Apparatus for and a method of communicating between a camera and external equipment

• US 5,608,490 A
• Filed: 06/20/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Hidehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalakis, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/493,233
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 354/62, 354/412, 358/906, 358/909.1, 348/552, 352/286
• US Class Current: 396/300
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A camera system including a camera which performs data communication with external equipment. The external equipment is connected to a communication terminal in the camera via a connector, such as a cable. The camera and the external equipment initially perform communication at a predetermined initial communication speed via the communication terminal and cable. The camera system includes a device to transmit a communication speed change command to the camera at the initial value of communication speed, and a device to change the initial value of communication speed to a high speed based upon the received communication speed change command. The camera system further includes a device to restore the communication speed to the original initial value of communication speed by generating a communication end command which is transmitted to the camera during communication with the external equipment.

Claims

1. A camera system, comprising:

a camera including a communication terminal;

an external device connected to the communication terminal of the camera, the camera and the external device performing communication at an initial communication speed via the communication terminal;

a communication speed change command device to transmit a command to the camera to change the initial communication speed; and

a communication speed change device to change the communication speed based on the communication speed change command,

wherein after the communication speed is changed, communication between the camera and the external equipment is performed at the changed communication speed.

2. A camera system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a communication end command transmitting device to transmit a communication end command to the camera; and

a communication speed restoring device to restore the initial value of communication speed upon receiving the communication end command.

3. A camera system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an operating unit included in the camera;

a device to set the electrical power supply of the camera ON in response to operation of the operating unit;

a timer to detect non-operation of the operating unit for a predetermined time after the operation of the operating unit;

a device to set the electrical power supply OFF when the timer times out; and

a communication speed restoring device to restore the initial value of communication speed when the electrical power supply is set OFF by the device to set the electrical power supply OFF, such that a next communication with the external equipment commences at the initial value of communication speed.

4. A camera system as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a memory to store communication speed information; and

a device to set the initial communication speed value in the memory according to one of the electrical power supply being set ON and a time-out of the timer.

5. A camera system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a speed range setting device to set a speed range of the communication speed between the camera and the external device; and

a speed change impossible determining device to determine when the communication speed change command is outside the range of communication speed set by the speed range setting device and to transmit a signal to the external device indicating that communication speed change is impossible.

6. A camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein the initial value of communication speed is low speed of communication.

11. A camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein the external device is connected to the communication terminal of the camera via a cable.

7. A communication method of a camera system comprising a camera having a communication terminal and an external device connected to the communication terminal, the camera and external device performing communication via the communication terminal, comprising:

communicating data between the camera and external device at an initial communication speed value;

transmitting to the camera a communication speed change command;

changing the communication speed between the camera and the external device when the camera receives the communication speed change command; and

communicating data between the camera and the external device at the changed communication speed.

8. A communication method of a camera system as recited in claim 7, wherein the communicating data at the initial communication speed comprises:

transmitting to the camera an equipment type confirmation command when the external device commences communication with the camera;

generating from the camera an equipment type identification signal in response to the equipment type confirmation command; and

confirming that the equipment type identification signal generated from the camera in response to the receipt of the equipment type confirmation command corresponds to an equipment type with which high-speed communication is possible.

9. A communication method of a camera system as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

setting a range of communication speed between the camera and the external device;

receiving the communication speed change command from the external equipment;

determining whether the communication speed of the communication speed change command is within the set communication speed range; and

when the communication speed is outside the set communication speed range, transmitting a speed change impossible signal to the external device, and not performing the change of communication speed.

10. A communication method of a camera system as recited in claim 7, wherein the initial value of communication speed is a low speed of communication.

12. A system for performing communication between a camera and an external device, comprising:

an equipment type command generator to send an equipment type command to the camera at an initial predetermined baud rate to determine whether the camera is a type which is compatible with the external device;

an equipment type generator to receive the equipment type command from the equipment type command generator, and to confirm that the camera is a type which is compatible with the external device; and

a speed change device to send a baud rate change command to the camera to change the initial communication speed when the equipment type generator confirms that the camera is a type compatible with the external device.

13. A system for performing communication between a camera and an external device, comprising:

a camera communication connector via which communication is performed with the external device;

an external device communication connector via which communication is performed with the camera;

a communication device connecting the camera and the external device via the camera communication connector and the external device communication connector;

an equipment type confirmation command generator to send an equipment type confirmation command to the camera at a predetermined initial baud rate to confirm whether the camera is compatible with the external device;

an equipment type generator to receive the equipment type confirmation command and to generate an equipment type command at the predetermined initial baud rate in response to the equipment type confirmation command received from the external equipment; and

a communication speed change device to receive the equipment type command from the equipment type generator, to determine if the equipment type of the camera is compatible with the external device and to transmit a command to the camera to increase the initial predetermined baud rate when it is determined that the equipment type of the camera is compatible with the external device.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a communication speed change inhibiting device to inhibit changing of the predetermined initial baud rate when the increased communication speed is outside a range of communication speed of the camera.