초록 ▼

An interchangeable lens which can communicate with an associated camera body, the interchangeable lens including an interface logic IC; and a memory connected to the interface logic IC, and stores the data of the interchangeable lens. Fixed data of the interchangeable lens is allocated to a predeter

An interchangeable lens which can communicate with an associated camera body, the interchangeable lens including an interface logic IC; and a memory connected to the interface logic IC, and stores the data of the interchangeable lens. Fixed data of the interchangeable lens is allocated to a predetermined number of bytes of data sent from the interchangeable lens to the camera body so that terminals of the interface logic IC serve as at least one group of fixed data set-pins to which levels corresponding to the fixed data are set. In communication with the camera body for a predetermined number of bytes thereof, the interface logic IC reads the fixed data set by the group of fixed data set pins to send the read fixed data to the camera body, and sends data of the interchangeable lens which is read from the memory to the camera body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An interchangeable lens which can communicate with an associated camera body when said interchangeable lens is detachably attached to the camera body to exchange data of said interchangeable lens, said interchangeable lens comprising: an interface logic IC via which said interchangeable lens comm

1. An interchangeable lens which can communicate with an associated camera body when said interchangeable lens is detachably attached to the camera body to exchange data of said interchangeable lens, said interchangeable lens comprising: an interface logic IC via which said interchangeable lens communicates with the camera body, said interface logic IC comprises a plurality of terminals that serve as at least one group of fixed data set pins and another plurality of terminals through which said interchangeable lens communicates with the camera body, the another plurality of terminals being distinct from said plurality of terminals; anda memory which is independent of said interface logic IC, is connected to said interface logic IC, and stores said data of said interchangeable lens,wherein fixed data of said interchangeable lens is allocated to a predetermined number of bytes of data which is sent from said interchangeable lens to the camera body by said at least one group of fixed data set-pins to which levels corresponding to said fixed data are set, andwherein, in communication with the camera body for a predetermined number of bytes thereof in an initial stage of a communication, said interface logic IC reads said fixed data which is set by said group of fixed data set pins, sends said read fixed data to the camera body, and outputs data to said memory, said output data used for reading out data of said interchangeable lens from said memory and sends, subsequent to said predetermined number of bytes, said data of said interchangeable lens which is read from said memory to said camera body. 2. The interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said group of fixed data set-pins comprises: a first group of set-pins for setting a lens type;a second group of set-pins for setting capabilities of said interchangeable lens; anda third group of set-pins for setting a shortest object distance of said interchangeable lens,wherein said interface logic IC transmits data of said lens type, said capabilities and said shortest object distance of said interchangeable lens to the camera body by reading and decoding levels of said first, second and third groups of set pins. 3. The interchangeable lens according to claim 2, wherein said interchangeable lens comprises: a zooming function;a zoom code detector which detects a zoom code by encoding each of a plurality of zooming ranges, which have been divided from a variable zooming range, as said zoom code; anda distance code detector which detects a distance code by encoding each of a plurality of object distance ranges, which have been divided from an object distance which varies by a focus adjusting operation, as said distance code,wherein lens data corresponding to said each different said distance code for each different said zoom code are stored in said memory in advance,wherein said interface logic IC comprises a plurality of code input pins via which said interface logic IC inputs said zoom code and said distance code which are detected by said zoom code detector and said distance code detector, respectively, andwherein said interface logic IC designates a page of said memory which corresponds to said distance code and said zoom code which said interface logic IC inputs via said plurality of code input pins during transmission of said fixed data to the camera body, and sends lens data written in said page to the camera body after completion of said transmission of said fixed data to the camera body. 4. The interchangeable lens according to claim 2, wherein said interface logic IC performs communication with the camera body in synchronization with a clock signal output from the camera body, wherein, in said communication with the camera body, said interface logic IC outputs first information on said first group of set-pins, second information of said second group of set-pins and third information on said third group of set-pins on transitions of said clock signal for a first byte, a second byte and a third byte, respectively, and designates an address of said memory to send lens data read from said memory from said designated address thereof to the camera body upon transitions of said clock signal for a fourth byte and each byte thereafter. 5. The interchangeable lens according to claim 3, wherein lens data corresponding to pages of said memory which are set for each said zoom codes and each said distance codes is written in said memory, and wherein said interface logic IC reads out lens data, written in a page among said pages which is determined by said plurality of code input pins, from said memory, and sends said lens data that is read out from said memory to the camera body. 6. The interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said interface logic IC sends commands and addresses to said memory at a same timing as the sending of the fixed data of said group of fixed data set-pins. 7. A camera system including a camera body and an interchangeable lens, the lens and body being detachably attachable to each other, the lens communicating with the attached body to transmit data of the lens to the body, the lens comprising the interchangeable lens according to claim 1. 8. The camera system according to claim 7, wherein said interface logic IC sends commands and addresses to said memory at a same timing as the sending of the fixed data of said group of fixed data set-pins. 9. The camera system according to claim 7, wherein said group of fixed data set-pins comprises: a first group of set-pins for setting a lens type;a second group of set-pins for setting capabilities of said interchangeable lens; anda third group of set-pins for setting a shortest object distance of said interchangeable lens,wherein said interface logic IC transmits data of said lens type, said capabilities and said shortest object distance of said interchangeable lens to said camera body by reading and decoding levels of said first, second and third groups of set pins. 10. The camera system according to claim 9, wherein said interchangeable lens comprises: a zooming function;a zoom code detector which detects a zoom code by encoding each of a plurality of zooming ranges, which have been divided from a variable zooming range, as said zoom code; anda distance code detector which detects a distance code by encoding each of a plurality of object distance ranges, which have been divided from an object distance which varies by a focus adjusting operation, as said distance code,wherein lens data corresponding to said each different said distance code for each different said zoom code are stored in said memory in advance,wherein said interface logic IC comprises a plurality of code input pins via which said interface logic IC inputs said zoom code and said distance code which are detected by said zoom code detector and said distance code detector, respectively, andwherein said interface logic IC designates a page of said memory which corresponds to said distance code and said zoom code which said interface logic IC inputs via said plurality of code input pins during transmission of said fixed data to said camera body, and sends lens data written in said page to said camera body after completion of said transmission of said fixed data to said camera body. 11. The camera system according to claim 10, wherein lens data corresponding to pages of said memory which are set for each said zoom codes and each said distance codes is written in said memory, and wherein said interface logic IC reads out lens data, written in a page among said pages which is determined by said plurality of code input pins, from said memory, and sends said lens data that is read out from said memory to said camera body. 12. The camera system according to claim 9, wherein said interface logic IC performs communication with said camera body in synchronization with a clock signal output from said camera body, wherein, in said communication with said camera body, said interface logic IC outputs first information on said first group of set-pins, second information of said second group of set-pins and third information on said third group of set-pins on transitions of said clock signal for a first byte, a second byte and a third byte, respectively, and designates an address of said memory to send lens data read from said memory from said designated address thereof to said camera body upon transitions of said clock signal for a fourth byte and each byte thereafter. 13. The interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein, in the initial stage of a communication, data stored in the memory is not sent to the camera body. 14. The interchangeable lens according to claim 1, wherein said interface logic IC subsequently sends data of said interchangeable lens which is read from said memory to said camera body by said another plurality of terminals. 15. A lens data communication method of performing data communications between an interchangeable lens and an associated camera body via an interface circuit provided in the interchangeable lens, the lens data communication method comprising: providing, to the interface circuit, a plurality of terminals that serve as at least one group of fixed data set pins and another plurality of terminals through which the inter-changeable lens communicates with the camera body, the another plurality of terminals being distinct from the plurality of terminalsstoring data of the interchangeable lens in a memory distinct from and connected to the interface circuit; andsetting fixed data of the interchangeable lens by the at least one group of fixed data set-pins connected to the plurality of terminals of the interface circuit,wherein, in communication with the camera body for a predetermined number of bytes thereof in an initial stage of a communication, the interface circuit reads the fixed data which is set by the group of fixed data set-pins, sends the read fixed data to the camera body and outputs data to said memory, said output data used for reading out data of said interchangeable lens from said memory, and sends, subsequent to said predetermined number of bytes, said data of the interchangeable lens which is read from the memory to the camera body.