Connector for coupling electronic imaging system with USB that selectively switches USB host controller and USB interface with connector
AssigneeOlympus Optical Co., Ltd.
InventorHirokazu Kuba
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic camera 1 is disclosed, which has a USB host detector 51 for checking whether a host computer other than itself is connected to a universal series bus. When it is detected that no host computer other than the camera 1 is connected, a host mode is set, in which a USB host controller 52 is operated to set the camera 1 as host. When it is detected that a host computer other than the camera 1 is connected, a terminal mode is set, in which the camera 1 is operated under control of the other host computer.
Claims21
An electronic imaging system capable of permitting communication with an external unit via a universal serial bus, comprising:
- a connector for connecting the electronic imaging system to the universal serial bus;
- host detecting means, connected to the connector, for detecting whether or not an external host data processing unit is connected to the universal serial bus;
- switching means connected to the connector;
- and
- host controlling means, connected to said switching means, for setting a host mode permitting the operation of the host controlling means when the host detecting means detects no host data processing unit on the universal serial bus, and also setting a terminal mode permitting operation under control of the external host data processing unit when the host detecting means detects the external host data processing unit.
An electronic imaging system comprising:
- a) means for generating an image signal from an image scene;
- b) a connector for coupling the electronic imaging system with a universal serial bus;
- c) a detector for determining whether or not a host, other than the electronic imaging system, is coupled with the universal serial bus;
- d) a universal serial bus host controller;
- e) a universal serial bus interface;
- and
- f) a switch for selectively connecting one of the universal serial bus host controller and the universal serial bus interface with the connector.
A method for use with an electronic imaging system having means for generating an image signal from an image scene and a connector for coupling the electronic imaging system with a universal serial bus, the method comprising steps of:
- a) determining whether or not a host, other than the electronic imaging system, is coupled with the universal serial bus;
- and
- b) selectively operating the electronic imaging system as one of a host and a terminal such that
- i) if it is determined that no host, other than the electronic imaging system, is connected to the universal serial bus, then connecting a universal serial bus host controller with the universal serial bus, and
- ii) if it is determined that a host, other than the electronic imaging system, is connected to the universal serial bus, then connecting a universal serial bus interface with the universal serial bus.
An electronic imaging apparatus adapted for use with a universal serial bus, comprising:
- a universal serial bus connector provided for connection of the electronic imaging apparatus to the universal serial bus;
- a guest interface unit configured to operate the electronic imaging apparatus as a universal serial bus guest unit;
- a host interface unit configured to operate the electronic imaging apparatus as a universal serial bus host controller;
- an external host detector unit connected to the universal serial bus connector configured to detect presence of an external universal serial bus host controller unit on the universal serial bus;
- and
- a switching unit, connected among the universal serial bus connector, the guest interface unit and the host interface unit, configured to enable either one of the guest interface unit and the host interface unit exclusively according to the output of the external host detector unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.