Relay unit

• US 7,456,895 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Misleh; Justin P
• Application Number:
  US10/806,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: 348/345, 348/346, 348/357, 348/211.99, 348/211.4, 348/211.5
• US Class Current: 348/345
• 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,

wherein said input terminal is communicably coupled to second switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between speed control and positional control of the focus lens, and

wherein output signals from said first switching signal input means are multiplexed with switching signals output from said second switching signal input means.

2. 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,

wherein said input terminal is communicably coupled to first remote command generating means for performing remote operations to control the focus lens, and

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.

3. A focal point detection system comprising:

an optical unit having a focus lens;

a remote control unit for remotely controlling said focus lens in said optical unit; and

a relay unit including an input terminal communicably coupled between said remote control unit and said optical unit, for receiving signals from said remote control unit, the relay unit including an output terminal communicably coupled to the optical unit for providing said signals from the remote control unit to the optical unit, the relay unit including 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, wherein said input terminal is communicably coupled to second switching signal input means for controlling the focus lens by switching between speed control and positional control of the focus lens, and wherein output signals from said first switching signal input means are multiplexed with switching signals output from said second switching signal input means.

4. A focal point detection system comprising:

an optical unit having a focus lens;

a remote control unit for remotely controlling said focus lens in said optical unit; and

a relay unit including an input terminal communicably coupled between said remote control unit and said optical unit, for receiving signals from said remote control unit, the relay unit including an output terminal communicably coupled to the optical unit for providing said signals from the remote control unit to the optical unit, the relay unit including 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, wherein said input terminal is communicably coupled to first remote command generating means for performing remote operations to control the focus lens, and 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.