JP2001215576A - Light emission device, camera system and light emission communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the trouble where a main capacitor is not charged or charging the main capacitor is delayed, due to insufficiency of the capacitance of an external power source device in the case of charging the main capacitor only by using the external power source device, in a state where the external power source device is connected to a light emission device. SOLUTION: In this light emission device equipped with the main capacitor 7 storing electric energy for making a light emitting means 9 emit light, the main capacitor is charged by an internal battery 1 provided in the device and an external battery 101 connected from the outside. The device is equipped with a control means (12 and the like) for discriminating the capacitance of the internal battery and the external battery when the external battery is connected and deciding the propriety of charging the main capacitor by the internal battery and the external battery respectively according to the discriminated result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a light emitting device that emits strobe light or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some of the above light emitting devices can charge a main capacitor for storing electric energy for causing a discharge tube or the like to emit light by using an internal battery, and can charge a main capacitor using an external power supply device. is there. As such a light emitting device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-2188 discloses a method of determining that an external power supply device is connected, and charging the main capacitor by an internal battery (specifically, increasing the voltage of the internal battery. Which stops the operation of the internal booster circuit that performs the operation.

In this device, the supply of voltage from the outside via a transistor from an intermediate potential battery contact for detecting the connection of an external power supply is determined, and it is detected that the external power supply is connected. At times, the operation of the internal booster circuit is prohibited, and the main capacitor is charged only with the external power supply device, thereby preventing the internal battery from being consumed.

[0004]

However, in the light emitting device proposed in the above publication, it is only determined whether or not an external power supply device is connected. Therefore, the operation of the internal booster circuit of the light emitting device cannot be switched from the prohibited state to the operating state. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the main capacitor is not charged due to the consumption of the external battery or the charging is delayed even though the external power supply device is connected.

In the light-emitting device proposed in the above publication, the main capacitor is charged only by the external power supply when the external power supply is connected from the viewpoint of preventing the consumption of the internal battery. When using such a method that requires a large accumulation of electric energy, such as light emission, there is a disadvantage that the charging using only the external power supply device cannot be used without waiting for a long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting device to which an external power supply (or an external battery) can be connected, while suppressing unnecessary consumption of the internal battery and enabling the main capacitor to be charged in a short time. I have.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present application has a main capacitor for storing electric energy for causing the light emitting means to emit light, and an internal battery provided in the apparatus. In a light emitting device in which a main capacitor can be charged by an externally connected external battery, when an external battery is connected, the capacities of the internal battery and the external battery are determined, and according to the determination result, the internal battery and the external battery are determined. Control means is provided for determining whether or not charging of the main capacitor by each of the batteries is permitted.

Specifically, when the control means determines that the capacity of the internal battery is within the consumption range and the capacity of the external battery is within the non-consumption range, the charging of the main capacitor by the internal battery is not permitted and the external battery is not permitted. To permit charging of the main capacitor.

When it is determined that the capacity of the internal battery is in the non-consumable range and the capacity of the external battery is in the consumable range, charging of the main capacitor by the internal battery and non-permission of charging of the main capacitor by the external battery are determined. Let me decide.

Further, in the second invention of the present application, a main capacitor for storing electric energy for causing the light emitting means to emit light is provided, and charging of the main capacitor by an internal battery provided in the apparatus and an external battery connected from the outside is provided. In a possible light-emitting device, when an external battery is connected, the capacity of the external battery is determined, and control is performed to determine which of the internal battery and the external battery should be used to charge the main capacitor according to the determination result. Means are provided.

When the capacity of the external battery is within the non-consumable range, the control means makes a decision to charge the main capacitor with the external battery. To charge the battery.

According to the first and second inventions, even though an external battery (or an external power supply) is connected, the main capacitor may not be charged or may be delayed due to insufficient capacity. Also, when the capacity of the external battery is not exhausted, the internal battery is not used for charging and the internal battery is not wasted.

However, in the first invention, when the control means determines that the capacity of the internal battery is in the non-consumable range and the capacity of the external battery is also in the non-consumable range, the control means performs high-speed charging or power saving charging. The charge of the main capacitor is determined to be permitted by both the internal battery and the external battery, or the charge of the main capacitor is not permitted to be charged by the internal battery and the charge of the main capacitor is determined to be permitted by the external battery according to the mode setting regarding the charging condition. You may do so.

Thus, even when the capacity of the external battery is in the non-consumable range, high-speed charging can be performed by using the internal battery for charging according to the mode setting by the user or the like, while the internal battery is not charged. It is also possible to perform power saving charging that is not used for charging.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of a light emitting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the light emitting device of the present embodiment is connected to a camera and performs strobe lighting of a subject.

Reference numeral 100 denotes an external power supply, the specific configuration of which will be described later.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an internal battery. Reference numeral 2 denotes a battery check circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as BC circuit) which detects an output voltage when a load is applied to the internal battery 1, monitors the voltage of the internal battery 1, and responds to a signal from the microcomputer 12 described later. Sends the monitoring information to the microcomputer 12.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a constant voltage circuit which outputs a constant voltage (Vcc) even when the voltage of the internal battery 1 changes. This Vcc voltage is applied to each circuit block (the microcomputer 12
Etc.).

Reference numeral 4 denotes an internal boosting circuit for boosting the voltage of the internal battery 1, which is a circuit for charging a main capacitor 7 described later.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a high-voltage rectifying diode whose anode is connected to the internal booster circuit 4 and whose cathode is a voltage detection circuit 6.
It is connected to the.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a voltage detection circuit, and a main capacitor 7
And sends a signal corresponding to the charging voltage (divided voltage proportional to the actual voltage). A signal corresponding to the charging voltage is input to an A / D converter provided in the microcomputer 12.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a main capacitor for storing electric energy required for light emission.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a trigger circuit for triggering a light emitting discharge tube 9 to emit light by emitting a pulse in response to receiving a light emission start trigger (TRIG 1) from the microcomputer 12. The secondary winding of a trigger transformer (not shown) constituting the trigger circuit 8 is connected to a trigger section of a flash discharge tube 9 described later.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a light-emitting discharge tube. The anode is connected to the anode of the main capacitor 7, one end of the trigger circuit 8, one end of the voltage detection circuit 6, and the cathode of a diode 11 described later. 10 is connected to one end.

The output of the internal battery 1 is boosted by the internal boosting circuit 4 and charged in the trigger capacitor in the trigger circuit 8. Thereafter, the trigger circuit 8 receiving TRIG1 turns on the thyristor in the trigger circuit 8, discharges the trigger capacitor, and generates a pulse in the primary winding of the trigger transformer in the trigger circuit 8. As a result, a high-voltage pulse is generated in the secondary winding of the trigger transformer, and a light emission trigger is applied to the light emitting discharge tube 9, which discharges the electric energy stored in the main capacitor 7 to emit light.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a light control circuit (light emission stop circuit).
Here, from the camera, target flash amount information necessary for proper camera exposure is obtained from the microcomputer 12 based on the subject photometric data.
Is input to A light receiving circuit (not shown) in the camera detects light emitted from the light-emitting discharge tube 9 and reflected by the photographing subject, and sends integration information (actual light emission amount information) to the microcomputer 12. The microcomputer 12 outputs a light emission stop trigger (TRIG2) when the actual light emission amount information matches the target light emission amount information, and the dimming circuit 10 stops the light emission of the light emitting discharge tube 9 according to the TRIG2.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a diode for preventing a backflow of current in the main capacitor 7, the cathode of which is connected to the anode of the main capacitor 7, and the anode of which is connected to an external power supply terminal a.
It is connected to the.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a microcomputer, for example, CPU, R
One chip I including OM, RAM, input / output control (I / OCONTROL) circuit, multiplexer, timer circuit, etc.
It is composed of a C circuit (one-chip microcomputer). The microcomputer 12 receives a signal from the camera side, controls the operation of the entire light emitting device, determines whether or not the external power supply 100 is connected to a connector 18 described later, and determines whether the external power supply 100 (external Battery 10
1) or the capacity of the internal battery 1 is determined.

A switch detection circuit 13 detects the state of a switch for switching between a quick charging mode and a power saving charging mode and various setting / discrimination switches (SW) for photographing preparation, and sends the detection result to the microcomputer 12.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a display circuit, which comprises an LCD or LED for displaying information related to strobe control, and a drive circuit for these.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a communication interface unit with the camera, which is, for example, an accessory shoe, which serves as a communication interface for turning on and off the strobe according to a command from the camera.

Reference numeral 16 denotes whether the external power supply 100 is connected or not (in some cases, the connected external power supply 100
The external power supply detection circuit is provided to detect the output voltage from the external power supply 100 and sends it to the microcomputer 12 to determine whether or not the external power supply 100 is connected to the microcomputer 12. Let it be determined.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an EEPROM (an electrically erasable program writable ROM), which is connected to the microcomputer 12. Various setting information required for flash emission is written in the EEPROM 17. For example, a set voltage necessary for determining the state of the battery capacity and a determination voltage of a charging voltage per unit time when the main capacitor 7 is charged within a predetermined time by the booster circuit are written.

The microcomputer 12, the external power supply detection circuit 16, and the B.B. C circuit 2 and EEPROM 17
Thus, the control means referred to in the claims is constituted.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a connector,
0 terminals a ′, b ′, c ′ of the connector 105
It has terminals a, b, and c that can be connected to

Next, a specific configuration of the external power supply device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 101 is an external battery.

A battery check (BC) circuit 102 detects a voltage drop when a constant load is applied to the external battery 101.

Reference numeral 103 denotes an external booster circuit for boosting the voltage of the external battery 101. An output circuit for outputting a voltage for charging the main capacitor 7 when the external power supply device 100 is connected to the light emitting device. It is.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a control circuit which receives a signal of a command for permitting / prohibiting the operation of the external booster circuit 103 (output of the external power supply device 100) from the microcomputer 12 and executes the signal. This control circuit 104 has a The state of the C circuit 102 is detected, and the detection result is transmitted to the microcomputer 12.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a connector that can be connected to the connector 18 on the light emitting device side, as described above.

Next, the operation of the light emitting device will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Although the light emitting device actually operates in link with the operation on the camera side, the operation of the light emitting device, which particularly relates to the present invention, will be mainly described here. As described above, communication with the camera is performed via the communication interface unit 15.

First, when the internal battery 1 is set and a main switch (not shown) is turned on, the constant voltage circuit 3 starts. As a result, a constant voltage Vcc is generated in the constant voltage circuit 3, and these are supplied to the microcomputer 12 and each circuit block.

When the constant voltage Vcc is supplied to the microcomputer 12, the microcomputer 12 is reset. Specifically, it clears a program flag or resets the contents of the memory. And the microcomputer 12
Detects the state of the switch for switching between the quick charge mode and the power saving mode and the state of various setting / discrimination switches (SW) for shooting preparation through the switch detection circuit 13,
Interrupting when necessary.

Hereinafter, the program operation of the microcomputer 12 will be described. First, FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart when the flash mode is selected.

<Step (abbreviated as S in the figure) 1> When flash use is requested by communication with the camera, the flash mode flag FAL = 1 is set ("0" when no request is made).

<Step 2> It is determined whether or not the external power supply device 100 is connected through the external power supply detection circuit 16, and when the external power supply device 100 is connected, the processing of the operations of the internal booster circuit 4 and the external booster circuit 103 is performed. This is a subroutine for performing the operation (external power supply detection subroutine), the details of which will be described later.

<Step 3> The voltage charged in the main capacitor 7 from the internal boosting circuit 4 and the external boosting circuit 103 is detected through the voltage detecting circuit 6 and the A /
If the voltage equivalent value input to the D converter is equal to or higher than the preset light emission enable level voltage, it is determined that the charging is completed and step 5
If the voltage is lower than the voltage capable of emitting light, the process proceeds to step 4.

<Step 4> In step 2 described above, when the boosting operation of the internal boosting circuit 4 is permitted, the microcomputer 12 sends an oscillation signal (OSC signal) to the internal boosting circuit 4 to perform the boosting operation. The main capacitor 7 is charged via the diode 5.

If the boosting operation of the external boosting circuit 103 is permitted in step 2, the microcomputer 12 sends an oscillation signal to the external boosting circuit 103 via the terminal a of the connector 18 and the control circuit 104, and
The main capacitor 7 is charged through

<Step 5> If the boosting operation of the internal boosting circuit 4 is permitted in step 2 described above, the microcomputer 12 sends an oscillation stop signal (OSC) to the internal boosting circuit 4.
Signal) to stop the boosting operation.

If the boosting operation of the external boosting circuit 103 is permitted in step 2, the microcomputer 12 sends an oscillation stop signal to the external boosting circuit 103 via the terminal a of the connector 18 and the control circuit 104, and the boosting operation is performed. Stop the operation.

<Step 6> The display circuit 14 displays an indication that charging is completed. Next, the external power supply detection subroutine executed in step 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

<Step 201> The microcomputer 12 controls the external power supply device 100
If the signal corresponding to the output voltage from is higher than the set value, it is determined that the external power supply 100 is
02, if it is less than the set value, it is determined that there is no connection and the process proceeds to step 210.

<Step 202> The microcomputer 12 determines the capacity of the connected external power supply device 100. As a determination method, a voltage drop when a constant load is applied to the external battery 101 is detected. The state of the C circuit 102 is controlled by the control circuit 104, the terminal b 'of the connector 105, and the connector 1
If the voltage drop is small and the voltage of the external battery 101 is equal to or higher than the set voltage, it is determined that the battery is in a non-consumed state, and the process proceeds to step 207. If it is less than the above, it is determined that it is in a consumed state and the process proceeds to step 203. This determination may be made using an AD converter in the microcomputer 12.

As another discrimination method, the output voltage of the external power supply device 100 is monitored via the external power supply detection circuit 16, and the output voltage per unit time when the external booster circuit 103 charges the main capacitor 7 within a predetermined time. Detecting the charging voltage of
If the charging voltage per unit time is equal to or higher than the set voltage, the process proceeds to S207 assuming that the external battery 101 is in a non-consumed state,
If the voltage is less than the set voltage, it is determined that the battery is in a consumed state, and Step 20 is performed.
It may be possible to proceed to 3.

<Step 203> Upon determining that the external power supply device 100 (external battery 101) is in a depleted state, the microcomputer 12 prohibits the boosting operation of the external boosting circuit 103. At this time, a display warning that the external battery 101 is depleted may be displayed on the display circuit 14.

<Step 204> The microcomputer 12 determines the capacity of the internal battery 1. As a determination method, a voltage drop when a constant load is applied to the internal battery 1 is detected.
The state of the C circuit 2 is fetched, and if the voltage drop is small and the voltage of the internal battery 1 is equal to or higher than the set voltage, it is determined that the internal battery 1 is in a non-consumed state. If so, it is determined that it is in a worn state and the process proceeds to step 205. This determination may be made using an AD converter in the microcomputer 12.

As another determination method, the output voltage of the internal battery 1 is monitored through the voltage detection circuit 6, and the charging voltage per unit time when the internal boosting circuit 4 charges the main capacitor 7 within a predetermined time is determined. If the charge is detected and the charge voltage per unit time is equal to or higher than the set voltage, the internal battery 1 may be determined to be in the non-depleted state and proceed to S206.

<Step 205> Upon determining that the internal battery 1 is in a depleted state, the microcomputer 12 prohibits the boosting operation of the internal boosting circuit 4. At this time, a display warning that the internal battery 1 is in a depleted state may be displayed on the display circuit 14. Then, the process exits from this subroutine and proceeds to step 3 in FIG.

<Step 206> The microcomputer 12 receives the determination that the internal battery 1 is in a non-depleted state, and permits the boosting operation of the internal boosting circuit 4. Then, the process exits from this subroutine and proceeds to step 3 in FIG.

<Step 207> Upon determining that the external battery 101 is not depleted, the microcomputer 12 permits the boosting operation of the external boosting circuit 103.

<Step 208> As in step 204, the capacity of the internal battery 1 is determined. When the internal battery 1 is not exhausted, the process proceeds to step 209. When the internal battery 1 is exhausted, the process proceeds to step 205.

<Step 209> Upon determining that both the internal battery 1 and the external battery 101 are in a non-consumed state, the microcomputer 12 passes through the switch detection circuit 13 to a rapid charging mode for giving priority to a charging time as a charging condition. It is determined which of the power saving mode and the power saving mode for preventing the consumption of the internal battery is set.

When the quick charge mode is set,
The process proceeds to S206 to permit the boosting operation of the internal boosting circuit 4 in addition to the permission of the boosting operation of the external boosting circuit 103 in step 207. In addition, when the power saving mode is set, the internal booster circuit 4 permits the output of the external power supply device and disables the booster circuit using the internal power supply in step S20 with respect to the permission of the booster operation of the external booster circuit 103 in step 207.
Go to 5.

<Step 210> When it is determined in step 201 that the external power supply 100 is not connected, the capacity of the internal battery 1 is determined in the same manner as in step 204. If the internal battery 1 is not exhausted, the process proceeds to step 206;
Proceed to. Next, the light emission control of the light emitting discharge tube 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Step 101> When the camera detects by communication with the camera that shutter control and aperture control operations have been started to obtain the shutter and aperture value determined by the photometric data of the subject, the microcomputer 1
2 determines the flash flag, and if the flash flag FAL = 1 (uses the flash), step 1 is executed.
If FAL = 0 (no flash is used), go to step 108.

<Step 102> The microcomputer 12 outputs a light emission start trigger (TRIG1). When the main capacitor 7 is charged to the light emission level and a high voltage is applied to the flash discharge tube 9, the thyristor in the trigger circuit 8 is turned on by inputting the TRIG 1 to the trigger circuit 8, and the trigger capacitor is discharged. Then, a pulse is generated in the primary winding of the trigger transformer in the trigger circuit 8, and a high-voltage pulse is generated in the secondary winding. As a result, a light emission trigger is applied to the light emitting discharge tube 9, and discharge light emission is started.

<Step 103> Simultaneously with the start of light emission of the light-emitting discharge tube 9, the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting discharge tube 9 and reflected by the photographing subject is monitored through a light receiving circuit (not shown) in the camera. To start.

<Step 104> The microcomputer 12 sets the light emission stop trigger (TRIG2) when the target light emission amount information previously sent from the camera matches the actual light emission amount information monitored through a light receiving circuit (not shown) in the camera. ) Is output. Thereby, the dimming circuit 10 stops the light emission of the light emitting discharge tube 9.

<Step 105> When the light emission stop signal is input, the microcomputer 12 outputs a light emission stop trigger (TRIG2) according to the light emission stop signal. by this,
Light emission of the light emitting discharge tube 9 is stopped by the dimming circuit 10.
<Step 106> Simultaneously with stopping the light emission of the light emitting discharge tube 9, the microcomputer 12 sends a signal indicating that the light emission has stopped to the camera side, and causes the camera to stop the shutter control and the aperture control.

The information such as the set voltage used as a reference for each determination described above may be written in the EEPROM 17 or may be calculated by a program.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
1 illustrates a configuration of a light emitting device according to an embodiment. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the external power supply 200
However, an external battery, such as a laminated battery, whose output cannot be controlled from the outside, is used. It is one point. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the external power supply device 200. 201 is an external battery which is a stacked battery;
Reference numeral 2 denotes a power on / off switch. Reference numeral 203 denotes a connector having terminals a ″ and c ″.

The operation of the light emitting device of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but different in the following parts. That is, the flowchart of FIG. 4 is changed as follows.

<Step 202> The microcomputer 12 determines the capacity of the connected external power supply 200. As a determination method, the output voltage of the external power supply device 200 is monitored through the external power supply detection circuit 16, and the monitored voltage is compared with the voltage set by the microcomputer 12. The process proceeds to step 207 assuming that the battery is not consumed, and proceeds to step S203 if the external battery 201 is consumed when the voltage is less than the set voltage.

<Step 203> Upon determining that the external power supply 100 (external battery 101) is in a depleted state, the microcomputer 12 switches the switch 202 of the external power supply 201.
Is displayed on the display circuit 14 to prompt the display circuit 14 to turn off.

<Step 207> Upon determining that the external battery 101 is not depleted, the microcomputer 12 permits the external power supply device 200 to charge the main capacitor 7.

The configurations of the light emitting device and the external power supply device described in each of the above embodiments are merely examples, and may have other configurations.

In each of the above embodiments, the light emitting device used for strobe lighting in camera photography has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to other uses, for example, a light emitting device used in a communication system using light emission. It is.

[0080]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, an external battery (or an external power supply) is provided.
Despite the connection, it is possible to prevent the main capacitor from being charged or being delayed due to insufficient capacity. In addition, it is possible to prevent the internal battery from being used for charging when the capacity of the external battery is not exhausted, thereby preventing the internal battery from being wasted.

In the first aspect of the invention, when the capacities of the internal battery and the external battery are both within the non-consumable range, the main capacitor is charged by both batteries according to the mode setting relating to the charging condition, or the external battery is charged. If the main capacitor is charged only by using only the external battery and the internal battery having a sufficient capacity, high-speed charging can be performed, and the internal battery can perform power saving charging that is not used for charging.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a light emitting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an external power supply device connected to the light emitting device.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the light emitting device.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the light emitting device.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the light emitting device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a light emitting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an external power supply device connected to the light emitting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internal battery 2 Battery check circuit 4 Internal booster circuit 6 Voltage detection circuit 7 Main capacitor 9 Emission discharge tube 12 Microcomputer 13 Switch detection circuit 14 Display circuit 16 External power supply detection circuit 17 EEPROM 18 Connector 100, 200 External power supply device 101, 201 External battery

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting device comprising a main capacitor for storing electric energy for causing a light emitting means to emit light, wherein the main capacitor can be charged by an internal battery provided in the device and an external battery connected from the outside. When the external battery is connected, determine the capacity of the internal battery and the external battery, according to the determination result,
A light-emitting device comprising: a control unit that determines whether or not charging of the main capacitor by each of the internal battery and the external battery is permitted. 2. When the control unit determines that the capacity of the internal battery is in a consumption range and the capacity of the external battery is in a non-consumption range, the control unit disables charging of the main capacitor by the internal battery. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the permission of charging the main capacitor by the external battery is determined. 3. When the control unit determines that the capacity of the internal battery is in a non-consumable range and the capacity of the external battery is in a consumable range, the control unit determines whether to permit charging of the main capacitor by the internal battery. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that charging of the main capacitor by the external battery is not permitted. 4. The control means, when judging that the capacity of the internal battery is within the consumption range and the capacity of the external battery is also within the consumption range, disables charging of the main capacitor by the dual power supply. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made.
A light-emitting device according to claim 1. 5. The control unit, when determining that the capacity of the internal battery is in the non-consumable range and the capacity of the external battery is also in the non-consumable range, the control unit controls both the internal battery and the external battery. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the permission of charging the main capacitor is determined, or the permission of charging the main capacitor by the internal battery and the permission of charging the main capacitor by the external battery are determined. 6. The control means determines whether to permit charging of the main capacitor by both the internal battery and the external battery, or disables charging of the main capacitor by the internal battery, in accordance with a mode setting relating to a charging condition. 6. The light emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the permission and the permission of charging the main capacitor by the external battery are determined. 7. An internal boosting means for boosting a voltage from the internal battery and applying the boosted voltage to the main capacitor, wherein the control means determines whether the charging of the main capacitor by the internal battery is permitted or not. 7. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein a decision is made as to whether or not the operation of the internal booster is permitted. 8. An external power supply having the external battery and an external booster capable of boosting a voltage from the external battery and applying the boosted voltage to the main capacitor is connected to the external power supply. 8. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the determination as to whether or not the external battery is allowed to charge the main capacitor includes determining whether or not to operate the external booster. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means sends a signal according to a result of the determination to said external power supply when determining whether or not to operate said external step-up means.
A light-emitting device according to claim 1. 10. The control means performs a display or other warning operation indicating that the main battery is not charged by the external battery when the external battery does not permit charging of the main capacitor. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein: 11. The control unit performs a display or other warning operation indicating that the main battery is not charged by the internal battery when the internal battery is determined not to charge the main capacitor. The light emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines the capacity of the internal battery based on a voltage drop when a predetermined load is applied to the internal battery.
The light emitting device according to any one of the above. 13. The light emitting device according to claim 12, wherein said control means detects an amount of voltage drop when a predetermined load is applied to said internal battery through an A / D conversion means. 14. The external battery according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the capacity of the external battery based on a voltage drop when a predetermined load is applied to the external battery.
The light emitting device according to any one of the above. 15. The light emitting device according to claim 14, wherein the control unit detects a voltage drop amount when a predetermined load is applied to the external battery through an A / D conversion unit. 16. The controller according to claim 1, wherein said controller determines the capacity of said internal battery based on a charging voltage per unit time when said main battery is charged by said internal battery within a predetermined time. 12. The light emitting device according to any one of 1 to 11. 17. The light emitting device according to claim 16, wherein the control unit detects the charging voltage per unit time through an A / D conversion unit. 18. The external battery according to claim 18, wherein the control unit determines a capacity of the external battery based on a charging voltage per unit time when the external capacitor charges the main capacitor within a predetermined time. 12. The light emitting device according to any one of 1 to 11. 19. The light emitting device according to claim 18, wherein the control unit detects the charging voltage per unit time through an A / D conversion unit. 20. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the capacity of the external battery based on an output voltage from the external battery. 21. The light emitting device according to claim 20, wherein said control means detects an output voltage from said external battery through an A / D conversion means. 22. A light emitting device comprising a main capacitor for storing electric energy for causing a light emitting means to emit light, wherein the main capacitor can be charged by an internal battery provided in the device and an external battery connected from the outside. Control means for determining the capacity of the external battery when the external battery is connected, and determining which of the internal battery and the external battery should be used to charge the main capacitor according to a result of the determination; A light emitting device comprising: 23. The control means determines that the main battery is charged by the external battery when the capacity of the external battery is in the non-consumable range, and when the capacity of the external battery is in the consumable range. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the decision is made to charge the main capacitor by the internal battery.
3. The light emitting device according to 2. 24. The control device according to claim 22, wherein the control unit determines the capacity of the internal battery based on a voltage drop when a predetermined load is applied to the external battery.
4. The light emitting device according to 3. 25. The light emitting device according to claim 24, wherein the control unit detects a voltage drop amount when a predetermined load is applied to the external battery through an A / D conversion unit. 26. The system according to claim 26, wherein the control unit determines the capacity of the external battery based on a charging voltage per unit time when the main battery is charged by the external battery within a predetermined time. 24. The light emitting device according to 22 or 23. 27. The light emitting device according to claim 26, wherein the control unit detects the charging voltage per unit time through an A / D conversion unit. 28. The light emitting device according to claim 22, wherein the control unit determines the capacity of the external battery based on an output voltage from the external battery. 29. The light emitting device according to claim 28, wherein said control means detects an output voltage from said external battery through A / D conversion means. 30. A camera system comprising the light emitting device according to claim 1. Description: 31. A light-emitting communication system comprising the light-emitting device according to claim 1 and performing communication using light from the light-emitting device.