# US 12,010,421 B2 · Accessory apparatus, control method, and storage medium > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,421 B2 - Document ID: US12010421B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/963,261 - Filed: 2022-10-11 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-13 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Atsushi Sugita - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010421B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/663: for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals - G03B 13/36: Autofocus systems - G03B 17/565: {Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors} - H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals - G03B 17/14: interchangeably - G03B 2206/00: Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract An accessory apparatus, removably attached between an image capturing apparatus and an interchangeable lens, performs first communication with the image capturing apparatus and second communication with the interchangeable lens, and accepts a predetermined operation for operating a predetermined function that assists an autofocus (AF) operation. The accessory apparatus implements the predetermined function by controlling transmission of a control command to the interchangeable lens based on the predetermined operation and the control command for the AF operation accepted from the image capturing apparatus. To control the transmission of the control command, the accessory apparatus does not transmit a control amount included in the control command and pertaining to focus for the AF operation to the interchangeable lens, or changes the control amount and transmits the control amount changed to the interchangeable lens. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An accessory apparatus which is removably attached between an image capturing apparatus and an interchangeable lens, the accessory apparatus comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions which, when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, cause the accessory apparatus to function as: a communication unit configured to perform first communication with the image capturing apparatus and second communication with the interchangeable lens; an operation unit configured to accept a predetermined operation for operating a predetermined function that assists an autofocus (AF) operation by the image capturing apparatus; and a control unit configured to implement the predetermined function with respect to the AF operation by controlling transmission of a control command to the interchangeable lens through the second communication based on the predetermined operation and the control command for the AF operation accepted from the image capturing apparatus through the first communication, wherein to control the transmission of the control command to the interchangeable lens, the control unit does not transmit a control amount included in the control command and pertaining to focus for the AF operation to the interchangeable lens, or changes the control amount and transmits the control amount changed to the interchangeable lens, in accordance with the predetermined operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not transmit the control amount to the interchangeable lens in a case where the predetermined operation is a first operation for operating a function that stops the AF operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The accessory apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the predetermined operation is the first operation, the control unit further transmits, to the interchangeable lens through the second communication, a command for stopping driving of a focus lens in the interchangeable lens. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The accessory apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the predetermined operation is the first operation, the control unit further transmits, to the interchangeable lens through the second communication, a command for prohibiting driving of a focus lens in the interchangeable lens by manual focus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The accessory apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where the predetermined operation is the first operation, the control unit further transmits, to the image capturing apparatus through the first communication, information indicating a state of manual focus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the predetermined operation is a second operation for driving a function that limits a drive range of a focus lens in the interchangeable lens by the AF operation, the control unit changes the control amount to fall within a predetermined drive range of the focus lens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit sets the predetermined drive range of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens to an infinite end based on an absolute position of the focus lens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit sets the predetermined drive range of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens to a close end based on an absolute position of the focus lens. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein using an absolute position of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens at a time when the second operation is accepted as a reference, the control unit sets, as the predetermined drive range, a range having a predetermined width from a position serving as the reference. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit sets a pre-set position as an infinite end or a close end of the predetermined drive range. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The accessory apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in a case where the absolute position of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens is at the infinite end of the predetermined drive range, the control unit notifies the image capturing apparatus, through the first communication, that the focus lens is at the infinite end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The accessory apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in a case where the absolute position of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens is at the close end of the predetermined drive range, the control unit notifies the image capturing apparatus, through the first communication, that the focus lens is at the close end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit cancels the changing of the control amount to fall within the predetermined drive range in response to the operation unit accepting the second operation while the predetermined drive range is set. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit cancels the changing of the control amount to fall within the predetermined drive range in response to detecting the interchangeable lens being removed while the predetermined drive range is set. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit cancels the changing of the control amount to fall within the predetermined drive range in response to a zoom lens in the interchangeable lens being driven while the predetermined drive range is set. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The accessory apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising: a notification unit configured to notify a user that the control unit has canceled the changing of the control amount to fall within the predetermined drive range. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the predetermined operation is a third operation for operating a function that changes a drive speed of a focus lens in the AF operation, the control unit changes a drive speed of the focus lens included in the control amount. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The accessory apparatus according to claim 17, wherein in a case where the control amount in which the drive speed of the focus lens is a first drive speed is converted such that the drive speed of the focus lens is a second drive speed, the control unit calculates the second drive speed by multiplying the first drive speed by a predetermined multiple. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The accessory apparatus according to claim 18, wherein after converting the control amount such that the drive speed of the focus lens is the second drive speed, the control unit stops converting the control amount in response to the third operation being accepted. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The accessory apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: a notification unit configured to notify a user that the drive speed of the focus lens cannot be changed in a case where the control unit has detected that the drive speed of the focus lens in the AF operation cannot be changed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the predetermined operation is a fourth operation for operating a function that fine-tunes driving of a focus lens, the control unit does not transmit the control amount to the interchangeable lens, and transmits a drive amount of the interchangeable lens based on the fourth operation to the interchangeable lens through the second communication. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the predetermined operation is a fifth operation for temporarily operating manual focus, the control unit does not transmit the control amount to the interchangeable lens, and transmits a drive amount of the interchangeable lens based on the fifth operation to the interchangeable lens through the second communication. ### Claim 23 A method of controlling an accessory apparatus which is removably attached between an image capturing apparatus and an interchangeable lens, wherein the accessory apparatus includes a communication unit configured to perform first communication with the image capturing apparatus and second communication with the interchangeable lens, the method comprising: accepting a predetermined operation for operating a predetermined function that assists an autofocus (AF) operation by the image capturing apparatus; and implementing the predetermined function with respect to the AF operation by controlling transmission of a control command to the interchangeable lens through the second communication based on the predetermined operation and the control command for the AF operation accepted from the image capturing apparatus through the first communication, wherein to control the transmission of the control command to the interchangeable lens, in the implementing, a control amount included in the control command and pertaining to focus for the AF operation is not transmitted to the interchangeable lens, or the control amount is changed and transmitted to the interchangeable lens, in accordance with the predetermined operation. ### Claim 24 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for performing a method of controlling an accessory apparatus which is removably attached between an image capturing apparatus and an interchangeable lens, wherein the accessory apparatus includes a communication unit configured to perform first communication with the image capturing apparatus and second communication with the interchangeable lens, the method comprising: accepting a predetermined operation for operating a predetermined function that assists an autofocus (AF) operation by the image capturing apparatus; and implementing the predetermined function with respect to the AF operation by controlling transmission of a control command to the interchangeable lens through the second communication based on the predetermined operation and the control command for the AF operation accepted from the image capturing apparatus through the first communication, wherein to control the transmission of the control command to the interchangeable lens, in the implementing, a control amount included in the control command and pertaining to focus for the AF operation is not transmitted to the interchangeable lens, or the control amount is changed and transmitted to the interchangeable lens, in accordance with the predetermined operation.