Bidirectional synchronizing camera, camera system including the same and method of operating the camera

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021006688-A1
Application number	US-202017024996-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 18, 2020
Priority date	Sep 23, 2015
Publication date	Jan 7, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one example embodiment, a camera system includes a plurality of cameras, a camera controller configured to control the plurality of cameras, a control signal line configured to facilitate an exchange of at least one control signal between the camera controller and the plurality of cameras and a synchronization signal line commonly connected to the plurality of cameras, and configured to transmit at least one transmission synchronization signal for synchronizing at least two cameras among the plurality of cameras.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A camera comprising:
an image sensor; and a control circuit configured to control the image sensor, wherein the camera is configured to
transmit an image data to a multi-core processor via a first line,
receive a synchronization enable signal from the multi-core processor via a second line different form the first line,
transmit a first synchronization signal to anther camera via a third line different from the first and second lines, and
receive a second synchronization signal from the another camera via the third line, and
wherein the control circuit includes a timing controller configured to receive the second synchronization signal and control a timing of transmitting the image data to the multi-core processor based on the second synchronization signal.

2 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein
the timing controller is further configured to detect a timing difference between the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal, and adjust a timing of the first synchronization signal, the camera is further configured to transmit the image data according to the adjusted timing of the first synchronization signal, and the third line is connected to a ground voltage source.

3 . The camera of claim 2 , wherein the third line is connected to the ground voltage source via a pull-down resistor.

4 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein
the timing controller is further configured to detect a timing difference between the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal, and adjust a timing of the first synchronization signal, the camera is further configured to transmit the image data according to the adjusted timing of the first synchronization signal, and the third line is connected to a supply voltage.

5 . The camera of claim 4 , wherein the third line is connected to the supply voltage via a pull-up resistor.

6 . The camera of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator, wherein the camera is further configured to control the image sensor and the actuator according to a control signal received from the multi-core processor via the second line.

7 . The camera of claim 6 , wherein the camera is further configured to adjust a position of lens by controlling the actuator according to the control signal.

8 . A camera comprising:
an image sensor; and a control circuit configured to control the image sensor, wherein the camera is configured to,
transmit an image data to a multi-core processor via a first line,
receive a synchronization enable signal from the multi-core processor via a second line,
transmit a first synchronization signal to a first another camera via a third line,
receive a second synchronization signal from the first another camera via the third line when the first another camera is in an operational state, and
receive a third synchronization signal from a second another camera via the third line when the second another camera is in an operational state, and
wherein the control circuit includes a timing controller configured to receive the second synchronization signal and control a timing of transmitting the image data to the multi-core processor based on the second synchronization signal.

9 . The camera of claim 8 , wherein
the timing controller is further configured to detect a timing difference between the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal, and adjust a timing of the first synchronization signal, the camera is further configured to transmit the image data according to the adjusted timing of the first synchronization signal, and the third line is connected to a ground voltage source.

10 . The camera of claim 9 , wherein the third line is connected to the ground voltage source via a pull-down resistor.

11 . The camera of claim 8 , wherein
the timing controller is further configured to detect a timing difference between the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal, and adjust a timing of the first synchronization signal, the camera is further configured to transmit the image data according to the adjusted timing of the first synchronization signal, and the third line is connected to a supply voltage.

12 . The camera of claim 11 , wherein the third line is connected to the supply voltage via a pull-up resistor.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Il Joong
• Jo Jeong A

Classifications

• H04N23/66

  Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N23/00

  Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof · CPC title

• H04N5/067 Primary

  Arrangements or circuits at the transmitter end · CPC title

• H04N13/296

  Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof · CPC title