JP6549954B2 - Image transmission / reception system and active cable - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmitting apparatus, an image receiving apparatus, and an active cable for connecting them. The present invention also relates to an image transmission / reception system provided with these. Further, the present invention relates to a method of monitoring an active cable and a control method of the active cable.

  Active cables are used to transmit image signals. Here, an active cable refers to the cable in which the active element was incorporated in the connector provided in the both ends. For example, in an active optical cable using an optical signal for transmitting an image signal, a light emitting element (E / O conversion unit) which is an active element is incorporated in the transmitting connector, and a light receiving element (O / E) which is an active element in the receiving connector. Converter unit is built in.

  Patent Document 1 describes an active optical cable conforming to CameraLink (registered trademark) standard for connecting a camera and a grabber (processing device).

  The active optical cable described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a transmitting side (camera side) connector at one end of a composite cable in which an optical fiber and a metal cable are combined, and a receiving side (graver side) connector at the other end. . The optical fibers contained in the composite cable are used to transmit the image signals X0 to X3 together with the clock signal Xclk from the camera to the grabber. As metal cables included in the composite cable, (1) shielded wire for supplying power from the grabber to the camera, (2) differential wire for transmitting the upstream camera control signal SerTC from the grabber to the camera, (3) Differential lines for transmitting the down camera control signal SerTFG from the camera to the grabber, (4) differential lines for transmitting the trigger signals CC1 to CC4 from the grabber to the camera, and (5) transmission side connector The differential line which connects the camera side MCU (Micro Controller Unit) and the grabber side MCU built in the receiving side connector is mentioned.

  In the active optical cable, the internal state of the transmitting connector (for example, the temperature in the transmitting connector) or the internal state of the receiving connector (for example, the magnitude of the current output from the light receiving element incorporated in the receiving connector) Accordingly, it is necessary for the grabber to control the transmission side connector (for example, to change the magnitude of the current input to the light emitting element incorporated in the transmission side connector). Therefore, control information for transmitting internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector from the camera MCU to the grabber through the grabber MCU or controlling the transmitting connector from the grabber through the grabber MCU Transmission to the camera side MCU. A differential line connecting the camera side MCU incorporated in the transmission side connector and the grabber side MCU incorporated in the reception side connector is for realizing such communication.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2012-60522 (March 22, 2012 publication) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-116734 (disclosed on May 10, 2007)

  As described above, the active optical cable described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of metal cables in addition to the optical fiber for transmitting an image signal. For this reason, there existed a problem that flexibility was low and diameter reduction and weight reduction were difficult.

  In order to solve such a problem, it is preferable to reduce or eliminate metal cables included in the active optical cable. For example, if the differential line connecting the grabber-side MCU and the camera-side MCU can be omitted, the solution to the above-mentioned problem is approached.

  Also, as an active optical cable that can realize connector miniaturization in addition to diameter reduction and weight reduction of the cable, a QSFP (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable) active optical cable in which four upstream and four downstream optical fibers are combined It has been known. Using this active optical cable technology, it is considered to make all the cables except the shielded wire for supplying power from the grabber to the camera. In this case, if the differential line connecting the grabber-side MCU and the camera-side MCU can be omitted, it is possible to use four downstream optical fibers for transmitting the image signals X0 to X3.

  Patent Document 2 describes a technique for superimposing a down camera control signal SerTFG on an image signal and transmitting it from the camera to the grabber. However, even if the technique described in Patent Document 2 is used, it is still difficult to omit the differential line connecting the grabber-side MCU and the camera-side MCU. This is because the internal information transmitted from the camera side MCU to the grabber side MCU using this differential line is not generated by the camera as in the downstream camera control signal SerTFG, but is generated by the transmission side connector It is because it is a thing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to transmit the internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector to the image receiving apparatus from the grabber MCU and the transmitting side connector An object of the present invention is to realize an image transmission / reception system which does not require a transmission path (for example, the above-mentioned differential line) directly connected to an MCU.

  In order to solve the above problems, the image transmitting / receiving system according to an aspect of the present invention is connected to an active cable having a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, and the transmitting connector. In the image transmitting / receiving system including the selected image transmitting apparatus and the image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector, the transmitting connector provides the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating the internal state of the transmission connector. The image transmitting apparatus further includes a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmitting connector on an image signal transmitted to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable. , It is characterized.

  In order to solve the above problems, a method of monitoring an active cable according to an aspect of the present invention includes an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector provided at the other end, and the transmitting connector An image transmitting / receiving system including an image transmitting apparatus connected to the image receiving apparatus and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector, wherein the image receiving apparatus monitors the transmitting connector, the transmitting connector Providing the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating an internal state of the transmitting connector; and transmitting the image signal transmitted by the image transmitting apparatus to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable. And a superimposing step of superimposing the internal information acquired from the connector.

  In order to solve the above problems, in a control method of an active cable according to an aspect of the present invention, an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, and the transmitting connector An image transmitting / receiving system including an image transmitting apparatus connected to the image receiving apparatus and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector, wherein the image receiving apparatus controls the transmitting connector, the image receiving apparatus And a connector for controlling the transmission-side connector in an image transmission apparatus control signal for controlling the image transmission apparatus, the image transmission apparatus control signal transmitted to the image transmission apparatus via the active cable. A control signal is superimposed or a connector control signal is inserted in a non-signal period of the image transmission device control signal. Tsu contains flop, characterized in that.

  In order to solve the above problems, the image transmitting apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention can be connected to the above-mentioned transmitting connector of an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end Image transmitting apparatus, which transmits internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector to the image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector via the active cable and acquiring the internal information from the transmitting connector And a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmission-side connector on an image signal to be transmitted.

  In order to solve the above problems, an active cable according to an aspect of the present invention is an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, and the above transmitting connector is A provision unit is provided for providing internal information indicating the internal state of the transmission connector to the image transmission apparatus connected to the transmission connector.

  In order to solve the above problems, the image receiving apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention can be connected to the above-mentioned receiving connector of an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other Image transmission apparatus control signal for controlling an image transmission apparatus connected to the transmission side connector, the image transmission apparatus control signal transmitted to the image transmission apparatus via the active cable Providing a superimposition / insertion unit for superimposing a connector control signal for controlling the transmission side connector on a signal, or inserting the connector control signal during a non-signal period of the image transmission device control signal, It is characterized by

  According to the present invention, in order to transmit internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector from the transmitting connector to the image receiving apparatus, a control unit built in the transmitting connector and a control unit built in the receiving connector It is possible to realize an image transmission / reception system which does not require a transmission path directly connecting the

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission / reception system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of MUX with which the camera contained in the said image transmission / reception system is equipped, (b) is provided with the grabber contained in the said image transmission / reception system It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of DEMUX. (A) is a block diagram which shows another example of a structure of MUX provided with the camera contained in the said image transmission / reception system, (b) is provided with the grabber contained in the said image transmission / reception system. 10 is a block diagram illustrating another example of the configuration of the DEMUX. It is a flowchart in case the grabber contained in the said image transmission / reception system monitors the camera side connector. It is a flowchart in case the grabber contained in the said image transmission / reception system controls a camera side connector. It is a table showing an example of a data structure of a camera control signal used in the above-mentioned picture transceiver system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission / reception system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart in case the grabber contained in the image transmission / reception system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention controls a grabber side connector. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission / reception system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission / reception system which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission / reception system which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission / reception system which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image transmission / reception system which concerns on the 2nd modification of this invention.

Embodiment 1
(Outline of image transmission / reception system 1)
An image transmitting and receiving system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission / reception system 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image transmission / reception system 1 includes an active optical cable 10 (active cable), a camera 30, and a grabber 40. In the following, an active cable refers to a cable provided with at least one of an element and a circuit operated by external power supplied from the outside. In addition, elements and circuits that operate with external power are collectively referred to as active elements. Examples of active elements include parallel / serial (P / S) conversion units, serial / parallel (S / P) conversion units, electric / optical (E / O) conversion units, optical / electrical (O / E) conversion units , Serializers, deserializers, etc.

  Also, an active optical cable (AOC) is a cable in which at least a signal line for transmitting a high-speed signal (for example, an image signal) among signal lines included in the active cable is formed by an optical fiber. Point to A cable in which a signal line for transmitting a high-speed signal (for example, an image signal) to the active optical cable is formed by metal wiring is called an active metal cable.

  The camera 30 is an imaging device that captures a still image or a moving image, and is an image transmitting device that transmits an image signal representing the captured still image or the moving image through an active light cable.

  The grabber 40 is an image receiving apparatus for receiving an image signal transmitted by the camera 30 via the active optical cable 10, and is an image input interface board for inputting the received image signal to the computer by being attached to the computer. It is. A computer mounted with a grabber 40 connected to the camera 30 via the active light cable 10 functions as an image processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the transmission direction from the camera 30 to the grabber 40 is defined as the downward direction through the active optical cable 10, and the transmission direction from the grabber 40 to the camera 30 is defined as the upward direction.

  First, basic configurations of the camera 30, the active optical cable 10, and the grabber 40 in the image transmitting and receiving system 1 will be described. After that, a configuration for monitoring (monitoring) and controlling the camera-side connector 11 (transmission-side connector) and the grabber-side connector 12 (reception-side connector) of the active optical cable 10 will be described.

(Camera 30)
As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 30 includes a camera controller 31, a sensor unit 32, a signal processing unit 34, a time division multiplexing circuit 35 (MUX), and a voltage conversion unit 36.

  The camera controller 31 controls each part provided in the camera 30, and more specifically, is a microcontroller (MCU: Micro Controller Unit). The camera controller 31 controls the shutter timing of the shutter (not shown) according to the trigger signal acquired from the O / E conversion unit 113 of the camera side connector 11. The camera controller 31 may be configured with, for example, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) instead of the MCU.

  The camera controller 31 includes a decoder 311 and a connector control unit 312 as functional blocks. The decoder 311 decodes the camera control signal (image transmission device control signal) acquired from the O / E conversion unit 113 of the camera side connector 11 and supplies the decoded signal to the camera controller 31. The camera controller 31 controls the sensor unit 32, the signal processing unit 34, and the MUX 35 in accordance with the decoded camera control signal.

  In the camera control signal acquired from the O / E conversion unit 113, a camera side connector control signal for the grabber 40 to control an active element (in particular, the E / O conversion unit 112) of the camera side connector 11; A camera-side connector monitoring signal is included to enable the grabber 40 to monitor the internal state of 11. The decoder 311 decodes the camera control signal as described above, and separates the camera connector control signal and the camera connector monitor signal superimposed on the camera control signal. The details of the camera-side connector control signal and the camera-side connector monitoring signal will be described later together with the internal information of the camera-side connector 11. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish a camera side connector control signal and a camera side connector monitoring signal, both are collectively called a camera side connector control signal collectively. The function of the connector control unit 312 will also be described later along with the internal information of the camera side connector 11.

  The sensor unit 32 includes an imaging sensor (not shown), an A / D converter (not shown), a synchronization signal generator (not shown), and an analog image processor (not shown). The imaging sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each pixel of the imaging sensor converts the intensity of the received light into a voltage corresponding to the intensity of the light. Therefore, the imaging sensor captures light incident through an optical system (not shown) as an image, converts the light into an analog image signal representing the image, and provides the image signal to the A / D conversion unit. The imaging sensor may be a color imaging sensor capable of detecting the intensity of each of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light, or may be a monochrome imaging sensor. In the following, it will be described as a color imaging sensor.

  The A / D conversion unit converts an analog image signal acquired from the imaging sensor into a digital image signal of 24 bits in total including 8 bits of R, 8 bits of G, and 8 bits of B. Here, each image signal of RGB, which is 8 bits each, constitutes one parallel signal sequence. Therefore, a total of 24 bit image signals constitute three parallel signal sequences. The A / D conversion unit uses a clock (CLK) supplied from a clock generation source (not shown) when converting an aspect of the image signal from analog to digital. In the following, when simply described as "image signal" without specifying "analog image signal", it means that it is a digital image signal. The A / D conversion unit supplies the digital image signal subjected to A / D conversion to the signal processing unit 34. Here, although it is described that the number of bits of each image signal of RGB is 8 bits, the number of bits of each image signal of RGB is not limited to 8 bits. The number of bits of each image signal of RGB may be, for example, 10 bits or 12 bits. Therefore, the total number of bits of each image signal of RGB may be more than 24 bits.

  The analog image processing unit performs analog image processing such as analog gain, analog offset, and analog filter on an analog image signal provided by the imaging sensor as necessary. The analog image processing unit provides an analog image signal subjected to analog image processing as necessary to an A / D conversion unit. That is, the analog image processing performed by the analog image processing unit is not an essential process in the camera 30.

  The synchronization signal generation unit generates vertical synchronization, horizontal synchronization, and valid data, which are synchronization signals synchronized with the digital image signal converted by the A / D conversion unit. The number of bits of each of the vertical synchronization, horizontal synchronization, and valid data synchronization signals is one bit.

  The signal processing unit 34 uses the CLK supplied from a clock generation source (not shown) and the three synchronization signals (vertical synchronization, horizontal synchronization, and valid data) acquired from the synchronization signal generation unit to generate an A / D conversion unit. Digital image processing such as digital gain, digital offset, and digital filter is performed on a digital image signal consisting of three parallel signal sequences acquired from. That is, the digital image processing performed by the signal processing unit 34 is not an essential processing for the camera 30. The signal processing unit 34 supplies the MUX 35 with a 24-bit image signal subjected to digital image processing as necessary, the above-described three synchronization signals (vertical synchronization, horizontal synchronization, and valid data), and CLK.

  The MUX 35 time-division multiplexes the image signal consisting of three parallel signal sequences acquired from the signal processing unit 34 and the synchronization signal into four pairs of differential signals using CLK. The MUX 35 can be configured, for example, using a commercially available FPGA. FIG. 2A is a block diagram of the MUX 35 when the MUX 35 is configured using Cyclone V manufactured by Altera Corporation as an FPGA. The block diagram shown in FIG. 2A shows a time-division multiplex block for one lane that generates a pair of serial signals by time-division multiplexing 8-bit parallel signals. In this time division multiplex block, an 8-bit parallel signal is encoded using a method called 8B / 10B encoding as shown in FIG. 2A, and then the encoded parallel signal is serialized by a serializer. Time division multiplex on the signal.

  The MUX 35 includes an image signal of at least 24 bits and a synchronization signal of 3 bits, so that four lanes of the time division multiplex block shown in FIG. 2 may be provided. When the MUX 35 includes four lanes of the time division multiplex block, data of up to 32 bits can be time division multiplexed, so data other than the image signal and the synchronization signal are combined with the image signal and the synchronization signal to be time division multiplexed. can do.

  The MUX 35 can also be configured using a commercially available IC (Integrated Circuit). In the present embodiment, as shown in (a) of FIG. 3, the MUX 35 is configured using DS92 LV3241 which is a Serializer IC manufactured by Texas Instruments. Further, (b) of FIG. 3 shows a DS92 LV3242 which is a deserializer IC that functions as a DEMUX 42 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the MUX 35 time-division multiplexes the acquired maximum 32-bit parallel signals (TxIN0 to TxIN31) to obtain four pairs of differential signals (TxOUT0 + and −, TxOUT1 + and −, TxOUT2 + and −, and TxOUT3 + and −) can be generated. The DEMUX 42 will be described later when describing the grabber 40.

  The MUX 35 supplies four pairs of differential signals (hereinafter referred to as first to fourth image signals) generated by time division multiplexing to the E / O converter 112 of the camera side connector 11.

(Active optical cable 10)
As shown in FIG. 1, the active optical cable 10 includes a camera side connector 11, a grabber side connector 12, a downstream optical fiber 13, an upstream optical fiber 14, and a power line 15.

  The camera side connector 11 is provided at one end of the active light cable 10 and is connected to the camera 30. The grabber-side connector 12 is provided at the other end of the active optical cable 10 and is connected to the grabber 40.

  The downstream optical fiber 13 is a signal line for transmitting the image signal, which is four differential signals supplied from the camera 30, to the grabber 40, and includes four optical fibers 131 to 134.

  The upstream optical fiber 14 includes an optical fiber 141 for transmitting a camera control signal for controlling the camera, and an optical fiber 142 for transmitting a trigger signal for instructing the camera to the shutter timing. When applying the QSFP active optical cable technology in which four upstream and four downstream optical fibers are combined to the active optical cable 10, the four active optical cables 10 include the E / O conversion unit 122. Of the light emitting units, two light emitting units corresponding to the optical fibers 141 and 142 may be used to transmit the camera control signal and the trigger signal. In other words, two of the four light emitting units may be invalidated, and two optical fibers corresponding to the invalidated two light emitting units may be unused. The image signal, the camera control signal, and the trigger signal will be described later. Here, to invalidate the light emitting portion refers to making the current supplied to the light emitting portion (for example, laser element) equal to or less than the threshold current of the light emitting element (for example, to be 0 mA). In the present embodiment, since the upstream optical fiber 14 adopts a configuration in which two signals (camera control signal and trigger signal) are transmitted, the four light emitting units included in the E / O conversion unit 122 are included. Two of the light emitting units are disabled. However, depending on the number of signals transmitted by the upstream optical fiber 14, the number of light emitting units to be invalidated may be any one or more and three or less. According to this configuration, power consumption in the grabber side connector 12 can be suppressed as compared with the case where the light emitting unit is not invalidated.

  When applying the technology of CXP (C = hex character for 12; XP = eXtended capability Pluggable) active optical cable in which, for example, 12 upstream and 12 downstream optical fibers are combined for the active optical cable 10, E Of the twelve (N = 12) light emitting units included in the I / O conversion unit 122, ten (N−M) light emitting units are invalidated, and ten light emitting units corresponding to the invalidated ten light emitting units are provided. The optical fiber may be left unused.

  The power line 15 is a metal wiring for supplying the power supplied from the power supply unit 44 of the grabber 40 to the grabber connector 12, the camera connector 11, and the camera 30. The power line 15 is supplied with power of a predetermined voltage (for example, DC 12 V) from a power source 44 which is a constant voltage source.

  The camera-side connector 11 includes a camera-side controller 111, an electrical / optical conversion unit (E / O conversion unit) 112, an optical / electrical conversion unit (O / E conversion unit) 113, a temperature sensor 114, and a voltage conversion unit 115. ing.

  The voltage conversion unit 115 converts the voltage of the power supplied by the power line 15 into a predetermined voltage (for example, 3.3 V DC), and then converts the power after voltage conversion into the camera-side controller 111, the E / O conversion unit And 112, the O / E conversion unit 113, and the temperature sensor 114. Each of the camera side controller 111, the E / O converter 112, the O / E converter 113, and the temperature sensor 114, which are active elements, is driven by the power supplied from the voltage converter 115.

  The camera-side controller 111 controls the E / O conversion unit 112 and the O / E conversion unit 113, and is specifically an MCU. In addition, the internal information providing unit 111 a included in the camera-side controller 111 provides the camera 30 with internal information indicating an internal state related to the operation state of the camera-side connector 11. This internal information will be described later.

  The E / O conversion unit 112 includes a laser driving unit (not shown) and a laser element which is a light emitting unit (not shown). The E / O conversion unit 112 converts an image signal which is an electrical signal supplied from the MUX 35 of the camera 30 into an image signal which is an optical signal. Thereafter, the E / O conversion unit 112 couples the image signal converted into the optical signal to the downstream optical fiber 13. As a laser element of the E / O conversion unit 112, for example, a laser element of a type called a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) can be used.

  Specifically, the E / O conversion unit 112 acquires image signals (first to fourth image signals) which are four pairs of differential signals from the MUX 35. Taking the first image signal as an example, the laser drive unit of the E / O conversion unit 112 sends a current signal based on the set bias current and modulation current to the laser element in accordance with the control signal acquired from the camera controller 111. Supply. The laser element emits, to the optical fiber 131, a laser beam whose light emission intensity is modulated based on the current signal acquired from the laser drive unit, that is, a first image signal which is an optical signal, to the optical fiber 131. Through the above-described steps, the E / O conversion unit 112 converts the aspect of the first image signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal.

  Similarly, the E / O conversion unit 112 converts the aspect of the second image signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal and then couples it to the optical fiber 132 to convert the aspect of the third image signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal The fourth image signal aspect is then converted from an electrical signal to an optical signal and then coupled to the optical fiber 134.

  In addition, the E / O conversion unit 112 provides a bias current when driving the laser element to the internal information provision unit 111 a of the camera controller 111. The bias current is one of the internal information indicating the internal state of the camera side connector 11. The method of transmitting the internal information of the camera side connector 11 to the grabber 40 will be described later.

  On the other hand, the O / E conversion unit 113 includes a light receiving unit (not shown) and a current-voltage conversion unit. The O / E converter 113 converts the aspect of the camera control signal transmitted by the upstream optical fiber 14 from an optical signal to an electrical signal, and converts the aspect of the trigger signal from an optical signal to an electrical signal. Thereafter, the O / E conversion unit 113 supplies the camera control signal and the trigger signal converted into the electrical signal to the camera controller 31 of the camera 30. Note that, for example, a GaAs PIN type photodiode (PIN-PD) can be used as the light receiving unit of the O / E conversion unit 113.

  Specifically, the light receiving unit of the O / E conversion unit 113 receives a camera control signal which is an optical signal from the optical fiber 141. The photodiode, which is a light receiving unit, converts the light intensity of the light signal representing the received camera control signal into a corresponding photodiode current. The photodiode supplies the converted photodiode current to the current-voltage converter. The current-voltage conversion unit converts the photodiode current obtained from the photodiode as the light receiving unit into a corresponding voltage. The current-voltage converter supplies a voltage corresponding to the photodiode current, that is, an electrical signal to the camera controller 31. Through the above-described steps, the O / E conversion unit 113 converts the aspect of the camera control signal from an optical signal to an electrical signal.

  Similarly, the O / E conversion unit 113 converts the mode of the trigger signal from an optical signal to an electrical signal and supplies the converted signal to the camera controller 31.

  The temperature sensor 114 is disposed in a region near the laser element of the E / O conversion unit 112, and detects the temperature of the region near the laser element. The temperature sensor 114 provides the temperature in the vicinity of the detected laser element to the internal information providing unit 111a. The temperature in the vicinity of the laser element is one of the internal information indicating the internal state of the camera side connector 11. The method of transmitting the internal information of the camera side connector 11 to the grabber 40 will be described later.

  Next, the grabber side connector 12 will be described. The grabber-side connector 12 includes a grabber-side controller 121, an E / O converter 122, an O / E converter 123, a temperature sensor 124, and a voltage converter 125.

  The voltage conversion unit 125 converts the voltage of the power supplied by the power line 15 into a predetermined voltage (for example, 3.3 V DC), and then the power after voltage conversion is processed by the grabber-side controller 121, the E / O conversion unit 122, the O / E conversion unit 123 and the temperature sensor 124 are supplied. Each of the grabber-side controller 121, the E / O converter 122, the O / E converter 123, and the temperature sensor 124, which are active elements, is driven by the power supplied from the voltage converter 125.

  The grabber-side controller 121 controls each part provided in the grabber-side connector 12 and is specifically an MCU.

  The E / O conversion unit 122 includes a laser drive unit (not shown) and a laser element, and is configured in the same manner as the E / O conversion unit 112 of the camera side connector 11. While the E / O converter 112 converts the aspect of the image signal acquired from the MUX 35 from an electrical signal to an optical signal, the E / O converter 122 converts the camera control signal acquired from the grabber controller 41 of the grabber 40 and the trigger. The aspect of the signal is converted from an electrical signal to an optical signal.

  Taking the camera control signal acquired from the grabber controller 41 as an example, the laser drive unit of the E / O conversion unit 122 is a current signal based on the bias current and the modulation current set according to the control signal acquired from the grabber controller 121 Are supplied to the laser element. The laser device couples, to the optical fiber 141, laser light whose emission intensity is modulated based on the current signal acquired from the laser drive unit, that is, a camera control signal which is an optical signal. Through the above-described steps, the E / O conversion unit 122 converts the aspect of the camera control signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal.

  Similarly, the E / O conversion unit 122 converts an aspect of the trigger signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal and couples the converted signal to the optical fiber 142.

  Further, the E / O conversion unit 122 provides a bias current for driving the laser device to the grabber-side controller 121. The bias current is one of the internal information indicating the internal state of the grabber side connector 12. The method of transmitting the internal information of the grabber side connector 12 to the grabber 40 will be described later.

  On the other hand, the O / E conversion unit 123 includes a light receiving unit and a current voltage conversion unit (not shown), and is configured in the same manner as the O / E conversion unit 113 of the camera side connector 11. While the O / E conversion unit 113 converts the aspect of the camera control signal and the trigger signal transmitted by the upstream optical fiber 14 from an optical signal to an electrical signal, the E / O conversion unit 123 uses the downstream optical fiber 14 to The aspect of the transmitted first to fourth image signals is converted from an optical signal to an electrical signal composed of four pairs of differential signals.

  Specifically, the light receiving unit of the O / E conversion unit 123 receives the first image signal, which is an optical signal, from the optical fiber 131. The photodiode as the light receiving unit converts the intensity of the light signal representing the received first image signal into the corresponding photodiode current, and supplies the photodiode current to the current-voltage conversion unit. The current voltage conversion unit converts the photodiode current acquired from the photodiode into a corresponding voltage. The current-voltage conversion unit supplies a voltage corresponding to the photodiode current to the DEMUX 42 of the grabber 40 as a first image signal which is an electric signal. More specifically, the current-voltage conversion unit converts a pair of differential signals corresponding to the voltage corresponding to the photodiode current, and supplies the pair of differential signals to the DEMUX 42 as a first image signal. Do. Through the above steps, the OE conversion unit 123 converts the aspect of the first image signal from an optical signal to an electrical signal.

  Similarly, the O / E conversion unit 123 converts the aspect of the second image signal from an optical signal to an electrical signal that is a pair of differential signals, and the aspect of the third image signal from an optical signal to a pair An aspect of the fourth image signal is converted from an optical signal to an electrical signal as a pair of differential signals. The O / E converter 123 supplies the second to fourth image signals to the DEMUX 42 together with the first image signal.

  The temperature sensor 124 is disposed in a region near the laser element of the E / O conversion unit 122, and detects the temperature of the region near the laser element. The temperature sensor 124 provides the detected temperature in the vicinity of the laser element to the internal information provision unit 121a. The temperature in the vicinity of the laser element is one of internal information indicating the internal state of the grabber-side connector 12. The method of transmitting the internal information of the grabber side connector 12 to the grabber 40 will be described later.

(Grabber 40)
As shown in FIG. 1, the grabber 40 includes a grabber controller 41, a demultiplexer (DEMUX) 42, a signal processing unit 43, and a power supply unit 44.

  The grabber controller 41 controls each part provided in the grabber 40, and more specifically, is a microcontroller. The grabber controller 41 controls the DEMUX 42, the signal processing unit 43, and the power supply unit 44 according to a control signal from a computer which is an image processing apparatus.

  The grabber controller 41 includes an encoder 411 and a connector control unit 412 as functional blocks. The encoder 411 encodes a camera control signal to be transmitted to the camera 30 into a data transmission format, and supplies it to the E / O converter 122 of the grabber side connector 12. Here, the data transmission format means a format of an aspect suitable for transmission as compared with a format used when a computer as an image processing apparatus processes a camera control signal. Specific examples of the data transmission format include a format defined by RS-232C (EIA-232 standard) and a format using a Coded Mark Inversion (CMI) coding method.

  In addition, the grabber controller 41 supplies a trigger signal to the E / O converter 122. The trigger signal includes a signal serving as a trigger for controlling the shutter timing at which the camera 30 captures an image. The trigger signal supplied by the grabber controller 41 is a non-time division multiplexed real time signal.

  The DEMUX 42 acquires four image signals (first to fourth image signals) from the O / E converter 123 of the grabber side connector 12. The DEMUX 42 restores the image signal composed of three parallel signal sequences and the synchronization signal by time-divisionally separating the first to fourth image signals which are four pairs of differential signals.

  The DEMUX 42 can be configured, for example, using a commercially available FPGA. FIG. 2B is a block diagram in the case where the DEMUX 42 is configured using Cyclone V manufactured by Altera Corporation as the FPGA. The block diagram shown in (b) of FIG. 2 shows a time-division separation block for one lane that generates an 8-bit parallel signal by time-division separating a pair of serial signals. This time division separation block decodes a pair of serial signals using the reverse method of the 8B / 10B encoding shown in FIG. 2A, and then decodes the decoded serial signals into 8-bit parallel by the deserializer. Time-division into signals. The encoding / decoding method performed in (a) and (b) of FIG. 2 is not limited to 8B / 10B encoding / decoding, for example, 64B / 66B encoding / decoding. May be

  The DEMUX 42 can also be configured using a commercially available IC. FIG. 3B shows a DS92LV3242 which is a Texas Instruments deserializer IC used as the DEMUX 42 in this embodiment. As shown in (b) of FIG. 3, the DEMUX 42 obtains the acquired four pairs of differential signals (+ and − of RxIN0, + and − of RxIN1, + and − of RxIN2, and + and − of RxIN2 and + and − of RxIN3). By performing time division separation, 32-bit parallel signals (RxOUT0 to RxOUT31) can be generated.

  The DEMUX 42 supplies, to the signal processing unit 43, the three image signals and the synchronization signal included in the 32-bit parallel signal generated by time division separation.

  The signal processing unit 43 converts three image signals which are parallel signals acquired from the DEMUX 42 into image signals of a format that can be processed by the grabber 40 using a synchronization signal. The signal processing unit 43 supplies the three image signals converted into the format that can be processed by the grabber 40 to the grabber controller 41. The grabber controller 41 supplies the three image signals to a computer functioning as an image processing apparatus.

  The power supply unit 44 supplies power to the grabber controller 41, the DEMUX 42, and the signal processing unit 43 included in the grabber 40, and also supplies power to the power line 15. The power supply unit 44 may be configured to be able to supply predetermined power to the grabber 40, the active optical cable 10, and the camera 30, and the existing technology (for example, PoCL (Power over Camera Link in camera link cable) Can be realized using the technology of

(Monitoring of the camera side connector 11 and the grabber side connector 12)
As described above, the camera-side connector 11 and the grabber-side connector 12 of the active optical cable 10 include the E / O converters 112 and 122 and the O / E converters 113 and 123 respectively corresponding to them. As described above, the E / O conversion units 112 and 122 each include a laser element that emits a laser beam, which is a medium of an optical signal, in order to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal.

  In general, the power of laser light emitted from a laser element largely depends on the bias current of the laser element and the temperature of the laser element. Therefore, the grabber 40 to which the active optical cable 10 is connected is (i) a bias current representing the bias current of the laser element (hereinafter, the first laser element) of the E / O conversion unit 112 included in the camera side connector 11 Information (hereinafter, first bias current information) and temperature information (hereinafter, first temperature information) representing the temperature inside the camera-side connector 11 (the region near the first laser element) can be obtained Is configured as. Further, (i) bias current information (hereinafter referred to as second bias) representing a bias current of a laser element (hereinafter referred to as a second laser element) of the E / O conversion unit 122 included in the grabber side connector 12 It is also configured to be able to acquire current information) and temperature information (hereinafter referred to as second temperature information) representing the temperature inside the grabber-side connector (in the vicinity of the second laser element). In the following, the first bias current information indicating the internal state of the camera side connector 11 and the first temperature information are collectively collectively referred to as first internal information, and the second internal state of the grabber side connector 12 is indicated. The bias current information and the second temperature information are collectively referred to as second internal information.

  As described above, the grabber 40 monitors the internal state of the camera connector 11 by grasping the internal state of the camera connector 11 by acquiring the first internal information from the camera connector 11. I call it ". Similarly, the grasping of the internal state of the grabber-side connector 12 by the grabber 40 acquiring the second internal information from the grabber-side connector 12 is “monitoring the internal state of the grabber-side connector 12” Call it The act of "monitoring" this internal state can be paraphrased as the act of "monitoring" the internal state.

(Monitoring method for camera side connector 11)
Here, a monitoring method in the case where the grabber 40 monitors the camera side connector 11 will be described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, a control method in the case where the grabber 40 controls the camera side connector 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The camera control signal, the camera side connector control signal, and the grabber side connector control signal will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the grabber 40 monitors the camera side connector 11. FIG. 5 is a flowchart when the grabber 40 controls the camera side connector 11. FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of a data structure of a camera control signal, a camera side connector control signal, and a grabber side connector control signal.

  Here, the grabber 40 transmits a camera-side connector monitoring signal indicating that the camera-side connector 11 is to be monitored to the camera-side connector 11, and the camera-side connector 11 performs the first based on the received camera-side connector monitoring signal. A case of transmitting internal information of G to the grabber 40 will be described. The monitoring of the camera-side connector 11 realized by the grabber 40 transmitting the camera-side connector monitoring signal and acquiring the internal information of the camera-side connector 11 is an aspect of control of the camera-side connector 11 described later. You might also say that. Therefore, hereinafter, a camera-side connector monitoring signal for monitoring the camera-side connector 11 and a camera-side connector control signal for controlling the camera-side connector 11 are collectively referred to as a camera-side connector control signal without distinction. .

  First, an example of the data structure of the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal are, for example, 14-byte serial commands defined by the data structure shown in FIG.

  The first to sixth byte commands are used to specify a camera to be controlled by the camera control signal. A unique identification number is assigned to each camera used in the image transmission / reception system 1 in order to identify the camera from other cameras. Further, in the image transmitting / receiving system 1, not only the camera included in the system but also the camera side connector and the grabber side connector of the active light cable included in the system are assigned identification numbers.

  In the following, it is assumed that the identification number of the camera 30 is “000001”, the identification number of the camera side connector 11 is “000002”, and the identification number of the grabber side connector 12 is “000003”. When generating a camera control signal for controlling the camera 30, the computer as the image processing apparatus generates a camera control signal in which the first to sixth byte commands are "000001". In addition, in the case of generating a camera control signal for controlling the camera-side connector 11, a command for the first to sixth bytes may be set to "000002", and a camera control signal for controlling the grabber-side connector 12 may be selected. In the case of generation, the command of the first to sixth bytes may be set to "000003".

  The command of the 7th byte is a command for specifying the processing code of the camera control signal, and a command corresponding to any one of the read mode (R), the write mode (W) and the ACK mode (A) is specified.

  The command of the 8th to 10th bytes designates the address of the EEPROM (registered trademark) / RAM provided in any of the camera 30, the camera side connector 11 and the grabber side connector 12.

  The 11th to 13th byte commands designate execution data to be written to the EEPROM (registered trademark) / RAM address specified by the 8th to 10th byte commands in the write mode. In the read mode and the ACK mode, the commands in the 11th to 13th bytes are not specified.

  In the 14th byte command, “0Dh” is specified, which means that it is the last command of the camera control signal.

  Next, referring to FIG. 4, a monitoring method in the case where the grabber 40 monitors the camera side connector 11 will be described. As described later in “Control method for the camera side connector 11”, when the grabber 40 controls the camera side connector 11, the connector control unit 412 controls the camera side connector control signal in which the control target is the camera side connector 11. Are provided to the encoder 411 (see step S111). On the other hand, when the grabber 40 monitors the camera-side connector 11, the connector control unit 412 does not generate a camera-side connector control signal whose control target is the camera-side connector 11. That is, the connector control unit 412 does not provide the camera side connector control signal to the encoder 411. Therefore, in this case, the encoder 411 obtains only the camera control signal from the computer. The encoder 411 converts the camera control signal acquired from the computer into a data transmission format, and provides the converted data to the E / O converter 122 of the grabber-side connector 12.

  Here, it has been described that the camera control signal is a 14-byte serial command. However, as a camera control signal, a general-purpose command as defined in Genicam (EMVA, http://www.emva.org/cms/index.php?idcat=27) can also be used.

  Next, a monitoring method in the case where the grabber 40 monitors the camera side connector 11 will be described.

  When the connector control unit 412 of the grabber controller 41 controls the camera side connector 11, the connector control unit 412 generates a camera side connector control signal whose control target is the camera side connector 11 and provides it to the encoder 411 (step S111). ). Here, the data structure of the camera side connector control signal is the same as the data structure of the camera control signal shown in FIG. Therefore, when specifying the camera side connector 11 as the control target, the connector control unit 412 may set the command of the first to sixth bytes to “000002”.

  In the 7th to 13th byte commands, a command corresponding to control to cause the camera side connector 11 to transmit the first internal information, in other words, to read the first internal information from the camera side connector 11 is specified. Specifically, "R" corresponding to the read mode is designated as the 7th byte command, and a predetermined address of EEPROM / RAM in the camera side controller 111 of the camera side connector 11 is designated as the 8th to 10th byte command. specify. In the camera-side connector control signal for monitoring, there is no content to be specified in the 11th to 13th bytes.

  The encoder 411 acquires a camera control signal (image transmission device control signal) for controlling the camera 30 from a computer which is an image processing device (step S112). As described above, in the camera control signal, the command of the first to sixth bytes is "000001".

  The encoder 411 converts a camera-side connector control signal whose control target is the camera-side connector 11 into a data transmission format in the same manner as the camera control signal, and provides it to the E / O converter 122 of the grabber-side connector 12 (step S113). Therefore, the encoder 411 provides the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal to the E / O converter 122 via the same transmission path. If the timing for acquiring the camera control signal and the timing for acquiring the camera-side connector control signal overlap, either one of the control signals (for example, the camera control signal) is provided to the E / O converter 122 first. Then, the other (for example, the camera side connector control signal) may be provided to the E / O conversion unit 122 after that. In this case, the encoder 411 functions as an insertion unit that inserts the camera-side connector control signal in the non-signal period of the camera control signal. In addition, when a command transmission format capable of transmitting two control signals of a camera control signal and a camera side connector control signal using one command is prepared, the encoder 411 controls the camera control signal and the camera side connector. The signals may be collectively provided to the E / O conversion unit 122. In this case, the encoder 411 functions as a superimposing unit that superimposes the camera-side connector control signal on the camera control signal. In the following, the encoder 411 functions as a superimposing unit that superimposes the camera-side connector control signal on the camera control signal.

  The E / O conversion unit 122 converts the aspect of the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal acquired from the encoder 411 from an electrical signal to an optical signal. Thereafter, the E / O conversion unit 122 couples the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal converted into the light signal to the optical fiber 141 of the upstream optical fiber 14. The optical fiber 141 transmits the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal from the E / O converter 122 of the grabber side connector 12 to the O / E converter 113 of the camera side connector 11.

  The O / E conversion unit 113 converts the mode of the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal transmitted by the optical fiber 141 from an optical signal to an electrical signal. Thereafter, the O / E conversion unit 113 provides the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal converted into the electric signal to the decoder 311 of the camera controller 31.

  The decoder 311 receives a camera control signal on which the camera-side connector control signal transmitted through the E / O conversion unit 122, the optical fiber 141, and the O / E conversion unit 113 is superimposed (step S114).

  The decoder 311 converts the format of the acquired camera control signal and camera side connector control signal from the data transmission format into a format that can be processed by the camera controller 31 (also a format that can be processed by a computer that is an image processing apparatus). Do. In other words, the decoder 311 returns the format of the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal converted by the encoder 411 to the original format.

  Furthermore, the decoder 311 refers to the 1st to 6th byte commands of the converted control signal, and whether the camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal is for the camera side connector 11, or for the camera 30, or It is determined whether it does not correspond to any (step S115). In other words, the decoder 311 confirms the identification number included in the control signal and distributes it to the controller of each device (the camera 40, the camera side connector 11, and the grabber side connector 12) to thereby control the camera control signal and the camera side connector control signal. , And grabber-side connector control signals are separated.

  When the first to sixth byte commands are “000002” which is the identification number of the camera side connector 11, the decoder 311 determines that the converted control signal is a camera side connector control signal that controls the camera connector 11. And provide the control signal to the connector control unit 312 (step S116).

  The connector control unit 312 provides the acquired camera connector control signal to the camera controller 111 of the camera connector 11 (step S117). Therefore, it can be said that the decoder 311 is a separation unit that separates the camera-side connector control signal for controlling the camera-side connector 11 from the camera control signal and provides the camera-side connector 11 with the separated camera-side connector control signal. .

  When the camera-side connector control signal for controlling the camera-side connector 11 is acquired from the connector control unit 312, the camera-side controller 111 indicates the read mode specified in the seventh byte of the acquired camera-side connector control signal. The internal information providing unit 111 a is controlled to acquire internal information indicating the internal state of the camera controller 111 according to “R” and the address of the EEPROM / RAM specified at the 8th to 10th bytes. Specifically, the internal information provision unit 111a acquires the first bias current information from the E / O conversion unit 112, and acquires the first temperature information from the temperature sensor 114 (step S118).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a signal line capable of bi-directional communication is provided between the camera controller 111 of the camera connector 11 and the connector controller 312 of the camera controller 31 provided in the camera 30. There is. The internal information provision unit 111a provides the acquired first bias current information and first temperature information, that is, the first internal information to the connector control unit 312 via the signal line (provision step: step S119). . The connector control unit 312 is an acquisition unit that acquires the first internal information from the internal information provision unit 111a.

  The connector control unit 312 provides the MUX 35 with the first internal information provided from the internal information provision unit 111 a.

  The MUX 35 generates an image signal consisting of three parallel signal sequences acquired from the signal processing unit 34, the above-mentioned synchronization signal, and the first internal information, the first to fourth image signals (four pairs of differential signals Time division multiplexing). In other words, the MUX 35, which is the superimposing unit, superimposes the first internal information acquired from the camera connector 11 on the image signal transmitted to the grabber 40 via the active optical cable 10 (superimposing step: step S120).

  The first to fourth image signals on which the first internal information is superimposed are converted from electrical signals to optical signals in the E / O conversion unit 112 of the camera side connector 11, and the downstream optical fiber 13 causes the grabber side It is transmitted to the connector 12. The O / E conversion unit 123 of the grabber side connector 12 converts the aspect of the received first to fourth image signals from an optical signal to an electrical signal, and provides the converted image signal to the DEMUX 42.

  The DEMUX 42 time-divisionally separates the acquired first to fourth image signals to restore an image signal consisting of three parallel signal sequences, the synchronization signal, and the first internal information. In other words, the demultiplexer DEMUX 42 separates the first internal information from the image signal received from the camera 30 via the active light cable 10. The DEMUX 42 provides an image signal consisting of three image signals and the synchronization signal to the signal processing unit 43. The DEMUX 42 also provides the first internal information to the connector control unit 412 of the grabber controller 41.

  Even though the signal line capable of bi-directional communication is not provided to connect the camera controller 111 and the grabber controller 121 according to the above process, the grabber controller 41 of the grabber 40 determines the internal state of the camera connector 11. It can be monitored.

  Here, the internal information providing unit 111a of the camera controller 111 acquires first internal information from the E / O converter 112 and the temperature sensor 14 based on the camera connector control signal from the grabber 40, and the connector Although described as providing to the control unit 312, the internal information providing unit 111a may be configured to acquire and provide the first internal information at a predetermined timing. The predetermined timing may be regular or non-periodic. When the predetermined timing is periodic, the first acquisition interval which is an interval for acquiring the first bias current information and the first temperature information is not particularly limited. For example, the first acquisition interval may be set to 10 seconds. The timing for acquiring the first bias current information and the timing for acquiring the first temperature information may be the same or different.

  If the command of the first to sixth bytes of the camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal is “000001” which is the identification number of the camera 30 in step S 115, the camera controller 31 receives the control signal from the camera 30. Is determined to be a camera control signal whose control target is to be controlled, and each unit of the camera 30 is controlled in accordance with the command designated at the seventh to thirteenth bytes (step S131).

  In step S115, the first to sixth bytes commands of the camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal are the identification numbers of the camera 30, "000001", and the identification number of the camera side connector 11, If the camera controller 31 does not correspond to any of “000002”, which is the above, the camera controller 31 is a NACK (Negative-Acknowledge) that is a response signal indicating that the control represented by the received camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal has not been executed. ) Sends the signal to the grabber 40 (step S141). In the present embodiment, the NACK signal uses the NACK mode among the four processing codes (the read mode, the write mode, the ACK mode, and the NACK mode) of the control signal shown in FIG. That is, the camera controller 31 designates "N" indicating the NACK mode as the command of the 7th byte of the NACK signal. Further, the camera controller 31 designates “000001” which is an identification number of itself as a command of the first to sixth bytes of the NACK signal. By these, it can be clearly indicated that this NACK signal is a NACK signal generated by the camera controller 31.

(Monitoring method for grabber side connector 12)
Next, a monitoring method in the case where the grabber 40 monitors the grabber side connector 12 will be described. The internal information providing unit 121 a of the grabber-side controller 121 periodically acquires the second bias current information from the E / O conversion unit 122 and periodically acquires the second temperature information from the temperature sensor 124. The second acquisition interval which is an interval for acquiring the second bias current information and the second temperature information is not particularly limited. Here, it is assumed that the second acquisition interval is set to 10 seconds. The timing for acquiring the second bias current information and the timing for acquiring the second temperature information may be the same or different.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a signal line capable of bi-directional communication is provided between the grabber-side controller 121 of the grabber-side connector 12 and the connector control section 412 of the grabber controller 41 provided in the grabber 40. There is. The internal information providing unit 121a provides the acquired second bias current information and second temperature information, that is, second internal information to the connector control unit 412 via the signal line.

  Through the above steps, the grabber controller 41 of the grabber 40 can monitor the internal state of the grabber-side connector 12.

  Here, as a specific example of the internal information, the monitoring of the grabber side connector 12 has been described by citing the second bias current information and the second temperature information. Moreover, in the monitoring method with respect to the camera side connector 11 mentioned above, monitoring of the camera side connector 11 was demonstrated taking up 1st bias current information and 1st temperature information as a specific example of internal information. However, the internal information acquired by the grabber 40 from the camera side connector 11 and the grabber side connector 12 is not limited to these. That is, the active elements monitored by the grabber 40 are not limited to the E / O converters 112 and 122, and may be the O / E converters 113 and 123. For example, as the internal information indicating the state of the O / E conversion unit 113, the grabber 40 represents a current value output to the camera controller 31 by the light receiving unit included in the O / E conversion unit 113, in other words, The received light power information of may be acquired. In addition, the grabber 40, as internal information indicating the state of the O / E conversion unit 123, is a current value output to the DEMUX 42 by the light receiving unit provided to the O / E conversion unit 123, in other words, the second light reception Power information may be acquired. The current value outputted by each light receiving unit provided in the O / E converting units 113 and 123 corresponds to the power of the light signal received by each light receiving unit.

(Control of the camera side connector 11 and the grabber side connector 12)
So far, the method in which the grabber 40 monitors the camera-side connector 11 by transmitting the first internal information of the camera-side connector 11 from the camera-side connector 11 to the grabber 40 via the camera 30 has been described. Also, the method of the grabber 40 monitoring the grabber connector 12 by transmitting the second internal information of the grabber connector 12 from the grabber connector 12 to the grabber 40 has been described. In the following, first, a method in which the grabber 40 controls the camera connector 11 will be described with reference to FIG. 5, and then, a method in which the grabber 40 controls the grabber connector 12 will be described.

(Control method for the camera side connector 11)
Here, “the grabber 40 controls the camera side connector 11” includes: (1) changing various parameters of the active element included in the camera side connector 11 based on an instruction from the grabber 40, (2 ) Indicates that the first internal information indicating the internal state of the camera side connector 11 is transmitted from the camera side connector 11 to the grabber 40. When the active element of the camera side connector 11 to be controlled is the E / O conversion unit 112, the parameter that can be changed by the grabber 40 is, for example, the first laser element included in the E / O conversion unit 112 Bias current and modulation current. In addition, by transmitting the TxDIS signal to the camera side connector 11, the grabber 40 can validate or invalidate the state of the first laser element provided in the E / O conversion unit 112. Therefore, it can be said that the state (valid or invalid) of the first laser element is one of various parameters of the active element. When the active element of the camera side connector 11 to be controlled is the O / E conversion unit 113, the grabber 40 includes the O / E conversion unit 113 by transmitting an RxDIS signal to the camera side connector 11. The state of the light receiving unit (photodiode) can be enabled or disabled. Therefore, it can be said that the state (valid or invalid) of the light receiving unit is also one of the various parameters of the active element.

  When the connector control unit 412 of the grabber controller 41 controls the camera-side connector 11, the connector control unit 412 generates a camera-side connector control signal whose control target is the camera-side connector 11 and provides it to the encoder 411 (step S211). ). Step S211 is a step corresponding to step S111 shown in FIG. 4, but the 7th to 13th byte commands included in the generated camera side connector control signal are different.

  The connector control unit 412 designates a command corresponding to the control desired to be performed on the camera side connector 11 as the 7th to 13th byte commands. Here, if the content represented by the camera-side connector control signal that the connector control unit 412 transmits to the camera-side connector 11 is “set the bias current of the laser element included in the E / O conversion unit 112 to 10 mA”. For example, "W" corresponding to the write mode is designated as the 7th byte command, and a predetermined address of EEPROM / RAM in the camera side controller 111 of the camera side connector 11 is designated using the 8th to 10th byte commands. Then, a command indicating that the bias current is set to 10 mA may be designated as the 11th to 13th byte commands.

  Steps S212 to S217 are the same as steps S112 to S117 described in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted here.

  When the camera-side connector control signal for controlling the camera-side connector 11 is acquired from the connector control unit 312, the camera-side controller 111 indicates the light mode specified in the seventh byte of the acquired camera-side connector control signal. The active element of the camera side connector 11 according to "W", the address of the EEPROM / RAM designated at the 8th to 10th bytes, and the write data to the EEPROM / RAM designated at the 11th to 13th bytes. Are controlled (step S218). Here, the camera controller 111 sets the bias current of the laser element included in the E / O converter 112 to 10 mA in accordance with the command specified in bytes 7 to 13 of the acquired camera connector control signal. Set

  When the control represented by the camera side connector control signal (in this case, setting the bias current of the laser element to 10 mA) is executed (in the case of YES in step S219), the camera side controller 111 acquires the acquired camera side connector control signal An ACK (Acknowledge) signal is provided to the connector control unit 312 of the camera 30 as a response signal indicating that the control represented by is executed (step S220). If the control represented by the camera connector control signal is not executed for some reason (NO in step S219), the camera controller 111 does not execute the control represented by the acquired camera connector control signal. A NACK (Negative-Acknowledge) signal is provided to the connector control unit 312 as a response signal indicating that (step S222). In the present embodiment, the NACK signal uses the NACK mode among the four processing codes (the read mode, the write mode, the ACK mode, and the NACK mode) of the control signal shown in FIG. That is, the camera-side controller 111 designates “N” representing the NACK mode as the command of the 7th byte of the NACK signal. Also, the camera-side controller 111 designates “000002”, which is its own identification number, as a command of the first to sixth bytes of the NACK signal. By these, it can be clearly indicated that this NACK signal is a NACK signal generated by the camera side controller 111.

  The camera controller 111 is described as transmitting the NACK signal to the grabber 40 in step S222. However, in the case of NO at step S219, the camera-side controller 111 may be configured to transmit neither an ACK signal nor a NACK signal to the grabber 40. When the grabber 40 does not receive an ACK signal within a predetermined period after transmitting the camera connector control signal, the control represented by the camera connector control signal is not executed in the camera connector 11, that is, the camera controller It can be considered that a NACK signal has been received from 111.

  When a response signal (ACK signal or NACK signal) is obtained from the camera-side controller 111, the camera 30 transmits the first internal information to the grabber 40 (a monitoring method of the grabber 40 with respect to the camera-side connector 11). A response signal is transmitted to the grabber 40 using the transmission method (step S221). Specifically, the MUX 35 superimposes the response signal acquired from the connector control unit 312 on the image signal to be transmitted to the grabber 40 to provide the camera-side connector 11 with the response signal together with the image signal. When the process of S221 is finished, the process in which the grabber 40 controls the camera side connector 11 ends.

  If the command of the first to sixth bytes of the camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal is “000001” which is the identification number of the camera 30 in step S 215, the camera controller 31 receives the control signal from the camera 30. Is determined to be a camera control signal whose control target is to be controlled, and the respective units of the camera 30 are controlled according to the command specified in the seventh to thirteenth bytes (step S231).

  When the control represented by the received camera control signal is executed (YES in step S232), the camera controller 31 uses the MUX 35 as an ACK (Acknowledge) signal as a response signal indicating that the control represented by the acquired camera control signal has been executed. You may be comprised so that it may transmit to the grabber 40 via (step S233).

  When the control represented by the received camera control signal is not executed for some reason (NO in step S232), the camera controller 31 is a response signal indicating that the control represented by the acquired camera control signal is not executed. Alternatively, the NACK (Negative-Acknowledge) signal may be transmitted to the grabber 40 via the MUX 35 (step S234).

  In step S215, the first to sixth bytes commands of the camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal are the identification numbers of the camera 30, “000001”, and the identification number of the camera side connector 11, If the camera controller 31 does not correspond to any of “000002”, which is the above, the camera controller 31 is a NACK (Negative-Acknowledge) that is a response signal indicating that the control represented by the received camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal has not been executed. ) May be sent to the grabber 40 via the MUX 35 (step S241), and the grabber 40 may be configured to end the process of controlling the camera-side connector 11. The NACK signal transmitted by the camera controller 31 in steps S234 and S241 may be configured in the same manner as the NACK signal transmitted by the camera controller 31 in step S141.

  As in the case of step S222 described above, in step S234, the camera controller 31 may be configured to transmit neither the ACK signal nor the NACK signal to the grabber 40. In addition, in step S241, the camera controller 31 may be configured to transmit neither the ACK signal nor the NACK signal to the grabber 40.

  Up to here, the camera as an example in which the content represented by the camera-side connector control signal transmitted to the camera-side connector 11 is “setting the bias current of the laser element included in the E / O conversion unit 112 to 10 mA” The control method for the side connector 11 has been described. However, the content represented by the camera-side connector control signal transmitted to the camera-side connector 11 is not limited to the above example. The contents represented by the camera-side connector control signal may be control on the active elements (E / O conversion unit 112 and O / E conversion unit 113) included in the camera-side connector 11 or the inside of the camera-side connector 11 The control may be control to transmit first internal information indicating the state from the camera side connector 11 to the grabber 40, that is, control to be a trigger for monitoring the camera side connector 11.

  According to the above process, in the image transmitting / receiving system 1, the camera side connector control signal for controlling the camera side connector 11 can be transmitted using the optical fiber 141 for transmitting the camera control signal. Therefore, in order to transmit the camera connector control signal from the grabber 40 to the camera 30, the image transmission / reception system 1 needs a transmission path dedicated to the camera connector control signal, which directly connects the camera controller 111 and the grabber controller 121. do not do.

(Control method for the grabber side connector 12)
Next, a method in which the grabber 40 controls the grabber-side connector 12 will be described. Here, “the grabber 40 controls the grabber-side connector 12” includes: (1) 'changing various parameters of the active element included in the grabber-side connector 12 based on an instruction from the grabber 40; 2) 'The second internal information indicating the internal state of the grabber-side connector 12 is to be transmitted from the grabber-side connector 12 to the grabber 40. When the active element of the grabber-side connector 12 to be controlled is the E / O conversion unit 122, the parameter that can be changed by the grabber 40 is, for example, the second laser element included in the E / O conversion unit 122 Bias current and modulation current. In addition, the grabber 40 can validate or invalidate the state of the second laser element included in the E / O conversion unit 122 by transmitting the TxDIS signal to the grabber-side connector 12. Therefore, it can be said that the state (valid or invalid) of the second laser element is also one of various parameters of the active element. When the active element of the camera side connector 12 to be controlled is the O / E conversion unit 123, the grabber 40 transmits the RxDIS signal to the grabber side connector 12 so that the O / E conversion unit 123 is provided. The state of the light receiving unit (photodiode) can be enabled or disabled. Therefore, it can be said that the state (valid or invalid) of the light receiving unit is also one of the various parameters of the active element.

  As described in the monitoring method for the grabber-side connector 12, bi-directional communication is possible between the grabber-side controller 121 of the grabber-side connector 12 and the connector control unit 412 of the grabber controller 41 provided in the grabber 40. Signal lines are provided.

  The connector control unit 412 generates a connector control signal whose control target is the grabber side connector 12 by designating the command of the first to sixth bytes of the connector control signal as “000003”. Thereafter, the connector control unit 412 provides the generated connector control signal to the grabber-side controller 121 of the grabber-side connector 12.

  The grabber-side controller 121 controls at least one of the E / O conversion unit 122 and the O / E conversion unit 123 based on the connector control signal acquired from the connector control unit 412. The grabber-side controller 121 provides the connector control unit 412 with a response signal (ACK signal or NACK signal) in response to the acquired connector control signal.

  Through the above steps, the grabber controller 41 of the grabber 40 can control the grabber-side connector 12. More specifically, the grabber controller 41 can control the active elements (E / O conversion unit 122 and O / E conversion unit 123) included in the grabber-side connector 12. The control represented by the connector control signal to the grabber connector 12 may be control for an active element included in the grabber connector 12 or the second internal information indicating the internal state of the grabber connector 12 may be grabbered. The control to be transmitted from the side connector 12 to the grabber 40, that is, the control that triggers the monitoring of the grabber side connector 12 may be used.

  Further, the grabber 40 may be configured to be able to perform feedback control of the camera side connector 11 according to the acquired first internal information, and feedbacks the grabber side connector 12 according to the acquired second internal information. It may be configured to be controllable.

  Examples of feedback control performed by the grabber 40 on the camera side connector 11 include the following examples. If the grabber 40 detects that the temperature in the region near the first laser element has risen from the change in the first temperature information, the power of the first laser element may decrease due to the temperature rise. Be In such a case, the grabber 40 transmits a control signal to the camera controller 111 as a camera connector control signal to increase the bias current of the first laser element so as to compensate for the decrease in power due to the temperature rise. Do. A correlation between the temperature in the vicinity of the first laser element and the bias current is acquired in advance, and a lookup table in which the temperature is associated with the bias current or the correction amount of the bias current is provided in the grabber 40. The lookup table may be referred to. Further, the present invention is not limited to one type of look-up table, but a plurality of types of look-up tables in consideration of deterioration with time of the first laser element are provided, and the look-up tables to be referenced by the grabber controller 41 are switched according It is also good.

Second Embodiment
An image transmitting and receiving system 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member demonstrated in the said embodiment for convenience of explanation, the same code | symbol is appended and the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission / reception system 2. As shown in FIG. 7, the image transmission / reception system 2 includes an active light cable 20, a camera 30, and a grabber 40. In the present embodiment, first, a method in which the grabber 40 monitors the grabber-side connector 22 will be described, and then, a method in which the grabber 40 controls the grabber-side connector 22 will be described.

  The image transmission / reception system 2 has a configuration of the grabber-side connector 22 included in the active optical cable 20 and a connection between the grabber-side connector 22 and the connector control unit 412 as compared with the image transmission / reception system 1 according to the first embodiment. The aspect is different. In the image transmission and reception system 1, the signal lines provided between the grabber side controller 221 and the connector control unit 412 are signal lines capable of bidirectional communication.

  On the other hand, in the image transmission / reception system 2, a camera control signal is provided from the encoder 411 to the grabber-side controller 221. In addition, the grabber-side connector control signal generated by the connector control unit 412 is provided to the encoder 411 in the same manner as the above-described camera-side connector control signal, and is then provided from the encoder 411 to the grabber-side controller 221. According to this configuration, since it is not necessary to provide a signal line that directly connects the connector 412 and the decoder 221b, the connection between the grabber 40 and the grabber side connector 22 can be simplified. A signal line provided between the grabber controller 221 and the encoder 411 is a signal line capable of transmitting a signal only in the direction from the grabber 40 to the grabber controller 221. Therefore, the grabber-side controller 221 can not directly provide the connector control unit 412 with the second internal information and the response signal. However, the grabber-side controller 221 transmits the second internal information to the camera 30 by superimposing the second internal information on the camera control signal transmitted from the grabber 40 to the camera 30. The camera 30 transmits the second internal information to the grabber 40 using a method similar to the monitoring method for the camera side connector 11.

  As described above, the grabber-side connector 22 can transmit the second internal information to the grabber 40 via the camera 30. In other words, the grabber 40 can monitor the internal state of the grabber-side connector 22 through the camera 30. Here, first, a process when the grabber-side controller 221 of the grabber-side connector 22 transmits a camera control signal for controlling the camera 30 to the camera-side connector 11 will be described.

  The grabber-side controller 221 includes a decoder 221 b and a MUX / encoder 221 c in addition to the internal information providing unit 221 a. The decoder 221 b converts the format of the camera control signal acquired from the connector control unit 412 from the data transmission format into a format that can be processed by the grabber side controller 221. The decoder 221 b provides the converted camera control signal to the MUX / encoder 221 c.

  The MUX / encoder 221 c converts the format of the camera control signal acquired from the decoder 221 b into the data transmission format again. The MUX / encoder 221 c provides the converted camera control signal to the E / O converter 122.

  The E / O conversion unit 122 converts the aspect of the acquired camera control signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal, and couples the optical signal to the optical fiber 141. Through the above-described steps, the grabber-side connector 22 can transmit a camera control signal for controlling the camera 30 to the camera-side connector 11.

  Next, a process when the grabber-side controller 221 superimposes the second internal information on the camera control signal and transmits it to the camera-side connector 11 will be described.

  The internal information provision unit 221 a of the grabber-side controller 221 periodically acquires the second bias current information from the E / O conversion unit 122, and periodically acquires the second temperature information from the temperature sensor 124. As described above, the second acquisition interval, which is an interval for acquiring the second bias current information and the second temperature information, is not particularly limited. Here, it is assumed that the second acquisition interval is set to 10 seconds. The timing for acquiring the second bias current information and the timing for acquiring the second temperature information may be the same or different.

  The internal information provision unit 221a provides the MUX / encoder 221c with the second bias current information and the second temperature information, that is, the second internal information.

  The MUX / encoder 221c superimposes the second internal information acquired from the internal information provision unit 221a on the camera control signal acquired from the decoder 221b. Therefore, the MUX / encoder 221 c is a superimposing unit that superimposes the second internal information on the camera control signal.

  The MUX / encoder 221 c converts the format of the camera control signal on which the second internal information is superimposed into the data transmission format again. The MUX / encoder 221 c provides the E / O converter 122 with a camera control signal on which the second internal information is superimposed.

  The E / O converter 122 converts the aspect of the camera control signal on which the second internal information is superimposed from an electrical signal to an optical signal, and couples the optical signal to the optical fiber 141. Through the above-described steps, the grabber connector 22 can transmit the camera control signal on which the camera 30 is controlled and on which the second internal information is superimposed to the camera connector 11.

  In the image transmission / reception system 2, the connector control signal is provided from the connector control unit 412 to the decoder 221 b in the same manner as the camera control signal. If the first to sixth byte commands of the converted connector control signal are "000003", that is, if the control target of the converted connector control signal is the grabber-side connector 22, the grabber-side controller 221 determines the connector control signal And controls at least one of the E / O conversion unit 122 and the O / E conversion unit 123, which are active elements included in the grabber-side connector 22.

  When the first to sixth byte commands of the converted connector control signal are "000002", that is, when the control target of the converted connector control signal is the camera connector 11, the grabber controller 221 determines the connector A control signal is provided from the decoder 221b to the MUX / encoder 221c.

  The MUX / encoder 221 c converts the format of the connector control signal acquired from the decoder 221 b into the data transmission format again. The MUX / encoder 221 c provides the converted connector control signal to the E / O converter 122.

  The E / O conversion unit 122 converts the aspect of the acquired connector control signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal, and then couples the converted signal to the optical fiber 141.

  When the control represented by the connector control signal for controlling the grabber-side connector 22 is executed, the grabber-side controller 221 provides the MUX / encoder 221 c with a response signal (ACK signal) indicating that the control has been executed. It may be configured to In addition, when the control represented by the connector control signal is not executed for some reason, the grabber side controller 221 MUX / encoder response signal (NACK signal) indicating that the control represented by the connector control signal is not executed. It may be configured to provide to 221 c.

  When the MUX / encoder 221 c acquires the acquired response signal from the grabber-side controller 221, the MUX / encoder 221 can transmit the response signal to the camera 30 by superimposing the response signal on the camera control signal. The camera 30 can transmit the response signal acquired from the grabber-side connector 22 to the grabber 40 using a method similar to the method of transmitting the first and second internal information to the grabber 40.

  Next, a method in which the grabber 40 controls the grabber-side connector 22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart in the case where the grabber 40 included in the image transmission / reception system 2 controls the grabber-side connector 22. Here, the case of controlling the bias current of the laser element (light emitting unit) of the E / O conversion unit 122 included in the grabber side connector 22 will be described as an example.

  When the connector control unit 412 of the grabber controller 41 controls the grabber-side connector 22, the connector control unit 412 generates a grabber-side connector control signal whose control target is the grabber-side connector 22 and provides it to the encoder 411 (step S311). ). Since the grabber-side connector control signal is a control signal for controlling the grabber-side connector 22, “000003”, which is the identification number of the grabber-side connector 22, is designated as the first to sixth byte command.

  Further, the connector control unit 412 designates a command corresponding to control to be performed on the grabber side connector 22 as a command of the 7th to 13th bytes. Here, it is assumed that the control of “set the bias current of the laser element included in the E / O conversion unit 122 to 10 mA” is performed on the grabber side connector 22. In this case, "W" corresponding to the write mode is designated as the 7th byte command, and the predetermined address of the EEPROM / RAM in the grabber side controller 221 of the grabber side connector 22 is specified using the 8th-10th byte command. It is sufficient to designate a command indicating that the bias current is set to 10 mA as a command of the 11th to 13th bytes.

  Steps S312 to S313 are similar to steps S112 to S113 described in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted here. As described above, the encoder 411 may be configured to function as an insertion unit that inserts a camera-side connector control signal in a non-signal period of the camera control signal, and the camera-side connector control signal may be used as the camera control signal. May be configured to function as a superimposing unit that superimposes. In the following, the encoder 411 functions as a superimposing unit that superimposes the camera-side connector control signal on the camera control signal.

  The decoder 221 b receives the camera control signal on which the grabber-side connector control signal is superimposed from the encoder 411 (step S 314). Thereafter, the decoder 311 converts the acquired format of the camera control signal and the grabber-side connector control signal from the data transmission format into a format that can be processed by the grabber-side controller 221.

  Further, the decoder 221b refers to the first to sixth byte commands of the converted control signal, and determines whether the camera control signal or the camera side connector control signal is the identification number of the grabber side connector 22 (step S315). ). In other words, the decoder 221 b determines whether the identification number included in the control signal is the identification number of the grabber connector 22 or not, thereby controlling the grabber connector 22 as a control signal and the other device (camera 40 and the camera side connector 11) are separated from the control signal to be controlled.

  When the first to sixth byte commands are “000003” which is the identification number of the grabber connector 22, the decoder 221b determines that the converted control signal is the grabber connector control signal for controlling the grabber connector 22. And supplies the control signal to the grabber controller 221. The grabber-side controller 221 sets “W” representing the write mode designated at the seventh byte of the grabber-side connector control signal acquired, the address of the EEPROM / RAM designated at the eighth to tenth bytes, and 11 to The active element of the grabber side connector 22 is controlled in accordance with the write data to the EEPROM / RAM specified at the 13th byte (step S316). Here, the grabber-side controller 221 sets the bias current of the laser element included in the E / O conversion unit 122 to 10 mA in accordance with the command specified in the 7th to 13th bytes of the acquired grabber-side connector control signal. Set

  When the grabber-side controller 221 executes control represented by a command of the grabber-side connector control signals 11 to 13 bytes (in this case, setting the bias current of the laser element to 10 mA) (in the case of YES in step S317) The grabber-side controller 221 generates an ACK signal as a response signal indicating that the control represented by the acquired grabber-side connector control signal has been executed, and supplies the ACK signal to the MUX / encoder 221 c (step S 318). In the present embodiment, the ACK signal uses an ACK mode among four processing codes (a read mode, a write mode, an ACK mode, and a NACK mode) of the control signal shown in FIG. That is, the grabber-side controller 221 designates “A” representing the ACK mode as a command of the seventh byte of the ACK signal. In addition, the grabber-side controller 221 designates “000003” which is an identification number of itself as a command of the first to sixth bytes of the ACK signal. By these, it can be clearly indicated that this ACK signal is an ACK signal generated by the grabber side controller 221.

  The MUX / encoder 221 c converts the format of the ACK signal acquired from the grabber side controller 221 back into the data transmission format, and provides the format to the E / O converter 122 (step S 319). The E / O conversion unit 122 converts the aspect of the acquired ACK signal from an electrical signal to an optical signal, and couples the optical signal to the optical fiber 141. The grabber-side connector 22 can transmit an ACK signal to the camera 30 through the above steps. The camera 30 transmits an ACK signal to the grabber 40 in the same manner as the second internal information.

  If the grabber-side controller 221 does not execute the control represented by the grabber-side connector control signal for some reason (in the case of NO in step S317), the grabber-side controller 221 executes the control represented by the acquired grabber-side connector control signal A NACK (Negative-Acknowledge) signal is generated as a response signal indicating that there was not, and is provided to the MUX / encoder 221c (step S320). In the present embodiment, the NACK signal uses the NACK mode among the four processing codes (the read mode, the write mode, the ACK mode, and the NACK mode) of the control signal shown in FIG. That is, the grabber controller 221 designates “N” representing the NACK mode as the command of the seventh byte of the NACK signal. In addition, the grabber side controller 221 designates “000003” which is an identification number of itself as a command of the first to sixth bytes of the NACK signal. By these, it can be clearly indicated that this NACK signal is a NACK signal generated by the grabber side controller 221. Thereafter, the NACK signal is transmitted to the grabber 40 via the camera 30 in the same manner as the ACK signal.

  As in the case of step S222 described above, in step S234, the camera controller 31 may be configured to transmit neither the ACK signal nor the NACK signal to the grabber 40. When the grabber 40 does not receive an ACK signal within a predetermined period after transmitting the grabber connector control signal, the control represented by the grabber connector control signal is not executed in the grabber connector 22, that is, the NACK signal It can be regarded as received.

  In step S315, if the command of the first to sixth bytes of the control signal is not “000003” which is the identification number of the grabber connector 22, the grabber controller 221 receives the received control signal. This is provided to the MUX / encoder 221c (step S331). Control signals whose identification number is not “000003”, that is, a camera control signal and a camera-side connector control signal are transmitted to the decoder 311 of the camera 30 via the E / O conversion unit 122 and the O / E conversion unit 113.

Third Embodiment
An image transmitting and receiving system 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member demonstrated in the said embodiment for convenience of explanation, the same code | symbol is appended and the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission / reception system 3. As shown in FIG. 9, the image transmission / reception system 3 includes an active light cable 50, a camera 60, and a grabber 40.

  The image transmission / reception system 3 is different from the image transmission / reception system 2 according to the second embodiment in the configuration of the camera side connector 51 provided in the active optical cable 50 and the configuration of the camera 60. Hereinafter, a connector control signal for controlling the camera-side connector 51, a camera control signal on which the connector control signal is superimposed, and first internal information indicating the internal state of the camera-side connector 51 will be described in detail.

  As described in the second embodiment, the E / O conversion unit 122 included in the grabber-side connector 22 uses the electric signal as an aspect of the camera control signal on which the connector control signal acquired from the MUX / encoder 221 c is superimposed. Convert to light signal. Thereafter, the E / O conversion unit 122 couples the camera control signal converted into the light signal to the optical fiber 141. A camera control signal, which is an optical signal, is transmitted to the O / E converter 113 of the camera connector 41.

  The O / E conversion unit 113 converts the aspect of the camera control signal transmitted from the E / O conversion unit 122 from an optical signal to an electrical signal. The O / E conversion unit 113 provides the camera control signal converted into the electric signal to the decoder 111 b of the camera controller 511.

  The decoder 111b can process the format of the camera control signal acquired from the O / E conversion unit 113 and the format of the connector control signal superimposed on the camera control signal from the data transmission format, by the camera controller 511. Convert to format. The decoder 111 b provides the converted camera control signal and connector control signal to the camera controller 511.

  The camera side controller 511 refers to the 1st to 6th byte command in the acquired camera control signal and the 1st to 6th byte command in the acquired connector control signal, and the command of the 1st to 6th byte is “000002” The connector control signal is separated from the camera control signal and the connector control signal in which the first to sixth byte commands are other than “000002”. Therefore, the camera controller 511 functions as a separation unit that separates the connector control signal from the camera control signal.

  The camera controller 511 performs E / O conversion that is an active element based on a connector control signal whose separated first to sixth byte command is “000002”, that is, a connector control signal whose control target is the camera connector 51. At least one of the unit 112 and the O / E conversion unit 113 is controlled.

  The camera controller 511 provides the MUX / encoder 111c with the camera control signal acquired from the decoder 111b.

  After encoding the acquired camera control signal into a data transmission format, the MUX / encoder 111 c provides the encoded camera control signal to the decoder 311 of the camera controller 51 provided in the camera 60.

  The decoder 311 decodes the acquired format of the camera control signal from the data transmission format into a format that can be processed by the camera controller 61. The decoder 311 provides the camera controller 61 with the decoded camera control signal.

  The camera controller 61 refers to the first to sixth byte commands of the acquired camera control signal, and determines that the control target is the camera 60 when the first to sixth byte commands are “000001”. The respective units included in the camera 60 are controlled based on the camera control signal.

  So far, the process has been described in which the camera control signal is transmitted to the camera 60 and the control represented by the camera control signal is executed by the camera 60. Next, processing in which internal information indicating the internal state of the camera side connector 51 is provided to the camera 60 in a state in which the internal information is superimposed on the camera control signal will be described.

  The internal information provision unit 111 a of the camera side controller 511 periodically acquires the first bias current information from the E / O conversion unit 112 and periodically acquires the first temperature information from the temperature sensor 114. As described above, the first acquisition interval, which is an interval for acquiring the first bias current information and the first temperature information, is not particularly limited.

  The internal information provider 111a provides the MUX / encoder 111c with the first bias current information and the first temperature information, that is, the first internal information.

  The MUX / encoder 111 c superimposes the first internal information acquired from the internal information provision unit 111 a on the camera control signal acquired from the decoder 111 b. Therefore, the MUX / encoder 111 c is a superimposing unit that superimposes the first internal information on the camera control signal.

  The MUX / encoder 111 c converts the format of the camera control signal on which the first internal information is superimposed into the data transmission format again. The MUX / encoder 111 c provides the decoder 311 with a camera control signal on which the first internal information is superimposed.

  The decoder 311 provides the MUX 35 with the first internal information superimposed on the camera control signal. The MUX 35 included in the camera 60 can transmit the first internal information to the grabber 40 using the monitoring method of the camera side connector described in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 4
An image transmitting and receiving system 4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member demonstrated in the said embodiment for convenience of explanation, the same code | symbol is appended and the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission / reception system 4. As shown in FIG. 10, the image transmission / reception system 4 includes an active light cable 70, a camera 30, and a grabber 40.

  The image transmission / reception system 4 differs from the image transmission / reception system 1 according to the first embodiment in the configuration of the upstream optical fiber 74 provided in the active optical cable. In the image transmission / reception system 1, the upstream optical fiber 14 is constituted by two optical fibers 141 and 142, and a connector control signal for controlling the camera side connector 11 is a camera in a state of being superimposed on the camera control signal. It is transmitted to the side connector 11. Further, in the image transmission / reception system 2, second internal information indicating the internal state of the grabber side connector 22 is transmitted to the camera side connector 11 in a state of being superimposed on the camera control signal.

  On the other hand, in the image transmission and reception system 4, the upstream optical fiber 74 is configured by four optical fibers 741 to 744. The E / O conversion unit 122 acquires a trigger signal, a camera control signal, and a connector control signal for controlling the camera side connector 71 from the grabber 40. Further, the E / O conversion unit 122 acquires second internal information indicating the internal state of the grabber side connector 72 from the grabber side controller 121.

  The E / O converter 122 converts the aspect of the trigger signal, the camera control signal, the connector control signal, and the second internal information from an electrical signal to an optical signal, and couples the trigger signal to the optical fiber 741 A control signal is coupled to optical fiber 742, a connector control signal is coupled to optical fiber 743, and second internal information is coupled to optical fiber 744.

  The O / E conversion unit 113 of the camera side connector 71 acquires a trigger signal from the optical fiber 741, acquires a camera control signal from the optical fiber 742 and acquires a connector control signal from the optical fiber 743. Get 2 internal information. The O / E conversion unit 113 converts an aspect of the acquired trigger signal, camera control signal, connector control signal, and second internal information from an optical signal to an electrical signal. The O / E conversion unit 113 provides the converted trigger signal, the camera control signal, and the second internal information to the decoder 311 of the camera 30, and also provides the converted connector control signal to the camera controller 111.

  The camera controller 111 controls at least one of the E / O conversion unit 112 and the O / E conversion unit 113, which are active elements, according to the control represented by the acquired connector control signal. Therefore, the grabber 40 can control the camera side connector 71.

  Further, the camera controller 111 of the camera connector 71 can provide the first internal information to the connector controller 312 provided in the camera 30. Therefore, the grabber 40 can monitor the internal state of the camera-side connector 71 by using the monitoring method of the camera-side controller described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the image transmission / reception system 4 can be configured by connecting the camera 30 and the grabber 40 using the active optical cable 70 provided with four upstream and four downstream optical fibers. Therefore, when the technology of the QSFP active optical cable is applied to the active optical cable 70, the image transmitting / receiving system 4 can be realized using a simple configuration. This is because in the active light cable 70, it is not necessary to superimpose the camera-side connector control signal on the camera control signal.

  On the other hand, the active optical cables 10, 20, and 50 described in the first to third embodiments described above include the optical fiber 141 transmitting the camera control signal on which the camera side connector control signal is superimposed and the optical fiber 142 transmitting the trigger signal. The other two optical fibers may be omitted. In addition, the E / O conversion unit 122 included in the grabber-side connector 12 invalidates the two light emitting units and emits two light emitting units (a light emitting unit that couples a camera control signal to the optical fiber 141, and an optical fiber trigger signal The light emitting unit to be coupled to 142 may be activated. As described above, the active optical cables 10, 20, and 50 can realize an image transmission / reception system with a smaller number of configurations (a simplified configuration) when the QSFP active optical cable technology is applied. In addition, the active optical cables 10, 20, and 50 can suppress the power consumption in the E / O conversion unit 122.

Fifth Embodiment
An image transmitting and receiving system 5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member demonstrated in the said embodiment for convenience of explanation, the same code | symbol is appended and the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission / reception system 5. As shown in FIG. 11, the image transmission / reception system 5 includes an active metal cable 80, a camera 30, and a grabber 40.

  The image transmission / reception system 5 is obtained by replacing the active optical cable 10 provided in the image transmission / reception system 1 according to the first embodiment with an active metal cable 80. The active optical cable 10 includes (1) a downstream optical fiber 13 which is an optical fiber as a downstream signal line for transmitting an image signal on which at least first internal information is superimposed from the camera 30 to the grabber 40, and (2) the grabber 40 And an upstream optical fiber 14 which is an optical fiber as an upstream signal line for transmitting a camera control signal and a trigger signal to the camera 30.

  On the other hand, the active metal cable 80 includes (1) a downstream differential line 83 as a downstream signal line and (2) an upstream differential line 84 as an upstream signal line. The downward differential line 83 includes a first differential line 831 which is a metal signal line, a second differential line 832, a third differential line 833, and a fourth differential line 834. . The upstream differential line 84 includes a fifth differential line 841 and a sixth differential line 842 which are metal signal lines.

  In addition, the camera side connector 81 provided at one end of the active metal cable 80 is provided with a de-emphasis 812, and the grabber side connector 82 provided at the other end of the active metal cable 80 is provided with an equalizer 823. There is.

  The de-emphasis 812 performs signal adjustment to suppress low frequency components of the image signal acquired from the MUX 35 of the camera 30, and transmits the image signal subjected to the signal adjustment via the downstream differential line 83. By this signal adjustment, the equalizer 823 which is a receiving circuit can receive an image signal having a frequency characteristic suitable for equalization. The de-emphasis 812 is one of the active elements, and provides, to the camera-side controller 111, first gain information representing a gain used at the time of signal adjustment of the image signal as internal information.

  The equalizer 823 optimizes the frequency characteristic of the image signal received from the de-emphasis 812 via the downstream differential line 83 and provides the DEMUX 42 of the grabber 40 with the image signal whose frequency characteristic is optimized. By optimizing the frequency characteristics, the eye pattern of the image signal can be further opened. The equalizer 823 is one of the active elements, and provides, as internal information, second gain information representing a gain used when optimizing the frequency characteristics of the image signal to the grabber side controller 121.

  As described above, the camera side connector 81 and the grabber side connector 82 of the active metal cable 80 are provided with the active element. Therefore, it can be said that the active metal cable 80 is an active cable provided with a metal signal line.

  In the active metal cable 80 according to the present embodiment, in the active optical cable 10 described in the first embodiment, each of (1) E / O conversion unit 112, O / E conversion unit 123, and downstream optical fiber 13 is , De-emphasis 812, equalizer 823, and downstream differential line 83, and (2) E / O converter 122, O / E converter 113, and optical fiber 14 are obtained by replacing it with differential line 84. . Similarly, the active optical cables 20, 50, 70 described in the second to fourth embodiments can be replaced with active metal cables including the de-emphasis 812 and the equalizer 823.

  The de-emphasis 812 provided in the active metal cable 80, the equalizer 823, and the downstream differential line 83 are the E / O conversion unit 112 and the O / O conversion unit provided in each of the image transmission and reception systems described in the second to fourth embodiments. The E conversion unit 123 and the downstream optical fiber 13 can be replaced.

First Modified Example
An image transmission / reception system 5 'according to a modification of the image transmission / reception system 5 described in the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member demonstrated in the said embodiment for convenience of explanation, the same code | symbol is appended and the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission / reception system 5 '. As shown in FIG. 12, the image transmitting and receiving system 5 ′ includes an active metal cable 80 ′, a camera 30, and a grabber 40.

  The image transmission / reception system 5 'is obtained by replacing the active metal cable 80 provided in the image transmission / reception system 5 with an active metal cable 80'. The camera-side connector 85 of the active metal cable 80 ′ has a serializer 812 ′ instead of the de-emphasis 812, and the grabber-side connector has a deserializer 823 ′ instead of the equalizer 823. The camera side connector 85 and the grabber side connector 86 are connected by one downward differential line 87.

  The serializer 812 ′ serializes the image signals (first to fourth image signals) which are four pairs of differential signals acquired from the MUX 35 into an image signal which is a pair of serial signals. After that, the serializer 812 ′ transmits an image signal, which is a serialized pair of serial signals, to the deserializer 823 ′ via the downstream differential line 87. The serializer 812 ′ is one of the active elements, and provides the camera controller 111 with first PLL lock detection information indicating whether PLL lock detection is successful or not as internal information.

  The deserializer 123 ′ deserializes an image signal, which is a pair of serial signals received from the serializer 812 ′ via the downstream differential line 87, into an image signal, which is 4 pairs of differential signals. Thereafter, the deserializer 823 ′ provides the image signal, which is the deserialized four pairs of differential signals, to the DEMUX 42 of the grabber 40. The deserializer 823 ′ is one of the active elements, and provides, to the grabber side controller 121, second PLL lock detection information indicating whether or not PLL lock detection is successful.

  As described above, by serializing into a pair of image signals and transmitting from the camera side connector 85 to the grabber side connector 86, it is possible to suppress the number of differential lines constituting the down differential line.

  In the active metal cable 80 ′ according to this modification, in the active optical cable 10 according to the first embodiment, (1) each of the E / O conversion unit 112, the O / E conversion unit 123, and the downstream optical fiber 13 is By replacing the serializer 812 ′, the deserializer 823 ′, and the downstream differential line 83, and (2) replacing the E / O conversion unit 122, the O / E conversion unit 113, and the optical fiber 14 with the differential line 84. can get. Similarly, the active optical cables 20, 50, 70 described in the second to fourth embodiments can be replaced with active metal cables including a serializer 812 'and a deserializer 823'.

Second Modified Example
An image transmission / reception system 9 which is a modification of the image transmission / reception system 1 described in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member demonstrated in the said embodiment for convenience of explanation, the same code | symbol is appended and the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image transmission / reception system 9. As shown in FIG. 13, the image transmission / reception system 9 includes an active light cable 90, a camera 130, and a grabber 40.

  The image transmission / reception system 9 is obtained by replacing the active optical cable 10 of the image transmission / reception system 1 with the active optical cable 90 and replacing the camera 30 of the image transmission / reception system 1 with the camera 130.

  The camera 130 is obtained by replacing the voltage conversion unit 36 included in the camera 30 with a power supply unit 136. The power supply unit 136 supplies power to the camera controller 31, the sensor unit 32, the signal processing unit 34, and the MUX 35 provided in the camera 130, and also supplies power to the second power line 95b. The power supply unit 136 may be configured to be able to supply predetermined power to the camera 130 and the active optical cable 90, and can be realized using an existing technology (for example, the technology of the QSFP active optical cable).

  The active optical cable 90 includes a first power line 95 a and a second power line 95 b instead of the power line 15 of the active optical cable 10. The first power line 95 a is connected to the power supply unit 136 of the camera 130. The second power line 95 b is connected to the power supply unit 44 of the grabber 40.

  According to this configuration, it is not necessary to provide the power line 15 which is a metal wiring between the camera side connector 91 and the grabber side connector 92. That is, in the active optical cable 90, “complete optical conversion” can be realized in which metal wiring is eliminated from the connection between the camera side connector 91 and the grabber side connector 92. By this “complete optical conversion”, the active optical cable 90 can be made flexible, smaller in diameter and lighter in weight as compared to the active optical cable 10 including metal wiring.

  Also, the active optical cable 90 configured as described above has high compatibility with the image transmitting / receiving system using the existing QSFP active optical cable. In the image transmitting / receiving system using the existing QSFP active optical cable, each of the camera and the grabber includes a power supply unit for providing power to each of the camera side connector and the grabber side connector of the active optical cable. That is, the camera of the image transmitting / receiving system using the existing QSFP active optical cable is applicable as the camera 130 of this modification.

  Therefore, the active optical cable 90 can realize "complete lightening" of the active optical cable without updating the camera of the image transmitting / receiving system using the existing QSFP active optical cable. Therefore, the active optical cable 90 can effectively utilize the existing image transmission / reception system, and can suppress the cost when "making the optical cable completely". Note that the configuration of the present embodiment (the camera 130 includes the power supply unit 136, and the voltage conversion unit 115 of the camera side connector 91 of the active light cable 90 receives power from the power supply unit 136 of the camera 130 via the first power line 95a. The supplied configuration can be applied not only to the image transmission / reception system 1 described in the first embodiment but also to the image transmission / reception systems 2 to 4 described in the second to fourth embodiments. It is. By applying the configuration of this embodiment, it is possible to realize "complete conversion to light" of the active optical cables 20, 50, 70 provided in the image transmission / reception systems 2 to 4.

[Summary]
In order to solve the above problems, the image transmitting / receiving system according to an aspect of the present invention is connected to an active cable having a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, and the transmitting connector. In the image transmitting / receiving system including the selected image transmitting apparatus and the image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector, the transmitting connector provides the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating the internal state of the transmission connector. The image transmitting apparatus further includes a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmitting connector on an image signal transmitted to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable. , It is characterized.

  According to the above configuration, the internal information can be transmitted from the transmission side connector to the image receiving apparatus using an existing transmission path (for example, an optical fiber) for transmitting the image signal. Therefore, in order to transmit the internal information from the transmitting connector to the image receiving apparatus, the control unit (corresponding to the "camera MCU" described above) incorporated in the transmitting connector and the receiving connector It is possible to realize an image transmission / reception system which does not require a transmission path directly connecting to the control unit (corresponding to the above-mentioned "grabber side MCU").

  In addition, as said internal state, the temperature inside the said transmission side connector is mentioned, for example. In addition, the current or voltage input to the active element incorporated in the transmission side connector and the current or voltage output from the active element also correspond to the internal state.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the image receiving apparatus includes a separating unit for separating the internal information from the image signal received from the image transmitting apparatus via the active cable. Is preferred.

  According to the above configuration, the image receiving apparatus can execute various processes with reference to the internal information transmitted from the transmitting connector. For example, the image receiving apparatus can control the transmission connector or control the reception connector with reference to the internal information.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the providing unit is an image transmitting device control signal for controlling the image transmitting device, and the image transmitting device control signal provided to the image transmitting device is the image transmitting device control signal. Preferably, the internal information is provided to the image transmitting apparatus by superimposing internal information.

  According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to provide a connection terminal for providing the internal information to the image transmission apparatus in addition to the connection terminal for providing the image transmission apparatus control signal to the image transmission apparatus. Therefore, the structure of the transmission side connector can be simplified.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the image receiving device is an image transmitting device control signal for controlling the image transmitting device, and an image to be transmitted to the image transmitting device via the active cable. A transmitter control signal is provided with a connector control signal for controlling the transmitter connector, or a superimposition / insertion unit for inserting the connector control signal in a non-signal period of the image transmitter control signal Is preferred.

  According to the above configuration, the connector control information is provided to the image receiving device in addition to the connection terminal for providing the image transmitting device control signal (via the image receiving device) to the image transmitting device. There is no need to provide a connection terminal. Therefore, the structure of the above-mentioned receiving side connector can be simplified.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the image transmitting apparatus separates the connector control signal from the image transmitting apparatus control signal received from the image receiving apparatus via the active cable, and Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a separation unit for providing a connector control signal to the transmission side connector.

  According to the above configuration, the transmission-side connector can control itself (the transmission-side connector) with reference to the connector control signal transmitted from the image reception device.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the transmission side connector includes a separating unit for separating the connector control signal from the image transmitting device control signal received from the image receiving device via the active cable. Is preferred.

  According to the above configuration, the transmission-side connector can control itself (the transmission-side connector) with reference to the connector control signal transmitted from the image reception device.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the active cable is an active optical cable including an optical fiber for transmitting the image signal and an optical fiber for transmitting the image transmitting device control signal. Is preferred.

  According to the above configuration, the image signal, the internal information, the image transmission device control signal, and the connector control signal can all be transmitted and received using the optical fiber. Therefore, a lightweight and flexible active cable can be realized as compared to the case where all or part of these signals are transmitted and received using a metal cable.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to an aspect of the present invention, the transmitting connector and the receiving connector each include N (N is an integer of 2 or more) light emitting units, and the image transmitting apparatus control signal is Of the N light emitters included in the receiver connector, M (where M is an integer of 1 or more and N-1 or less) light emitters are used to perform electrical / optical conversion, and the receiver connector includes Among the N light emitting units, it is preferable that the N-M light emitting units not used for the electric / optical conversion of the image transmitting device control signal be invalidated.

  The QSFP active optical cable, which is an example of the existing active optical cable, adopts a configuration in which the transmitting connector and the receiving connector each have four (N = 4) light emitting units. By applying the configuration of this QSFP active optical cable to the image transmitting / receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the configuration of the transmitting connector and the configuration of the receiving connector are made common while having compatibility with the QSFP active optical cable. Active cables can be realized. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the active cable compatible with the QSFP active optical cable can be suppressed. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, at least one light emitting unit of the four light emitting units included in the receiving connector can be invalidated. Therefore, power consumption in the receiving connector can be suppressed as compared with the case where all the light emitting units are not invalidated.

  In addition, the CXP active optical cable, which is an example of the existing active optical cable, adopts a configuration in which the transmitting connector and the receiving connector each have 12 (N = 12) light emitting units. By applying this CXP active optical cable configuration to the image transmitting / receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, the configuration of the transmitting connector and the configuration of the receiving connector are made common while having compatibility with the CXP active optical cable. Active cables can be realized. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the active cable compatible with the CXP active optical cable can be suppressed. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, at least one light emitting unit of the twelve light emitting units included in the receiving connector can be invalidated. Therefore, power consumption in the receiving connector can be suppressed as compared with the case where all the light emitting units are not invalidated.

  In the image transmitting and receiving system according to one aspect of the present invention, each of the image transmitting apparatus and the image receiving apparatus supplies power to the first power supply unit that supplies power to the transmitting connector and the receiving connector. Preferably, the second power supply unit is provided.

  According to the above configuration, the transmitting connector is supplied with power from the image transmitting device, and the receiving connector is supplied with power from the image receiving device. Therefore, when power is supplied to the transmission side connector from the image receiving apparatus, the metal wiring (power line) provided between the reception side connector and the transmission side connector can be omitted. Therefore, "complete optical conversion" of the active optical cable can be realized. By “complete optical conversion” of the active optical cable, it is possible to make the cable portion more flexible, smaller in diameter, and lighter than the active optical cable including metal wiring.

  In order to solve the above problems, a method of monitoring an active cable according to an aspect of the present invention includes an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector provided at the other end, and the transmitting connector An image transmitting / receiving system including an image transmitting apparatus connected to the image receiving apparatus and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector, wherein the image receiving apparatus monitors the transmitting connector, the transmitting connector Providing the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating an internal state of the transmitting connector; and transmitting the image signal transmitted by the image transmitting apparatus to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable. And a superimposing step of superimposing the internal information acquired from the connector.

  According to the above configuration, the internal information can be transmitted from the transmission side connector to the image receiving apparatus using an existing transmission path (for example, an optical fiber) for transmitting the image signal. Therefore, in order to transmit the internal information from the transmitting connector to the image receiving apparatus, the control unit (corresponding to the "camera MCU" described above) incorporated in the transmitting connector and the receiving connector It is possible to realize an image transmission / reception system which does not require a transmission path directly connecting to the control unit (corresponding to the above-mentioned "grabber side MCU").

  In order to solve the above problems, in a control method of an active cable according to an aspect of the present invention, an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, and the transmitting connector An image transmitting / receiving system including an image transmitting apparatus connected to the image receiving apparatus and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector, wherein the image receiving apparatus controls the transmitting connector, the image receiving apparatus And a connector for controlling the transmission-side connector in an image transmission apparatus control signal for controlling the image transmission apparatus, the image transmission apparatus control signal transmitted to the image transmission apparatus via the active cable. A control signal is superimposed or a connector control signal is inserted in a non-signal period of the image transmission device control signal. Tsu contains flop, characterized in that.

  According to the above configuration, the connector control signal is transmitted from the image reception device to the image transmission device using the existing transmission path (for example, a differential line) for transmitting the image transmission device control signal. be able to. Therefore, in order to transmit the connector control signal from the image receiving apparatus to the image transmitting apparatus, the control unit (corresponding to the above-described "camera side MCU") incorporated in the transmitting connector and the receiving connector are incorporated. It is possible to realize an image transmission / reception system which does not require a transmission path directly connecting the above-described control unit (corresponding to the above-described “grabber-side MCU”).

  In order to solve the above problems, the image transmitting apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention can be connected to the above-mentioned transmitting connector of an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end Image transmitting apparatus, which transmits internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector to the image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector via the active cable and acquiring the internal information from the transmitting connector And a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmission-side connector on an image signal to be transmitted.

  An active cable according to an aspect of the present invention is an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, and the transmitting connector is an inside of the transmitting connector. A provision unit is provided for providing internal information indicating a state to the image transmission apparatus connected to the transmission side connector.

  According to the above configuration, the internal information can be transmitted from the transmission side connector to the image receiving apparatus using an existing transmission path (for example, an optical fiber) for transmitting the image signal. Therefore, in order to transmit the internal information from the transmitting connector to the image receiving apparatus, the control unit (corresponding to the "camera MCU" described above) incorporated in the transmitting connector and the receiving connector It is possible to realize an image transmission / reception system which does not require a transmission path directly connecting to the control unit (corresponding to the above-mentioned "grabber side MCU").

  In order to solve the above problems, the image receiving apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention can be connected to the above-mentioned receiving connector of an active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other Image transmission apparatus control signal for controlling an image transmission apparatus connected to the transmission side connector, the image transmission apparatus control signal transmitted to the image transmission apparatus via the active cable Providing a superimposition / insertion unit for superimposing a connector control signal for controlling the transmission side connector on a signal, or inserting the connector control signal during a non-signal period of the image transmission device control signal, It is characterized by

  According to the above configuration, the connector control signal is transmitted from the image reception device to the image transmission device using the existing transmission path (for example, a differential line) for transmitting the image transmission device control signal. be able to. Therefore, in order to transmit the connector control signal from the image receiving apparatus to the image transmitting apparatus, the control unit (corresponding to the above-described "camera side MCU") incorporated in the transmitting connector and the receiving connector are incorporated. It is possible to realize an image transmission / reception system which does not require a transmission path directly connecting the above-described control unit (corresponding to the above-described “grabber-side MCU”).

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  It can be used as an image transmission device, an image reception device, and an active cable for connecting them. Moreover, it can utilize for the image transmission / reception system provided with these. Furthermore, it can be used for the monitoring method of an active cable, and the control method of an active cable.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5 ', 9 image transmitting / receiving system 10, 20, 50, 70, 90 Active optical cable (active cable)
11, 51, 71, 81, 85 Camera side connector (sending side connector)
111, 511 Camera-side controller 111a, 221a Internal information provider (provision unit)
12, 22, 72, 82, 86 Grabber side connector (reception side connector)
13 downstream optical fiber 14, 74 upstream optical fiber 15 power line 121, 221 grabber side controller 111 c, 221 c MUX / encoder (superimposing part)
30, 60, 130 Camera (image transmission device)
31, 61 Camera Controller 311 Decoder (Separator)
312 Connector control unit (Separation unit, Acquisition unit)
35 MUX (superimposed part)
40 Grabber (image receiver)
41 Grabber Controller 411 Encoder (Superimposition Unit)
42 DEMUX (separation part)
412 connector controller 80, 80 'active metal cable (active cable)
83, 87 downward differential line 84 upward differential line 95 a first power line 95 b second power line 136 power supply unit

Claims (7)

An active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, an image transmitting apparatus connected to the transmitting connector, and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector In the image transmission / reception system,
The transmitting connector includes a providing unit that provides the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector.
The image transmitting apparatus includes a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmitting connector on an image signal transmitted to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable .
The providing unit is an image transmission device control signal for controlling the image transmission device, and superimposing the internal information on the image transmission device control signal provided to the image transmission device. Provided to the above image transmission device,
The transmitting connector and the receiving connector each include N (N is an integer of 2 or more) light emitting units,
The image transmitting apparatus control signal is electro-optically converted using M (M is an integer of 1 or more and N-1 or less) light emitting units among the N light emitting units included in the receiving connector. ,
Among the N light emitting units provided in the receiving side connector, the N-M light emitting units not used for electric / optical conversion of the image transmitting device control signal are disabled.
An image transmission / reception system characterized by   An active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, an image transmitting apparatus connected to the transmitting connector, and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector In the image transmission / reception system,
  The transmitting connector includes a providing unit that provides the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector.
  The image transmitting apparatus includes a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmitting connector on an image signal transmitted to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable.
  The image receiving apparatus is an image transmitting apparatus control signal for controlling the image transmitting apparatus, and controls the transmitting side connector to an image transmitting apparatus control signal transmitted to the image transmitting apparatus via the active cable. A superimposition / insertion unit for superimposing a connector control signal to be inserted or inserting the connector control signal during a non-signal period of the image transmission device control signal,
  The transmitting connector and the receiving connector each include N (N is an integer of 2 or more) light emitting units,
  The image transmitting apparatus control signal is electro-optically converted using M (M is an integer of 1 or more and N-1 or less) light emitting units among the N light emitting units included in the receiving connector. ,
  Among the N light emitting units provided in the receiving side connector, the N-M light emitting units not used for electric / optical conversion of the image transmitting device control signal are disabled.
An image transmission / reception system characterized by   An active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, an image transmitting apparatus connected to the transmitting connector, and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector In the image transmission / reception system,
  The transmitting connector includes a providing unit that provides the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector.
  The image transmitting apparatus includes a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmitting connector on an image signal transmitted to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable.
  The providing unit is an image transmission device control signal for controlling the image transmission device, and superimposing the internal information on the image transmission device control signal provided to the image transmission device. Provided to the above image transmission device,
  The active cable is an active optical cable including an optical fiber for transmitting the image signal and an optical fiber for transmitting the image transmitter control signal.
  Each of the image transmitting apparatus and the image receiving apparatus includes a first power supply unit that supplies power to the transmission connector and a second power supply unit that supplies power to the reception connector.
An image transmission / reception system characterized by   An active cable provided with a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end, an image transmitting apparatus connected to the transmitting connector, and an image receiving apparatus connected to the receiving connector In the image transmission / reception system,
  The transmitting connector includes a providing unit that provides the image transmitting apparatus with internal information indicating the internal state of the transmitting connector.
  The image transmitting apparatus includes a superimposing unit that superimposes the internal information acquired from the transmitting connector on an image signal transmitted to the image receiving apparatus via the active cable.
  The image receiving apparatus is an image transmitting apparatus control signal for controlling the image transmitting apparatus, and controls the transmitting side connector to an image transmitting apparatus control signal transmitted to the image transmitting apparatus via the active cable. A superimposition / insertion unit for superimposing a connector control signal to be inserted or inserting the connector control signal during a non-signal period of the image transmission device control signal,
  The active cable is an active optical cable including an optical fiber for transmitting the image signal and an optical fiber for transmitting the image transmitter control signal.
  Each of the image transmitting apparatus and the image receiving apparatus includes a first power supply unit that supplies power to the transmission connector and a second power supply unit that supplies power to the reception connector.
An image transmission / reception system characterized by   An active cable having a transmitting connector at one end and a receiving connector at the other end,
  The transmission side connector includes a providing unit that provides the image transmission device with internal information indicating an internal state of the transmission side connector when the transmission side connector is connected to the image transmission device.
  The providing unit is an image transmission device control signal for controlling the image transmission device, and superimposing the internal information on the image transmission device control signal provided to the image transmission device. Provided to the above image transmission apparatus
An active cable characterized by   The active cable is an optical fiber for transmitting an image signal transmitted from the image transmitting apparatus to the image receiving apparatus when the receiving connector is connected to the image receiving apparatus, and the image transmitting apparatus control signal An optical fiber cable for transmitting
The active cable according to claim 5, characterized in that:   The transmitting connector and the receiving connector each include N (N is an integer of 2 or more) light emitting units,
  The image transmitting apparatus control signal is electro-optically converted using M (M is an integer of 1 or more and N-1 or less) light emitting units among the N light emitting units included in the receiving connector. ,
  Among the N light emitting units provided in the receiving side connector, the N-M light emitting units not used for electric / optical conversion of the image transmitting device control signal are disabled.
The active cable according to claim 5, characterized in that:

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