Lens unit, imaging apparatus including the lens unit, and imaging method

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes a lens unit, a body unit detachably attached to the lens unit, and an interface unit configured to connect the lens unit and the body unit so as to be capable of communicating with each other, the interface unit having a bidirectional communication interface and a unidirectional interface. The lens unit includes an optical lens configured to transmit light from an object, an imaging device configured to form an image with the light, and an image processing section configured to generate image data based on an output of the imaging device. The lens unit is configured to receive setting information to be used in the image processing section for generating the image data from the body unit via the bidirectional interface of the interface unit, generate the image data based on the received setting information, send notification information to be used by the body unit for receiving the image data to the body unit via the bidirectional interface of the interface unit, and send the image data to the body unit via the unidirectional interface of the interface unit after sending the notification information.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An imaging apparatus, comprising:
 a first unit including an imaging device; and   a second unit including an image processing section,   the first unit and the second unit being connected through a bidirectional interface and a unidirectional interface,   between the first unit and the second unit, information regarding a data format of image data processed by the second unit or data volume of the image data being sent through the bidirectional interface, and the image data being sent through the unidirectional interface.   
     
     
         22 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the first unit determines a data transfer rate of the unidirectional interface based on data volume of the image data to be sent via the unidirectional interface.   
     
     
         23 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the second unit includes a display section on which the image data received from the first unit are displayed; and   wherein the first unit sends the image data to the second unit in a data format based on display performance of the display section.   
     
     
         24 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the second unit includes a display section on which the image data received from the first unit are displayed; and   wherein the first unit sends the image data to the second unit in a data format based on display performance of the display section.   
     
     
         25 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the image data are reversible compressed data.   
     
     
         26 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the image data are reversible compressed data.   
     
     
         27 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein the image data are reversible compressed data.   
     
     
         28 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the image data are irreversible compressed data.   
     
     
         29 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the image data are irreversible compressed data.   
     
     
         30 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein the image data are irreversible compressed data.   
     
     
         31 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 24 ,
 wherein the image data are irreversible compressed data.   
     
     
         32 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the image data are in a computer-readable image file format.   
     
     
         33 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 22 ,
 wherein the image data are in a computer-readable image file format.   
     
     
         34 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein the image data are in a computer-readable image file format.   
     
     
         35 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 24 ,
 wherein the image data are in a computer-readable image file format.   
     
     
         36 . The imaging apparatus according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the image data are in a computer-readable image file format.   
     
     
         37 . An imaging system comprising the imaging apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 . 
     
     
         38 . An imaging method, comprising:
 preparing a first unit including an imaging device and a second unit including an image processing section;   connecting the first unit and the second unit through a bidirectional interface and a unidirectional interface; and   between the first unit and the second unit, sending information regarding a data format of image data processed by the second unit or data volume of the image data through the bidirectional interface, and sending the image data through the unidirectional interface.