts can be used for this purpose
as well.
[0066] The I/O port 70 has an input terminal 70a and an output
terminal 70b. The input terminal 70a is connected to the connection
contact PB23 through a signal line 83. A pull-up resister 84 is
also connected to the input terminal 70a. The output terminal 70b
is connected to the connection contact PB22 through a signal line
85. Moreover, the output terminal 70b is connected to the buffer
81 through a signal line 86. The lens unit side connection contact
PL23 is grounded and the connection contact PL22 is connected to
the power controller 52.
[0067] When the lens unit 12 is not attached the camera body 11,
an electric potential of the input terminal 70a is increased to,
for example, about 5 volts by the pull-up resister 84 and a High-signal
is input to the input terminal 70a. When the lens unit 12 is attached
to the camera body 11, the connection contacts PL23 and PB23 are
connected to each other. The connection contact PL23 is grounded,
and therefore the electric potential of the input terminal 70a becomes
0 volt. Accordingly, a Low-signal is input to the input terminal
70a. When receiving the Low-signal, the I/O port 70 detects the
attachment of the lens unit 12 to the camera body 11.
[0068] The I/O port 70 outputs a power control signal from the
output terminal 70b under the control of the camera controller 60.
The power control signal is input to the power controller 52 through
the connection contacts PB22 and PL22. When the still image capture
mode or the movie capture mode which activates the lens unit 12
is selected, an ON-signal as the power control signal for turning
on the power of the lens unit 12 is output from the output terminal
70b. When the mode which activates the camera body 11 without activating
the lens unit 12 is selected, an OFF-signal is output from the output
terminal 70b. Upon receiving the ON-signal, the power controller
52 starts supplying the electric power to each part of the lens
unit 12. Upon receiving the OFF-signal, the power controller 52
stops supplying the electric power.
[0069] The power control signal is also input to the buffer 81
through the signal line 86 to control the output of the buffer 81.
When the power of the lens unit 12 is turned off (when the OFF-signal
is input to the buffer 81), the output of the buffer 81 is at high
impedance, and the vertical synchronizing signal VL is not output
from the buffer 81. As a result, the voltage of the input terminal
69a is increased by the pull-up resister 82, and the High-signal
is input to the I/O port 70. Accordingly, each part of the camera
body 11 is driven in accordance with the timing led by the camera
body side TG 69.
[0070] When the power of the lens unit 12 is turned on (when the
ON-signal is input to the buffer 81), the output of the buffer 81
becomes active, and the vertical synchronizing signal VL is output
from the buffer 81. The vertical synchronizing signal VL is input
to the input terminal 69a as the reset signal. As a result, the
TG 69 is reset and restarted. Accordingly, each part of the camera
body 11 is driven in accordance with the timing led by the lens
side TG 46.
[0071] The TG 69 has output terminals 69b and 69c. The output terminal
69b outputs a vertical drive signal VB, and the output terminal
69c outputs a horizontal drive signal HB. These drive signals VB
and HB are input to the LCD driver 66.
[0072] In the still image capture mode or the movie capture mode,
the CCD 16 in the lens unit 12 is driven. At this time, the TG 69
in the camera body 11 is synchronized with the TG 46 in the lens
unit 12, and thereby synchronizing the LCD driver 66 as well. Owing
to this, the display of the LCD 71 is synchronized with the CCD
16.
[0073] Hereinafter, operation of the digital camera system 10 having
the above configuration is explained with referring to a flow chart
in FIG. 7. When turned ON by operating the power operating button
78, the power controller 75 starts supplying the electric power
to each part of the camera body 11.
[0074] When the mode selection dial 26 is operated, the selected
mode is determined. When the still image capture mode or the movie
capture mode is selected, the first mode is set. At this time, the
ON-signal is output from the output terminal 70b of the I/O port
70. The ON-signal is input to the power controller 52 and the power
of the lens unit 12 is turned ON.
[0075] The ON-signal output from the output terminal 70b is also
input to the buffer 81. Owing to this, the output of the buffer
81 becomes active, and the vertical synchronizing signal VL as the
reset signal is input to the input terminal 69a of the TG 69.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 8, a counting operation for the timing
signal generation is suspended when the vertical synchronizing signal
VL input to the input terminal 69a is in a Low state. When the vertical
synchronizing signal VL changes from the Low state to a High state,
the timing signal generation is restarted at a predetermined pattern
(an initial pattern of each signal HB and VB).
[0077] Hereinafter, a synchronization processing between the lens
unit 12 and the camera body 11 when a through image is displayed
is explained. As shown in FIG. 9, V-cycle of a through image in
the lens unit 12 is, for example, 33 ms (30 frames/sec).
[0078] By sending and receiving the control signals through the
UARTs 51 and 63, the lens unit 12 and the camera body 11 control
the TGs 46 and 69 to have the V-cycle of about 33 ms, respectively.
However, the vertical synchronizing signal VL output from the TG
46 of the lens unit 12 and the vertical drive signal VB output from
the TG 69 of the camera body 11 do not completely synchronize since
jitter arises due to disturbance in waveform of the electric signals.
Therefore, the vertical synchronizing signal VL from the lens unit
12 forcibly resets and restarts the TG 69. Owing to this, the lens
unit 12 and the LCD 71 of the camera body 11 work in synchronization.
[0079] FIG. 10 shows a case in which the TGs 46 and 69 are controlled
to have the V-cycle of about 50 ms by sending and receiving of the
control signals through the UARTs 51 and 63. Also in this case,
the vertical synchronizing signal VL from the lens unit 12 forcibly
resets and restarts the TG 69. Owing to this, the lens unit 12 and
the LCD 71 of the camera body 11 work in synchronization.
[0080] In FIG. 7, when the mode other than the still image capture
mode or the movie capture mode, that is, the image transfer mode,
setup mode or playback mode is selected, the second mode is set.
At this time, the OFF-signal is output from the output terminal
70b of the I/O port 70. The OFF-signal is input to the power controller
52 and the power of the lens unit 12 is turned OFF.
[0081] The OFF-signal output from the output terminal 70b is also
input to the buffer 81. Owing to this, the output of the buffer
81 is at high impedance, and the vertical synchronizing signal VL
is not input to the input terminal 69a of the TG 69. Since the TG
69 is not reset by the vertical synchronizing signal VL, the camera
body 11 executes various processing without synchronizing with the
lens unit 12.
[0082] Thereafter, it is determined whether the power of the camera
body 11 is turned OFF or not. When the camera body 11 is determined
to be not turned OFF, the digital camera system 10 goes back to
the process of determining the selected mode. When the camera body
11 is determined to be turned OFF, the digital camera system 10
finishes the operation.
[0083] In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied
to the digital still camera. However, the present invention is also
applicable to digital video cameras. Moreover, the present invention
can be applied to TV phones and personal computers with cameras.
[0084] Various changes and modifications are possible in the present
invention and may be understood to be within the present invention.
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