JPH01206323A - Accessory apparatus for electronic apparatus or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the battery consumption in a non-use state and a non- normal state by holding an electronic circuit in a low current consumption state until an information communication is started after the title accessory apparatus has been installed in an apparatus body. CONSTITUTION:Even if an accessory apparatus is installed in an apparatus body and detected 6, and also, a power source 3 is turned on, unless information communications DCLK, DOL, DLC are started normally to the apparatus body, an electronic circuit 11 in the accessory apparatus is held in a low current consumption state by a low current consumption state holding means 10. In such a way, in case an installation state of the accessory apparatus and the apparatus body is not normal, or a fault, a crosstalk state or a contact failure is generated in an information communication system of the accessory apparatus and the apparatus body, only a low current being below an operation level flows to the electronic circuit 11 and a useless battery consumption can be prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is an electronic device, an optical device, etc., which has a built-in electronic circuit such as a microcomputer that is supplied with power from a power supply housed in the main body of the device, and which is connected to the main body of the device. The present invention relates to an accessory device configured to be detachable, and particularly to an interchangeable lens used as an accessory device for a highly electronic interchangeable lens camera.

[Conventional technology] Modern cameras employ advanced electronic technology, so they are equipped with microcomputers and numerous electronic circuits, so they are called electronic devices rather than optical devices. is more appropriate.

In particular, cameras with autofocus systems have adopted sophisticated electronic control technology, so some recent single-lens reflex cameras are equipped with microcomputers and motors not only on the camera body but also on the interchangeable lens. Something is emerging. In the above-mentioned camera (a camera in which an electronic circuit such as a microcomputer and motors are mounted inside an interchangeable lens), the motors mounted within the interchangeable lens and the electronic circuit such as a microcomputer are connected to the power supply inside the camera body. The camera body houses a power source for supplying power to the motors and a constant voltage device for supplying power to the electronic circuit. In the camera, as soon as the interchangeable lens is attached to the camera body, power is supplied from a constant voltage device in the camera body to the microcomputer in the interchangeable lens, and a current flows to enable the microcomputer to operate. The power wiring system that connects the motors in the interchangeable lens and the power source in the camera body detects that the interchangeable lens is normally attached to the camera body, and the power wiring system connects the motors in the interchangeable lens to the power supply in the camera body. Electric current began to flow only after information communication was carried out normally.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned known camera, after the interchangeable lens is normally attached to the camera body and information communication is normally performed between the camera body and the interchangeable lens, the power wiring system is Since the power current flows through the power wiring system, there is no unnecessary current flowing through the power wiring system, but the microcomputer inside the interchangeable lens does not check whether normal information communication is occurring between the interchangeable lens and the camera body. Because a relatively large current is passed through the camera regardless of the situation, the camera is virtually unusable (for example, if the interchangeable lens is not properly attached to the camera body, or if there is a gap between the camera body and the interchangeable lens). Even in the event of a breakdown in the information and communications system, poor insulation, or poor connection, a relatively large current continues to flow through the microcomputer inside the interchangeable lens, which could lead to faster battery depletion within the camera body. .

An object of the present invention is to provide an interchangeable lens that is configured to reduce battery consumption when it is substantially unusable, and more broadly, when it is not in use or in an abnormal state. An object of the present invention is to provide an accessory device for diagnostic electronic equipment that reduces battery consumption.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the accessory device of the present invention is capable of normally communicating information with the device body from the time the power is turned on while attached to the device body. The present invention is characterized in that a low current consumption state holding means is provided for maintaining the electronic circuit in the attached device in a low current consumption state until the start of the operation.

(Function) In the accessory device of the present invention, even if the accessory device is attached to the device main body and the power is turned on, if information communication with the device main body does not start (normally), the low current consumption state will occur. Since the electronic circuit in the attached device is maintained in a low current consumption state by the holding means, the attachment state between the attached device and the device itself is not normal, or there is a malfunction in the information communication system between the attached device and the device itself. If the electronic circuit is in a dead state, or if there is a poor contact, only a low current below the operating level flows through the electronic circuit.Therefore, according to the present invention, the present invention provides an accessory that can prevent unnecessary battery consumption. Equipment provided.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to an interchangeable lens for an interchangeable lens camera will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an electronic circuit mounted on a camera body as a device main body, 2 is a power source such as a battery that is also housed in the camera body, and 3 is a power source that is supplied with power from the power source 2, and the electronic circuit 1 and a constant voltage circuit that serves as a power source for the electronic circuit on the lens side as an accessory device described later.
4 is an analog switch that turns on and off the power supply to a motor (not shown) mounted on the lens side, 5 is a mount for mounting the lens provided on the camera body, and 6 is provided on the input signal line of the electronic circuit 1 and is also used for mounting the lens. A lens mounting detection switch 7 located near the mount 5 is a lens mounting/detaching response member that operates the lens mounting detection switch 6. The lens attachment/detachment response member 7 is a swinging member pivotally attached to the back side of the lens attachment mount 5, and has two arms on both sides of the pivot point, one of which is used for attaching the lens to the camera. The other arm is engaged with a part of the lens mount to be driven, and the other arm is connected to one switch piece 6b of the lens attachment detection switch 6.
It is designed to press.

The lens attachment detection switch 6 has two switch pieces 6a and 6b that are mutually inconsistent when the lens is not attached, and when the lens is attached, the two switch pieces contact each other and connect to the input terminal of the electronic circuit 1. VIN and the output terminal of the constant voltage circuit 3 are connected.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a connection terminal block for wiring connection arranged in the lower inner peripheral area of the lens mounting mount 5, and the connection terminal block 8 has connection terminals (or electrical contacts) provided on the lens side.
a number of connection terminals (or contact pins) that abut each
p+ to P7 are provided. These connection terminals P, ~
Each of the terminals P7 is biased by a spring so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the terminal block 8, and each connection terminal is wired on a printed wiring board attached to the camera body.
~L7 separately.

The wiring 1 connected to the connection terminal P1 is connected to the grounding wire of the electronic circuit on the lens side, which will be described later, and the wiring 1 is connected to the grounding terminal GN of the electronic circuit 1 on the camera body side.
It is connected to the negative electrode of the power supply 2 together with D.

The wires L2 to L4 connected to the connection terminals P2 to P4 are signal lines for transmitting and receiving signals between the electronic circuit 1 on the camera body side and the electronic circuit on the lens side. is connected to the signal terminal of the electronic circuit 1.

The wiring line 5 connected to the connection terminal P5 is a power supply line for the lens IC connected to the lens attachment detection switch 6 and the input terminal VIH of the electronic circuit 1. Further, the wiring line 6 connected to the connection terminals P6 and R6 serves as a power ground line, and the wiring line L6 is connected to the negative electrode of the power source 2.

The wiring L7 connected to the connection terminal P7 is a motor power line for supplying 718 power from the power supply 2 in the camera body to the motor (not shown) in the lens, and as described above, it is connected to the analog switch 4. is provided. Note that R1 and R2 are resistors.

14 is a switch that is turned on, for example, by the first stroke of a shutter button (not shown).

With the first stroke of the shutter button, the camera performs photometry, and the shutter time and aperture value are displayed on an external display (not shown).

In addition, instead of displaying the display on the external display in conjunction with the operation of the shutter button, the aperture value, shutter time, etc. can be displayed on the external display when other operating members unrelated to the shutter button are operated. You can do it like this.

The interchangeable lens (i.e., attached device) that is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body having the above-mentioned configuration includes a microcomputer 10 and a focusing drive motor (
A control ICII that controls the TCII (not shown) and an aperture drive motor (not shown), and an analog switch 12 that turns on and off the power supply to the TCII are mounted on the lens mounting mount 5 on the camera body side. A camera mounting mount (not shown) that is removably fitted and a connection terminal block 9 disposed in the lower inner peripheral area of the camera mounting mount and facing the connection terminal block 8 on the camera body side are provided. There is.

As shown in the figure, the connection terminal block 9 provided on the interchangeable lens side has eight connection terminals P8 to P14 (or contact pins) that contact the connection terminals P and -P on the camera body side.
are provided, and these connection terminals P8 to P14 are individually wired and connected to terminals 8 to L14.

The wiring 8 connected to the connection terminal P8 is connected to the ground terminal of the microcomputer 10 on the lens side and the control ICII, and is also connected to the wiring L1 on the camera body side via the connection terminals P8 and P. It forms the ground line (signal ground line) of the electronic circuit system.

Wiring terminals 9 to Ll+ are connected to the signal terminals of the microcomputer 1°, and are also connected to connection terminals P9 to Pl+, respectively, and connection terminals 29 to 29 on the lens side.
They are separately connected to wiring L2 to L4 on the camera body side via pH and connection terminals P2 to P4 on the camera body side, respectively. That is, wiring lines 9 to L11 are signal lines on the lens side.

Transmission data from potential circuit 1 is wired 3 and connected to connection terminal P3.
i connection terminal P,. , wiring,. The data received by the microcomputer 10 and transmitted from the microcomputer 10 are determined by the wiring pattern, connection terminal pH, connection terminal P4,
It is received by the electronic circuit 1 via the wiring 4.

In addition, a clock pulse is sent from the electronic circuit 1 to the wiring L in order to synchronize serial communication with the microcomputer 10.
2. Connection terminal P2. It is transmitted to the microcomputer 10 via the connection terminal P 9 and the wiring L9.

The wiring L12 connected to the connection terminal PI2 is connected to the microcomputer 1o on the lens side and the analog switch 12.
This is the electronic circuit power line for supplying current to the control ICII through the microcomputer 1.
It is connected to the power terminal VDD of the control ICI 1 through the power terminal van of the control ICI 1 and the analog switch 12, and to the wiring 5 on the camera body side through the connection terminals P12 and P5.

Wiring L13, L13, and L14 are connected to a focusing drive motor (not shown) and an aperture driving motor (not shown), and serve as power lines for flowing a larger current than the other wiring L8 to L12. L12 and L13 are power ground lines, and L14 is a power current line.

L12 is two parallel connected connection terminals P13+P13
・Wire on the camera body side via P, P6・6
It is supposed to be connected to. L12 is the connection terminal PI4
It is connected to the wiring 7 on the camera body side via P7 and P7.

It is connected to the microcomputer 1o through a control ICII bus line 13, and the microcomputer 10 controls the control ICII via the pass line 13.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the microcomputer 10 mounted on the lens side and the configuration of the low current consumption state holding means that constitutes the main part of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 21 is an 8-bit shift buffer;
2 is a 3-bit binary counter, 23 is an interrupt control circuit, 24 is a CPII, 25 is a clock generation circuit, 26 is an internal bus, 27 is an output port, and 28 is an oscillator.

The shift buffer 21 includes an input terminal connected to the wiring LIO, an output terminal connected to the wiring Ll+, and a clock terminal connected to the wiring L9, and is connected to the CPU 24 via the internal bus 26. There is. Data DCL having the waveform shown in FIG. 3 is transmitted from the electronic circuit 1 in the camera body through the wire 1° to the shift buffer 21, and is transmitted from the electronic circuit 1 through the wire 9. The incoming synchronous clock pulse DCLK (
The data DCL is fetched in synchronization with (see FIG. 3). On the other hand, the data D already written in the toft buffer 21
After LC (transmission data from the lens side to the camera body side, see Figure 3) is read out to the output terminal of the shift buffer 21 in synchronization with the clock pulse D CLK, the wiring L
It is transmitted to the electronic circuit 1 on the camera body side through the ++DL wiring 4. The shift buffer 21 is connected to the CPII 24 through an internal bus 26, and is configured so that data can be read and written in response to commands from the CPII 24.

The 3-bit binary counter 22 receives the synchronized clock pulse DCL sent from the electronic circuit 1 in the camera body through the wiring L2 and the wiring L9, and the counter 22 carries out the clock pulse after counting 8 pulses. is generated, and the carry is applied to the interrupt control circuit 23.

The interrupt control circuit 23 is connected to an internal bus 26 and is configured to receive a command to enable or disable interrupt generation from the CPII 24 via the internal bus 26. Then, in accordance with the preset interrupt priority order and the command, the interrupt control circuit 23 transmits the occurrence of the interrupt to the CPt 124 and at the same time transmits the occurrence of the interrupt to the clock generation circuit 25.

The clock generation circuit 25 constitutes an oscillation circuit together with an oscillator 28 connected to the outside of the microcomputer 10, and the oscillator 28 supplies a synchronized clock to each part within the microcomputer 10. The clock generation circuit 25 is controlled by the CPt 124 through the internal bus 26, and when it receives a command to stop oscillation from the CPII 24, it shifts to 'HALT' or '5TOP mode' and operates in low consumption mode with the microcomputer 10. Set to current state.

27 is an input/output boat, and the input/output boat 27 is connected to the internal bus 26 and connected to the CP via the internal bus 26.
Controlled by t124.

The CPt 124 is connected to the shift buffer 2 via the internal bus 26.
1 and the input/output boat 27, while giving commands to the interrupt control circuit 23.

CPU 24, interrupt control circuit 23, and clock generation circuit 25
In the present invention, the microcomputer 10 constitutes a low current consumption state holding means for holding the microcomputer 10 in a low current state at a predetermined time.

4 and 5 are flowcharts of programs executed within the CPt 124.

Below, the states and operations of each part in the camera of the wooden embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

(I) When no lens is attached to the camera body.

When the lens is not attached, the connection terminal block 9 on the lens side is separated from the connection terminal block 8 on the camera body side, so the connection terminals P1 to P7 and pH to P14 of both are not in contact with each other.

Further, as shown in the figure, the lens mounting detection switch 6 provided on the lens mounting mount 5 of the camera body has two switch pieces 6a and 6b separated from each other.

Therefore, the input terminal VIN of the electronic circuit 1 is connected to the negative pole of the power supply 2 via the pressure reducing resistor R2, and the input terminal VIN
A low level voltage close to the ground voltage is applied to the terminal. Furthermore, since a high-level voltage that turns off (open state) the analog switch 4 is generated from the output terminal of the electronic circuit 1, the analog switch 4 is turned off, and the power supply 2 and the connection terminal P7 are cut off. ing.

(I+) When the lens is properly attached to the camera body.

When the lens is completely attached to the lens mounting mount 5 of the camera body, the connection terminals P, ~P on the camera side are in contact with the connection terminals 26 ~ PI4 on the lens side as shown in the figure, so the camera body Wiring lines 1 to L7 on the side are connected to wiring lines ♂ to L14 on the lens side via connection terminals P and -PI4, and as a result, the wiring connections as shown are completed. (However, in the attached drawings, the lens attachment detection switch 6 is depicted in an open state, but when the lens attachment is completed, the switch 6 remains closed.) When attaching the lens to the camera body Since the lens mounting mount is rotated clockwise in the figure with respect to the camera lens mounting mount 5, the lens mounting/detaching response member 7 is rotated counterclockwise around its pivot point by the lens camera mounting mount. As a result, one switch piece 6b of the lens attachment detection switch 6 is pushed by one arm of the lens attachment/detachment response member 7, so that both the switch pieces 6a and 6b come into contact with each other and the switch 6 is turned on. Therefore, the output terminal 5 of the constant voltage circuit 3 is connected to the input terminal VIN of the electronic circuit 1 via the switch 6, so that a high level (5 volts) input terminal is applied to the input terminal.
At the same time Ls, ps, P12. L
12 to the microcomputer 10 on the lens side,
Power is connected. When the power supply is connected to the microcomputer 10, the CPU 24 becomes operational, and the CPt 124 starts executing the programs shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[Step #1] The CPt 124 starts operating as power is supplied to the microcomputer 10, and the CPt 124 starts operating in the first
One output boat S of the human output boat 27 as a step
The analog switch 12 is turned off by making the output level of 2 high level "H", and as a result,
Power is not supplied to the control IC 11.

[Step #2] A command is sent to the interrupt control circuit 23 to permit generation of a communication interrupt, so that it can receive transmissions from the camera body side.

[Step #3] A command is given to the clock generation circuit 25 via the internal bus 26 to cause the clock generation circuit 25 to stop oscillation.
As a result, the microcomputer 1o is set to ``1 (ALT
It is maintained in a low current consumption state called ``or ``5TOP''.

[Step #4 (Communication interrupt processing)] If the lens is normally attached to the camera body and there is no abnormality in each wiring or connection terminal, the electronic circuit 1 on the camera body side will send a synchronous lock pulse DCLK (second Figure 3)
and command or data Dcb (FIG. 3) are connected to the wirings L2, L3, Le, and L+, respectively. The synchronized clock pulse D CLK is applied to a shift buffer 21 and a 3-bit binary counter 22, and the command or data D is sent to the microcomputer 10 on the lens side. L is applied to the input terminal of the shift buffer 21.

The clock pulse D is applied to the 3-bit binary counter 22.
When CL is input manually, the counter 22 operates and generates a carry when it counts 8 pulses, and the carry is input to the interrupt control circuit 23. At this time, the interrupt control circuit 23 is already set to enable communication interrupts from the CP[I24, so when the carry is input from the counter 22, it instructs the clock generation circuit 25 to generate an interrupt. Using this as a trigger, the clock generating circuit starts oscillating together with the oscillator 28 and supplies clocks to the microcomputer 10 including the CPU 24, and the low current consumption state described above is released and the state shifts to a normal operating state. On the other hand, the interrupt control circuit 23 also provides an interrupt generation signal to the CPU 24, which causes the CPU 24 to proceed to a communication interrupt processing routine that will be explained in detail in FIG.

[Step #5] (See Figure 5) The data or command DCL transmitted from the camera body side is the clock pulse D. At this time, the data that has already been written to the shift buffer 21 is read into the shift buffer 331 in synchronization with the synchronous clock pulse D CLK.
The signal is read out to the output OS and then transmitted to the electronic circuit 1 on the camera body side through the wiring Ll+ and L4.

In the communication interrupt processing routine that occurs when one communication for eight synchronized clock pulses is completed, the data or command DCL read into the shift buffer 21 is first processed.
is read out to the CPU 24 via the internal bus 26.

[Step #6. In step #7 CPIJ 24, the data or command is analyzed. Then, take the next step #8 according to the analysis results.
．． Step #9. Step #lO1...Step #1
The process moves to the second branch processing routine.

[Step #8] Distance 1ft! Performs drive processing such as l-ring drive and aperture drive.

[Step #9] Data reception processing such as distance ring drive amount, aperture drive amount, etc. is performed.

[Step #10 Perform processing to transmit lens-specific data such as focal length and maximum aperture value to the camera body side.

[Step #12] Process the "° operation confirmation command °°" to confirm that the lens is properly attached to the camera body.

[Step #13] Write a "receipt signal" to the shift buffer 21, which indicates that the "operation confirmation number" in step #12 has been accepted.

The data written to the shift buffer 21 in steps #11 and #13 will be transferred to the wire L during the next communication.
11 and L4 and is returned to the camera body side.

[Step #14] In order to be able to accept the next communication interrupt, the interrupt control circuit 25 is permitted to accept a communication interrupt, and the communication interrupt process is ended.

(III) If the lens is not properly attached to the camera body, or if there is poor insulation or poor contact in the information communication wiring or connection terminals of the camera body and lens.

In this case, the power supply or the microcomputer 10 on the lens side
Even if the electronic circuit 1 on the camera body side is connected to the microcomputer 10, normal data and commands will not be transmitted from the electronic circuit 1 on the camera body side to the microcomputer 10. As a result, the microcomputer 10 is maintained in a low current consumption state, and there is no possibility of unnecessary power consumption.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the accessory device for an electronic device of the present invention, even if the accessory device is attached to the device body, normal information communication between the device body and the accessory device is possible. A low current consumption state maintaining means is provided that operates to keep the power consumption level of the electronic circuit such as a microcomputer in the attached equipment lower than the normal level until the start of operation. There is no unnecessary power consumption, and therefore unnecessary consumption of the battery can be prevented.

Although the illustrated embodiment shows a case where the present invention is applied to an interchangeable lens for a camera, it is clear that the present invention is not necessarily applied only to an interchangeable lens for a camera. It is also clear that the low current consumption state holding means does not need to be constituted by a circuit within the microcomputer.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the electrical configuration of an interchangeable camera lens and a camera body configured as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A schematic diagram of a part related to the present invention in an electronic circuit such as a computer, and FIG. 3 is similar to FIGS. 1 and 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams showing the waveforms of signals transmitted between the camera body and the interchangeable lens in the configuration shown in the figure.
This figure is a flowchart of a program executed in the electronic circuit shown in FIG. 2. 1... Electronic circuit (on the camera body side), 2... Power supply, 3... Constant voltage device, 4 and 12...
Analog switch, 5...Mount (on camera body side), 6...Attachment detection switch, 7...Lens attachment/detachment responsive member, 8 and 9...Connection terminal block, 21-P14...Connection Terminal, 10...Microcomputer, 11...Control IC113...Internal bus, 21...
・Shift buffer, 22...3-bit binary counter, 23...Interrupt control circuit, 24...cPU, 25...clock generation circuit, 26...internal lotus, 27...human output boat,
28... Oscillator. Figure 2 7; 0 Figure 3 o. ,,
I"]%A')D y Q Hull A
D.C.L.
Rikimon Yu: ``'''s 0-ma grid or take DLC lens's screen.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A state in which an electronic device, an optical device, etc., which has a built-in electronic circuit that is supplied with power from a power source housed in the main body of the device, is configured to be detachable from the main body of the device, and is attached to the main body of the device For attached devices that are configured to communicate information with the main body of the device, the information communication between the device and the main body starts from the time the power is turned on while the device is attached to the main body of the device. An accessory device for an electronic device or the like, characterized in that a low current consumption state holding means is provided for maintaining the electronic circuit in a low current consumption state until the electronic circuit is started. 2. A claim characterized in that the electronic circuit is a microcomputer with a built-in clock oscillation circuit, and the low current consumption state holding means is configured as clock oscillation stop means for holding the clock oscillation circuit in a stopped state. Item 1
Attached equipment listed. 3. The clock oscillation stop means has an interrupt generation circuit that controls the start and stop of operation of the clock oscillation circuit, and a main control circuit that controls the interrupt generation circuit, and the clock oscillation stop means 3. An accessory according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop means is formed within the microcomputer. 4. The accessory device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device body is a camera body, and is configured as an interchangeable lens that can fully function as a camera when attached to the camera body.