Intermediate unit and camera system

• US 10,257,403 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kamiya, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Zhenzhen
• Application Number:
  US15/813,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20180077334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 34821114, 34821199, 3482111, 348722
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

Provided is an intermediate unit including a first connect unit, a second connect unit, and an information bridge unit. The first connect unit is for connecting a camera unit having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction. The second connect unit is for connecting a camera control unit for a camera unit having a second resolution lower than the first resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction. The information bridge unit is interposed between the first connect unit and the second connect unit and configured to bridge information exchanged between the camera unit and the camera control unit.

Claims

1. An intermediate device, comprising:

a first connect circuitry coupled to a first camera that is configured to output a first video signal having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction;

a second connect circuitry coupled to a control apparatus that is configured to process a second video signal having a second resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction, the second resolution being lower than the first resolution; and

an information bridge circuitry coupled to the first connect circuitry and the second connect circuitry, the information bridge circuitry is configured to

receive a signal via the second connect circuitry, and

control the first connect circuitry to transmit the signal to the first camera;

wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to

convert the first video signal into the second video signal, and

output the second video signal to the second connect circuitry.

2. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to

perform camera signal processing on the first video signal, and

convert the first video signal into the second video signal in response to performing the camera signal processing on the first video signal.

3. The intermediate device according to claim 2, further comprising a video signal output circuitry that is configured to output the first video signal in response to performing the camera signal processing on the first video signal.

4. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to

determine whether the first video signal is being output by the first camera, and

output a color bar signal corresponding to the first video signal in response to determining that the first video signal is not being output by the first camera.

5. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to mediate a camera control communication between the first camera and the control apparatus.

6. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to mediate a power supply request from the first camera to the control apparatus.

7. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to

extract a timing signal from a camera control signal that is received by the second connect circuitry from the control apparatus, and

control the first connect circuitry to output the timing signal to the first camera.

8. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the first resolution is a 4K resolution, and wherein the second resolution is an HD resolution.

9. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the second resolution in the temporal direction is a frame rate of 60 Hz or less.

10. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the signal is a return video signal, and wherein the first connect circuitry is further configured to transmit the return video signal to the first camera.

11. The intermediate device according to claim 10, wherein a resolution of the return video signal is the same as the second resolution.

12. The intermediate device according to claim 1, wherein the first connect circuitry is coupled to the first camera with an optical camera cable.

13. The intermediate device according to claim 12, wherein the first connect circuitry is configured to communicate with the first camera at a transmission rate of at least 10 GHz via the optical camera cable.

14. A camera system, comprising:

a first camera configured to output a first video signal having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction;

a control apparatus configured to process a second video signal having a second resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction, the second resolution being lower than the first resolution; and

an intermediate device coupled between the first camera and the control apparatus, the intermediate device including

a first connect circuitry coupled to the first camera;

a second connect circuitry coupled to the control apparatus; and

an information bridge circuitry connected to the first connect circuitry and the second connect circuitry, the information bridge circuitry configured to

receive a signal via the second connect circuitry, and

control the first connect circuitry to transmit the signal to the first camera;

wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to

convert the first video signal into the second video signal, and

output the second video signal to the second connect circuitry.

15. The camera system according to claim 14, wherein the first resolution is a 4K resolution, and wherein the second resolution is an HD resolution.

16. The camera system according to claim 14, wherein the second resolution in the temporal direction is a frame rate of 60 Hz or less.

17. The camera system according to claim 14, further comprising:

an optical camera cable that couples the first camera to the first connect circuitry.

18. The camera system according to claim 17, wherein the first camera is configured to transmit the first video signal to the first connect circuitry at a transmission rate of at least 10 GHz via the optical camera cable.