JP2011019369A - Electronic apparatus, current supply method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly perform an operation which requires a large current exceeding a predetermined rated current during charging of a secondary battery with the predetermined rated current.SOLUTION: When a barrel drive unit 116 determines that a lens barrel 3 is not in a predetermined state, i.e., a plunged state with a USB cable 300 connected to a USB I/F113 and further a power supply circuit 111 confirms that a current for driving the lens barrel cannot be supplied from a rechargeable battery 112, a CPU104 of a digital camera 100 causes the power supply circuit 111 to supply a current for driving the lens barrel to the barrel drive unit 116 after charging by the power supply circuit 111 until the power supply circuit 111 confirms that the current for driving the lens barrel can be supplied.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device driven by a secondary battery (a rechargeable battery), a power supply method for the electronic device, and a program.

  Conventionally, it is known to charge a secondary battery built in an electronic device such as a digital camera via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-173822 A

However, since the power supply capability by USB is standardized as a predetermined rating, an operation such as driving a lens barrel that requires a large amount of electric power exceeding the predetermined rating while charging the secondary battery via the USB cable. There was a problem that could not be executed properly.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a purpose thereof is to appropriately execute an operation that requires a large current exceeding the predetermined rating during charging of the secondary battery with a predetermined rated current. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a connection unit to which a connection line capable of supplying a predetermined rated power is connected, and a rechargeable battery connected to the rechargeable battery by the power supplied from the connection line. Charging means for charging, state determination means for determining whether or not the device is in a predetermined state that requires the required power exceeding the predetermined rating, and charge amount confirmation for checking the charge amount of the rechargeable battery Means, power supply means for supplying power from the rechargeable battery, and power supply control means for controlling the charging means and the power supply means, wherein the power supply control means, while the connection line is connected, When it is determined by the state determination means that the predetermined state is not reached and the charge amount confirmation means confirms that the required power cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery, After performing the electrodeposition, characterized in that to supply the required electric power from the rechargeable battery to the power supply unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately perform an operation that requires a large current exceeding the predetermined rating during charging of the secondary battery with a predetermined rated current.

1 is an overview of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the digital camera 100. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the digital camera 100 is charged.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1A is a front perspective view when the lens barrel 3 is retracted, FIG. 1B is a front perspective view when the lens barrel 3 is extended, and FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the digital camera 100 is provided with a lens barrel 3, a decoration ring 4, a viewfinder objective window 5, and a strobe window 6 on the front surface of the camera body 1. An openable lens barrier 2 is provided on the front side. The front surface of the decoration ring 4 is attached so as to be substantially flush with the front surface of the body in front of the camera body 1. The foremost part of the lens barrel 3 is a decoration in a retracted state (a state in which the lens barrel 3 is stored in the camera body 1) in which the length in the optical axis direction is shorter than the photographing state that is the state at the time of photographing. In this state, the lens barrier 2 is closed, and the lens in the lens barrel 3 is protected (see FIG. 1A). The lens barrier 2 is interlocked with the initial drive when the lens barrel 3 is extended from the retracted state to a position where normal photographing is possible, and the front surface of the lens barrel 3 is flush with the front surface of the decorative ring 4. It will be opened before it is paid out. Further, the lens barrier 2 is closed in conjunction with the final driving of the lens barrel when the lens barrel 3 is driven to the retracted state from the position where normal photographing is possible. On the top surface of the camera body 1, a release button 7 and a power button 8 are provided as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1C, the camera body 1 is provided with a monitor 9, a viewfinder eyepiece window 10, operation buttons 11, and an audio playback unit (speaker) 12.

  FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 includes a lens barrel 3, a monitor 9, a strobe 13, an imaging lens 101, an imaging element 102, an A / D (Analog / Digital) converter 103, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 104. , Image processing unit 106, buffer memory 107, flash ROM (Read Only Memory) 108, recording medium I / F (Interface) 109, recording medium 110, power supply circuit 111, rechargeable battery 112, USB I / F 113, bus 114, a DCC (Direct Current Cable) 115, and a lens barrel drive unit 116.

  The USB I / F 113 is connected to the USB cable 300 and receives a command and a current supply of a predetermined rating (for example, a maximum of 500 mA) from the host device 200 such as a PC or a printer. That is, the digital camera 100 communicates with the host device 200 via the USB cable 300 and receives power supply from the host device 200. The bus 114 is a common path through which the processing units of the digital camera 100 exchange signals. The DCC 115 is a common path for supplying power to each processing unit of the digital camera 100.

  The power supply circuit 111 charges the rechargeable battery 112 with the current supplied from the USB cable 300. The power supply circuit 111 supplies current from the rechargeable battery 112 to each processing unit of the digital camera 100. Further, the power supply circuit 111 monitors the voltage between the terminals of the rechargeable battery 112 and confirms the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 112.

  The A / D converter 103 converts a subject image formed on the image sensor 102 through the imaging lens 101 into a digital signal. The image processing unit 106 is a live view (real-time) image obtained by subjecting the digital image signal obtained from the A / D converter 103 to predetermined signal processing, a confirmation image after photographing, and a photographed image stored in the recording medium 110. Is received and displayed. The buffer memory 107 stores temporary data required for input / output.

The lens barrel drive unit 116 includes a motor and shifts the state of the lens barrel 3. Specifically, the lens barrel drive unit 116, for example, uses a current exceeding the predetermined rating supplied from the rechargeable battery 112 (hereinafter, referred to as “lens barrel driving current” for convenience) and a shooting state and a retracted state. Transition between. The lens barrel drive unit 116 includes, for example, a photointerrupter, and determines whether or not the lens barrel 3 is in the retracted state.
The digital camera 100 has a predetermined state corresponding to the situation. An example of the predetermined state of the digital camera 100 in a situation where the USB cable 300 is connected to the USB I / F 113 is the lens barrel 3. The retracted state. In other words, the lens barrel driving unit 116 determines whether or not the lens barrel driving current exceeding the predetermined rating is in the retracted state for the state transition from the photographing state.

  The flash ROM 108 stores firmware that specifies the basic control procedure of the digital camera 100. The flash ROM 108 stores the digital image signal generated by the A / D converter 103. The recording medium I / F 109 supplies current to the recording medium 110 and reads / writes the recording medium 110 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 104. The recording medium 110 is a memory card that is detachably attached to the digital camera 100 and stores the digital image signal generated by the A / D converter 103.

  The monitor 9 provides a user interface. For example, the monitor 9 is configured to display an operation menu for the digital camera 100 in general, an operation menu for direct printing, various types of currents exceeding the predetermined rating supplied from the rechargeable battery 112 (hereinafter referred to as “display current” for convenience). Various information such as a status display and an error message is displayed to the user, and various inputs are received from the user.

  The strobe 13 charges the capacitor with a charge, discharges the charged charge, and irradiates the subject. Specifically, the strobe 13 charges the capacitor with a current exceeding the predetermined rating supplied from the rechargeable battery 112 (hereinafter referred to as “strobe charging current” for convenience), for example.

  The CPU 104 transmits information for controlling each processing unit such as sequence (execution procedure) control, PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) command analysis, monitor 9, strobe 13, power supply circuit 111, and lens barrel drive unit 116 (FIG. (See solid arrow 2).

  With the above configuration, the CPU 104 controls charging of the rechargeable battery 112 by the power supply circuit 111 and supply of required current from the rechargeable battery 112 to each processing unit. More specifically, the CPU 104 determines that the lens barrel 3 is not in the retracted state, which is a predetermined state, when the USB cable 300 is connected to the USB I / F 113. When the power supply circuit 111 confirms that the lens barrel driving current cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery 112, the power supply circuit 111 until the power supply circuit 111 confirms that the lens barrel driving current can be supplied. After charging the rechargeable battery 112, the power supply circuit 111 is caused to supply the lens barrel driving current from the rechargeable battery 112 to the lens barrel driving unit 116.

  In addition, when the USB cable 300 is connected to the USB I / F 113, the CPU 104 causes the power supply circuit 111 to supply a lens barrel driving current, and then the lens barrel 3 is brought into a retracted state where the lens barrel 3 is in a predetermined state. If it is determined by the lens barrel drive unit 116 that it has become, the power supply circuit 111 is made to charge the rechargeable battery 112 again.

  Hereinafter, the operation during charging of the digital camera 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 starts when the USB cable 300 is inserted into the USB I / F 113 (step S1). Note that the other end of the USB cable 300 is connected to the host device 200.

  The CPU 104 causes the power supply circuit 111 to charge the rechargeable battery 112 with the current supplied from the USB cable 300 (step S2). In other words, the power supply circuit 111 switches the power of the current supplied to each processing unit to the current supplied from the host device 200 via the USB cable 300 from the rechargeable battery 112 in accordance with a command from the CPU 104 (step S2). .

  Subsequent to step S2, the CPU 104 determines whether or not the lens barrel 3 has been stored in the camera body 1, that is, whether or not the lens barrel 3 is in the retracted state (step S3). For example, the CPU 104 transmits a command for determining the state of the lens barrel 3 to the lens barrel driving unit 116, and a determination result that the lens barrel 3 is in the retracted state as a response to the command from the lens barrel driving unit 116. If acquired, it is determined that the lens barrel 3 has been stored in the camera body 1. If the CPU 104 determines that the lens barrel 3 has been stored in the camera body 1 (step S3: YES), it skips steps S4 to S7 and proceeds to step S8.

  When the CPU 104 determines that the lens barrel 3 has not been stored in the camera body 1 (step S3: NO), the CPU 104 determines whether or not the rechargeable battery 112 is charged a predetermined amount or more (step S4). For example, when the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 112 is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the power supply circuit 111 notifies the CPU 104 that a predetermined amount is charged, and the CPU 104 notifies the rechargeable battery 112 a predetermined amount depending on the presence / absence of the notification. It is determined whether or not the battery is charged. The predetermined amount serving as a reference for the determination is a voltage that can supply a current for driving the lens barrel that shifts the lens barrel 3 from the photographing state to the retracted state, and is, for example, 3.4V. If the CPU 104 determines that the rechargeable battery 112 is not charged a predetermined amount or more (step S4: NO), the CPU 104 repeatedly executes this determination (step S4) until it is determined that the rechargeable battery 112 is charged a predetermined amount or more. To do.

  If the CPU 104 determines that the rechargeable battery 112 is charged by a predetermined amount or more (step S4: YES), the lens barrel drive current is supplied from the rechargeable battery 112 to the lens barrel drive unit 116 to the power supply circuit 111. (Step S5). In other words, the power supply circuit 111 switches the power supply of the current supplied to each processing unit from the current supplied from the host device 200 via the USB cable 300 to the rechargeable battery 112 according to the instruction of the CPU 104, and the rechargeable battery A lens barrel driving current is supplied from the battery 112 to the lens barrel driving unit 116 (step S5). That is, charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is stopped, and supply of the lens barrel driving current from the rechargeable battery 112 to the lens barrel driving unit 116 is started.

  Subsequent to step S <b> 5, the CPU 104 transmits a command for shifting the state of the lens barrel 3 to the retracted state to the barrel driving unit 116. The lens barrel drive unit 116 that has acquired the command stores the lens barrel 3 in the camera body 1 by the lens barrel driving current supplied from the rechargeable battery 112, that is, retracts the state of the lens barrel 3. The state is shifted (step S6).

  Subsequent to step S6, the CPU 104 causes the power supply circuit 111 to charge the rechargeable battery 112 with the current supplied from the USB cable 300 (step S7). In other words, the power supply circuit 111 switches the power of the current supplied to the digital camera 100 to the current supplied from the host device 200 from the rechargeable battery 112 via the USB cable 300 according to the instruction of the CPU 104 (step S7). . That is, the supply of the lens barrel driving current from the rechargeable battery 112 to the lens barrel driving unit 116 is stopped, and charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is started.

  Subsequent to step S3 (YES) or step S7, the CPU 104 determines whether or not the charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is completed (step S8). For example, when the charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is completed, the power supply circuit 111 notifies the CPU 104 that the charging is completed, and the CPU 104 determines whether or not the charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is completed depending on the presence or absence of the notification. to decide. If the CPU 104 determines that charging of the rechargeable battery 112 has not been completed (step S8: NO), the CPU 104 returns to step S3, and again determines whether or not the lens barrel 3 has been stored in the camera body 1. to decide. On the other hand, when the CPU 104 determines that the charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is completed (step S8: YES), the flowchart shown in FIG.

  According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, even when the charge amount of the rechargeable battery 112 is empty when the USB cable 300 is connected to the digital camera 100 in which the lens barrel 3 is in the shooting state, the rechargeable battery 112 When the battery is gradually charged and has a capacity capable of supplying a current necessary for driving the lens barrel 3, the lens barrel 3 shifts from the photographing state to the retracted state by the current supplied from the rechargeable battery 112.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above, and various design changes and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is possible to
For example, in this embodiment, when the CPU 104 determines in step S8 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 that charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is not completed (step S8: NO), the charging is performed without returning to step S4. The determination (step S9) may be repeated until it is determined that charging of the battery 112 is completed. In step S <b> 3, the lens barrel driving unit 116 determines whether or not the lens barrel 3 is in the retracted state according to a command from the CPU 104. The CPU 104 determines the lens based on the determination result acquired from the lens barrel driving unit 116. Although it has been determined whether or not the lens barrel 3 has already been stored in the camera body 1, for example, the lens barrel driving unit 116 temporarily stores information indicating the state of the lens barrel 3 after the transition in the buffer memory 107 or the like. Then, the CPU 104 may determine whether or not the lens barrel 3 has been stored in the camera body 1 with reference to the temporarily stored information.

  In addition, it has been described that an example of the predetermined state of the digital camera 100 in the situation where the USB cable 300 is connected to the USB I / F 113 is the retracted state, but the predetermined state of the digital camera 100 in the situation is as follows: A strobe charging completion state in which the charging of the strobe 13 is completed may be possible. In order to reach the strobe charging completion state, a strobe charging current exceeding a predetermined rating is required as described above. In addition, for example, the CPU 104 determines whether or not a strobe charging completion state, which is a predetermined state that requires a strobe charging current that exceeds a predetermined rating.

  That is, when the USB camera 300 is connected to the USB I / F 113 and the predetermined state of the digital camera 100 is the strobe charging completion state, the CPU 104 connects the USB cable 300 to the USB I / F 113, and When the power supply circuit 111 confirms that a predetermined amount of current equal to or greater than the strobe charging current cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery 112 when the strobe charging completion state, which is a predetermined state, is not completed, The power supply circuit 111 is charged until the power supply circuit 111 confirms that the current can be supplied, and then the power supply circuit 111 supplies the predetermined amount of current from the rechargeable battery 112 to the strobe 13. Good. Note that the current supplied from the rechargeable battery 112 that has been almost or completely charged may be the predetermined amount of current. This is because the charging of the strobe 13 is started at a timing later than the timing at which the strobe 13 can be charged to delay the charging completion timing, thereby minimizing the influence of the power reduction of the strobe 13 due to self-discharge starting after the completion of charging.

  Furthermore, the predetermined state of the digital camera 100 in a state where the USB cable 300 is connected to the USB I / F 113 is a display completion state in which a predetermined display content according to a request is displayed on the monitor 9. May be. In order to reach the display completion state, as described above, a display current exceeding a predetermined rating is required. In addition, for example, the CPU 104 determines whether or not a display completion state, which is a predetermined state that requires a display current that is a required current exceeding a predetermined rating.

  That is, when the USB camera 300 is connected to the USB I / F 113 and the predetermined state of the digital camera 100 is the display completion state, the CPU 104 connects the USB cable 300 to the USB I / F 113, and When the power supply circuit 111 confirms that the display current cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery 112 when the display completion state which is a predetermined state is not established, the power supply circuit 111 confirms that the display current can be supplied. Until then, the power supply circuit 111 may be charged, and the power supply circuit 111 may be supplied with a display current from the rechargeable battery 112 to the monitor 9.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, during charging of the rechargeable battery 112 with a predetermined rated current via the USB cable 300, an operation that requires a large current exceeding the predetermined rating, for example, driving of the lens barrel 3 is performed. Thus, operations such as charging of the strobe 13 and output to the monitor 9 can be appropriately executed. As a result, for example, there is a risk that may occur when the rechargeable battery 112 is charged via the USB cable 300 while the lens barrel 3 is in the shooting state (for example, a risk that the imaging lens 101 is damaged or dusty). It can be avoided. Further, for example, since the strobe 13 is also charged when charging the rechargeable battery 112 via the USB cable 300, the strobe 13 can be used immediately at least when the charging of the rechargeable battery 112 is completed. Further, for example, since current is supplied to the monitor 9 when the rechargeable battery 112 is charged via the USB cable 300, an operation such as direct printing can be performed via the monitor 9.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 104 describes an example of controlling the current as an example of the power control for charging the rechargeable battery 112 by the power supply circuit 111 and the power control supplied to each processing unit from the rechargeable battery 112. However, the voltage may be controlled.

In the present embodiment, the present invention has been described using an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applied to other electronic devices such as a mobile phone and a music player. The same effect can be obtained.
In this embodiment, an example in which a USB cable is used as a power supply cable has been described. However, the power supply cable is not limited to a USB cable. For example, a connection line capable of supplying a predetermined rated current, such as a LAN (Local Area Network) cable, may be used. Further, instead of a cable capable of transmitting and receiving information, such as a USB cable or a LAN cable, a connection line capable of supplying a predetermined rated current may be used.

  The above-described digital camera 100 has a computer system inside. The operation of the CPU 104 described above is stored in the flash ROM 108 in the form of a program, and the above processing is performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.

  The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Lens barrier 3 ... Lens barrel 9 ... Monitor 13 ... Strobe 100 ... Digital camera 104 ... CPU 111 ... Power supply circuit 112 ... Rechargeable battery 113 ... USB I / F 116 ... Lens barrel drive part 200 ... Host 300 ... USB cable

Claims (5)

A connection means to which a connection line capable of supplying a predetermined rated power is connected;
Charging means for charging the rechargeable battery with power supplied from the connection line;
State determination means for determining whether or not the device is in a predetermined state requiring a required power exceeding the predetermined rating;
A charge amount confirmation means for confirming a charge amount of the rechargeable battery;
Power supply means for supplying power from the rechargeable battery;
Power supply control means for controlling the charging means and the power supply means;
With
The power control means includes
During the connection of the connection line, when it is determined by the state determination means that the predetermined state has not been reached, and when it is confirmed by the charge amount confirmation means that the required power cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery, An electronic apparatus characterized in that after the charging unit performs the charging, the power supply unit supplies the required power from the rechargeable battery. The electronic device according to claim 2,
The predetermined state during connection of the connection line is a state of the lens barrel that is shifted by the lens barrel driving means, and is a retracted state in which the length in the optical axis direction is shorter than the photographing state at the time of photographing. ,
The required power to become the predetermined state is lens barrel driving power for shifting from the photographing state to the retracted state by the lens barrel driving means,
The power control means includes
When the state determination means determines that the retracted state is not established while the connection line is connected, and the charge amount confirmation means confirms that the lens barrel driving power cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery. After the charging means confirms that the lens barrel driving power can be supplied by the charge amount confirmation means, the charging means performs the charging, and then the power supply means supplies the lens barrel driving means to the lens. An electronic apparatus characterized by supplying power for driving a lens barrel. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2,
The power control means includes
When the state determining unit determines that the predetermined state has been reached after supplying the required power to the power supply unit while the connection line is connected, the charging unit is charged again. Electronic equipment characterized by The charging means performs charging of the rechargeable battery with the power supplied from the connection line capable of supplying a predetermined rated power,
The state determining means determines whether or not the device is in a predetermined state that requires the required power exceeding the predetermined rating,
The charge amount confirmation means confirms the charge amount of the rechargeable battery,
A power supply means supplies power from the rechargeable battery;
A power supply control means is a power supply method for controlling the charging means and the power supply means,
The power control means includes
During the connection of the connection line, when it is determined by the state determination means that the predetermined state has not been reached, and when it is confirmed by the charge amount confirmation means that the required power cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery, A power supply method comprising causing the power supply means to supply the required power from the rechargeable battery after causing the charging means to perform the charge. A program for controlling a computer of an electronic device to which a connection line capable of supplying a predetermined rated power is connected,
A charging step of charging the rechargeable battery with power supplied from the connection line;
A state determination step for determining whether or not the device is in a predetermined state requiring a required power exceeding the predetermined rating;
A charge amount confirmation step for confirming a charge amount of the rechargeable battery; and
A power supply step of supplying power from the rechargeable battery;
A power control step for controlling the charging step and the power supply step;
A program for executing
The power control step includes
When it is determined by the state determination step that the predetermined state is not established while the connection line is connected, and the charge amount confirmation step confirms that the required power cannot be supplied from the rechargeable battery, A program characterized in that after the charging step performs the charging, the power supply step supplies the required power from the rechargeable battery.

Images