Patent US6336899B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5608490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for and a method of communicating between a camera and external equipment
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-20
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Granted: 1997-03-04
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Expires: 2015-06-20
Abstract
Abstract A camera system including a camera which performs data communication with external equipment. The external equipment is connected to a communication terminal in the camera via a connector, such as a cable. The camera and the external equipment initially perform communication at a predetermined initial communication speed via the communication terminal and cable. The camera system includes a device to transmit a communication speed change command to the camera at the initial value of communication speed, and a device to change the initial value of communication speed to a high speed based upon the received communication speed change command. The camera system further includes a device to restore the communication speed to the original initial value of communication speed by generating a communication end command which is transmitted to the camera during communication with the external equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Hidehiro Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:10
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B29/00; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/66; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/002; G06F3/005; H04N23/661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A camera system, comprising: a camera including a communication terminal; an external device connected to the communication terminal of the camera, the camera and the external device performing communication at an initial communication speed via the communication terminal; a communication speed change command device to transmit a command to the camera to change the initial communication speed; and a communication speed change device to change the communication speed based on the communication speed change command, wherein after the communication speed is changed, communication between the camera and the external equipment is performed at the changed communication speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A camera system, comprising: a camera including a communication terminal; an external device connected to the communication terminal of the camera, the camera and the external device performing communication at an initial communication speed via the communication terminal; a communication speed change command device to transmit a command to the camera to change the initial communication speed; and a communication speed change device to change the communication speed based on the communication speed change command, wherein after the communication speed is changed, communication between the camera and the external equipment is performed at the changed communication speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A camera system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a communication end command transmitting device to transmit a communication end command to the camera; and a communication speed restoring device to restore the initial value of communication speed upon receiving the communication end command.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
120 words
A camera system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an operating unit included in the camera; a device to set the electrical power supply of the camera ON in response to operation of the operating unit; a timer to detect non-operation of the operating unit for a predetermined time after the operation of the operating unit; a device to set the electrical power supply OFF when the timer times out; and a communication speed restoring device to restore the initial value of communication speed when the electrical power supply is set OFF by the device to set the electrical power supply OFF, such that a next communication with the external equipment commences at the initial value of communication speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A camera system as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a memory to store communication speed information; and a device to set the initial communication speed value in the memory according to one of the electrical power supply being set ON and a time-out of the timer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A camera system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a speed range setting device to set a speed range of the communication speed between the camera and the external device; and a speed change impossible determining device to determine when the communication speed change command is outside the range of communication speed set by the speed range setting device and to transmit a signal to the external device indicating that communication speed change is impossible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein the initial value of communication speed is low speed of communication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A communication method of a camera system comprising a camera having a communication terminal and an external device connected to the communication terminal, the camera and external device performing communication via the communication terminal, comprising: communicating data between the camera and external device at an initial communication speed value; transmitting to the camera a communication speed change command; changing the communication speed between the camera and the external device when the camera receives the communication speed change command; and communicating data between the camera and the external device at the changed communication speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A communication method of a camera system comprising a camera having a communication terminal and an external device connected to the communication terminal, the camera and external device performing communication via the communication terminal, comprising: communicating data between the camera and external device at an initial communication speed value; transmitting to the camera a communication speed change command; changing the communication speed between the camera and the external device when the camera receives the communication speed change command; and communicating data between the camera and the external device at the changed communication speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A communication method of a camera system as recited in claim 7, wherein the communicating data at the initial communication speed comprises: transmitting to the camera an equipment type confirmation command when the external device commences communication with the camera; generating from the camera an equipment type identification signal in response to the equipment type confirmation command; and confirming that the equipment type identification signal generated from the camera in response to the receipt of the equipment type confirmation command corresponds to an equipment type with which high-speed communication is possible.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A communication method of a camera system as recited in claim 7, further comprising: setting a range of communication speed between the camera and the external device; receiving the communication speed change command from the external equipment; determining whether the communication speed of the communication speed change command is within the set communication speed range; and when the communication speed is outside the set communication speed range, transmitting a speed change impossible signal to the external device, and not performing the change of communication speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A communication method of a camera system as recited in claim 7, wherein the initial value of communication speed is a low speed of communication.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein the external device is connected to the communication terminal of the camera via a cable.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for performing communication between a camera and an external device, comprising: an equipment type command generator to send an equipment type command to the camera at an initial predetermined baud rate to determine whether the camera is a type which is compatible with the external device; an equipment type generator to receive the equipment type command from the equipment type command generator, and to confirm that the camera is a type which is compatible with the external device; and a speed change device to send a baud rate change command to the camera to change the initial communication speed when the equipment type generator confirms that the camera is a type compatible with the external device.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for performing communication between a camera and an external device, comprising: an equipment type command generator to send an equipment type command to the camera at an initial predetermined baud rate to determine whether the camera is a type which is compatible with the external device; an equipment type generator to receive the equipment type command from the equipment type command generator, and to confirm that the camera is a type which is compatible with the external device; and a speed change device to send a baud rate change command to the camera to change the initial communication speed when the equipment type generator confirms that the camera is a type compatible with the external device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for performing communication between a camera and an external device, comprising: a camera communication connector via which communication is performed with the external device; an external device communication connector via which communication is performed with the camera; a communication device connecting the camera and the external device via the camera communication connector and the external device communication connector; an equipment type confirmation command generator to send an equipment type confirmation command to the camera at a predetermined initial baud rate to confirm whether the camera is compatible with the external device; an equipment type generator to receive the equipment type confirmation command and to generate an equipment type command at the predetermined initial baud rate in response to the equipment type confirmation command received from the external equipment; and a communication speed change device to receive the equipment type command from the equipment type generator, to determine if the equipment type of the camera is compatible with the external device and to transmit a command to the camera to increase the initial predetermined baud rate when it is determined that the equipment type of the camera is compatible with the external device.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for performing communication between a camera and an external device, comprising: a camera communication connector via which communication is performed with the external device; an external device communication connector via which communication is performed with the camera; a communication device connecting the camera and the external device via the camera communication connector and the external device communication connector; an equipment type confirmation command generator to send an equipment type confirmation command to the camera at a predetermined initial baud rate to confirm whether the camera is compatible with the external device; an equipment type generator to receive the equipment type confirmation command and to generate an equipment type command at the predetermined initial baud rate in response to the equipment type confirmation command received from the external equipment; and a communication speed change device to receive the equipment type command from the equipment type generator, to determine if the equipment type of the camera is compatible with the external device and to transmit a command to the camera to increase the initial predetermined baud rate when it is determined that the equipment type of the camera is compatible with the external device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a communication speed change inhibiting device to inhibit changing of the predetermined initial baud rate when the increased communication speed is outside a range of communication speed of the camera.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |