Imaging apparatus, imaging pickup unit connectable to a lens unit, and a lens unit connectable to imaging pickup unit

An imaging pickup unit connectable to a lens unit, comprising:

• an electric power supply part;
• a connection part connecting the lens unit to the imaging pickup unit mechanically and electrically;
• a plurality of voltage supply lines configured to supply corresponding output voltages to the lens unit;
• a plurality of digital-to-analog converters configured to supply a corresponding plurality of reference voltages to a voltage generating circuit, the reference voltages being modifiable to match power supply requirements of any of multiple imaging devices connectable to the imaging pickup unit;
• and
• the voltage generating circuit configured to generate the corresponding output voltages supplied to the voltage supply lines based on the plurality of reference voltages, wherein the output voltage is variable based on a type of the lens unit.

A lens unit connectable to an imaging pickup unit, comprising:

• an optical system configured to project a subject image onto an imaging device;
• the imaging device configured to convert the subject image into an electric signal;
• an imaging device driving part configured to drive the imaging device;
• a signal processing device configured to convert the electric signal from the imaging device into a digital signal;
• a voltage generating circuit configured to generate a voltage supplied to the imaging device based on an output voltage supplied by the imaging pickup unit, wherein the image pickup unit includes a plurality of digital-to-analog converters configured to supply a corresponding plurality of reference voltages to a voltage generating circuit, the reference voltages being modifiable to match power supply requirements of any of multiple imaging devices connectable to the imaging pickup unit;
• and
• a connection part configured to connect the imaging pickup unit to or disconnect the lens unit from the lens unit mechanically and electrically.

An imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a lens unit including
• an optical system configured to project a subject image onto an imaging device;
• the imaging device configured to convert the subject image into an electric signal;
• an imaging device driving part configured to drive the imaging device;
• a signal processing device configured to convert the electric signal from the imaging device into a digital signal;
• a first connection part configured to connect the lens unit to or disconnect the lens unit from an imaging pickup unit mechanically and electrically;
• and
• a voltage generating circuit configured to generate the output voltage supplied to the imaging device based on an output voltage supplied by the imaging pickup unit;
• and
• the imaging pickup unit including
• an electric power supply part;
• a second connection part configured to connect the lens unit to or disconnect the lens unit from the imaging pickup unit mechanically and electrically;
• and
• a plurality of digital-to-analog converters configured to supply a corresponding plurality of reference voltages to a voltage generating circuit, the reference voltages being modifiable to match power supply requirements of any of multiple imaging devices connectable to the imaging pickup unit.

A method of using an imaging pickup unit having a plurality of voltage supply lines that supply output voltage for use by a lens unit, wherein the imaging pickup unit includes a connection part configured to attach the image pickup unit mechanically and electrically to a plurality of different lens units, comprising:

• connecting a first lens unit to the imaging pickup unit using the connection part of the imaging pickup unit and a corresponding connection part of the first lens unit, wherein the step of connecting the first lens unit includes connecting a first subset of the plurality of voltage supply lines to corresponding voltage input lines of the first lens unit;
• communicating between the first lens unit and the imaging pickup unit;
• disconnecting the first lens unit from the imaging pickup unit;
• connecting a second lens unit to the imaging pickup unit using the connection part of the imaging pickup unit and a corresponding connection part of the second lens unit, wherein the step of connecting the second lens unit includes connecting a second subset of the plurality of voltage supply lines to corresponding voltage input lines of the second lens unit, wherein the second subset of voltage supply lines is a different subset from the first subset of voltage supply lines;
• and
• communicating between the second lens unit and the imaging pickup unit.