Imaging system and control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12035051-B2
Application number	US-202017756924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2020
Priority date	Dec 16, 2019
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an imaging system and a control method that make it possible to implement setting for an external flash by an operation on a camera side. Setting coordination processing is executed in which setting information of an external flash (13) is transmitted and received between a first communication unit (67A) and a second communication unit (47). Further, a second display unit is caused to display a setting screen to be used for setting a setting item of the external flash, and the setting information changed by an operation on the second operation unit is caused to be transmitted from the imaging device (12) to the external flash (13) via the first communication unit (67A) and the second communication unit (47), and a setting for the external flash (13) is caused to be applied.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An imaging system, comprising:
an external flash including a first communication unit, a first display unit, and a first operation unit; and
an imaging device including a second communication unit, a second display unit, and a second operation unit, wherein the imaging device is configured to:
transmit and receive first setting information of the external flash between the first communication unit and the second communication unit;
control the second display unit to display a first setting screen to be used for setting a first setting item of a plurality of setting items of the external flash, wherein the first setting screen hides at least one setting item of the plurality of setting items; and
transmit the first setting information, changed by an operation on the second operation unit, to the external flash via the first communication unit and the second communication unit, wherein a setting for the external flash to be applied is based on the transmitted first setting information.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein on the first setting screen displayed on the second display unit, a second setting item of a plurality of setting items is displayed or hidden depending on a function of the external flash.

3. The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first communication unit is configured to transmit a settable state or an unsettable state at present of the first setting item set in the external flash to the imaging device, and
the second display unit is configured to perform display differently depending on whether the first setting item is in the settable state or the unsettable state set in the external flash.

4. The imaging system according to claim 3 , wherein
the second display unit is configured to display the first setting item in the unsettable state in a grayed-out manner.

5. The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the first setting information of the external flash is changed by an operation on the first operation unit, the first setting screen displayed on the second display unit is hidden.

6. The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein
the external flash is connected to the imaging device, and another external flash that is not connected to the imaging device is further included,
the another external flash performs wireless communication with the external flash, and
the imaging device is further configured to:
transmit and receive second setting information of the another external flash between the first communication unit and the second communication unit;
control the second display unit to display a second setting screen to be used for setting a setting item of the another external flash; and
transmit the second setting information, changed by an operation on the second operation unit, to the external flash via the first communication unit and the second communication unit, and
transmit the changed second setting information to the another external flash by wireless communication, wherein a setting for the another external flash to be applied is based on the changed second setting information.

7. The imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein
the first communication unit is configured to transmit a settable state or an unsettable state at present of the setting item set in the another external flash acquired by wireless communication to the imaging device, and
the second display unit is configured to display the setting item of the another external flash differently depending on whether the setting item is in the settable state or the unsettable state set in the another external flash.

8. The imaging system according to claim 7 , wherein
the second display unit is configured to display the setting item of the another external flash in the unsettable state in a grayed-out manner.

9. The imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein
in a case where the setting information of the another external flash is changed by an operation on a third operation unit included in the another external flash, the second setting screen displayed on the second display unit is hidden.

10. The imaging system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first communication unit is configured to collectively transmit data of the plurality of the setting items as one piece of the first setting information.

11. The imaging system according to claim 10 , wherein
the plurality of the setting items settable in the external flash is collectively transmitted once at a timing when the external flash is mounted on the imaging device or at a timing when power of the imaging device is turned on.

12. A control method, by an imaging system including:
an external flash including a first communication unit, a first display unit, and a first operation unit; and
an imaging device including a second communication unit, a second display unit, and a second operation unit, comprising:
transmitting and receiving setting information of the external flash between the first communication unit and the second communication unit;
controlling the second display unit to display a setting screen to be used for setting a setting item of a plurality of setting items of the external flash, wherein the setting screen hides at least one setting item of the plurality of setting items; and
transmitting the setting information, changed by an operation on the second operation unit, to the external flash via the first communication unit and the second communication unit, wherein a setting for the external flash to be applied is based on the transmitted setting information.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by an imaging system, cause the imaging system to execute operations, the imaging system including:
an external flash including a first communication unit, a first display unit, and a first operation unit; and
an imaging device including a second communication unit, a second display unit, and a second operation unit, the operations comprising:
transmitting and receiving setting information of the external flash between the first communication unit and the second communication unit;
controlling the second display unit to display a setting screen to be used for setting a setting item of a plurality of setting items of the external flash, wherein the setting screen hides at least one setting item of the plurality of setting items; and
transmitting the setting information, changed by an operation on the second operation unit, to the external flash via the first communication unit and the second communication unit, wherein a setting for the external flash to be applied is based on the transmitted setting information.

Assignees

• Sony Group Corp

Inventors

• Yana Kanako
• Shibata Kazuyuki
• Oda Katsunari
• Kimura Jumpei
• Takagi Hiroshi
• Minami Hiroaki

Classifications

• G03B2215/0557

  Multiple units, e.g. leader-follower systems · CPC title

• H04N23/663 Primary

  for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• H04N23/631

  Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• G03B15/05

  Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units · CPC title