JP2001100868A - Portable equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize power supplied via a connecting interface capable of supplying power. SOLUTION: A digital camera 1 is composed of function blocks A-E performing mutually different functions, and power is supplied from a power source control circuit 214 to each block separately. When a personal computer(PC) 21 is connected via a communication I/F 213 being a USB interface, a control part 215 confirms electric power which can be supplied from the PC 21 through communicating with the PC 21 and makes a power source control circuit 214 supply power from the PC 21 to the prescribed function blocks A-E on the basis of the confirmed result. Since power is supplied to all or some of function blocks which can be driven corresponding to the electric power which can be supplied, the power supplied form the PC 21 can be utilized effectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable device such as a digital camera provided with a connection interface for externally connecting an information processing device such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers).
It is called a personal computer. ) Requires a high-speed interface that handles a large amount of data such as images in accordance with the increase in processing speed, and the IEEE (The Institute of Electrica)
l and Electronic Engineers) 1349 and USB (Univ
New serial communication standards such as ersal Serial Bus) have been proposed.

The IEEE 1349 interface is a general-purpose interface that can cover a wide range usable not only for a personal computer but also for a product handling digital video images or a LAN (Local Area Network), and has been put to practical use in home electric appliances such as a digital video camera. Is something that is going on. The USB interface has been proposed in order to simplify the connection between a personal computer and a peripheral device by unifying the interfaces of peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a printer, which were conventionally separate.

The USB interface has a communication speed that is at least one digit faster than RS-232C, which is the current serial communication interface standard, and is resistant to noise.
High-speed peripheral devices such as digital cameras, printers, and image scanners can also be connected. Therefore, recently, the USB interface has been standardized as a connection interface between a personal computer and peripheral devices.

The interfaces of these new standards have two power supply lines in addition to a data communication line, and are mainly connected to one device (main device) and the other device (peripheral device). Since power can be supplied from a device, a peripheral device that does not have a power source of its own and receives drive power from a main device via a connection interface has been conventionally proposed. For example, JP-A-10-
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 243327 proposes a digital imaging device having an IEEE 1349 interface, which can receive driving power from an externally connected printer via this interface.

[0006]

By the way, portable devices such as digital cameras having a connection interface capable of supplying power from a personal computer such as a USB interface are known.
Although a battery is provided as the main power supply, the connection interface should be considered in consideration of reducing battery consumption, avoiding the trouble of separately connecting an AC adapter, and making effective use of the power supply function of the connection interface. When connected to a personal computer via a personal computer and operated as a peripheral device, it is desirable that power can be supplied from the personal computer based on communication control with the personal computer.

However, when power is supplied from a personal computer, if the entire drive power depends on the personal computer as in the above-described conventional digital imaging apparatus, the power that can be supplied through a USB interface or the like is limited. Applicable devices are limited to devices with low power consumption, and it is difficult to effectively use the power supply function of the connection interface. Also, when multiple peripheral devices are connected to a personal computer via a connection interface that can supply power, the power that can be supplied from the personal computer is distributed to each peripheral device, so depending on the system configuration, each peripheral device can be connected from the personal computer. In some cases, it cannot be driven by the power supplied through the interface.

On the other hand, a portable device is provided with a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, such as a digital camera having functions such as a photographing function, an image display function, and an image recording / reading function. There are devices that can perform functional operations independently. For example, a digital camera can function as an imaging device for a personal computer, or as a data input / output device for a recording medium attached to the camera, so that all functions can be operated with power supplied from the personal computer. Even if it is not possible, if the power supplied from the personal computer can be supplied to some functional blocks and operated as a device that performs some functions, the power supply function of the connection interface can be more effectively utilized, It is convenient because battery consumption can be suppressed as much as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and background, and provides a portable device having a connection interface capable of supplying power from a personal computer, such as a USB interface, and capable of effectively utilizing the power supply function. Things.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A portable device comprising a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, a connection interface to which an information processing device is externally connected via a connection cable including a data communication line and a power supply line; A power amount confirming means for confirming the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device via the connection cable by communication of the information processing device; and Power supply control means for controlling supply of supplied power to the plurality of functional blocks.

According to the above configuration, when the information processing device is connected to the portable device via the connection cable, the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device to the portable device between the portable device and the information processing device. Is confirmed, power supplied from the information processing device is supplied to a predetermined functional block of the portable device based on the result of the confirmation, and a functional operation corresponding to the functional block becomes possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable device, the power supply control means includes a storage means for storing the power consumption of each of the functional blocks, a power consumption stored in the storage means, and the power consumption. Determining a functional block that can be driven by comparing the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device via the connection cable and confirmed by the amount checking unit, based on a determination result of the determining unit It controls the supply of electric power supplied from the information processing device via the connection cable to the plurality of functional blocks.

According to the above configuration, the power supplied from the information processing apparatus is supplied to the predetermined functional block which is determined to be drivable by comparing the amount of power that can be supplied with the power consumption of each functional block. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable device according to the first aspect, a battery is further provided as a main power supply, and the power supply control means controls a power supply that can be supplied from the information processing apparatus via the connection cable. When the function block cannot be driven by the amount, the battery supplies necessary power to the plurality of function blocks.

According to the above configuration, when the amount of power that can be supplied cannot drive any of the functional blocks, the driving power is supplied from the battery to all of the functional blocks.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable device according to any one of the first to third aspects, power is further supplied in response to a command for transmitting information on the type of the connected device from the information processing device. And a response unit that responds to the information processing apparatus with a type of device having a function achieved by the performed functional block.

According to the above configuration, when a command for transmitting information on the type of the connected device is issued from the information processing apparatus, the type of the device having the function achieved by the functional block supplied with power is responded to the instruction. Returned to device. This enables the information processing apparatus to perform appropriate communication processing corresponding to the functional operation of the mobile device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable device according to the fourth aspect, wherein at least a photograph, a photographed image and an image recorded on a recording medium are displayed on a display unit, and data from an externally connected device to the recording medium is stored. This is a digital camera capable of performing various functions of input / output and communication with the information processing apparatus.

In the portable device according to the fifth aspect,
The responding means responds to the information processing apparatus that the connected device is a camera when all the functional operations are possible, and when only the functional operation of data input / output to the recording medium is possible, It is preferable to respond to the information processing device that the device is a data input / output device for a recording medium (claim 6).

According to the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, when the information processing device is connected to the digital camera via the connection cable, the amount of power that can be supplied to the digital camera with the information processing device is confirmed. The power is supplied from the information processing apparatus based on the confirmation result, and is supplied to predetermined functional blocks of the digital camera. This allows the digital camera to perform functional operations corresponding to the functional blocks, such as photographing, display of a photographed image and an image recorded on a recording medium on a display unit, data input / output from an externally connected device to the recording medium, or all of them. Functional operation becomes possible.

When an information transmission command is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the type of the connected device, the type of the device having the function achieved by the functional block supplied from the digital camera is changed in response to the command. Will be returned to For example, when all functional operations are possible, information that the connected device is a camera is returned to the information processing device,
When only the function operation of data input / output to / from the recording medium is possible, information that the connected device is a data input / output device to / from the recording medium is returned to the information processing device. As a result, when the information processing apparatus recognizes the connected device as a camera, a predetermined communication process for operating the connected device (digital camera) as a camera (for example, a process of remotely capturing and capturing the captured image) is performed. When the device is recognized as a data input / output device for the recording medium, a predetermined communication process (for example, a process for importing image data recorded on the recording medium) for operating the connected device as a data input / output device for the recording medium is performed. Done.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable device according to the present invention will be described.
A digital camera will be described as an example with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front views of a digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the imaging unit 3 is set at the rotation reference position (a state in which the optical axis of the imaging unit 3 is parallel to the side surface of the camera body 2), and FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the optical axis of the imaging unit 3 is rotated by 90 ° from the right side (a state in which the optical axis of the imaging unit 3 is orthogonal to the side surface of the camera body 2).

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are a top view, a rear view, and a bottom view, respectively, of the digital camera (all with the imaging unit 3 set at a rotation reference position). FIG. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of the imaging part of a camera.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the digital camera 1 basically includes a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably mounted on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image pickup section 3 has a photographing lens formed of a macro zoom lens and an image pickup device formed of a CCD (an example of a photoelectric conversion element), and converts an optical image of a subject into an image (electric image) formed of electric signals. The image is converted into an image composed of charge signals photoelectrically converted by each pixel of the CCD. As shown in FIG. 6, inside the imaging unit 3,
A macro zoom lens 301 is provided, and a CCD 303 and an imaging circuit 302 are provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. In addition, a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position on the front end surface of the imaging unit 3, and a dimming circuit 304 is provided at a position behind the sensor.

On the other hand, the camera body 2 is an LCD (Liquid C
display unit 10 composed of rystal display) and IC card 18
US that connects to the mounting part 17 and a personal computer (not shown)
A USB connection terminal 13 to which a B (general-purpose serial bus) cable is attached;
Processing such as display to 0, recording to the IC card 18, and transfer to a personal computer is performed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip 4 is provided at an appropriate position on the left end.
A built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate position on the right end. Further, a USB connection terminal 13 is provided on the upper right side of the camera body 2, and a mounting section 17 for an IC card 18 is provided below the USB connection terminal 13. When the imaging unit 3 is set at the rotation reference position, the USB connection terminal 13 and the mounting unit 17 of the IC card 18 are hidden behind the imaging unit 3 and are protected, but the imaging unit 3 is rotated 90 ° from the rotation reference position. (When the camera is ready to take a picture), it appears outside so that the USB cable can be connected and the IC card 18 can be attached and detached. Therefore, shooting can be performed even when a personal computer is connected via a USB cable, and the captured image can be directly transferred to the personal computer via a USB cable.

An input terminal 16 for connecting an AC adapter power supply (not shown) is provided on the upper portion of the side of the camera body 2 opposite to the imaging section 3. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance for reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. A switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an UP switch) for advancing the recorded image in a direction in which the frame number increases (in the order of photographing), and a switch 7 switches the frame in the direction in which the frame number decreases. This is a switch for feeding (hereinafter, referred to as a DOWN switch). An erasing switch 8 for erasing an image recorded on the IC card 18 is provided on the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the upper right of the UP switch 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the rear surface of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a monitor of a captured image (corresponding to a viewfinder) and reproducing and displaying a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. 10 are provided. Also, L
An FL mode setting switch 11 for flash emission, a power switch 19 for turning on the power, and a call switch 20 for calling an operation menu displayed on the LCD display unit 10 are provided above the CD display unit 10. The IC card 18 is located below the LCD display unit 10.
Is provided with a compression ratio setting switch 12 for switching and setting the compression ratio K of the image data to be recorded in the. The FL mode setting switch 11, the power switch 19, and the call switch 20 are all push switches, and the compression ratio setting switch 12 is a two-contact slide switch. Instead of providing the power switch 19, the power may be automatically turned on by rotating the imaging unit 3 from the rotation reference position in the front direction.

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic emission mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically emitted according to the subject brightness as a mode relating to flash emission, and a "forced" mode in which the built-in flash 5 is forcibly emitted regardless of the subject brightness. A flash mode and a flash inhibition mode for inhibiting the flash of the built-in flash 5 are provided. Each time the FL mode setting switch 11 is pressed, each of the automatic flash mode, the forced flash mode, and the flash disabled mode is cyclically switched. Switches to
One of the modes is selected and set.
In the digital camera 1, two kinds of compression ratios K of 1/8 and 1/20 can be selectively set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1/8 is set. When sliding to the left, a compression ratio K = 1/20 is set.

Further, a mode setting switch 14 for switching and setting a "photographing mode", a "reproduction mode", and a "PC mode" is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2. The shooting mode is a mode for taking photos,
In the playback mode, the captured image recorded on the IC card 18 is set to L
The PC mode is a mode in which data is reproduced and displayed on the CD display unit 10. The PC mode is a mode in which data communication is performed with an externally connected personal computer. The mode setting switch 14 is composed of a three-contact slide switch.
When a shooting mode is set, sliding to the center sets a playback mode, and sliding to the left sets a PC mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, a battery loading chamber 15a for the power supply battery E is provided on the bottom of the camera body 2, and the loading port of the battery loading chamber 15a has a clamshell type as shown in FIG. The lid 15 is closed.
In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, a built-in battery E in which four AA batteries are connected in series is used as a power supply for driving the camera.

As described above, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment basically uses the built-in battery E or the AC adapter power supply connected to the input terminal 16 to supply all functions of the camera (the LCD for shooting, captured images, or recorded images). Display unit 10
, Display image data on the IC card 18, transfer of image data to a personal computer, etc.). In this case, the built-in battery E
When the AC adapter power supply and the AC adapter power supply can be simultaneously supplied, the AC adapter power supply is prioritized, and the power consumption of the built-in battery E is suppressed.

Further, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment
When a personal computer (not shown) is connected to the USB connection terminal 13 via a USB cable, all functions or a part of the functions of the digital camera 1 are performed by using power supplied from the personal computer via the USB cable. Can be operated.

The USB standard is a standard of the serial communication system as described above. As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to two data communication lines, two power supply lines (+5, GND)
have. Therefore, when a personal computer is connected to the digital camera 1 via the USB cable, the digital camera 1 can receive power from the personal computer via the USB cable.

However, the current that can be supplied from the personal computer to the digital camera 1 via the USB cable is 100 mA.
(0.5 W) or less, the function of driving the digital camera 1 is limited to the range of the supplied power. Therefore, when the AC adapter power supply is connected to the input terminal 16, the AC adapter power supply can always operate all functions of the digital camera 1 stably. The digital camera 1 is driven by the adapter power supply.

The drive control of the digital camera 1 using the power supplied by the USB cable will be described later.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera. In the figure, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 8, members numbered 200s are provided in the camera body 2, and members numbered 300s are provided in the imaging unit 3.

The macro zoom lens 301 in the image pickup section 3 is provided with an aperture member (fixed aperture) having a fixed aperture. A CCD 303 is an image pickup device including a CCD color area sensor, and converts an optical image of a subject formed by the macro zoom lens 301 into image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (each pixel). The signal is converted into a signal consisting of a signal sequence of the received pixel signals and output. Imaging unit 3
In the exposure control in, the aperture is fixed, so
This is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed.

The light control circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the control unit 215. In flash photography, the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 simultaneously with the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 304 is provided in the camera body 2. The flash control circuit 201 outputs a light emission stop signal to the FL control circuit 201.

The signal processing circuit 306 and the timing generator 307 are components of the imaging circuit 302. The signal processing circuit 306 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 306 has a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces noise of the image signal, and the AGC circuit adjusts the level of the image signal. The gain of the AGC circuit is automatically set by the control unit 215.

The timing generator 307 is a CCD3
This is to generate various timing pulses for controlling the driving of No. 03. The timing generator 307 generates C based on a reference clock transmitted from the camera body 2.
A drive control signal for the CD 303 is generated. That is, a timing control circuit 202 for generating a reference clock is provided in the camera body 2, and the timing generator 30
7, using the reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202, for example, starts / ends integration (exposure start / end).
(End) and clock signals such as a readout control signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) for the light receiving signal of each pixel, and output them to the CCD 303.

The FL control circuit 201 in the camera body 2 is a circuit for controlling light emission of the built-in flash 5. The FL control circuit 201 controls the presence / absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5 based on a control signal from the control unit 215, a light emission amount, a light emission timing, and the like, and emits light of the built-in flash 5 based on a light emission stop signal input from the light control circuit 304. Is stopped to control the light emission amount.

The timing control circuit 202 includes a CCD 303
A reference clock and a clock for A / D conversion for performing the imaging operation and signal processing of the A / D conversion circuit 203 are generated.

The A / D conversion circuit 203 includes the signal processing circuit 30
6 converts each pixel signal of the image signal output to the digital signal of 10 bits. A / D conversion circuit 2
03 is the A / D transmitted from the timing control circuit 202
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on a conversion clock.

The black level correction circuit 204 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. The WB circuit 205 performs level conversion of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is also adjusted after the γ correction.

The gamma correction circuit 206 corrects gamma characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 206 has a plurality of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene and shooting conditions. Note that the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components has been subjected to a predetermined level conversion by the WB circuit 205, and these pixel data are respectively converted into γ in the γ correction table.
By performing the correction, the γ correction and the WB adjustment are performed simultaneously.

The image memory 207 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 206. The image memory 207 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, when the CCD 303 has n rows and m columns of pixels, the image memory 207 has a storage capacity of pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position. Has become.

The image memory 208 is a buffer memory for pixel data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. The image memory 208 has a storage capacity of pixel data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In the photographing standby state, each pixel data of the image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the / D conversion circuit 203 to the γ correction circuit 206, the signal is stored in the image memory 207, transferred to the image memory 208 via the control unit 215, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. You. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the reproduction mode, the image read from the IC card 18 is transmitted to the control unit 21.
After predetermined signal processing is performed in step 5, the signal is transferred to the image memory 208 and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The operation unit 209 transmits the U
P switch 6, DOWN switch 7, erase switch 8,
Operation information of the shutter button 9, the FL mode setting switch 11, the compression ratio setting switch 12, the mode setting switch 14, the power switch 19, the call switch 20, and the like is input. The card I / F 210 is an interface for writing image data to the IC card 18 and reading image data. The RTC 211 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time. The RTC 211 is driven by another power source (not shown).

The main power supply 212 supplies drive power to each processing circuit, and corresponds to a built-in battery E and an AC adapter power supply. The communication I / F 213 is an interface conforming to the USB standard for externally connecting the personal computer 21 so that communication is possible. Correspondingly, a USB connector 22 is provided on the front of the main body of the personal computer 21 as shown in FIG.
Is provided. The personal computer 21 is a communication I / F.
213 and an information processing device connected via a USB cable.

A power supply control circuit 214 generates a required drive power supply from a main power supply 212 or a power supply (hereinafter referred to as a USB supply power supply) supplied from the personal computer 21 via a USB cable based on a control signal from the control unit 215. To the above-described processing circuits. The power supply is performed by dividing the plurality of processing circuits described above as constituent circuits of a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, and performing the function block units.

In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment,
A plurality of processing circuits constituting the control system are divided into five functional blocks A to E as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 8, and a required power supply is supplied to each of the functional blocks A to E from the power supply control circuit 214 as necessary. Generated and supplied.

The function block A is a block that performs a photographing function, and includes a CCD 303 to a signal processing circuit 307 in the imaging unit 3 and an FL control circuit 201 in the camera body 2.
To γ correction circuit 206 is included. The function block B displays a captured image or a recorded image recorded on the IC card 18 on an LCD.
It is a block that performs a function of displaying on the display unit 10, and includes an image memory 208 and the LCD display unit 10. The function block C performs a data communication function with the personal computer 21, and includes a communication I / F 213. The function block D is a block that performs a function of recording and reading an image on and from the IC card 18, and includes card I / Fs 210 and I / Fs.
C card 18 is included. The function block E is a block that performs a function of controlling the overall operation of the digital camera 1 and includes an operation unit 209 and a control unit 215 that are not included in the function blocks A to D.

The control unit 215 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the operation of the digital camera 1 by controlling the driving of each processing circuit in the image pickup unit 3 and the camera main unit 2 organically. That is, the control unit 215
In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9, the thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 207 after the photographing instruction and the compression ratio setting switch 1
A compressed image compressed by the JPEG method at the compression rate K set in Step 2 is generated, and tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression rate K, shooting date, use of flash at the time of shooting, Both images are stored in the IC card 18 together with information such as unused data. IC
As shown in FIG. 10, the card 18 is capable of storing captured images for 40 frames at a compression ratio of 1/20. The storage area of each frame stores tag information and a high-resolution image compressed by JPEG. Data (for example, 1280 × 1024 pixels)
And image data for displaying thumbnails (for example, 160 × 12
0 pixel) is recorded.

The control unit 215 includes a power control circuit 214
Also controls the power supply to the functional blocks A to E. In particular, each functional block A ~ using the USB power supply
When power is supplied to E, communication is performed with the personal computer 21 according to a predetermined communication program, and power supply control is performed based on the communication result.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing main processing relating to power supply control to each of the functional blocks A to E using the USB power supply of the control unit 215.

In the figure, a PC mode discriminating section 215a
Is for determining whether or not the “PC mode” is set as the operation mode. The connection power supply determination unit 215b determines the set state of the main power supply 212 (whether the AC adapter power supply or the built-in battery E is set or not). The presence or absence of the AC adapter power is determined by detecting whether or not power is being input to the input terminal 16. Similarly, the built-in battery E is determined by detecting whether power is output to a power terminal provided in the battery loading chamber.

The cable connection determination unit 215c determines whether a USB cable is connected to the USB connection terminal 13 of the digital camera 1. The USB connection terminal 13 is provided with a switch (not shown).
When a connector of a USB cable is inserted and attached to the B connection terminal 13, this switch is turned on so that the connection state of the USB cable can be detected.

The power distribution block determination unit 215d determines a functional block that can be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied by the USB power supply. As described above, since the amount of power supplied to each peripheral device varies depending on the number and type of peripheral devices connected to the personal computer 21 via the USB cable, the USB power supply is connected to the digital camera 1 via the USB cable. PC 21 at the time when 21 was connected
Block which determines which functional block in the digital camera 1 can be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied from the power distribution block 21
5d.

The memory 215e stores the power consumption of each of the functional blocks A to E. The power consumption stored in the memory 215e is used in a process of determining a functional block that can be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied from the personal computer 21 in the power distribution block determining unit 215e.

The message section 215f is used when a response message to the inquiry about the type of the connected device from the personal computer 21 or when the digital camera 1 cannot operate due to a power failure (no power or insufficient power).
Output an error message to

The power control unit 215g controls the power supply when the camera is started when the power is turned on by the power switch 19. The power control unit 215g controls the operation of each unit of the PC mode determination unit 215a to the message unit 215f to perform power supply control when the camera is started. Specifically, as described later, the power supply is the main power supply 212 or the USB power supply.
A function block to be supplied with power (that is, a function to be activated) is controlled depending on the power supply.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
Power supply control at the time of starting the digital camera 1 will be described.

In FIG. 12, when the power of the digital camera 1 is turned on by operating the power switch 19 (step S101), it is first determined whether or not the operation mode is set to the "PC mode" (step S101). S10
2). If the operation mode is set to “shooting mode” or “playback mode” (No in step S102),
The processing shifts to processing such as shooting and recording of a shot image corresponding to the set operation mode (not shown), reproduction of the recorded image, and the like.

On the other hand, when the PC mode is set (Yes in step S102), the presence or absence of the connection of the AC adapter power supply through the power supply control circuit 212, the presence or absence of the built-in battery E,
When the internal battery E is loaded, the remaining capacity and the like are checked (step S103).

When it is determined that the AC adapter power supply is connected to the input terminal 16 (Yes in step S103), the power supply control circuit 212 generates required power supplies for the functional blocks A to E from the AC adapter power supply. Then, the digital camera 1 is supplied to the processing circuit in each functional block to start the digital camera 1 (step S104). on the other hand,
When it is determined that only the internal battery E is loaded (No in step S103), the power supply control circuit 212 generates the required power for the functional blocks C and E from the internal battery E, The data is supplied to the processing circuit, and only the communication function of the digital camera 1 is activated (step S105). Activating only the communication function in this way is when the power is turned on in the PC mode.
Initially, only communication processing with the personal computer 21 is performed,
This is because power supply to a circuit where processing is not performed is prohibited and power consumption of the internal battery E is suppressed.

If neither the AC adapter power supply nor the built-in battery E is set in the camera body 2 when the power is turned on,
Since the control unit 215 is not activated, the processing of this flowchart is not performed.

Subsequently, after the communication I / F 213 is activated, it is determined whether or not the personal computer 21 is externally connected to the USB connection terminal 13 via a USB cable (step S106), and the personal computer 21 is externally connected. If not, the process waits until the personal computer 21 is externally connected (No in step S106). Then, when the personal computer 21 is externally connected (Yes in step S106)
s), the power supply to the blocks C and E in the power supply control circuit 212 is changed from the internal battery E to the USB power supply (the personal computer 2).
1 (power supplied via a USB cable and a communication I / F 213) (step S10).
7).

When the personal computer 21 is connected to the digital camera 1 via a USB cable, power is supplied from the personal computer 21 to the power supply terminal (+5, GND) of the USB connection terminal 13, and the digital camera 1 supplies a current within 100 mA. Since this power supply can be used, the power consumption of the internal battery E is suppressed by switching the power supply from the internal battery E to the USB power supply. Since the current consumption of the blocks C and E is set to 100 mA or less, when the personal computer 21 is connected via a USB cable, the communication function is impaired even if the power is switched from the internal battery E to the USB power supply. Never.

Subsequently, the control unit 215 checks the amount of power W (the amount of power of the USB power supply) that can be supplied to the personal computer 21 (step S108). This confirmation is performed by inquiring of the amount of power W that can be supplied to the personal computer 21 from the control unit 215. In response to this inquiry, the personal computer 21 determines the digital camera 1 based on the connection status of other peripheral devices (external storage device, scanner, printer, etc.) at that time.
The control unit 21 calculates the amount of power W that can be supplied to the digital camera 1 and returns the amount of power W that can be supplied from the content of the response.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the amount of power W supplied from the USB power supply can perform the operation of reading out the recorded image on the IC card 18 and turning it into the personal computer 21 (that is, the function blocks C, D, and E). Is determined (step S109). This determination is based on the fact that the power consumption of each block is stored in the memory 215g in the control unit 215, so that the supplyable power amount W transmitted from the personal computer 21 and the functional blocks C, D, E
By comparing the total power consumption W _{C + D + E.}

The amount of power W that can be supplied is equal to the function block C,
If the sum of the power consumption of D and E is equal to or less than WC _{+ D + E} (No in step S109), it is determined whether the built-in battery E is set in the camera body 2 as the main power source 212 (step S110). If the built-in battery E is not set in the camera body 2 (No in step S110),
Since it is not possible to cause the image recorded on the IC card 18 to be transferred to the personal computer 21 (that is, to make the personal computer 21 operate the digital camera 1 as a reader of the IC card 18), the digital camera 1 A message to that effect is transmitted to the personal computer 21 as an error message (S112), and the power-on process ends.

When the personal computer 21 receives this error message, it is displayed on the monitor that the digital camera 1 cannot be started due to insufficient power.

On the other hand, if the built-in battery E is set in the camera body 2 (Yes in step S110), the power supply in the power supply control circuit 212 is switched from the USB supply power to the built-in battery E, and the function of the built-in battery E is changed. The required power for the blocks C, D, and E is generated and supplied to the processing circuits in each functional block (that is, the communication function and the recorded image reading function of the digital camera 1 are made operable) to start the power supply. The process ends (step S1
11), proceed to step S116.

If the amount of power W that can be supplied in step S109 exceeds the total power consumption W _{C + D + E} of the functional blocks C, D, and E (Yes in step S109), the power supply control circuit 212 supplies USB. Functional blocks C, D, E from power supply
Are generated and supplied to the processing circuits in each block.

Subsequently, the power that can be supplied by the USB power supply
The amount W is the total power consumption W of all the functional blocks A to E.
_{A + B + C + D + E}Is exceeded (that is, the available power
Does the amount W allow for driving the functional blocks A and B?)
It is determined whether or not the power is available (step S114).
The amount W is the total power consumption W of the functional blocks A to E._{A + B + C + D +
E}Is exceeded (Yes in step S114), the power supply
Further functional blocks from USB power supply with control circuit 212
The required power supply for A and B is generated, and each function is
Supplied to the processing circuits in the block (ie,
Camera 1 and the image display function
), And ends the power-on process (step S115).
The process moves to step S116. Step S113
Then either the functional block A or the functional block B
Power may be supplied only to the power supply.

On the other hand, the amount of power W that can be supplied is
Total power consumption W of A to E_{A + B + C + D + E}If less than (
No in step S114), the process in step S115
Power supply to the locks A and B)
The startup process ends, and the process proceeds to step S116.

When the digital camera 1 is started, the personal computer 21
When the connection with the digital camera 1 is confirmed by the PC, a command for confirming the type of the connected device is output from the personal computer 21 to the digital camera 1.

In step S116, it is determined whether or not there is an inquiry about the type of device from the personal computer 21. If there is an inquiry (Yes in step S116), the functional block supplied with power from the power supply control circuit 212 is confirmed. (Steps S117 and S119) If the power is supplied to all of the functional blocks A to E, that is, if the digital camera 1 can operate all the functions as the camera (Yes in Step S117), the personal computer 21 is operated.
Is returned (step S118), and the function block C
To E, that is, the digital camera 1 is in a state where it can only operate the reading function of the image recorded on the IC card 18 (step S119).
Is YES), the information that "the connected device is a card reader" is returned to the personal computer 21 (step S120), and thereafter, an instruction from the personal computer 21 is awaited (step S120).
121). Then, a predetermined communication process is performed based on a command from the personal computer 21.

The personal computer 21 recognizes the type of the device connected via the USB cable based on the response from the digital camera 1, activates predetermined driver software based on the recognized type, and uses the driver software to execute the digital camera 1. Communication processing is performed. That is, the personal computer 2
When the digital camera 1 is recognized as a digital camera capable of photographing at 1, the driver software for driving the digital camera is activated, and the operator can remotely control the digital camera 1 by operating the personal computer 21. become. For example, it is possible to cause the digital camera 1 to perform a photographing operation by instructing photographing, and to directly transfer image data from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 21 by instructing transfer of image data.

When the digital camera 1 is recognized by the personal computer 21 as a card reader, driver software for the card reader is started, and the operator mounts the digital camera 1 on the digital camera 1 in the same manner as accessing a normal card reader. The image data can be read from the IC card 18 thus read. That is, when an instruction to read data recorded on the IC card is issued, the digital camera 1
The image data recorded on the card 18 is read, and the image data is transferred to a predetermined memory in the personal computer 21. When the digital camera 1 is provided with a function of recording image data transmitted from the personal computer 21 on the IC card 18, the digital camera 1 can operate not only as a cart reader but also as a card writer. Is instructed, and then the PC 21
Image data sent from the
It is recorded on the C card 18.

In the present embodiment, the digital camera 1 is driven by the USB power supply in two types, ie, a “photographable digital camera” and a “card reader”. "Can also be added. This makes it possible for the digital camera 1 to function as a display device for the personal computer 21.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the US
The PC 21 to the B connection terminal 13 via a USB cable
Is connected, the power supplied from the personal computer 21 via the USB cable is used, and all or some of the functional blocks are driven according to the amount of supplied power. The power supply function of the interface can be effectively used, and when the internal battery E is set, the power consumption thereof can be suppressed.

Further, in response to the confirmation of the type of the connected device from the personal computer 21, the information about the operable functions of the camera based on the power supply control is responded. When the operation function is used, processing using the function can be performed easily and reliably.

In this embodiment, a digital camera is exemplified as a portable device. However, the portable device is composed of a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, and a personal computer can operate the functions performed by these functional blocks independently. The present invention is also applicable to portable devices such as portable personal computers.

Further, in this embodiment, the USB interface is exemplified as the connection interface. However, another interface capable of supplying power, for example, an IEEE 13
It can be widely applied to 94 interfaces and the like.

[0090]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable device including a plurality of functional blocks having different functions and having a connection interface capable of supplying electric power, wherein the connection interface is provided. A plurality of functional blocks of power supplied from the information processing device via the connection interface based on the result of the confirmation of the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device through communication with the information processing device connected via the connection interface Since the power supply to the connection interface is controlled, the power supply function of the connection interface can be effectively used.

Further, when a battery is provided, when the function block cannot be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing apparatus, the battery supplies the required power to each function block. By effectively utilizing the power supply function, the consumption of the battery of the main power supply can be suppressed.

Also, in response to a command to transmit information on the type of connected device from the information processing device, the type of device having the function achieved by the functional block supplied with power is responded to the information processing device. That is, for example, in the case of a digital camera, when power is supplied to all the functional blocks, a response is made to the information processing apparatus as a camera, and power is supplied only to the functional blocks for inputting and outputting data to and from the recording medium. Responds to the information processing device as a data input / output device to and from the recording medium, so that the information processing device can easily and reliably perform processing for executable functions of the digital camera connected via the connection interface. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where an imaging unit is set at a rotation reference position.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the digital camera according to the present invention, and is a front view of a state where an imaging unit is rotated by 90 ° from a rotation reference position.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the digital camera according to the present invention, and is a top view in a state where an imaging unit is set at a rotation reference position.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the digital camera according to the present invention, and is a rear view in a state where an imaging unit is set at a rotation reference position.

FIG. 5 shows a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a bottom view in a case where an imaging unit is set to a rotation reference position.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of an imaging unit of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part showing a structure of a USB cable.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating main processing related to power supply control to each functional block using a USB power supply of a control unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a memory map in an IC card.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a personal computer connected to the digital camera according to the present invention via a USB cable.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing power supply control when a personal computer is connected to the digital camera according to the present invention via a USB cable.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera (portable device) 2 Camera main body 3 Image pick-up part 9 Shutter button 10 LCD display part 13 USB connection terminal 15 Lid 15a Battery loading room 16 Input terminal 17 Mounting part 18 IC card (recording medium) 19 Power switch 21 Personal computer (Information processing device) 22 USB connector 212 Main power supply 213 Communication I / F (connection interface, USB
Interface) 214 power control circuit (power supply control means) 215 control unit (power amount confirmation means, power supply control means,
Response means) 215a PC mode determination section 215b Connection power supply determination section 215c Cable connection determination section 215d Power distribution block determination section (determination section) 215e Memory (storage section) 215f Message section 215g Power supply control section (power supply control section) E Battery

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 22, 2000 (2009.2)
2)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Portable equipment

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable device such as a digital camera provided with a connection interface for externally connecting an information processing device such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers).
It is called a personal computer. ) Requires a high-speed interface that handles a large amount of data such as images in accordance with the increase in processing speed, and the IEEE (The Institute of Electrica)
l and Electronic Engineers) 1349 and USB (Univ
New serial communication standards such as ersal Serial Bus) have been proposed.

[0003] The IEEE 1349 interface is a general-purpose interface that can cover a wide range usable not only for a personal computer but also for a product handling digital video images or for a LAN (Local Area Network), and has been put to practical use in home electric appliances such as a digital video camera. Is something that is going on. The USB interface has been proposed in order to simplify the connection between a personal computer and a peripheral device by unifying the interfaces of peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a printer, which were conventionally separate.

The USB interface has a communication speed that is at least one digit faster than RS-232C, which is the current serial communication interface standard, and is resistant to noise.
High-speed peripheral devices such as digital cameras, printers, and image scanners can also be connected. Therefore, recently, the USB interface has been standardized as a connection interface between a personal computer and peripheral devices.

The interfaces of these new standards have two power supply lines in addition to a data communication line, and are mainly connected to one device (main device) and the other device (peripheral device). Since power can be supplied from a device, a peripheral device that does not have a power source of its own and receives drive power from a main device via a connection interface has been conventionally proposed. For example, JP-A-10-
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 243327 proposes a digital imaging device having an IEEE 1349 interface, which can receive driving power from an externally connected printer via this interface.

[0006]

By the way, portable devices such as digital cameras having a connection interface capable of supplying power from a personal computer such as a USB interface are known.
Although a battery is provided as the main power supply, the connection interface should be considered in consideration of reducing battery consumption, avoiding the trouble of separately connecting an AC adapter, and making effective use of the power supply function of the connection interface. When connected to a personal computer via a personal computer and operated as a peripheral device, it is desirable that power can be supplied from the personal computer based on communication control with the personal computer.

However, when power is supplied from a personal computer, if the entire drive power depends on the personal computer as in the above-described conventional digital imaging apparatus, the power that can be supplied through a USB interface or the like is limited. Applicable devices are limited to devices with low power consumption, and it is difficult to effectively use the power supply function of the connection interface. Also, when multiple peripheral devices are connected to a personal computer via a connection interface that can supply power, the power that can be supplied from the personal computer is distributed to each peripheral device, so depending on the system configuration, each peripheral device can be connected from the personal computer. In some cases, it cannot be driven by the power supplied through the interface.

On the other hand, a portable device is provided with a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, such as a digital camera having functions such as a photographing function, an image display function, and an image recording / reading function. There are devices that can perform functional operations independently. For example, a digital camera can function as an imaging device for a personal computer, or as a data input / output device for a recording medium attached to the camera, so that all functions can be operated with power supplied from the personal computer. Even if it is not possible, if the power supplied from the personal computer can be supplied to some functional blocks and operated as a device that performs some functions, the power supply function of the connection interface can be more effectively utilized, It is convenient because battery consumption can be suppressed as much as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and background, and provides a portable device having a connection interface capable of supplying power from a personal computer, such as a USB interface, and capable of effectively utilizing the power supply function. Things.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A portable device including a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, a connection interface to which an information processing device is externally connected via a connection cable including a data communication line and a power supply line; A power amount confirming means for confirming the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device via the connection cable by communication of the information processing device; and Power supply control means for controlling supply of supplied power to the plurality of functional blocks.

According to the above configuration, when the information processing device is connected to the portable device via the connection cable, the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device to the portable device between the portable device and the information processing device. Is confirmed, power supplied from the information processing device is supplied to a predetermined functional block of the portable device based on the result of the confirmation, and a functional operation corresponding to the functional block becomes possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the portable device, the power supply control means includes a storage means for storing the power consumption of each of the functional blocks, a power consumption stored in the storage means, and the power consumption. Determining a functional block that can be driven by comparing the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device via the connection cable and confirmed by the amount checking unit, based on a determination result of the determining unit It controls the supply of electric power supplied from the information processing device via the connection cable to the plurality of functional blocks.

According to the above configuration, the power supplied from the information processing apparatus is supplied to the predetermined functional block which is determined to be drivable by comparing the amount of power that can be supplied with the power consumption of each functional block. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable device according to the first aspect, a battery is further provided as a main power supply, and the power supply control means controls a power supply that can be supplied from the information processing apparatus via the connection cable. When the function block cannot be driven by the amount, the battery supplies necessary power to the plurality of function blocks.

According to the above configuration, when the amount of power that can be supplied cannot drive any of the functional blocks, the driving power is supplied from the battery to all of the functional blocks.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable device according to any one of the first to third aspects, power is further supplied in response to a command for transmitting information on the type of the connected device from the information processing device. And a response unit that responds to the information processing apparatus with a type of device having a function achieved by the performed functional block.

According to the above configuration, when a command for transmitting information on the type of the connected device is issued from the information processing apparatus, the type of the device having the function achieved by the functional block supplied with power is responded to the instruction. Returned to device. This enables the information processing apparatus to perform appropriate communication processing corresponding to the functional operation of the mobile device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable device according to the fourth aspect, wherein at least a photograph, a photographed image and an image recorded on a recording medium are displayed on a display unit, and data from an externally connected device to the recording medium is stored. This is a digital camera capable of performing various functions of input / output and communication with the information processing apparatus.

In the portable device according to the fifth aspect,
The responding means responds to the information processing apparatus that the connected device is a camera when all the functional operations are possible, and when only the functional operation of data input / output to the recording medium is possible, It is preferable to respond to the information processing device that the device is a data input / output device for a recording medium (claim 6).

According to the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, when the information processing device is connected to the digital camera via the connection cable, the amount of power that can be supplied to the digital camera with the information processing device is confirmed. The power is supplied from the information processing apparatus based on the confirmation result, and is supplied to predetermined functional blocks of the digital camera. This allows the digital camera to perform functional operations corresponding to the functional blocks, such as photographing, display of a photographed image and an image recorded on a recording medium on a display unit, data input / output from an externally connected device to the recording medium, or all of them. Functional operation becomes possible.

When an information transmission command is transmitted from the information processing apparatus to the type of the connected device, the type of the device having the function achieved by the functional block supplied from the digital camera is changed in response to the command. Will be returned to For example, when all functional operations are possible, information that the connected device is a camera is returned to the information processing device,
When only the function operation of data input / output to / from the recording medium is possible, information that the connected device is a data input / output device to / from the recording medium is returned to the information processing device. As a result, when the information processing apparatus recognizes the connected device as a camera, a predetermined communication process for operating the connected device (digital camera) as a camera (for example, a process of remotely capturing and capturing the captured image) is performed. When the device is recognized as a data input / output device for the recording medium, a predetermined communication process (for example, a process for importing image data recorded on the recording medium) for operating the connected device as a data input / output device for the recording medium is performed. Done.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable device according to the present invention will be described.
The digital camera according to the embodiment will be described as an example with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front views of a digital camera according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the imaging unit 3 is set at a rotation reference position (a state in which the optical axis of the imaging unit 3 is parallel to the side surface of the camera body 2).
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which is rotated by 90 ° from a rotation reference position (a state in which the optical axis of the imaging unit 3 is orthogonal to the side surface of the camera body 2).

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are a top view, a rear view, and a bottom view, respectively, of the digital camera (all with the imaging unit 3 set at a rotation reference position). FIG. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of the imaging part of a camera.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the digital camera 1 basically includes a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably mounted on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image pickup section 3 has a photographing lens formed of a macro zoom lens and an image pickup device formed of a CCD (an example of a photoelectric conversion element), and converts an optical image of a subject into an image (electric image) formed of electric signals. The image is converted into an image composed of charge signals photoelectrically converted by each pixel of the CCD. As shown in FIG. 6, inside the imaging unit 3,
A macro zoom lens 301 is provided, and a CCD 303 and an imaging circuit 302 are provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. In addition, a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position on the front end surface of the imaging unit 3, and a dimming circuit 304 is provided at a position behind the sensor.

On the other hand, the camera body 2 is an LCD (Liquid C
display unit 10 composed of rystal display) and IC card 18
US that connects to the mounting part 17 and a personal computer (not shown)
A USB connection terminal 13 to which a B (general-purpose serial bus) cable is attached;
Processing such as display to 0, recording to the IC card 18, and transfer to a personal computer is performed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip 4 is provided at an appropriate position on the left end.
A built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate position on the right end. Further, a USB connection terminal 13 is provided on the upper right side of the camera body 2, and a mounting section 17 for an IC card 18 is provided below the USB connection terminal 13. When the imaging unit 3 is set at the rotation reference position, the USB connection terminal 13 and the mounting unit 17 of the IC card 18 are hidden behind the imaging unit 3 and are protected, but the imaging unit 3 is rotated 90 ° from the rotation reference position. (When the camera is ready to take a picture), it appears outside so that the USB cable can be connected and the IC card 18 can be attached and detached. Therefore, shooting can be performed even when a personal computer is connected via a USB cable, and the captured image can be directly transferred to the personal computer via a USB cable.

An input terminal 16 for connecting an AC adapter power supply (not shown) is provided on the upper portion of the side of the camera body 2 opposite to the imaging section 3. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance for reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. A switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an UP switch) for advancing the recorded image in a direction in which the frame number increases (in the order of photographing), and a switch 7 switches the frame in the direction in which the frame number decreases. This is a switch for feeding (hereinafter, referred to as a DOWN switch). An erasing switch 8 for erasing an image recorded on the IC card 18 is provided on the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the upper right of the UP switch 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the rear surface of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a monitor of a captured image (corresponding to a viewfinder) and reproducing and displaying a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. 10 are provided. Also, L
An FL mode setting switch 11 for flash emission, a power switch 19 for turning on the power, and a call switch 20 for calling an operation menu displayed on the LCD display unit 10 are provided above the CD display unit 10. The IC card 18 is located below the LCD display unit 10.
Is provided with a compression ratio setting switch 12 for switching and setting the compression ratio K of the image data to be recorded in the. The FL mode setting switch 11, the power switch 19, and the call switch 20 are all push switches, and the compression ratio setting switch 12 is a two-contact slide switch. Instead of providing the power switch 19, the power may be automatically turned on by rotating the imaging unit 3 from the rotation reference position in the front direction.

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic emission mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically emitted according to the subject brightness as a mode relating to flash emission, and a "forced" mode in which the built-in flash 5 is forcibly emitted regardless of the subject brightness. A flash mode and a flash inhibition mode for inhibiting the flash of the built-in flash 5 are provided. Each time the FL mode setting switch 11 is pressed, each of the automatic flash mode, the forced flash mode, and the flash disabled mode is cyclically switched. Switches to
One of the modes is selected and set.
In the digital camera 1, two kinds of compression ratios K of 1/8 and 1/20 can be selectively set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1/8 is set. When sliding to the left, a compression ratio K = 1/20 is set.

Further, a mode setting switch 14 for switching and setting a "photographing mode", a "reproduction mode", and a "PC mode" is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2. The shooting mode is a mode for taking photos,
In the playback mode, the captured image recorded on the IC card 18 is set to L
The PC mode is a mode in which data is reproduced and displayed on the CD display unit 10. The PC mode is a mode in which data communication is performed with an externally connected personal computer. The mode setting switch 14 is composed of a three-contact slide switch.
When a shooting mode is set, sliding to the center sets a playback mode, and sliding to the left sets a PC mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, a battery loading chamber 15a for the power supply battery E is provided on the bottom of the camera body 2, and the loading port of the battery loading chamber 15a has a clamshell type as shown in FIG. The lid 15 is closed.
In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, a built-in battery E in which four AA batteries are connected in series is used as a power supply for driving the camera.

As described above, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment basically uses the built-in battery E or the AC adapter power supply connected to the input terminal 16 to supply all functions of the camera (the LCD for shooting, captured images, or recorded images). Display unit 10
, Display image data on the IC card 18, transfer of image data to a personal computer, etc.). In this case, the built-in battery E
When the AC adapter power supply and the AC adapter power supply can be simultaneously supplied, the AC adapter power supply is prioritized, and the power consumption of the built-in battery E is suppressed.

Further, the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment
When a personal computer (not shown) is connected to the USB connection terminal 13 via a USB cable, all functions or a part of the functions of the digital camera 1 are performed by using power supplied from the personal computer via the USB cable. Can be operated.

The USB standard is a standard of the serial communication system as described above. As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to two data communication lines, two power supply lines (+5, GND)
have. Therefore, when a personal computer is connected to the digital camera 1 via the USB cable, the digital camera 1 can receive power from the personal computer via the USB cable.

However, the current that can be supplied from the personal computer to the digital camera 1 via the USB cable is 100 mA.
(0.5 W) or less, the function of driving the digital camera 1 is limited to the range of the supplied power. Therefore, when the AC adapter power supply is connected to the input terminal 16, the AC adapter power supply can always operate all functions of the digital camera 1 stably. The digital camera 1 is driven by the adapter power supply.

The drive control of the digital camera 1 using the power supplied by the USB cable will be described later.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera. In the figure, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 8, members numbered 200s are provided in the camera body 2, and members numbered 300s are provided in the imaging unit 3.

The macro zoom lens 301 in the image pickup section 3 is provided with an aperture member (fixed aperture) having a fixed aperture. A CCD 303 is an image pickup device including a CCD color area sensor, and converts an optical image of a subject formed by the macro zoom lens 301 into image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (each pixel). The signal is converted into a signal consisting of a signal sequence of the received pixel signals and output. Imaging unit 3
In the exposure control in, the aperture is fixed, so
This is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed.

The light control circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the control unit 215. In flash photography, the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 simultaneously with the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 304 is provided in the camera body 2. The flash control circuit 201 outputs a light emission stop signal to the FL control circuit 201.

The signal processing circuit 306 and the timing generator 307 are components of the imaging circuit 302. The signal processing circuit 306 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 306 has a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces noise of the image signal, and the AGC circuit adjusts the level of the image signal. The gain of the AGC circuit is automatically set by the control unit 215.

The timing generator 307 is a CCD3
This is to generate various timing pulses for controlling the driving of No. 03. The timing generator 307 generates C based on a reference clock transmitted from the camera body 2.
A drive control signal for the CD 303 is generated. That is, a timing control circuit 202 for generating a reference clock is provided in the camera body 2, and the timing generator 30
7, using the reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202, for example, starts / ends integration (exposure start / end).
(End) and clock signals such as a readout control signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) for the light receiving signal of each pixel, and output them to the CCD 303.

The FL control circuit 201 in the camera body 2 is a circuit for controlling light emission of the built-in flash 5. The FL control circuit 201 controls the presence / absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5 based on a control signal from the control unit 215, a light emission amount, a light emission timing, and the like, and emits light of the built-in flash 5 based on a light emission stop signal input from the light control circuit 304. Is stopped to control the light emission amount.

The timing control circuit 202 includes a CCD 303
A reference clock and a clock for A / D conversion for performing the imaging operation and signal processing of the A / D conversion circuit 203 are generated.

The A / D conversion circuit 203 includes the signal processing circuit 30
6 converts each pixel signal of the image signal output to the digital signal of 10 bits. A / D conversion circuit 2
03 is the A / D transmitted from the timing control circuit 202
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on a conversion clock.

The black level correction circuit 204 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. The WB circuit 205 performs level conversion of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is also adjusted after the γ correction.

The gamma correction circuit 206 corrects gamma characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 206 has a plurality of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene and shooting conditions. Note that the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components has been subjected to a predetermined level conversion by the WB circuit 205, and these pixel data are respectively converted into γ in the γ correction table.
By performing the correction, the γ correction and the WB adjustment are performed simultaneously.

The image memory 207 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 206. The image memory 207 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, when the CCD 303 has n rows and m columns of pixels, the image memory 207 has a storage capacity of pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position. Has become.

The image memory 208 is a buffer memory for pixel data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. The image memory 208 has a storage capacity of pixel data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In the photographing standby state, each pixel data of the image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the / D conversion circuit 203 to the γ correction circuit 206, the signal is stored in the image memory 207, transferred to the image memory 208 via the control unit 215, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. You. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the reproduction mode, the image read from the IC card 18 is transmitted to the control unit 21.
After predetermined signal processing is performed in step 5, the signal is transferred to the image memory 208 and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The operation unit 209 transmits the U
P switch 6, DOWN switch 7, erase switch 8,
Operation information of the shutter button 9, the FL mode setting switch 11, the compression ratio setting switch 12, the mode setting switch 14, the power switch 19, the call switch 20, and the like is input. The card I / F 210 is an interface for writing image data to the IC card 18 and reading image data. The RTC 211 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time. The RTC 211 is driven by another power source (not shown).

The main power supply 212 supplies drive power to each processing circuit, and corresponds to a built-in battery E and an AC adapter power supply. The communication I / F 213 is an interface conforming to the USB standard for externally connecting the personal computer 21 so that communication is possible. Correspondingly, a USB connector 22 is provided on the front of the main body of the personal computer 21 as shown in FIG.
Is provided. The personal computer 21 is a communication I / F.
213 and an information processing device connected via a USB cable.

A power supply control circuit 214 generates a required drive power supply from a main power supply 212 or a power supply (hereinafter referred to as a USB supply power supply) supplied from the personal computer 21 via a USB cable based on a control signal from the control unit 215. To the above-described processing circuits. The power supply is performed by dividing the plurality of processing circuits described above as constituent circuits of a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, and performing the function block units.

In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment,
A plurality of processing circuits constituting the control system are divided into five functional blocks A to E as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 8, and a required power supply is supplied to each of the functional blocks A to E from the power supply control circuit 214 as necessary. Generated and supplied.

The function block A is a block that performs a photographing function, and includes a CCD 303 to a timing generator 307 in the imaging unit 3 and an FL control circuit 201 to a γ correction circuit 206 in the camera body 2. The function block B is a block that performs a function of displaying a captured image or a recorded image recorded on the IC card 18 on the LCD display unit 10, and includes an image memory 208 and the LCD display unit 10. The function block C performs a data communication function with the personal computer 21, and includes a communication I / F 213. The function block D is a block that performs a function of recording and reading an image to and from the IC card 18, and includes a card I / F 2
10 and an IC card 18 are included. The function block E is a block that performs a function of controlling the overall operation of the digital camera 1 and includes an operation unit 209 and a control unit 215 that are not included in the function blocks A to D.

The control unit 215 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the operation of the digital camera 1 by controlling the driving of each processing circuit in the image pickup unit 3 and the camera main unit 2 organically. That is, the control unit 215
In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9, the thumbnail image of the image taken into the image memory 207 after the photographing instruction and the compression ratio setting switch 1
A compressed image compressed by the JPEG method at the compression rate K set in Step 2 is generated, and tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression rate K, shooting date, use of flash at the time of shooting, Both images are stored in the IC card 18 together with information such as unused data. IC
As shown in FIG. 10, the card 18 is capable of storing captured images for 40 frames at a compression ratio of 1/20. The storage area of each frame stores tag information and a high-resolution image compressed by JPEG. Data (for example, 1280 × 1024 pixels)
And image data for displaying thumbnails (for example, 160 × 12
0 pixel) is recorded.

The control unit 215 includes a power control circuit 214
Also controls the power supply to the functional blocks A to E. In particular, each functional block A ~ using the USB power supply
When power is supplied to E, communication is performed with the personal computer 21 according to a predetermined communication program, and power supply control is performed based on the communication result.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing main processing relating to power supply control to each of the functional blocks A to E using the USB power supply of the control unit 215.

In the figure, a PC mode discriminating section 215a
Is for determining whether or not the “PC mode” is set as the operation mode. The connection power supply determination unit 215b determines the set state of the main power supply 212 (whether the AC adapter power supply or the built-in battery E is set or not). The presence or absence of the AC adapter power is determined by detecting whether or not power is being input to the input terminal 16. Similarly, the built-in battery E is determined by detecting whether power is output to a power terminal provided in the battery loading chamber.

The cable connection determination unit 215c determines whether a USB cable is connected to the USB connection terminal 13 of the digital camera 1. The USB connection terminal 13 is provided with a switch (not shown).
When a connector of a USB cable is inserted and attached to the B connection terminal 13, this switch is turned on so that the connection state of the USB cable can be detected.

The power distribution block determination unit 215d determines a functional block that can be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied by the USB power supply. As described above, since the amount of power supplied to each peripheral device varies depending on the number and type of peripheral devices connected to the personal computer 21 via the USB cable, the USB power supply is connected to the digital camera 1 via the USB cable. PC 21 at the time when 21 was connected
Block which determines which functional block in the digital camera 1 can be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied from the power distribution block 21
5d.

The memory 215e stores the power consumption of each of the functional blocks A to E. The power consumption stored in the memory 215e is used for a process of determining a functional block that can be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied from the personal computer 21 in the power distribution block determination unit 215d.

The message section 215f is used when a response message to the inquiry about the type of the connected device from the personal computer 21 or when the digital camera 1 cannot operate due to a power failure (no power or insufficient power).
Output an error message to

The power control unit 215g controls the power supply when the camera is started when the power is turned on by the power switch 19. The power control unit 215g controls the operation of each unit of the PC mode determination unit 215a to the message unit 215f to perform power supply control when the camera is started. Specifically, as described later, the power supply is the main power supply 212 or the USB power supply.
A function block to be supplied with power (that is, a function to be activated) is controlled depending on the power supply.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
Power supply control at the time of starting the digital camera 1 will be described.

In FIG. 12, when the power of the digital camera 1 is turned on by operating the power switch 19 (step S101), it is first determined whether or not the operation mode is set to the "PC mode" (step S101). S10
2). If the operation mode is set to “shooting mode” or “playback mode” (No in step S102),
The processing shifts to processing such as shooting and recording of a shot image corresponding to the set operation mode (not shown), reproduction of the recorded image, and the like.

On the other hand, if the PC mode is set (Yes in step S102), the presence or absence of the connection of the AC adapter power supply through the power supply control circuit 214, the presence or absence of the built-in battery E,
When the internal battery E is loaded, the remaining capacity and the like are checked (step S103).

When it is determined that the AC adapter power supply is connected to the input terminal 16 (Yes in step S103), the power supply control circuit 214 generates required power supplies for the functional blocks A to E from the AC adapter power supply. Then, the digital camera 1 is supplied to the processing circuit in each functional block to start the digital camera 1 (step S104). on the other hand,
When it is determined that only the internal battery E is loaded (No in step S103), the power supply control circuit 214 generates the required power for the functional blocks C and E from the internal battery E, The data is supplied to the processing circuit, and only the communication function of the digital camera 1 is activated (step S105). Activating only the communication function in this way is when the power is turned on in the PC mode.
Initially, only communication processing with the personal computer 21 is performed,
This is because power supply to a circuit where processing is not performed is prohibited and power consumption of the internal battery E is suppressed.

If neither the AC adapter power supply nor the built-in battery E is set in the camera body 2 when the power is turned on,
Since the control unit 215 is not activated, the processing of this flowchart is not performed.

Subsequently, after the communication I / F 213 is activated, it is determined whether or not the personal computer 21 is externally connected to the USB connection terminal 13 via a USB cable (step S106), and the personal computer 21 is externally connected. If not, the process waits until the personal computer 21 is externally connected (No in step S106). Then, when the personal computer 21 is externally connected (Yes in step S106)
s), the power supply to the blocks C and E in the power supply control circuit 214 is changed from the internal battery E to the USB power supply (the personal computer 2).
1 (power supplied via a USB cable and a communication I / F 213) (step S10).
7).

When the personal computer 21 is connected to the digital camera 1 via a USB cable, power is supplied from the personal computer 21 to the power supply terminal (+5, GND) of the USB connection terminal 13, and the digital camera 1 supplies a current within 100 mA. Since this power supply can be used, the power consumption of the internal battery E is suppressed by switching the power supply from the internal battery E to the USB power supply. Since the current consumption of the blocks C and E is set to 100 mA or less, when the personal computer 21 is connected via a USB cable, the communication function is impaired even if the power is switched from the internal battery E to the USB power supply. Never.

Subsequently, the control unit 215 checks the amount of power W (the amount of power of the USB power supply) that can be supplied to the personal computer 21 (step S108). This confirmation is performed by inquiring of the amount of power W that can be supplied to the personal computer 21 from the control unit 215. In response to this inquiry, the personal computer 21 determines the digital camera 1 based on the connection status of other peripheral devices (external storage device, scanner, printer, etc.) at that time.
The controller 215 calculates the amount of power W that can be supplied to the digital camera 1 and returns the amount of power W that can be supplied from the content of the response.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the amount of power W supplied from the USB power supply can perform the operation of reading out the recorded image on the IC card 18 and turning it into the personal computer 21 (that is, the function blocks C, D, and E). Is determined (step S109). This determination is based on the fact that the power consumption of each block is stored in the memory 215 e in the control unit 215, and the amount of power W that can be supplied from the personal computer 21 and the functional blocks C, D, and E
By comparing the total power consumption W _{C + D + E.}

The amount of power W that can be supplied is equal to the function block C,
If the sum of the power consumption of D and E is equal to or less than WC _{+ D + E} (No in step S109), it is determined whether the built-in battery E is set in the camera body 2 as the main power source 212 (step S110). If the built-in battery E is not set in the camera body 2 (No in step S110),
Since it is not possible to cause the image recorded on the IC card 18 to be transferred to the personal computer 21 (that is, to make the personal computer 21 operate the digital camera 1 as a reader of the IC card 18), the digital camera 1 A message to that effect is transmitted to the personal computer 21 as an error message (S112), and the power-on process ends.

When the personal computer 21 receives this error message, it is displayed on the monitor that the digital camera 1 cannot be started due to insufficient power.

On the other hand, if the built-in battery E is set in the camera body 2 (Yes in step S110), the power supply in the power control circuit 214 is switched from the USB supply power to the built-in battery E, and the built-in battery E The required power for the blocks C, D, and E is generated and supplied to the processing circuits in each functional block (that is, the communication function and the recorded image reading function of the digital camera 1 are made operable) to start the power supply. The process ends (step S1
11), proceed to step S116.

If the amount of power W that can be supplied in step S109 exceeds the total power consumption W _{C + D + E} of the functional blocks C, D, and E (Yes in step S109), the power supply control circuit 214 supplies USB. Functional blocks C, D, E from power supply
Are generated and supplied to the processing circuits in each block.

Subsequently, the amount of power W that can be supplied by the USB power supply is equal to the total power consumption W of all the functional blocks A to E.
Whether _{A + B + C + D + E} is exceeded (that is, the amount of power W that can be supplied has room to drive the functional blocks A and B)
It is determined whether or not the power amount W that can be supplied is the total power consumption W _{A + B + C + D + of the} functional blocks A to E (step S114).
If it exceeds _E (Yes in step S114), the power supply control circuit 214 further generates required power for the functional blocks A and B from the USB power supply, and supplies them to the processing circuits in each functional block (ie, Then, the photographing function and the image display function of the digital camera 1 are also made operable), and the power-on process is terminated (step S115).
Move to step S116. Step S113
Then, power may be supplied to only one of the functional blocks A and B.

On the other hand, if the amount of power W that can be supplied is equal to or less than the total power consumption W _{A + B + C + D + E of the} functional blocks A to _E (No in step S114), the processing in step S115 (blocks A and The power supply activation process ends without performing the power supply process to B, and the process proceeds to step S116.

When the digital camera 1 is started, the personal computer 21
When the connection with the digital camera 1 is confirmed by the PC, a command for confirming the type of the connected device is output from the personal computer 21 to the digital camera 1.

In step S116, it is determined whether or not there is an inquiry about the type of device from the personal computer 21. If there is an inquiry (Yes in step S116), the functional block supplied with power from the power supply control circuit 214 is confirmed. (Steps S117 and S119) If the power is supplied to all of the functional blocks A to E, that is, if the digital camera 1 can operate all the functions as the camera (Yes in Step S117), the personal computer 21 is operated.
Is returned (step S118), and the function block C
To E, that is, the digital camera 1 is in a state where it can only operate the reading function of the image recorded on the IC card 18 (step S119).
Is YES), the information that "the connected device is a card reader" is returned to the personal computer 21 (step S120), and thereafter, an instruction from the personal computer 21 is awaited (step S120).
121). Then, a predetermined communication process is performed based on a command from the personal computer 21.

The personal computer 21 recognizes the type of the device connected via the USB cable based on the response from the digital camera 1, activates predetermined driver software based on the recognized type, and uses the driver software to execute the digital camera 1. Communication processing is performed. That is, the personal computer 2
When the digital camera 1 is recognized as a digital camera capable of photographing at 1, the driver software for driving the digital camera is activated, and the operator can remotely control the digital camera 1 by operating the personal computer 21. become. For example, it is possible to cause the digital camera 1 to perform a photographing operation by instructing photographing, and to directly transfer image data from the digital camera 1 to the personal computer 21 by instructing transfer of image data.

When the digital camera 1 is recognized by the personal computer 21 as a card reader, driver software for the card reader is started, and the operator mounts the digital camera 1 on the digital camera 1 in the same manner as accessing a normal card reader. The image data can be read from the IC card 18 thus read. That is, when an instruction to read data recorded on the IC card is issued, the digital camera 1
The image data recorded on the card 18 is read, and the image data is transferred to a predetermined memory in the personal computer 21. When the digital camera 1 is provided with a function of recording image data transmitted from the personal computer 21 on the IC card 18, the digital camera 1 can operate not only as a cart reader but also as a card writer. Is instructed, and then the PC 21
Image data sent from the
It is recorded on the C card 18.

In the present embodiment, the digital camera 1 is driven by the USB power supply in two types, ie, a “photographable digital camera” and a “card reader”. "Can also be added. This makes it possible for the digital camera 1 to function as a display device for the personal computer 21.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the US
The PC 21 to the B connection terminal 13 via a USB cable
Is connected, the power supplied from the personal computer 21 via the USB cable is used, and all or some of the functional blocks are driven according to the amount of supplied power. The power supply function of the interface can be effectively used, and when the internal battery E is set, the power consumption thereof can be suppressed.

Further, in response to the confirmation of the type of the connected device from the personal computer 21, the information about the operable functions of the camera based on the power supply control is responded. When the operation function is used, processing using the function can be performed easily and reliably.

In this embodiment, a digital camera is exemplified as a portable device. However, the portable device may include a plurality of function blocks performing different functions, and a personal computer may operate the functions performed by these function blocks independently. The present invention is also applicable to portable devices such as portable personal computers.

Further, in this embodiment, the USB interface is exemplified as the connection interface. However, another interface capable of supplying power, for example, an IEEE 13
It can be widely applied to 94 interfaces and the like.

[0090]

As described above, according to the portable device of the present invention, the portable device includes a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions and has a connection interface capable of supplying electric power. A plurality of functional blocks of power supplied from the information processing device via the connection interface based on the result of the confirmation of the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device through communication with the information processing device connected via the connection interface Since the power supply to the connection interface is controlled, the power supply function of the connection interface can be effectively used.

Further, when a battery is provided, when the function block cannot be driven by the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing apparatus, the battery supplies the required power to each function block. By effectively utilizing the power supply function, the consumption of the battery of the main power supply can be suppressed.

Also, in response to a command to transmit information on the type of connected device from the information processing device, the type of device having the function achieved by the functional block supplied with power is responded to the information processing device. That is, for example, in the case of a digital camera, when power is supplied to all the functional blocks, a response is made to the information processing apparatus as a camera, and power is supplied only to the functional blocks for inputting and outputting data to and from the recording medium. Responds to the information processing device as a data input / output device to and from the recording medium, so that the information processing device can easily and reliably perform processing for executable functions of the digital camera connected via the connection interface. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a digital camera which is an embodiment of a portable device of the present invention, in a state where an imaging unit is set at a rotation reference position.

FIG. 2 is a front view in a state where an imaging unit of the digital camera is rotated by 90 ° from a rotation reference position.

FIG. 3 is a top view in a state where an imaging unit of the digital camera is set at a rotation reference position.

FIG. 4 is a rear view in a state where an imaging unit of the digital camera is set at a rotation reference position.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view in a state where an imaging unit of the digital camera is set at a rotation reference position.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of an imaging unit of the digital camera.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part showing a structure of a USB cable.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating main processing related to power supply control to each functional block using a USB power supply of a control unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a memory map in an IC card.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a personal computer connected to the digital camera via a USB cable.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing power supply control when a personal computer is connected to the digital camera via a USB cable.

[Description of Signs] 1 Digital camera (portable device) 2 Camera main body 3 Imaging unit 9 Shutter button 10 LCD display unit 13 USB connection terminal 15 Lid 15a Battery loading chamber 16 Input terminal 17 Mounting unit 18 IC card (recording medium) 19 Power switch 21 Personal computer (information processing device) 22 USB connector 212 Main power supply 213 Communication I / F (connection interface, USB
Interface) 214 power control circuit (power supply control means) 215 control unit (power amount confirmation means, power supply control means,
Response means) 215a PC mode determination section 215b Connection power supply determination section 215c Cable connection determination section 215d Power distribution block determination section (determination section) 215e Memory (storage section) 215f Message section 215g Power supply control section (power supply control section) E Battery

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A portable device comprising a plurality of functional blocks performing different functions, comprising: a connection interface to which an information processing device is externally connected via a connection cable having a data communication line and a power supply line; A power amount confirming means for confirming the amount of power that can be supplied from the information processing device via the connection cable by communicating with the information processing device; and A portable device comprising: a power supply control unit that controls supply of power supplied via a connection cable to the plurality of functional blocks. 2. The power supply control unit includes: a storage unit in which power consumption of each of the functional blocks is stored; and the information processing apparatus in which the power consumption stored in the storage unit and the power amount confirmation unit are confirmed. Discriminating means for discriminating a drivable functional block by comparing the amount of power that can be supplied through the connection cable from the information processing apparatus via the connection cable based on a discrimination result of the discriminating means. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the portable device controls supply of supplied power to the plurality of functional blocks. 3. The portable device according to claim 1, further comprising a battery as a main power supply, wherein said power supply control means executes said function block with an amount of power that can be supplied from said information processing device via said connection cable. A portable device, wherein when the battery cannot be driven, required electric power is supplied from the battery to the plurality of functional blocks. 4. The portable device according to claim 1, further comprising a power-supplied functional block in response to a command to transmit information on a type of a connected device from the information processing device. A portable device comprising a response unit that responds to the information processing device with a type of device having a function to be performed. 5. Each function operation of at least photographing, display of a photographed image and an image recorded on a recording medium on a display unit, data input / output from an externally connected device to the recording medium, and communication with the information processing apparatus are performed. The portable device according to claim 4, wherein the portable device is a digital camera capable of being used. 6. The responding means, when all functional operations are possible, responds to the information processing device that the connected device is a camera, and allows only functional operations for inputting and outputting data to and from a recording medium. 6. The portable device according to claim 5, wherein the portable device responds to the information processing device that the connected device is a data input / output device for a recording medium. 7. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the connection interface is a USB interface.