Relay unit

• US 20040189859A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Kazumasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,456,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/360
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A relay unit connected between a remote control unit and an optical device having a focus lens comprises a first switching signal input unit for switching control of the focus lens between automatic focal point detection focusing and control of the focus lens by remote commands from the remote control unit. This enables remote control of a lens unit simply by replacing the lens unit with one having automatic focus capabilities.

Claims

1. A relay unit comprising:

an input terminal communicably coupled to a remote control unit, for receiving signals from said remote control unit;

an output terminal communicably coupled to an optical unit having a focus lens, the output terminal for providing said signals from the remote control unit, to the optical unit; and

first switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between automatic focal point detection focusing and remote commands from said remote control unit.

2. A relay unit according to claim 1, wherein said input terminal is communicably coupled to a second switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between speed control and positional control of the focus lens.

3. A relay unit according to claim 1, wherein said input terminal is communicably coupled to a first remote command generating means for performing remote operations to control the focus lens.

4. A relay unit according to claim 2, wherein output signals from said first switching signal input means are multiplexed with switching signals output from said second switching signal input means.

5. A relay unit according to claim 3, wherein output signals from said first switching signal input means are multiplexed with remote command control signals output from said first remote command generating means.

6. A relay unit according to claim 1, comprising setting state display means for displaying the setting state of said first switching signal input means.

7. A relay unit according to claim 1, wherein said first switching signal input means switch control of said focus lens between automatic focal point detection focusing of an automatic focal point detection focus control means and control of said focus lens by remote commands from said remote control unit, by momentary action.

8. A relay unit according to claim 1, further comprising second remote command generating means of which remote command control is valid only in a mode wherein said focus lens is controlled by automatic focal point detection focusing of an automatic focal point detection focus control means.

9. A relay unit according to claim 8, wherein said second remote command generating means are means for generating speed command signals for controlling said focus lens with speed commands.

10. A relay unit according to claim 3, wherein, in the mode wherein said focus lens is controlled by automatic focal point detection focusing of said automatic focal point detection focus control means, said first remote command generating means generate speed command signals or controlling said focus lens with speed commands.

11. A system for selectively controlling focal point detection, the system comprising:

focal point detection focus control means for controlling a focus lens by automatic focal point detection focus control; and

switching signal input means for switching control of said focus lens between automatic focal point detection focus control and control of said focus lens by remote command control from a remote command control means.

12. A focal point detection system comprising:

an optical unit having a focusing lens;

a remote control unit for remotely controlling the focusing lens in the optical unit; and

a relay unit communicably coupled between the remote control unit and the optical unit,

wherein the relay unit further comprises a first switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between automatic focal point detection control and manual focus control of the focus lens.

13. A focal point detection system according to claim, 12, further comprising a second switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between speed control and position control of the focus lens.

14. A focal point detection system according to claim 12, further comprising a third switching signal input means for switching between using the remote control for either speed control or positional control of said focus lens, only in a mode wherein said focus lens is controlled by automatic focal point detection focusing of said automatic focal point detection focus control means.

15. A focal point detection system according to claim 12, wherein said optical unit is a lens unit.

16. A focal point detection system according to claim 15, further comprising a camera unit, wherein said camera unit and said lens are communicably coupled to the relay unit.

17. A focal point detection system according to claim 15, wherein said remote control unit further comprises a second switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between speed control and positional control of the focus lens.

18. A relay unit system comprising:

an input terminal for receiving a manual focus command signal and a speed/position switching signal;

an output terminal for providing said manual focus command signal and said speed/position switching signal to a focus lens of an optical device; and

switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between automatic focal point detection control and manual focus control of the focus lens.

19. The relay unit system of claim 18 further comprising a remote control unit for providing said manual focus command signal and said speed/position to the relay unit for transfer to the optical device.