Having Electrical Contact Detail Patents (Class 396/532)
  • Patent number: 11720006
    Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions, and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein, a half line that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through a second terminal that determines whether an optical apparatus is mounted on the image pickup apparatus or not, passes through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Tamura, Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshinori Yamazaki, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 11310408
    Abstract: In a camera body, a VBAT terminal and PGND terminal are both disposed adjacent to a TYPE terminal. In a case where the voltage of the TYPE terminal is a voltage of a first voltage range that does not include the VBAT voltage and does not include the voltage of the PGND terminal, a camera control unit distinguishes the mounted lens apparatus to be a first lens apparatus. In a case where the voltage of the TYPE terminal is a voltage of a second voltage range that is a voltage range different from the first voltage range, does not include the VBAT voltage and does not include the voltage of the PGND terminal, the camera control unit distinguishes the mounted lens apparatus to be a second lens apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suguru Tsukamoto, Yasuyuki Watazawa, Naoto Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 11143939
    Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions, and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein, a half line that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through a second terminal that determines whether an optical apparatus is mounted on the image pickup apparatus or not, passes through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Tamura, Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshinori Yamazaki, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 11126067
    Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein half lines that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through second terminals that are used in communication between the image pickup apparatus and the accessory, all pass through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Tamura, Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshinori Yamazaki, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 10948807
    Abstract: Included are multiple camera claws of a second mount that are insertable between multiple accessory claws, and that are capable of coupling by bayonet coupling, multiple contact pins disposed following the circumferential direction of a mount, and a biasing unit to bias the multiple accessory claws in a direction parallel to a center axis of the second mount. The second mount can be relatively rotated to a first state where the accessory claws are inserted between the camera claws, and a second state where the camera claws engage with the accessory claws in the direction. The biasing unit biases a first accessory claw in the direction in the second state, and a first contact pin included in multiple camera-side contact pins situated at the nearest side of the mounting direction of an accessory overlaps the biasing unit in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuaki Yamana
  • Patent number: 10921691
    Abstract: The camera accessory is attachable to a camera by relatively rotating from a first state to a second state. Camera side contact pins include a first camera side contact pin making contact with an accessory side contact holding portion in the first state and second camera side contact pins not making contact with the accessory side contact holding portion in the first state. Accessory side contact surfaces include a first accessory side contact surface making contact with the first camera side contact pin in the second state and second accessory side contact surfaces not making contact with the first camera side contact pin in the second state. A pitch between the first and second accessory side contact surfaces adjacent thereto is larger than a pitch between the second accessory side contact surfaces adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishio, Azusa Sugawara, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yoshihiko Konno, Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10915008
    Abstract: Included are multiple camera claws of a second mount that are insertable between multiple accessory claws, and that are capable of coupling by bayonet coupling, multiple contact pins disposed following the circumferential direction of a mount, and a biasing unit to bias the multiple accessory claws in a direction parallel to a center axis of the second mount. The second mount can be relatively rotated to a first state where the accessory claws are inserted between the camera claws, and a second state where the camera claws engage with the accessory claws in the direction. The biasing unit biases a first accessory claw in the direction in the second state, and a first contact pin included in multiple camera-side contact pins situated at the nearest side of the mounting direction of an accessory overlaps the biasing unit in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuaki Yamana
  • Patent number: 10911665
    Abstract: An accessory includes: a clock transmission unit that transmits a first clock signal; a first transmission unit that transmits to the camera body information pertaining to a drive target member in synchronization with the first clock signal; a clock reception unit that receives a second clock signal from the camera body; a second transmission unit that transmits to the camera body a first value indicating a communication specification according to which the first transmission unit transmits the information to the camera body in synchronization with the second clock signal; a reception unit that receives from the camera body a second value in synchronization with the second clock signal, indicating a communication specification; and a control unit that engages the first transmission unit to start transmitting the information according to the communication specification indicated by the second value, upon receiving the second value after the first value has been transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 10877356
    Abstract: An accessory includes: a detection terminal; a first power supply terminal through which a first power supply voltage is supplied; a second power supply terminal through which a second power supply voltage is supplied; a ground terminal; a ready terminal; a first clock terminal; a first data terminal; a second data terminal; a second clock terminal; a third data terminal; a first circuit to which the first power supply voltage is supplied through the first power supply terminal; and a second circuit to which the second power supply voltage is supplied through the second power supply terminal, wherein: the ground terminal is used as a ground potential for the first circuit and the second circuit; and a distance between the second clock terminal and the first power supply terminal is longer than a distance between the first clock terminal and the first power supply terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Funaoka
  • Patent number: 10830986
    Abstract: An accessory includes: a detection terminal; a first power supply terminal through which a first power supply voltage is supplied; a first ground terminal used as a ground potential; a second power supply terminal through which a second power supply voltage is supplied; a second ground terminal used as a ground potential; a ready terminal used to indicate whether or not communication is allowed; a first data terminal that receives a first data signal; a second data terminal that outputs a second data signal; a clock terminal that outputs a clock signal; and a third data terminal that outputs a third data signal, wherein: the first ground terminal, the second power supply terminal, and the second ground terminal are positioned between the first power supply terminal and the ready terminal; and the first data terminal and the second data terminal are positioned between the ready terminal and the clock terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Funaoka
  • Patent number: 10809601
    Abstract: An accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The first, second, and third tabs extend over varying lengths along the circumferential direction. The first tab extends over a greatest length and the third tab extends over a smallest length, along the circumferential direction. The accessory mount includes a restricting member, a fitting portion, and a lock pin hole. The restricting member is disposed at a position assumed on a side substantially opposite from the lock pin hole across the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Hasuda, Noriyasu Kotani, Hideaki Hoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10782598
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens assembly includes a plurality of lens-side claw portions and a lock pin concave portion. Furthermore, internal angles of a quadrangle formed by connecting a center of a first lens-side claw portion, a center of a second lens-side claw portion, a center of a third lens-side claw portion, and a center of the lock pin concave portion satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinori Yamazaki, Kunihiko Sasaki, Masahisa Tamura, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 10712638
    Abstract: An accessory mount can be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs being hindered by any of three camera body-side tabs at the camera body mount, as long as the accessory mount is inserted into the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The first, second, and third tabs extend over varying lengths along the circumferential direction. The first tab extends over a greatest length and the third tab extends over a smallest length, along the circumferential direction. The accessory mount includes a restricting member, a fitting portion, and a lock pin hole. The restricting member is disposed at a position assumed on a side substantially opposite from the lock pin hole across the fitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Hasuda, Noriyasu Kotani, Hideaki Hoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10674058
    Abstract: An imaging unit includes an imaging device that transmits an image data to an external display device; and an installation portion that is attachable to and detachable from the display device. The imaging device includes a communication part that transmits an image data to the display device, an outer barrel, and an imaging element. The installation portion includes a slider that is slidable with respect to the outer barrel, a first attached body that is connected to the slider, a second attached body that can change its gap with the first attached body, and a biasing member that biases the first attached body and the second attached body in a direction in which a gap therebetween becomes narrowed, in which the display device is grasped by the first attached body and the second attached body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Okabe, Osamu Mizukami, Yuuji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10627704
    Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein half lines that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through second terminals that are used in communication between the image pickup apparatus and the accessory, all pass through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Tamura, Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshinori Yamazaki, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 10620510
    Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions, and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein, a half line that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through a second terminal that determines whether an optical apparatus is mounted on the image pickup apparatus or not, passes through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahisa Tamura, Kunihiko Sasaki, Toshinori Yamazaki, Masayasu Shigematsu
  • Patent number: 10602048
    Abstract: In a camera body, a VBAT terminal and PGND terminal are both disposed adjacent to a TYPE terminal. In a case where the voltage of the TYPE terminal is a voltage of a first voltage range that does not include the VBAT voltage and does not include the voltage of the PGND terminal, a camera control unit distinguishes the mounted lens apparatus to be a first lens apparatus. In a case where the voltage of the TYPE terminal is a voltage of a second voltage range that is a voltage range different from the first voltage range, does not include the VBAT voltage and does not include the voltage of the PGND terminal, the camera control unit distinguishes the mounted lens apparatus to be a second lens apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suguru Tsukamoto, Yasuyuki Watazawa, Naoto Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 10602038
    Abstract: A lens apparatus is mountable to a camera body. The camera body has multiple electric contacts. Of these multiple electric contacts, when mounting the lens apparatus to the camera body, electric contacts used for second communication or third communication come into contact with an electric contact provided to the lens apparatus before electric contacts used for first communication, when mounting the lens apparatus to the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fuya Mizuochi, Toru Ohara, Yasuyuki Watazawa, Naoto Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 10594918
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of confirming connection between a body and an accessory without performing communication therebetween. When transmitting first data to the accessory in synchronism with a clock signal and receiving second data from the accessory in synchronism with the clock signal, the body can perform data communication selectively by the first or second communication method. A body microcomputer changes the level of the first data from high level to low, and then further changes the same from low to high in a state where the clock signal is at high in the first communication method. The microcomputer detects a change in level of the second data responsive to the change in level of the first data, and detects accessory connection and compatibility with the second communication method based on detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Tohyama
  • Patent number: 10234747
    Abstract: Provided is a technology enabling an imaging apparatus and an interchangeable lens to appropriately perform initialization processes. An interchangeable lens includes a lens control unit configured to transmit lens-side initialization execution element information indicating a plurality of lens-side elements on which the lens control unit itself performs initialization to an imaging apparatus in response to reception of body-side initialization execution element information indicating body-side elements on which the imaging apparatus performs initialization from the imaging apparatus. The technology can be applied to, for example, a camera system including a detachable interchangeable lens and an imaging apparatus serving as a camera body side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Aguri Okada
  • Patent number: 10036872
    Abstract: The invention speeds up operation of an interchangeable lens. The interchangeable lens, which is removably mounted on a camera body, includes a communication control microcomputer, a lens driving circuit and a lens driving actuator. A body-side microcomputer and the communication control microcomputer of the interchangeable lens are connected and are capable of communicating with each other. Lines are provided in such a manner that the lens driving circuit and body-side microcomputer can communicate directly. A command from the body-side microcomputer is input to the lens driving circuit. This allows the lens driving circuit to be controlled directly and makes it possible to control the interchangeable lens at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 9995992
    Abstract: A telescopic limiting structure includes a first retractable member including a first inclined face and a second retractable member including a second inclined face bearing against the first inclined face. The first retractable member is configured to move along a first direction. The first inclined face and the second inclined face are configured to drive the second retractable member to move along a second direction in response to the first retractable member moving along the first direction. The second direction is different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yin Tang, Feihu Yang
  • Patent number: 9769929
    Abstract: An array of electrical components may be mounted in openings in an electronic device housing. The housing may have a cylindrical shape or other curved shape. A support structure such as a hollow cylindrical tube may be mounted within the interior of the housing. The electrical components may have terminals that mate with corresponding contacts on a flexible printed circuit. Interconnect paths on the flexible printed circuit may be used to route signals for the electrical components. The flexible printed circuit may be wrapped into the shape of a cylindrical tube and may be mounted on an interior surface of the cylindrical housing or on the exterior surface of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, Phillip Michael Hobson, Nathan P. Bosscher, John J. Baker, Brad G. Boozer
  • Patent number: 9697589
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing apparatus, including an input unit into which first image data and second image data are input, the first image data and the second image data being obtained by capturing a predetermined subject with an imaging unit and having mutually different states of blurring; a distance information calculation unit that calculates first distance information in accordance with a position in a depth direction of the subject based on the first image data and the second image data; and a distance information correction unit that calculates second distance information by performing, on the first distance information, processing to correct a deviation of the blurring caused by a mismatch between an image-forming plane of the subject and an imaging plane of the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Matsui, Takami Mizukura
  • Patent number: 9596363
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of confirming connection between a body and an accessory without performing communication therebetween. When transmitting first data to the accessory in synchronism with a clock signal and receiving second data from the accessory in synchronism with the clock signal, the body can perform data communication selectively by the first or second communication method. A body microcomputer changes the level of the first data from high level to low, and then further changes the same from low to high in a state where the clock signal is at high in the first communication method. The microcomputer detects a change in level of the second data responsive to the change in level of the first data, and detects accessory connection and compatibility with the second communication method based on detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei Tohyama
  • Patent number: 9426368
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a communication system which can shorten a data transfer time by realizing transmission and reception of data using two communicators. The present disclosure is a communication system which includes: a first device; and a second device, and in which the first device includes a first controller, the second device includes a second controller, the first controller and the second controller are connected through a first communicator and a second communicator, and the second controller switches and selectively executes one of a reception mode for receiving data from the first controller using the first communicator, and the second communicator and a transmission/reception mode for transmitting data to the first controller using the first communicator and receiving data from the first controller using the second communicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 9392150
    Abstract: A camera includes: a ring-like body mount having an inside diameter smaller than about 48 millimeters; and a solid-state image pickup device arranged oppositely to the body mount, the solid-state image pickup device having a rectangle light receiving section with a diagonal line length of about 43 millimeters or more. An apparent shape of the solid-state image pickup device viewed from a front surface side of the body mount is a rectangle in which one or more corners are oblique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuuki Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9041855
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an interchangeable lens camera having a camera body and a lens unit that is freely attachable and detachable to the camera body. In the interchangeable lens camera, a communications unit in the camera body sends via communications terminals (MT_MOSI and MT_MISO) an INTR_BUSY control instruction that instructs whether to make notification with a busy signal (INTR_BUSY signal) for any operation out of a plurality of types of operations that can be executed, and the lens unit or camera body communications unit sets the busy signal (INTR_BUSY) to an ON state (low level) only during the period of operation of the type indicated by the INTR_BUSY control instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenshi Imamura
  • Patent number: 9039309
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a mount unit at which a camera body is detachably engaged; a plurality of drive target members, conditions of which change as a drive force is applied thereto; an initialization unit that executes initialization processing for each of the plurality of drive target members; an initialization status transmission unit that transmits initialization statuses, each indicating a status of the initialization processing executed for one of the drive target members, to the camera body via a first transmission path over predetermined first cycles; and a drive condition transmission unit that transmits a drive condition of at least one drive target member among the plurality of drive target members to the camera body via a second transmission path different from the first transmission path over predetermined second cycles different from the predetermined first cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji, Shigeo Takahashi, Shunji Nagaya
  • Patent number: 9042715
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens attachable to a camera body includes an image pickup optical system configured to form an optical image of an object, and a controller configured to start initializing an optical element included in the image pickup optical system so as to move the optical element to a predetermined position when the controller receives a first signal that commands a start of an initialization from the camera body, and configured to start initializing the optical element after the controller receives identification information from the camera body and a period elapses for which the camera body consumes more than a predetermined amount of power when the controller does not receive the first signal from the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Kawanami
  • Patent number: 9002193
    Abstract: A camera communication unit is configured to change a voltage applied to a communication terminal used for a communication with the lens unit. The camera communication unit is configured to communicate with the lens unit using one of a first communication mode and a second communication mode, the first communication mode setting the voltage applied to the communication terminal to a first range and enabling the communication with the lens unit using a communication method of a first communication speed, and the second communication mode setting the voltage applied to the communication terminal to a second range that is located on a lower voltage side than the first range and enabling the communication with the lens unit using a communication method of a second communication speed higher than the first communication speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Izukawa
  • Patent number: 8941774
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus to which an accessory is detachably attached, said accessory including an optical member, includes a signal generation unit configured to generate a vertical synchronizing signal and output the generated vertical synchronizing signal, an imaging unit configured to accumulate charges in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal and output an imaging signal, a control unit configured to generate a clock signal and control data communication with the accessory based on the clock signal, a first terminal for sending the clock signal to the accessory, and a second terminal for communicating data with the accessory, in which the control unit, after the data communication via the second terminal, notifies timing at which the vertical synchronizing signal is output using the clock signal via the first terminal by changing a signal level of the first terminal after a lapse of a predetermined time while the signal level is kept at a predetermined level, and controls the accessory to dr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Kudo, Yoshihiko Aihara, Minoru Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8817170
    Abstract: This camera body includes an interchangeable lens detector, a lens information recognition component, a wireless communication component, and an output controller. The interchangeable lens detector detects whether or not the interchangeable lens is mounted to the camera body. The lens information recognition component recognizes lens information related to the interchangeable lens, according to the mounting state of the interchangeable lens. The wireless communication component performs wireless communication with the outside of the camera body. The output controller controls the output strength of the wireless communication component on the basis of the lens information in the information recognition component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Korekuni
  • Patent number: 8792783
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a camera lens mount unit having a mount center point, to which a camera body, with twelve body connector terminals disposed near a camera body mount unit at the camera body, is attached; a holding portion where twelve lens connector terminals, each connected to one of the twelve body connector terminals and each including a contact area to come into contact with one of the body connector terminals, are disposed; an optical system that includes a drive target member which can be driven; and a drive unit that drives the drive target member. A distance setting apart a center of at least one lens connector terminal among the twelve lens connector terminals from the mount center point is different from a distance setting apart a center of at least one other lens connector terminal from the mount center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8768161
    Abstract: The optical apparatus accessory includes multiple terminal faces arranged in a direction of a relative movement for attachment to an optical apparatus and allowed to make contact with multiple terminal pins provided in the optical apparatus, and electric insulation portions provided between each two adjacent terminal faces. The multiple terminal faces are arranged at a same height, each of the electric insulation portions includes two adjacent-to-terminal potions respectively adjacent to the two adjacent terminal faces and a convex portion provided between the two adjacent-to-terminal potions and having a higher height than that of the two adjacent-to-terminal potions. The two adjacent-to-terminal potions have a height same as or lower than that of the terminal faces, and the convex portion has a height same as or higher than that of the terminal faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Ono, Shigeki Sato, Daisuke Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8757905
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8746996
    Abstract: A camera accessory is detachably mounted at a camera body that includes a first body contact point, a second body contact point, a third body contact point, a fourth body contact point and a fifth body contact point and detects disengagement of the camera accessory when the fifth body contact point sustains a signal level corresponding to a first truth value continuously over a length of time equal to or greater than a predetermined time length. In the camera accessory, the accessory-side communication control device executes control so as to ensure that the signal assuming a level corresponding to the first truth value is not continuously output from the fifth accessory contact point any longer than the predetermined time length while the operating voltage supply from the camera body is provided via the first accessory contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8705951
    Abstract: A lens barrel comprising bayonet type mount projections to detachably attach to a lens-fitting unit of a camera body having a photographic region, wherein mount projections are formed to avoid cross-section of light path area where object light is introduced in the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Fujiwara, Yuuichi Katagishi
  • Patent number: 8693863
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes a camera lens mount unit having a mount center point, to which a camera body, with twelve body connector terminals disposed near a camera body mount unit at the camera body, is attached; a holding portion where a plurality of lens connector terminals, each including a contact area to come into contact with a body connector terminal, are disposed; an optical system that includes a drive target member which can be driven; a drive unit that drives the drive target member; and a control unit to be engaged in data communication with the camera body. The drive unit and the control unit include a common ground portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Oikawa, Kazuharu Imafuji
  • Publication number: 20140072293
    Abstract: The optical apparatus accessory includes multiple terminal faces arranged in a direction of a relative movement for attachment to an optical apparatus and allowed to make contact with multiple terminal pins provided in the optical apparatus, and electric insulation portions provided between each two adjacent terminal faces. The multiple terminal faces are arranged at a same height, each of the electric insulation portions includes two adjacent-to-terminal potions respectively adjacent to the two adjacent terminal faces and a convex portion provided between the two adjacent-to-terminal potions and having a higher height than that of the two adjacent-to-terminal potions. The two adjacent-to-terminal potions have a height same as or lower than that of the terminal faces, and the convex portion has a height same as or higher than that of the terminal faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei Ono, Shigeki Sato, Daisuke Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8649677
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes: a camera lens mount unit; a holding portion where twelve lens connector terminals, each connected to one of the twelve body connector terminals and each including a contact area to come into contact with one of the body connector terminals, are disposed; an optical system that includes a drive target member which can be driven; and a drive unit that drives the drive target member. A shape of at least one lens connector terminal among the twelve lens connector terminals is different from a shape of another lens connector terminal among the twelve lens connector terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8639111
    Abstract: An exchangeable lens includes a holding portion where twelve lens connector terminals, each connected to one of the twelve body connector terminals and each having a contact area to come into contact with one of the body connector terminals, and at least one auxiliary lens terminal having a contact area are disposed therein so as to form a circular arc pattern relative to the amount center point. An interior angle formed by the contact area of the auxiliary lens terminal and the contact area of the eleventh lens connector terminal at the mount center point is smaller than an interior angle formed by the contact area of the first lens connector terminal and the contact area of the eleventh lens connector terminal at the mount center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuharu Imafuji, Masafumi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8616790
    Abstract: When communication is made between a camera and an interchangeable lens by a conventional synchronization method, an operation for checking Busy is required between communications, and operating performances of the camera and interchangeable lens may not be occasionally improved. Provided is a camera and interchangeable lens system in which a communication method between a camera and an interchangeable lens can be changed to one of synchronous communication and asynchronous communication. The synchronous communication is made first while the camera serves as a master. The camera measures a time interval of a signal pulse output from the lens at a predetermined time interval in response to a command from the camera to the interchangeable lens for change of the communication to the asynchronous communication. The camera determines a baud rate for the asynchronous communication and then changes the communication method between the camera and the interchangeable lens to the asynchronous communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Osawa
  • Patent number: 8573868
    Abstract: A camera accessory is detachably engaged with a camera body including a camera body mount and body-side electric contact points. The camera accessory includes a camera accessory mount assuming a bayonet structure with a first tab, a second tab and a third tab. The camera accessory mount is configured to be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs hindered by three camera body-side tabs disposed at the camera body mount as long as the camera accessory mount is inserted at the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The camera accessory mount is configured such that insertion of the camera accessory mount through the camera body mount is disallowed at any phase other than the correct interlock phase with at least two tabs among the first through third tabs coming into contact with at least two of the camera body-side tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Hasuda, Hideaki Hoshikawa, Noriyasu Kotani
  • Publication number: 20130287388
    Abstract: The camera accessory is attachable to a camera. The camera accessory includes an accessory mount to be detachably coupled with a camera mount). The accessory mount is provided with accessory bayonet claws and brought, by relative rotation with the camera mount, from a first state in which each of the accessory bayonet claws is inserted between camera bayonet claws provided in the camera mount into a second state in which the accessory bayonet claws engage with the camera bayonet claws to complete coupling of the accessory and camera mounts. The camera accessory is further provided with accessory contact surfaces arranged in a relative rotation direction of the mounts in the accessory mount. The accessory contact surfaces includes a first accessory contact surface used for indicating type of the camera accessory and is provided adjacent to the accessory bayonet claw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishio, Yoshihiko Konno, Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa, Azusa Sugawara, Hiroshi Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20130266303
    Abstract: The camera accessory is attachable to a camera by relatively rotating from a first state to a second state. Camera side contact pins include a first camera side contact pin making contact with an accessory side contact holding portion in the first state and second camera side contact pins not making contact with the accessory side contact holding portion in the first state. Accessory side contact surfaces include a first accessory side contact surface making contact with the first camera side contact pin in the second state and second accessory side contact surfaces not making contact with the first camera side contact pin in the second state. A pitch between the first and second accessory side contact surfaces adjacent thereto is larger than a pitch between the second accessory side contact surfaces adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishio, Azusa Sugawara, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Yoshihiko Konno, Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20130266304
    Abstract: The camera side mount is brought, by relative rotation with the accessory side mount, from a first state where each accessory side bayonet claw is inserted between the camera side bayonet claws into a second state where the camera side and accessory side bayonet claws engage with each other. The leaf spring biasing the camera side contact pins in the protruding direction is disposed between the camera side mount and the camera body. When the camera being in the normal position is viewed from the direction facing the camera side mount, the leaf spring extends from both sides of the mount center line, which extends from the center of the camera side mount in the direction of gravity, toward the camera side contact pins. The camera side contact pins are arranged at positions other than a position on the mount center line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishio, Yoshihiko Konno, Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Azusa Sugawara
  • Patent number: 8545117
    Abstract: A conversion adapter apparatus is provided that connects a camera body and an interchangeable lens. The conversion adapter apparatus includes a camera body side installation portion to receive a camera body, a lens side installation portion to receive an interchangeable lens, and a first communication contact group provided on the camera body side installation portion and connected to a communication contact group. The conversion adapter apparatus additionally includes a second communication contact group provided on the lens side installation portion and connected to the communication contact group and a conductive member that electrically connects the first communication contact group and the second communication contact group. A position of the first communication contact group around a camera optical axis and a position of the second communication contact group around the camera optical axis are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
  • Patent number: 8493498
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus system includes an interchangeable lens 100 and a camera body 200. The interchangeable lens 100 includes an optical system configured to generate an optical image of a subject, a first communication unit 106, and a lens controller 105 configured to control driving of the optical system in synchronization with a reference signal received through the first communication unit. The camera body 200 includes a second communication unit 201 that can communicate with the first communication unit 106, and a body controller 203 configured to send the reference signal to the lens controller 105 through the second communication unit 201. The body controller 203 sends announcement information preliminarily announcing switching of the cycle of the reference signal, to the lens controller 105. The lens controller 105, when receiving the announcement information from the camera body, performs a preparation operation for switching the cycle of the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kawazoe, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
  • Publication number: 20130148954
    Abstract: The interchangeable lens includes a lens holding member holding a lens, a first supporting bar engaging with the lens holding member to guide movement of the lens holding member in an optical axis direction, a second supporting bar engaging with the lens holding member to prevent rotation of the lens holding member, the second supporting bar having a shorter length than that of the first supporting bar. The interchangeable lens further includes a mount contact provided as an electric contact in a mount portion detachably attachable to a camera body. When viewed from the optical axis direction, the first supporting bar is disposed in an area not overlapping the mount contact, and the second supporting bar is disposed in an area overlapping the mount contact, and when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction, part of the first supporting bar overlaps the mount contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA