Imaging apparatus and coupling apparatus for use therewith
OwnerHiromasa Maruno, Takeharu Etohinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A docking unit that optically couples optical images obtained from a plurality of (e.g. three) cameras includes at least a synchronous control circuit for controlling image pickup timing of the cameras. A camera controller, which performs an overall control, is constructed capable of bi-directional communication with the synchronous control circuit and a coupling circuit in the docking unit. The communication for exchanging signals between the synchronous control circuit and coupling circuit in the docking unit and the camera controller is invariable regardless of the number of cameras. Thus, this construction simplifies the bidirectional communication to and from the camera controller.
Claims18
A imaging apparatus having a plurality of image pickup means, comprising:
- coupling means for optically coupling optical images obtained from said plurality of image pickup means;
- timing control means for controlling image pickup timing of said image pickup means;
- and
- overall control means capable of bi-directional communication with at least one of said coupling means and said timing control means, for performing an overall control of said imaging apparatus;
- said coupling means having at least said timing control means mounted therein.
A coupling apparatus for use with a imaging apparatus having timing control means for controlling image pickup timing of a plurality of image pickup means, and overall control means, wherein:
- said coupling apparatus forms part of said imaging apparatus;
- said coupling apparatus having at least said timing control means mounted therein, and being arranged for optically coupling optical images obtained from said plurality of image pickup means;
- and
- said overall control means performing an overall control of said imaging apparatus, and being capable of bi-directional communication with at least one of said coupling apparatus and said timing control means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.