Patent ID: 7822339

Claim:
An interchangeable lens which can communicate with a camera body to which said interchangeable lens is detachably attached to exchange data of said interchangeable lens, said interchangeable lens comprising: a zooming function; a zoom code detector which detects a zoom code by encoding each of a plurality of zooming ranges, into which a variable-focal-length range that varies by a zooming operation has been divided, as the zoom code; a distance code detector which detects a distance code by encoding each of a plurality of object distance ranges, into which a variable-object-distance range that varies by a focus adjusting operation has been divided, as said distance code; a logic IC serving as an interface via which said interchangeable lens communicates with said camera body, said logic IC including a plurality of input pins via which said logic IC inputs said zoom code and said distance code, which are detected by said zoom code detector and said distance code detector, respectively; a memory which is provided independent of said logic IC, connected to said logic IC, and stores said data of said interchangeable lens; and a controller, connected to said logic IC, for controlling operations of said interchangeable lens, wherein said logic IC selectively switches connections of terminals thereof with said memory and said controller for communication therewith upon receiving a communication signal from said camera body, and wherein said logic IC transmits said zoom code and said distance code, which are set by said plurality of input pins, to said camera body upon receiving a read command as a communication signal from said camera body.