# US 12,114,058 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 12,114,058 B2 - Document ID: US12114058B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/963,264 - Filed: 2022-10-11 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-13 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tomoki Tanaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114058B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - G03B 17/14: interchangeably - H04N 23/663: for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals - 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 is removably attached between an image capturing apparatus and an interchangeable lens. The accessory apparatus performs first communication with the image capturing apparatus and second communication with the interchangeable lens, and accepts a predetermined operation related to a manual focus operation. The accessory apparatus sets a degree to which a drive amount of a focus lens in the interchangeable lens is made effective relative to an operation amount of the first operation unit, and transmits the drive amount or a drive speed of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens through the second communication in accordance with the predetermined operation and the degree set. ## 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; a first operation unit configured to accept a predetermined operation related to a manual focus operation; a setting unit configured to set a degree to which a drive amount of a focus lens in the interchangeable lens is made effective relative to an operation amount of the first operation unit; and a control unit configured to transmit the drive amount or a drive speed of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens through the second communication in accordance with the predetermined operation and the degree set. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second operation unit configured to accept a first operation different from the predetermined operation, wherein the setting unit changes the degree according to the first operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit changes the degree according to a configuration related to a depth of field of the interchangeable lens and the image capturing apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The accessory apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the configuration related to the depth of field of the interchangeable lens includes a focal length or an effective aperture of the interchangeable lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The accessory apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the configuration related to the depth of field of the image capturing apparatus includes a size of a pixel in an image sensor of the image capturing apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the drive amount or the drive speed of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens is transmitted to the interchangeable lens according to the predetermined operation and the degree set, the control unit does not transmit, to the interchangeable lens, a control command related to focus driving received from the image capturing apparatus through the first communication. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein during a set period after the predetermined operation is accepted, the control unit does not transmit, to the interchangeable lens, the control command related to focus driving received from the image capturing apparatus through the first communication. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The accessory apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control command related to focus driving received from the image capturing apparatus includes a command to drive the focus lens in the interchangeable lens or a command to stop the focus lens. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the drive amount or the drive speed of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens is transmitted to the interchangeable lens according to the predetermined operation and the degree set, the control unit notifies the image capturing apparatus, through the first communication, that the interchangeable lens is in a manual focus state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the drive amount or the drive speed of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens is transmitted to the interchangeable lens in accordance with the predetermined operation and the degree set, the control unit pauses the first communication. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation includes an operation of rotating an operation member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The accessory apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation includes an operation of depressing an operation member. ### Claim 13 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, and a first operation unit configured to accept a predetermined operation related to manual focus operation, the method comprising: setting a degree to which a drive amount of a focus lens in the interchangeable lens is made effective relative to an operation amount of the first operation unit; accepting the predetermined operation through the first operation unit; and transmitting the drive amount or a drive speed of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens through the second communication in accordance with the predetermined operation and the degree set. ### Claim 14 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, and a first operation unit configured to accept a predetermined operation related to manual focus operation, the method comprising: setting, through a setting unit, a degree to which a drive amount of a focus lens in the interchangeable lens is made effective relative to an operation amount of the first operation unit; accepting the predetermined operation through the first operation unit; and transmitting, through a control unit, the drive amount or a drive speed of the focus lens in the interchangeable lens to the interchangeable lens through the second communication in accordance with the predetermined operation and the degree set.