JP2002290802A - Power-saving mode control method and electronic imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power-saving mode control method and an electronic imaging device which extends the continuance of a battery by having no effect on user's operation and obtaining an effective power-saving mode. SOLUTION: When a second control means which always drives a first control means controlling power supply to respective parts for processing, storing, and reproducing a picked-up image by a battery and a secondary battery meets specific power-saving mode conditions, specific counting is carried out and when the power-saving mode conditions are still met at the end of the counting, the communication between the first and second control means is cut off; and the first control means having detected the communication being cut stops supplying the electric power to the respective parts and stops its clock to enter a sleep mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power saving mode control method and an electronic imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a power saving mode control method and an electronic imaging apparatus for realizing a sleep mode without being detected by a user operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electronic imaging apparatus, for example, a digital still camera, even when the power is turned on and the apparatus is left unattended, the microcomputer that controls the apparatus operates normally. Therefore, since the drive units operate as much as the microcomputer controls, power such as a battery is naturally consumed.

[0003]

However, in the digital still camera described in the prior art, the microcomputer operates normally even if the power is turned on and the operation is not performed. Since approximately the same power consumption is consumed, there is a problem that the duration of the battery is shortened.

If the power saving mode is adopted to solve the above-mentioned problem, the user may not be able to use the power saving mode because it is in the power saving mode. In particular, in the case of a device such as a digital still camera that needs to be operated promptly, unless the operation is followed, the device is inferior in operability.

Therefore, at least when the operation of the built-in microcomputer is stopped, the power saving mode during power-on can be realized without making the user aware of the existence of the microcomputer, thereby extending the battery life. There is a problem that must be solved by a method and a configuration to be performed.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a power saving mode control method and an electronic imaging apparatus according to the present invention have the following configurations.

(1) In contrast to the first control means for controlling the supply of the captured image to each unit for processing and storing and reproducing the image, the second control means which is always driven by a battery and a secondary battery has a predetermined control. When the power saving mode condition is reached, a predetermined count is counted, and when the counting is completed, if the power saving mode condition is continued, the communication with the first control means is interrupted. A power saving mode control method, characterized in that the first control means, which has detected the interruption of communication, shuts off power supply to the respective units and stops its own clock to enter a sleep mode. (2) When releasing the sleep mode, when the power saving mode condition is released, the second control means:
(1) The power saving according to (1), wherein interrupt communication with the first control means is started, and the first control means detects the start of the interrupt communication, starts its own clock, and returns. Mode control method. (3) The power saving mode control method according to (1), wherein the power saving mode condition includes a condition in which a panel display that cannot be detected by a user operation is off and a condition in which the panel display is not connected to LineOut. (4) The above power saving mode conditions are that a predetermined key or shutter is not pressed, an AV jack is not inserted into USB / LANC, a media medium is not inserted / removed, and it is not activated by a DC power supply. (1) The power saving mode control method according to (1), wherein all of the conditions of resetting the power saving mode counter are not required. (5) When there is no reset request for the power saving mode counter, when the display panel is off, when not transferring, the GI
CAMERA / MOVI when not in F-animation mode
(4) The power saving mode control method according to (4), in the E mode. (6) Each unit for controlling power supply by the first control means includes at least a CCD serving as an image pickup means, a camera unit for processing an image picked up by the image pickup means, a display panel, and a media medium for storing picked-up image data. (1) The power saving mode control method according to (1), wherein

(7) An electronic image pickup apparatus driven by a battery, comprising: first control means for controlling supply to each section for processing and storing and reproducing a picked-up image; and constantly driven by the battery and the secondary battery. Second control means,
A counting means for counting a predetermined count when the second control means is in a predetermined power saving mode condition; and when the power saving mode condition is continued when the counting is completed by the counting means, Blocking means for blocking the communication between the first and second control means, and the first means for detecting the blocking of the communication;
A sleep mode means for interrupting power supply to each of the above-mentioned units, stopping its own clock, and entering a sleep mode. (8) When releasing the sleep mode, when the power saving mode condition is released, the second control means:
The electronic imaging according to (7), wherein interrupt communication with the first control means is started, and the first control means detects the start of the interrupt communication, starts its own clock, and returns. apparatus. (9) The electronic imaging apparatus according to (7), wherein the power saving mode condition includes a condition in which a panel display that cannot be detected by a user operation is off and a condition in which the panel display is not connected to LineOut. (10) The power saving mode conditions are that a predetermined key or shutter is not pressed, an AV jack is not inserted into USB / LANC, a media medium is not inserted / removed, and the apparatus is not activated by DC power. (7) The electronic imaging apparatus according to (7), wherein all of the following conditions are satisfied: the power saving mode counter is not reset. (11) The absence of the reset request of the power saving mode counter means that when the display panel is off or not transferring,
CAMERA / MOV when not in IF animation mode
The electronic imaging device according to (7), wherein the electronic imaging device is in the IE mode. (12) Each unit that controls power supply by the first control unit includes at least a CCD that is an imaging unit, a camera unit that processes an image captured by the imaging unit, a display panel,
A media drive for driving a media medium for storing captured image data (7)
An electronic imaging device according to claim 1.

As described above, when a predetermined power saving mode condition is reached, the user enters the sleep mode so as not to be able to perceive it, thereby extending the battery life without deteriorating the user's usability. Becomes possible.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a power saving mode control method for an electronic imaging apparatus and an electronic imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic imaging apparatus embodying a power saving mode control method according to the present invention, a digital still camera includes a lens 1 for condensing light from a subject and a lens 1 as shown in FIG. CCD2 that receives the incoming video
A camera unit 3 for converting light obtained by the CCD 2 into an electric signal, a signal processing block 4 for converting into a color difference signal,
An RGB decoder 5 for converting the RGB signals, an LCD display panel 6 for displaying the RGB signals on an image, and an SDR connected to the signal processing block 4 and the parallel bus line 11
AM 8, a microcomputer A (7) as first control means for controlling power supply of each unit, a media drive 9 on which a media medium 10 can be mounted, and a battery and a secondary battery that can be constantly driven. It comprises a microcomputer B (13), which is a possible second control means, and an operation switch section.

The microcomputer A (7) has a media drive 9
And has a function of writing data to the media 10 inserted in the media drive 9.

In the digital still camera having such a configuration, the light from the subject is picked up by the lens block 1, and the imaging light is input to the CCD 2 and the camera unit 3 by the Y and Y components.
The signal is converted into a color difference signal of Cr and Cb,
Are converted as RGB signals by the RGB decoder 5 and an image is displayed on the LCD display panel 6.

Now, when recording an image, when the user presses the shutter button of the operation switch unit 14,
From the signal processing block 4, one screen, for example, 640 ×
An image of 480 × VGA size is taken into the SDRAM 8. At this time, the microcomputer B (13) transmits the key information of the operation switch unit 14 by serial communication to the microcomputer A (7).
To communicate.

The loading operation and the control of the entire system are performed by communication and data communication between the microcomputer A (7), the SDRAM 8, and the media drive 9 via the parallel bus line 11. The signal processing block 4, the SDRAM 8 and the media drive 9 are controlled by the microcomputer A via the parallel bus line 11.
The data of the image which is controlled by (7) and captured is also transferred via the parallel bus line 11.

The image captured in the SDRAM 8 is captured once by a controller (not shown) and compressed (for example, JP
EG compression) and stored again at another address of the SDRAM 8. Further, the compressed image is a file header or the like added by the microcomputer A (7).
Formed into a stream as a file. The microcomputer A (7) can transfer the data to the media drive 9 and write the file on the media 10 mounted on the media drive 9.

For image reproduction, the media medium 1
0 is reproduced and the image is displayed on the LCD display panel 6. The procedure is as follows.
(7) Transfer the file of the media medium 10 in the media drive 9 to the SDRAM 8 via the media drive 9.

Image data is extracted from the transferred file, and the compressed file is decompressed while the data is taken into the microcomputer A (7), and the result is written to another area of the SDRAM 8.

After the decompression operation is completed, the image data is read from the SDRAM 8 via the signal processing block 4, and then the image is reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 6 via the RGB decoder 5.

The lens blocks 1 and CC described so far
D2, camera unit 3, signal processing block 4, SDRAM
8. The microcomputer A (7) and the media drive 9 operate when realizing the main functions of the digital camera such as image recording and image reproduction, but do not operate at all when no operation is performed. .

Next, the power supply structure of the digital still camera having such a configuration will be described below with reference to FIG.

A battery 12 composed of a dry battery, an S battery, an M battery, an L battery, etc., a booster IC 16 for boosting the voltage from the battery 12, a regulator IC 17, and a microcomputer B (13)
And a DD controller 19 for enabling the output of power from the battery 12 by a signal of an output port "SYS DD ON" of the microcomputer B (13). 19 is CCD2, signal processing block 4, RGB
Decoder 5, camera unit 3, SDRAM 8, EEPROM
20, AD / DA (AD / DA conversion unit) 21, FLAS
H (FlashMemory) 22, media drive 9, and LCD display panel 6 have a connection structure capable of supplying power to each unit.

Among them, the CCD 2, the camera section 3, the media drive 9, and the LCD display panel 6 are provided with a microcomputer A
Control switch 23 that can supply power under the control of (7)
a to 23d.

Therefore, power is supplied directly by the DD controller 19 to the microcomputer A (7), the signal processing block (4), the RGB decoder (5), the SDRAM 8,
Each part of the EPROM 20, AD / DA 21, and FLASH 22.

Since the microcomputer B (13) is constantly supplied with power from the battery 12 and power from the secondary battery 18, the microcomputer B (13) is ready to operate constantly.

The behavior of the digital still camera having such a power supply connection state when the power is turned on will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, the power supplied from the battery 12 is boosted by the booster IC 16 as required, and regulated by the regulator IC 17, and the microcomputer B (13)
Supplied to If the battery 12 is not provided, the power supply of the built-in lithium secondary battery 18 is changed to the microcomputer B (13).
Supplied to For this reason, the microcomputer B (13) is always supplied with power irrespective of whether or not the power of the digital still camera is turned on and whether or not the battery 12 is mounted.

When the power switch is turned on while the battery 12 is mounted, the microcomputer B (13) first sets the "SY DD ON" port from "L" to "H", and the DD controller 19 To be able to supply. When the DD controller 19 is turned on, the microcomputer A
(7) Power is supplied to the signal processing block 4 and the RGB decoder 5.

Next, when these power supplies are stabilized,
The microcomputer B (13) is connected to the output port “XRSTFLAS”.
“H” is changed from “H” to “L”. Next, the microcomputer B (1
3) changes the output port “XSYSRST” from “H” to “L” (XRSTFLASH and XSYSRST are ports of negative logic).

By doing so, the microcomputer A (7)
And FL in which the program of microcomputer A (7) is written
The reset of the ASH 22 is released, and the microcomputer A (7) can function.

When the operation of the microcomputer A (7) is stabilized, the microcomputer A (7) sets the output port "CAM DD".
ON "," CAM DD2 ON "," PANEL DD
The ports of “ON” and “MS_PWR_ON” are changed from “L” to “H”. By doing so, the control switch 23a,
By turning on 23b, 23c and 23d, CC
Power is supplied to each block of the D2, the camera unit 3, the media drive 9, and the LCD display panel 6, so that recording and reproduction of images can be performed as a set.

Now, the power saving mode in the digital still camera operating as described above will be described. FIGS. 3 and 4 show a control flow for entering and saving from the power saving mode realized by the present invention, which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

When the set is operating normally, the microcomputer A (7) sends “nowWo” to the microcomputer B (13).
rking = 1 ”. On the other hand, the microcomputer B (13) constantly monitors the state of the set, and starts calculating (subtracting) the counter when the conditions for the set to enter the power saving mode are met.

The certain conditions are the following conditions. Among the power saving mode conditions, the condition for entering the power saving mode is to enter the power saving mode after a certain period of time has elapsed under all of the following conditions. When a predetermined key or shutter is not pressed, when an AV jack is not inserted into USB and LANC, when a media medium 10 is not inserted / removed in a media drive 9, when a reset request to a power saving mode counter is not issued. is there. Among them, when there is no reset request to the power saving mode counter, when the panel is off, when the transfer is not in progress, when the GIF animation mode is not set, and the CAMERA / M
Occurs when in the OVE mode.

The conditions for exiting the power saving mode are as follows: when a predetermined key or shutter is pressed, the USB and LANC
When the AV jack or the DC jack is inserted into the media drive 9, when the media medium 10 is inserted into or removed from the media drive 9, and when the battery end is detected.

Under these conditions, the basic conditions are that no key operation is performed, that the media medium 10 is not inserted and removed, and that various jacks are not inserted and removed, and that the panel is in an off state. Being, Line
It is not connected to Out.

In STEP 1, it is basically a condition that the user operation is not performed. However, the reason that the panel off and LineOut are added to the condition is that the user senses or recognizes that the power saving mode is to be entered. This is to prevent them from being able to do so. For example, if the power saving mode is entered with the panel turned on, the clock on the microcomputer A (7) is stopped, and the display on the panel does not change at all. This is because a display that should be changed without any operation does not change without giving an operation, thereby giving a feeling of strangeness to the user.

In STEP 2, the microcomputer B (13)
Calculates the counter, and when the value becomes “0”, sets a flag “idleReq = 1” and sets the microcomputer A
Send to The counter is "0" after starting the counter calculation
Until, it is about 30 seconds in the embodiment. Of course, the counting time of this counter is not limited to 30 seconds and can be changed appropriately in consideration of various conditions.

In STEP 3, when the microcomputer A (7) receives the flag of "idleReq = 1", it performs a process of preparing to enter the power saving mode. When the process is over, "now
Working = 0, and sends it to the microcomputer B (13).

In STEP 4, the microcomputer B (13)
Receives the "nowWorking = 0" flag, stops the serial communication with the microcomputer A (7). When the microcomputer A (7) confirms that the communication cannot be performed, the "CAM DD ON", "CAM DD2O"
N "," MS_PWR_ON "," PANEL DDO "
The control switch 2 changes the port of “N” from “H” to “L”.
By turning off the switches 3a to 23d, the power supply to the CCD 2, the camera unit 3, the media drive 9, and the LCD display panel 6 is cut off, and the clock is stopped to enter the sleep mode.

This is the state of the power saving mode realized by the present invention. At this time, the power supply to each block controlled by the microcomputer A (7) is stopped, and the microcomputer A (7) stops supplying power.
(7) By itself stopping the clock, the power consumption can be greatly reduced.

In STEP 5, the return from the power saving state is performed. First, the condition for the return is when each key is pressed (when a user operation is performed), as described above. When these conditions are satisfied, the microcomputer B (13) operates the port of “wakeUp”. This port is an NMI interrupt port in the microcomputer A (7). The NMI is an interrupt that functions preferentially for all interrupts. At this time, the microcomputer B (13) restarts interrupt communication with the microcomputer A (7).

In STEP 6, when a trigger arrives at the port of "NMI" in the microcomputer A (7), an NMI interrupt is generated and the microcomputer A (7) immediately starts the return process. The recovery process is to recover its own clock and to turn on the power supply that was off during power saving, that is, to turn on the control switches 23a to 23d and
2. To supply power to each unit of the camera unit 3, the media drive 9, and the LCD display panel 6.

When these processes are completed, "nowWork"
ing = 1 "to the microcomputer B (13). This returns to normal operation. In this way, since the return operation is performed at an early timing, it is possible to minimize discomfort caused by a user operation.

[0045]

As described above, in the power saving mode control method and the electronic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the power supply to the main parts is cut off by the power saving mode condition which is not detected by the user operation. In addition, by stopping the own clock, it is possible to save power while the user does not detect the clock, which has the effect of extending the duration of the battery.

Further, since the user is completely conscious of entering the power saving mode and can quickly return when returning, the power consumption can be reduced without giving a feeling of strangeness to the operation performed by the user. There is also an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an electronic imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration related to the power supply.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing communication specifications with a microcomputer in the power saving mode.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the power saving mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1; lens block; 2; CCD; 3; camera unit;
Signal processing block, 5; RGB decoder, 6; LCD display panel, 7; microcomputer A, 8; SDRAM, 9; media drive, 10; media medium, 11; parallel bus line, 12; battery, 13;
4; operation switch section; 16; booster IC; 17; regulator IC; 18; secondary battery; 19; DD controller;
20; EEPROM, 21; AD / DA, 22; FLA
SH

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masafumi Fukuda 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Wataru Tanimoto 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F term (reference) 2H054 AA01 2H100 DD15 DD16 5C022 AA13 AB67 AC01 AC42 AC69 AC73 AC75 CA00

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A first control means for controlling the supply of a captured image to each unit for processing and storing and reproducing the image, and a second control means which is always driven by a battery and a secondary battery has a predetermined power saving. When the power saving mode condition is reached, a predetermined count is counted. When the counting is completed, if the power saving mode condition is continued, the communication with the first control means is interrupted. Wherein the first control means that detects the interruption of the power supply shuts off the power supply to the respective units and stops its own clock so as to enter the sleep mode. 2. When releasing the sleep mode, the second control means starts interrupt communication with the first control means when the power saving mode condition is released. 2. The power saving mode control method according to claim 1, wherein the control means detects the start of the interrupt communication, starts its own clock, and returns. 3. The power-saving mode condition includes a condition when a panel display which cannot be detected by a user operation is off and a condition where the panel display is not connected to LineOut.
The described power saving mode control method. 4. The power saving mode conditions include: a predetermined key or a shutter is not pressed;
V jack is not inserted, media is not inserted / removed, DC power is not activated,
2. The power-saving mode control method according to claim 1, wherein all of the conditions of no reset request of the power-saving mode counter are met. 5. When there is no reset request for the power saving mode counter, when the display panel is off, when data is not being transferred, when not in the GIF animation mode, or when the CAMERA mode is not set.
5. The power saving mode control method according to claim 4, wherein the mode is any one of the MOVIE mode. 6. A unit for controlling power supply by the first control unit includes at least a CCD serving as an image pickup unit, a camera unit for processing an image picked up by the image pickup unit, a display panel, and data of the picked-up image data. The power saving mode control method according to claim 1, wherein the method is a media drive that drives a media medium. 7. An electronic image pickup apparatus driven by a battery, comprising: first control means for controlling supply to each section for processing and storing and reproducing a picked-up image; and constantly driven by said battery and a secondary battery. Second control means,
A counting means for performing a predetermined count when the control means is in a predetermined power saving mode condition; and when the power saving mode condition is continued when the counting is completed by the counting means, A shutoff unit for interrupting communication with the second control unit, and the first control unit, which detects the interruption of the communication, shuts off a power supply to each of the units and stops its own clock to perform sleep mode. An electronic imaging device comprising: 8. When releasing the sleep mode, the second control means starts interrupt communication with the first control means when the power saving mode condition is released, and 8. The electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control means detects the start of the interrupt communication, starts its own clock, and returns. 9. The power saving mode condition includes a condition when a panel display which cannot be detected by a user operation is off and a condition not connected to LineOut.
An electronic imaging device according to claim 1. 10. The power saving mode conditions include that a predetermined key or shutter is not pressed, that an AV jack is not inserted into USB / LANC, that no media is inserted / removed, that a power source is activated by a DC power supply. That there is no power saving mode counter reset request,
8. The electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein all of the conditions are satisfied. 11. The absence of the power-saving mode counter reset request means that the display panel is off, the transfer is not in progress, the GIF animation mode is not set, and the CAMERA /
8. The electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electronic imaging apparatus is in one of the following modes: 12. Each unit for controlling power supply by the first control means includes at least a CCD serving as an image pickup means, a camera section for processing an image picked up by the image pickup means, a display panel, and accumulating image data picked up. The electronic imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the electronic imaging device is a media drive that drives a media medium.