Peripheral and camera system using the same, for rewriting programs stored in a camera

Abstract

In a camera system, if software is rewritten in accordance with the change in hardware structure, compatibility between the hardware and the software is determined, thereby avoiding a problem, such as an inoperable condition or a breakdown of a component. The camera system includes a camera body operated in accordance with programs stored in a program storage circuit and a peripheral for rewriting at least a part of the programs. The camera body comprises a data storage circuit which stores structure data of the camera. The peripheral comprises a communication circuit for receiving the structure data of the camera and a control circuit for determining whether the programs should be rewritten based on the structure data.

1. A camera system including a camera operated in accordance with predetermined programs and a peripheral for rewriting at least a part of the predetermined programs,
 said camera comprising: 
 a plurality of camera operating means;  
 program storage means, contents of which are rewritable, for storing at least one program;  
 control means for controlling said plurality of camera operating means in accordance with the contents of the program storage means;  
 data transmitting means for transmitting camera structure data to the peripheral; and  
 rewriting means for, upon receipt of a program to be installed from the peripheral, rewriting the contents of the program storage means, and  
 said peripheral comprising: 
 determining means for, upon receipt of the camera structure data, determining whether rewriting of the contents of the program storage means is permitted;  
 program transmitting means for transmitting a rewriting program to the rewriting means, when the determining means determines that the rewriting is permitted; and  
 notifying means for notifying that the rewriting is not permitted, when the determining means determines that the rewriting is not permitted.  
 
   
     
     
       2. A camera system according to  claim 1 , wherein the program storage means includes a first storage means which is not rewritable and a second storage means which is rewritable. 
     
     
       3. A camera system according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of exchange units can be selectively mounted on the camera. 
     
     
       4. A camera system according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera structure data concerns a unit mounted on the camera. 
     
     
       5. A camera system including a camera and a peripheral of the camera,
 said camera comprising: 
 a program storage circuit storing camera operation control programs, contents of which are rewritable;  
 a data storage circuit storing camera structure data;  
 a camera-side communication circuit for conducting communications with the peripheral; and  
 a camera-side control circuit, having a program rewriting mode, for transmitting in the program rewriting mode the camera structure data stored in the data storage circuit to the peripheral via the camera-side communication circuit and writing a rewriting program transmitted from the peripheral via the camera-side communication circuit into the program storage circuit, and  
 said peripheral comprising: 
 a peripheral-side communication circuit for performing communications with the camera;  
 a storage medium for storing the rewriting program; and  
 a peripheral-side control circuit for determining whether an operation of rewriting the program storage circuit is permitted, and if it is permitted, transmitting the rewriting program stored in the storage medium to the camera.  
 
   
     
     
       6. A camera system according to  claim 5 , wherein the camera further comprises a camera body unit and an exchange unit mounted on the camera body unit, and the camera structure data concerns the exchange unit. 
     
     
       7. A camera system according to  claim 5 , wherein the camera further comprises a camera body unit and an exchange unit mounted on the camera body unit, and the data storage circuit is placed in the exchange unit. 
     
     
       8. A camera system according to  claim 5 , wherein the peripheral further comprises a notifying circuit for notifying that the operation of rewriting is not permitted, when it is determined that the operation of rewriting is not permitted. 
     
     
       9. A camera system according to  claim 5 , wherein the camera-side control circuit executes the program rewriting mode in accordance with a request signal from the peripheral. 
     
     
       10. A camera system including a camera operated in accordance with predetermined programs and a peripheral for controlling a rewriting operation of rewriting at least a part of the predetermined programs,
 said camera comprising: 
 a camera body;  
 an exchange unit detachably mounted on the camera body unit; and  
 a camera-side communication circuit for transmitting identification data of the exchange unit to the peripheral;  
 said peripheral comprising: 
 a peripheral-side communication circuit for receiving the identification data; and  
 a peripheral-side control circuit for controlling the rewriting operation in accordance with the identification data.  
 
 
 
     
     
       11. A camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the camera includes a data storage circuit for storing the identification data of the exchange unit. 
     
     
       12. A camera system according to  claim 11 , wherein the data storage circuit is placed in the exchange unit. 
     
     
       13. A camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the peripheral-side control circuit determines whether the rewriting operation is permitted in accordance with the identification data. 
     
     
       14. A camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the peripheral-side control circuit determines whether the rewriting operation is permitted in accordance with the identification data, and displays an alarm if it is not permitted. 
     
     
       15. A camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the exchange unit comprises a finder. 
     
     
       16. A camera system according to  claim 10 , wherein the peripheral comprises a personal computer. 
     
     
       17. A peripheral for performing a rewriting operation of rewriting a program stored in a storage circuit in a camera, said peripheral comprising:
 storage means storing a rewriting program;    receiving means for receiving camera structure data from the camera;    determining means for determining whether the rewriting operation is permitted in accordance with the camera structure data; and    alarm means for displaying an alarm, when the determining means determines that the rewriting operation is not permitted.    
     
     
       18. A camera system according to  claim 17 , wherein the storage means comprises a magnetic recording medium. 
     
     
       19. A camera system according to  claim 17 , wherein the storage means comprises a magnetic recording medium detachably attached to the peripheral. 
     
     
       20. A camera system comprising:
   a camera including a main body unit and an exchange unit detachably mounted on the main body unit;        a peripheral connectable to the camera;        a first storage element, which is rewritable, disposed in the camera and storing a first operation program;        a second storage element disposed in the peripheral and storing a second operation program different from the first operation program;        a control circuit disposed in the camera and configured to carry out an operation of rewriting contents of the first storage element to the second operation program, wherein the control circuit carries out the operation of rewriting only when the second operation program is adapted for configuration of the camera including the exchange unit; and        an alarm circuit configured to provide an alarm when the second operation program is not adapted for the configuration of the camera including the exchange unit.      
     
     
       21. A camera system according to  claim 20 , wherein the peripheral comprises a personal computer.  
     
     
       22. A camera system according to  claim 20 , wherein the alarm circuit is disposed in the peripheral.  
     
     
       23. A camera system according to  claim 20 , wherein when the control circuit receives a command signal for executing the operation of rewriting from the peripheral in the operation of rewriting, the control circuit thereafter receives a program for the operation of rewriting.  
     
     
       24. A camera system according to  claim 20 , wherein when the control circuit receives a command signal for stopping the operation of rewriting from the peripheral in the operation of rewriting, the control circuit stops the operation of rewriting.  
     
     
       25. A camera comprising:
   a camera main body;        an exchange unit detachably mounted on the camera main body and including a data storage circuit storing identification data specific to the exchange unit;        a program storage circuit storing a program to control operations of the camera; and        a control circuit configured to control a camera operation mechanism including the exchange unit in accordance with the program stored in the program storage circuit;        wherein contents of the program storage circuit are rewritable and the control circuit is capable of carrying out an operation of rewriting at least a pair of the contents of the program storage circuit in cooperation with a peripheral; and        wherein the operation of rewriting comprises reading the identification data stored in the data storage circuit of the exchange unit, receiving from the peripheral a program for rewriting adapted for the exchange unit based on the read identification data, and storing the program for rewriting in a predetermined region of the program storage circuit.      
     
     
       26. A camera according to  claim 25 , wherein when the control circuit receives a command signal for executing the operation of rewriting from the peripheral in the operation of rewriting, the control circuit thereafter receives a program for the operation of rewriting.  
     
     
       27. A camera according to  claim 25 , wherein when the control circuit receives a command signal for stopping the operation of rewriting from the peripheral in the operation of rewriting, the control circuit stops the operation of rewriting.  
     
     
       28. A camera comprising:
   a camera main body;        an exchange unit detachably mounted on the camera body and including data output means for outputting an identification signal specific to the exchange unit;        program storage means for storing a program to control operations of the camera, wherein contents of the program storage means are rewritable;        control means for controlling a camera operation mechanism including the exchange unit in accordance with the program stored in the program storage means; and        rewriting means for rewriting at least a part of the contents of the program storage means in cooperation with a peripheral, said rewriting means including:      transmitting means for transmitting information based on the identification signal to the peripheral;        receiving means for receiving an operation program adapted for the exchange unit and an execution permission signal to permit an operation of rewriting from the peripheral; and        storage control means for causing the program storage means to store the received operation program, when the execution permission signal is received.        
     
     
       29. A camera system comprising a camera operated in accordance with predetermined programs and a peripheral for controlling a rewriting operation of rewriting at least a part of the predetermined programs, wherein
 ( i )  the camera comprising:  
   a camera body unit;    
   an exchange unit detachably mounted on the camera body unit; and    
   a camera - side communication circuit configured to transmit identification data of the exchange unit to the peripheral; and    
   ( ii )  the peripheral comprises:  
   a peripheral - side communication circuit configured to receive the identification data of the exchange unit; and    
   a peripheral side control circuit configured to transmit a rewriting program to said camera in accordance with the identification data of the exchange unit.    
   
     
     
       30. A camera system according to  claim 29 , wherein the camera includes a data storage circuit configured to store the identification data of the exchange unit.  
     
     
       31. A camera system according to  claim 30 , wherein the data storage circuit is provided in the exhaust unit.  
     
     
       32. A camera system according to  claim 29 , wherein the peripheral- side control circuit determines whether the rewriting operation is permitted in accordance with the identification data of the exchange unit.    
     
     
       33. A camera system according to  claim 29 , wherein the peripheral- side control circuit determines whether the rewriting operation is permitted in accordance with the identification data of the exchange unit, and provides an alarm if the rewriting operation is not permitted.    
     
     
       34. A camera system according to  claim 29 , wherein the exchange unit comprises a finder.  
     
     
       35. A camera system according to  claim 29 , wherein the peripheral comprises a personal computer.  
     
     
       36. A program rewriting method in a camera to which an exchange unit is detachably mounted, the method comprising:
   reading identification information specific to the exchange unit stored in the exchange unit;        transmitting data based on the identification information to a peripheral;        receiving, from the peripheral, a rewriting process adapted for the exchange unit selected in accordance with the data; and        executing a program rewriting operation in accordance with the received rewriting program.