Patent US1746753A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0382222A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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EP0382222A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Camera apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1990-02-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-02-08
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Abstract

Abstract A camera system having a lens unit provided with an actuator for changing the state of an optical system by driving a driving part and a driving circuit which drives the actuator on the basis of a driving control instruction signal supplied in a given periodicity from a control circuit disposed on the side of a camera body. The lens unit is characterized in that the actuator driving timing of the driving circuit is arranged to differ from the timing at which the driving control instruction signal is supplied from the control circuit to the driving circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masahide C/O Tamagawa Jigyosho Hirasawa
  • 👤 Masamichi C/O Tamagawa Jigyosho Toyama
  • 👤 Ryunosuke C/O Tamagawa Jigyosho Iijima

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 09:13
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10; G02B7/102; G03; G03B; G03B13/00; G03B13/32; G03B13/34; G03B13/36; G02B7/003; G02B7/005; G03B17/00; G03B17/02; G03B17/12; G03B3/00; G03B3/10; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/66; H04N23/663; H04N23/67; H04N23/673; H04N7/00; H04N7/24; H04N7/52; G03B2205/00; G03B2205/0053

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A lens unit comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; and b) driving control means for driving said actuator on the basis of a driving control signal supplied from a camera in a predetermined periodicity, said driving control means being arranged to supply a driving signal to said actuator in a periodicity different from the periodicity in which said driving control signal is received from said camera.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
A lens unit comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; and b) driving control means for driving said actuator on the basis of a driving control signal supplied from a camera in a predetermined periodicity, said driving control means being arranged to supply a driving signal to said actuator in a periodicity different from the periodicity in which said driving control signal is received from said camera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
A lens unit according to claim 1, wherein said driving part is arranged to vary the image forming posi­tion of said optical system so as to adjust focus of said optical system, and wherein said actuator is arranged to drive a focusing lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
A lens unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the periodicity of said driving control signal supplied from said camera is equal to the periodicity of a vertical synchronizing signal of a TV signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
A lens unit according to claim 3, wherein said driving control signal indicates information on a driving speed and a driving direction of said actuator, and wherein said driving control means is arranged to supply said driving signal in accordance with said information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A lens unit according to claim 4, wherein said driving control means is formed with a microcomputer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 59 words
A lens unit according to claim 5, wherein said driving control means is arranged to set a program execu­tion repeating cycle for a program of generating the wave form of said actuator driving signal at a periodicity which differs from the periodicity of the vertical synchronizing signal of a TV signal being processed on the side of said camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
A lens unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said actuator is a stepper motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 53 words
A lens unit according to claim 1, wherein said lens unit is detachably mountable on a camera, and wherein said driving control means is provided with communication means for communication of information with said camera in a periodicity which is synchronized with the periodicity of a vertical synchronizing signal of a TV signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 87 words
A lens unit which is detachably mountable on a camera, comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; and b) driving control means for supplying a driving signal to said actuator in a predetermined periodicity on the basis of a driving control signal supplied in a predetermined periodicity from said camera, said driving control means being arranged to change a driving state of said actuator in preference to the end of one cycle of said driving signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 87 words
A lens unit which is detachably mountable on a camera, comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; and b) driving control means for supplying a driving signal to said actuator in a predetermined periodicity on the basis of a driving control signal supplied in a predetermined periodicity from said camera, said driving control means being arranged to change a driving state of said actuator in preference to the end of one cycle of said driving signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 53 words
A lens unit according to claim 9, wherein said driving part is arranged to change the image forming posi­tion of said optical system so as to adjust focus of said optical system, and wherein said actuator is a stepper motor which is arranged to drive a focusing lens included in said optical system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
A lens unit according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said driving control signal supplied from said camera has a periodicity which is equal to the periodicity of a vertical synchronizing signal of a TV signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 43 words
A lens unit according to claim 11, wherein said driving control signal indicates information on a driving speed and a driving direction of said actuator, and wherein said driving control means supplies said driving signal to said actuator in accordance with said information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 17 words
A lens unit according to claim 12, wherein said driving control means is formed with a microcomputer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 59 words
A lens unit according to claim 13, wherein said driving control means is arranged to set a program execu­tion repeating cycle for a program of generating the wave form of said actuator driving signal at a periodicity which differs from the periodicity of the vertical synchronizing signal of a TV signal being processed on the side of said camera.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 53 words
A lens unit according to claim 9, wherein said driving control means changes a driving state of said actuator even before the end of a driving cycle of said actuator if the content of said driving control signal currently received from said camera differs from that of the driving control signal previously received.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 51 words
A lens unit according to claim 15, wherein said driving control means is arranged to reverse the driving direction of said actuator even before the end of a driving cycle of said actuator when a signal indicating a change in the driving direction of said actuator is received from said camera.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
A lens unit according to claim 16, wherein the driving periodicity of said actuator is set by a timer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 108 words
A lens unit comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; b) driving control means for supplying a driving signal to said actuator in a predetermined periodicity on the basis of a driving control signal supplied in a predetermined periodicity from a camera; and c) braking means for braking said actuator for a predetermined length of time before the driving direction of said actuator is reversed if a change in the driving direction of said actuator is indicated in said driving control signal when said driving control signal is received by said driving control means from said camera.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 108 words
A lens unit comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; b) driving control means for supplying a driving signal to said actuator in a predetermined periodicity on the basis of a driving control signal supplied in a predetermined periodicity from a camera; and c) braking means for braking said actuator for a predetermined length of time before the driving direction of said actuator is reversed if a change in the driving direction of said actuator is indicated in said driving control signal when said driving control signal is received by said driving control means from said camera.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 48 words
A lens unit according to claim 18, wherein said driving part is arranged to change the image forming posi­tion of said optical system so as to adjust focus of said optical system, and wherein said actuator is a step­per motor which is arranged to drive a focusing lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 43 words
A lens unit according to claim 19, wherein said driving control signal indicates information on a driving speed and a driving direction of said actuator, and wherein said driving control means is arranged to supply said driving signal in accordance with said information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
A lens unit according to claim 20, wherein said driving control means is formed with a microcomputer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 54 words
A lens unit according to claim 18, wherein said driving control means is arranged to change a driving state of said actuator even before the end of a driving cycle of said actuator if the content of the driving con­trol signal currently received from said camera differs from the driving control signal previously received.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 49 words
A lens unit according to claim 22, wherein said driving control means is arranged to reverse the driving direction of said actuator even before the end of a driving cycle of said actuator when a signal for reversing the driving direction of said actuator is received from said camera.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 27 words
A lens unit according to claim 23, wherein the driving periodicity of said actuator and the braking time of said braking means are set by a timer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 85 words
A camera system comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; b) driving means for supplying a driving signal to said actuator in a predetermined periodicity; c) control means for supplying a driving control instruction signal to said driving means; and d) storing means for storing information on a change in a driving state of said actuator when a driving control instruction for said change is transmitted from said control means to said driving means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 85 words
A camera system comprising: a) an actuator arranged to drive a driving part which varies the state of an optical system; b) driving means for supplying a driving signal to said actuator in a predetermined periodicity; c) control means for supplying a driving control instruction signal to said driving means; and d) storing means for storing information on a change in a driving state of said actuator when a driving control instruction for said change is transmitted from said control means to said driving means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 43 words
A camera system according to claim 25, wherein said driving part is arranged to change the image forming position of said optical system so as to adjust focus of said optical system, and wherein said actuator is arranged to drive a focusing lens.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 35 words
A camera system according to claim 25, wherein said driving control instruction signal supplied from said camera has a periodicity which is equal to the periodicity of a vertical synchronizing signal of a TV signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 46 words
A camera system according to claim 26, wherein said driving control instruction signal indicates information on a driving speed and a driving direction of said actuator, and wherein said driving means is arranged to supply said driving signal to said actuator in accordance with said information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 48 words
A camera system according to claim 28, wherein said driving means is disposed on the side of a lens unit and said control means is disposed on the side of a camera body, and wherein both said driving means and said control means are formed with microcomputers respectively.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 46 words
A camera system according to claim 29, wherein said storing means is arranged on the side of said camera body to store information on the driving direction of said actuator and to supply said information to said driving means along with said driving control instruction signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 64 words
A lens unit detachably mountable on a camera body, comprising: a) driving means for varying an optical char­acteristic of said lens unit; b) discriminating means for discriminating a characteristic of a control information signal trans­mitted from said camera body; and c) control means for changing a driving characteristic of said driving means according to the result of a discrimination made by said discriminating means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 64 words
A lens unit detachably mountable on a camera body, comprising: a) driving means for varying an optical char­acteristic of said lens unit; b) discriminating means for discriminating a characteristic of a control information signal trans­mitted from said camera body; and c) control means for changing a driving characteristic of said driving means according to the result of a discrimination made by said discriminating means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 44 words
A lens unit according to claim 31, wherein said control means has a memory for storing driving information for said driving means and controls said driving means by selecting driving information from the contents of said memory in accordance with said control information signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 23 words
A lens unit according to claim 32, wherein said driving information relates to a driving speed to be employed by said driving means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 56 words
A lens unit according to claim 32 or 33, wherein said driving means includes a motor which is arranged to vary said optical characteristic, and wherein said motor is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal on the basis of said control information signal and in synchronism with the periodicity of said control information signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 31 words
A lens unit according to claim 34, wherein said control means is arranged to control an on-period of said PWM signal in accordance with a characteristic of said control information signal.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 53 words
A lens unit according to claim 35, wherein the characteristic of said control information signal is a vertical synchronizing signal frequency conforming to a TV signal system employed by said camera body, and wherein said discriminating means is arranged to discriminate the periodicity of said control information signal transmitted from said camera body.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 23 words
A lens unit according to claim 36, wherein said driving means is a focus control means for adjusting focus of said optical system.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 32 words
A lens unit according to claim 35, wherein the characteristic of said control information signal is a vertical synchronizing signal frequency conforming to a TV signal system employed by said camera body.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 16 words
A lens unit according to claim 31, wherein said driving means is an exposure control means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 62 words
A lens unit according to claim 39, wherein said driving means includes an integrating circuit which is arranged to detect the quantity of incident light by inte­grating an image signal in a predetermined periodicity, and wherein said control means is arranged to vary a cut-off frequency of said integrating circuit according to the result of a discrimination made by said discriminating means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 64 words
A camera having a lens unit detachably mounted thereon, comprising: a) driving means arranged to vary an operating state of said lens unit; b) control means arranged to output control information for controlling said driving means; and c) communication means for transmitting to said driving means said control information by adding thereto identifying information which indicates a signal processing method employed by said camera.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 64 words
A camera having a lens unit detachably mounted thereon, comprising: a) driving means arranged to vary an operating state of said lens unit; b) control means arranged to output control information for controlling said driving means; and c) communication means for transmitting to said driving means said control information by adding thereto identifying information which indicates a signal processing method employed by said camera.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 51 words
A camera according to claim 41, wherein said control means is provided with a memory for storing driv­ing information for said driving means and is arranged to control said driving means by selecting driving infor­mation for said driving means from among the contents of said memory according to said control information.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 21 words
A camera according to claim 42, wherein said driving information indicates a driving speed to be employed by said driving means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 54 words
A camera according to claim 43, wherein said driving means includes a motor for varying an optical characteristic of said lens unit and is arranged to control said motor by a pulse width modulation (PWM) sig­nal on the basis of said control information and in synchronism with the periodicity of said control informa­tion signal.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 30 words
A camera according to claim 44, wherein said control means is arranged to control an on-period of said PWM signal in accordance with a characteristic of said control information signal.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 25 words
A camera according to claim 45, wherein said identifying information indicates a vertical synchro­nizing signal frequency of a TV signal system employed by said camera.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 33 words
A camera according to claim 46, wherein said communication means is arranged to transmit said control information in synchronism with the vertical synchronizing signal frequency of a TV signal employed by said camera.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 22 words
A camera according to claim 47, wherein said driving means is a focus control means for adjusting focus of said lens unit.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 15 words
A camera according to claim 41, wherein said driving means is an exposure control means.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 55 words
A camera according to claim 49, wherein said driving means includes an integrating circuit which inte­grates an image signal in a predetermined periodicity to detect the quantity of incident light, and wherein said control means is arranged to vary a cut-off fre­quency of said integrating circuit in accordance with a discrimination made by discriminating means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 51 words
A camera according to claim 50, wherein said communication means is arranged to transmit said control information in synchronism with the periodicity of a vertical synchronizing signal of a TV signal handled by said camera, and wherein said discriminating means is arranged to discriminate the periodicity of the vertical synchronizing signal.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim 121 words
A camera system having a camera body and a lens unit which is detachably mountable on said camera body, comprising: a) driving means for varying the state of an optical system disposed on the side of said lens unit; b) transmission means for transmitting, from said camera body to said lens unit, driving information required for varying the state of said optical system and identifying information corresponding to a signal processing method employed by said camera body; and c) control means arranged to control and vary an operating state of said optical system of said lens unit on the basis of said driving information and to vary a control characteristic of said driving means on the basis of said identifying information.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim 121 words
A camera system having a camera body and a lens unit which is detachably mountable on said camera body, comprising: a) driving means for varying the state of an optical system disposed on the side of said lens unit; b) transmission means for transmitting, from said camera body to said lens unit, driving information required for varying the state of said optical system and identifying information corresponding to a signal processing method employed by said camera body; and c) control means arranged to control and vary an operating state of said optical system of said lens unit on the basis of said driving information and to vary a control characteristic of said driving means on the basis of said identifying information.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim 37 words
A camera system according to claim 52, wherein said transmission means is arranged to transmit said information of different kinds in synchronism with a vertical synchronizing signal frequency of a TV signal handled by said camera body.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim 24 words
A camera system according to claim 53, wherein said identifying information is a signal indicating the vertical synchronizing signal frequency of said TV signal.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim 34 words
A camera system according to claim 54, wherein said driving means is a focus adjusting means, and wherein said control means controls a driving speed of said driving means according to said identifying information.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim 39 words
A system according to claim 54, wherein said driving means is an exposure control means, and wherein said control means controls, according to said identifying information, a time constant of integrating means for detecting the quantity of incident light.

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