Abstract: A camera 200 and accessory devices 100 and 300 perform communication via channels including a data communication channel used for data communication and a notification channel for notifying timing of communication performed via the data communication channel. Each of the accessory devices 100 and 300 performs switching from a first communication mode to a second communication mode upon receiving communication-partner designation data via the data communication channel with communication in the first communication mode, the communication-partner designation data indicating that the relevant accessory device has been selected as a communication partner with the camera 200.

Abstract: A calibration method of a variable-focal-length lens including a liquid lens unit whose focal-length is periodically varied in response to a periodic drive-signal includes: using a calibration tool having a plurality of height-different parts on a surface; preparing a calibration table by repeating outputting a drive-signal having a predetermined voltage to the variable-focal-length lens, detecting a surface image of the calibration tool using an image detector, detecting two points having maximum image contrast in the surface image, calculating a focal-depth from a difference in a focal-length between the two points; and recording the focal-depth and the voltage of the drive-signal in a corresponding combination, and retrieving a value of the voltage corresponding to a desired focal-depth from the calibration table to set the variable-focal-length lens at the desired focal-depth, and adjusting the voltage of the drive-signal outputted to the variable-focal-length lens based on the retrieved value.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a notification channel and a data communication channel for communication with an accessory device, the notification channel being used for signal transfer between the image pickup device and the accessory device, the data communication channel being used for data communication between the image pickup device and the accessory device. The image pickup device starts the communication with the accessory device when a voltage level of the notification channel takes a predetermined level.

Abstract: An accessory device 100 being able to switch an operating state between an active state and a sleep state in which power consumption is smaller than in the active state performs communication with a camera 200 via a notification channel CS used for signal transfer between the camera 200 and the accessory device 100 and a data communication channel DATA used for data communication between the camera and the accessory device. The accessory device receives active instruction data that is transmitted from the camera in response to output of a predetermined signal from the accessory device in the sleep state via the notification channel, and switches the operating state of the accessory device 100 from the sleep state to the active state upon receiving the active instruction data.

Abstract: An optical apparatus attachable to an image pickup apparatus and switchable a power state between a first state and a second state that consumes a power less than the first state includes a driver that drives a driven member, a first detector configured to detect a driving amount of the driver or whether the driven member is located at a predetermined position, a memory that stores a signal value of the first detector when the power state of the optical apparatus is switched from the first state to the second state, and a determiner that determines that the driver is in an abnormal state when the signal value stored in the memory and the signal value of the first detector when the power state of the optical apparatus is switched from the second state to the first state are different from each other.

Abstract: In the conventional semiconductor device, the power consumed in ternary serial data communication cannot be reduced. According to one embodiment, the semiconductor device has a the transmission processing circuit 10 that converts the binary representation of binary Transmitted data Dbin_TX to a ternary transmitted data Dter_TX represented as a ternary number and generates a transmitted signal corresponding to this ternary Transmitted data Dter_TX, wherein the transmission processing circuit 10 verifies the frequency of occurrence of the values included in the ternary transmitted data Dter_TX, assigns the signal change pattern with the highest state transition to the transmitted signal logical level corresponding to the lowest occurrence value, and generates a transmitted signal.

Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system whose refractive index is variable in response to an inputted drive signal; an image detector for detecting an image of a target object through the lens system; a lens controller for outputting the drive signal and an illumination signal; and a lens operation unit for adjusting a frequency and amplitude of the drive signal outputted by the lens controller and an image-detection timing for the image detector. The lens controller includes a resonance-lock controller for tuning the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the lens system. The lens operation unit includes a resonance-lock operation unit for switchably enabling and suspending the resonance-lock controller.

Abstract: From distance measurement data obtained by a distance measurement, according to a moving body approximate ellipses and quadratic functions along an xy-axis and yx-axis are calculated. An approximate ellipse close to the shoulder width and thickness of a user is selected, and quadratic functions having the smallest approximation error to the distance measurement data are selected. Thus, the position and orientation of the user are estimated from the selected approximate curves. That is, if an approximate curve based on one shape or coordinate system does not match the user, the position and orientation of the user are estimated from an approximate curve based on another shape or coordinate system. Therefore, even if the positional relation between the distance measurement sensor and user changes variously, the position and orientation of the user can be detected.

Abstract: An image measurement apparatus, which functions as a non-contact profile-measuring device, includes: an image sensor as an image pick-up device; a variable focal length lens (liquid lens unit) disposed on an optical axis extending from a workpiece to the image sensor; and a controller (image-pickup lens controller and image measurement processor) configured to control the variable focal length lens and process a detected image by the image sensor. The image measurement apparatus, which also functions as a non-contact displacement-detecting device, includes: an image sensor; a variable focal length lens (liquid lens unit) disposed on an optical axis extending from the workpiece to the image sensor; and a controller (displacement-detection lens controller and profile measurement processor) configured to control the variable focal length lens and a detected image by the image sensor.

Abstract: An accessory device 100 being able to switch an operating state between an active state and a sleep state in which power consumption is smaller than in the active state performs communication with a camera 200 via a notification channel CS used for signal transfer between the camera 200 and the accessory device 100 and a data communication channel DATA used for data communication between the camera and the accessory device. The accessory device receives active instruction data that is transmitted from the camera in response to output of a predetermined signal from the accessory device in the sleep state via the notification channel, and switches the operating state of the accessory device 100 from the sleep state to the active state upon receiving the active instruction data.

Abstract: A camera 200 and accessory devices 100 and 300 perform communication via channels including a data communication channel used for data communication and a notification channel for notifying timing of communication performed via the data communication channel. Each of the accessory devices 100 and 300 performs switching from a first communication mode to a second communication mode upon receiving communication-partner designation data via the data communication channel with communication in the first communication mode, the communication-partner designation data indicating that the relevant accessory device has been selected as a communication partner with the camera 200.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a notification channel and a data communication channel for communication with an accessory device, the notification channel being used for signal transfer between the image pickup device and the accessory device, the data communication channel being used for data communication between the image pickup device and the accessory device. The image pickup device starts the communication with the accessory device when a voltage level of the notification channel takes a predetermined level.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens serving as an accessory apparatus includes a power control unit configured to switch between a first power state where communication with a camera main body serving as an image pickup apparatus is possible and a second power state which provides smaller power consumption than the first power state. The interchangeable lens also includes a setting unit configured to switch a communication setting between a first setting corresponding to a first communication method that is a communication method used in an initial communication and a second setting corresponding to a second communication method different from the first communication method. In addition, in a case where the communication setting of the interchangeable lens is the second setting, the power control unit does not perform the switching from the first power state to the second power state.

Abstract: In the conventional semiconductor device, the power consumed in ternary serial data communication cannot be reduced. According to one embodiment, the semiconductor device has a the transmission processing circuit 10 that converts the binary representation of binary Transmitted data Dbin_TX to a ternary transmitted data Dter_TX represented as a ternary number and generates a transmitted signal corresponding to this ternary Transmitted data Dter_TX, wherein the transmission processing circuit 10 verifies the frequency of occurrence of the values included in the ternary transmitted data Dter_TX, assigns the signal change pattern with the highest state transition to the transmitted signal logical level corresponding to the lowest occurrence value, and generates a transmitted signal.

Abstract: An accessory apparatus attached to an interchangeable lens attached to a camera body can switch between a first accessory power mode and a second accessory power mode consuming less power than the first accessory power mode. The power state of the accessory apparatus is set based on information regarding the power mode of the camera body and the power mode of the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes an image-detection-condition setting unit configured to set image detection conditions. The image-detection-condition setting unit is configured to set, as image detection conditions, a combined mode of repeating an image detection loop including at least one multi-plane-image-detecting operation and at least one single-plane-image-detecting operation. In the multi-plane-image-detecting operation, a plurality of values of the focal length, at each of which the image detection is performed, are set in one cycle in which the focal length of the variable focal length lens is varied. In the single-plane-image-detecting operation, a single value of the focal length, at which the image detection is performed, is set in one cycle in which the focal length of the variable focal length lens is varied.

Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes an image-detection-condition setting unit configured to set image detection conditions. The image-detection-condition setting unit is configured to set, as image detection conditions, a combined mode of repeating an image detection loop including at least one multi-plane-image-detecting operation and at least one single-plane-image-detecting operation. In the multi-plane-image-detecting operation, a plurality of values of the focal length, at each of which the image detection is performed, are set in one cycle in which the focal length of the variable focal length lens is varied. In the single-plane-image-detecting operation, a single value of the focal length, at which the image detection is performed, is set in one cycle in which the focal length of the variable focal length lens is varied.

Abstract: A calibration method of a variable-focal-length lens including a liquid lens unit whose focal-length is periodically varied in response to a periodic drive-signal includes: using a calibration tool having a plurality of height-different parts on a surface; preparing a calibration table by repeating outputting a drive-signal having a predetermined voltage to the variable-focal-length lens, detecting a surface image of the calibration tool using an image detector, detecting two points having maximum image contrast in the surface image, calculating a focal-depth from a difference in a focal-length between the two points; and recording the focal-depth and the voltage of the drive-signal in a corresponding combination, and retrieving a value of the voltage corresponding to a desired focal-depth from the calibration table to set the variable-focal-length lens at the desired focal-depth, and adjusting the voltage of the drive-signal outputted to the variable-focal-length lens based on the retrieved value.

Abstract: A variable focal length lens device includes: a lens system whose refractive index changes in accordance with a drive signal to be inputted; an objective lens disposed on the same optical axis as the lens system; an image detector configured to detect an image of a measurement target through the lens system and the objective lens: a resonance-lock controller configured to tune the drive signal to a resonance frequency of the lens system; and a resonance-lock delay controller configured to divide a change in a frequency of the drive signal by a change amount set by the resonance-lock controller to step-by-step changes for n times by a preset reference value to delay the change in the frequency of the drive signal.

Abstract: A non-contact 3D measuring system is configured to provide a combined three-dimensional shape of an object to be imaged based on a frame image, which has been captured by a camera while a measuring head is being scanned in an optical axis (Z-axis) direction, and the information on the position at which the image has been acquired. The system includes: a position detector for detecting a scanning position of the measuring head while a plurality of raw images are captured; and a computer for generating an interpolation image by linear interpolation for the captured raw image using the information of the scanning position as well as generating a combined frame image using the interpolation image.