JP2003274640A - Electronic apparatus, imaging device and power source control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the start-up time of an electronic apparatus when a power source is thrown in. <P>SOLUTION: A switching signal from a power source switch is detected at a timing T301. After that, the switching signal is detected at a constant time interval. A DC/DC converter and a main controller are started at a timing T302, and initialization processing for shifting to a power source on-state is started. The initialization processing is completed at a timing T303, and the DC/DC converter and the main controller are set in a waiting state. A number of detection of the switching signal reaches a prescribed value at a timing T304, power supplying from the DC/DC converter to each device is started, and shift to a power source on-state is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device which is turned on by an operation input by a user, an imaging device, and a power supply control method for controlling on / off of the power supply in such an electronic device, and more particularly, to a power supply. The present invention relates to an electronic device, an imaging device, and a power supply control method capable of shortening a startup time at the time of turning on.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a switch of an electronic device is operated, for example, due to mechanical vibration of a contact when the push switch is pressed or released, the switch is operated for several ms to several tens ms. , A phenomenon called chattering occurs in which opening and closing are repeated intermittently. When a switching signal due to such chattering is input to a circuit in the electronic device, it causes a malfunction.

As a method of preventing such a malfunction, for example, a method of determining the state of the switch after a lapse of time after which the influence of chattering is considered to disappear after the operation of the switch is detected, is adopted. ing.

In addition, for turning on / off the power source,
A switch is used so that when the unlock push switch is pressed and held for a certain period of time, the switch is turned on or off for the first time. When such a switch is used as a power switch,
It is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by accidentally turning the power on when not in use. Therefore, it is often applied to a portable electronic device driven by a small battery, and is used, for example, in a digital still camera, a digital video camera, a mobile phone, or the like.

Here, FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of processing at the time of power-on in a conventional electronic device. Figure 5
The time chart shown in (1) shows the processing in the electronic device that transitions to the power-on state when the push-button power switch is pressed for a certain time or longer.

First, from the power-off state, timing T5
In 01, a signal indicating that the power switch is pressed is detected by, for example, the power control sub-controller. This sub-controller has timing T50
The switching signal from the power switch is continuously detected from 1 at a constant time interval.

At the timing T502, when the number of times the signal is continuously detected reaches a predetermined value, it is determined that an operation input has been made to the power switch. Then, the initialization process for shifting to the power-on state is started.
By this initialization process, for example, the power of the DC / DC converter that boosts the power supply voltage to a predetermined voltage is turned on, and the main controller that controls the entire electronic device is initialized.

At timing T503, when the initialization process ends normally, power supply from the DC / DC converter to each part in the electronic device is started, and the electronic device is turned on.

[0009]

As described above, when the power is turned on, processing for removing the influence of chattering is performed from the operation input to the power switch, and then the power is turned on. The initialization process for shifting to is performed, and then the power is turned on for the first time. For this reason, it takes a long time after the power switch is operated until the power is actually turned on and the electronic device becomes usable, and the user who operates the electronic switch often feels uncomfortable.

In addition, for example, a portable device has an auto power-off function for automatically turning off the power when no operation input is made for a certain period of time, in order to minimize battery consumption. There are many things. Taking a digital still camera as an example, if the auto power-off function is activated during use and the power is turned off, if you operate the power switch to take another picture, it will take some time before it can be used. In some cases, you may miss the opportunity to shoot.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device in which the startup time at power-on is shortened. Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device in which the startup time at power-on is shortened.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control method capable of shortening the start-up time of electronic equipment when the power is turned on.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an electronic device which is turned on by an operation input of a user, which opens and closes in response to the operation input, and a switching signal in a closed state. A power switch for outputting the operation signal, operation input determination means for determining the correct presence or absence of the operation input based on the detection of the switching signal, and the switching signal is first detected by the operation input determination means in a power-off state. From the point of time, the initialization process for shifting to the power-on state is started, the initialization process ends normally, and the operation input determination means determines that the operation input has been made, There is provided an electronic device including a power-on control unit that shifts to a power-on state.

In such an electronic device, when the operation input determination means first detects the switching signal, the power input control means does not wait for the operation input determination means to determine that there is an operation input. By the control of 1, the initialization processing for shifting to the power-on state is performed in parallel. Therefore, the time from the start of the operation input by the user until the electronic device shifts to the power-on state is shortened.

Further, according to the present invention, in an image pickup apparatus for recording a picked-up image, a power switch that opens and closes according to an operation input by a user and outputs a switching signal in a closed state, and based on detection of the switching signal. Operation input determining means for determining whether or not the operation input is accurate, and initialization for transitioning to the power-on state from the time when the switching signal is first detected by the operation input determining means in the power-off state. A power-on control means for starting the processing, terminating the initialization processing normally, and shifting to the power-on state when the operation input determination means determines that there is the operation input. An imaging device is provided.

In such an image pickup apparatus, when the switching signal is first detected by the operation input determination means, the power-on control means is not waited for until the operation input determination means determines that there is an operation input. By the control of 1, the initialization processing for shifting to the power-on state is performed in parallel. Therefore, the time from the start of the operation input by the user until the imaging device shifts to the power-on state is shortened.

Further, according to the present invention, in a power supply control method for controlling on / off of a power supply in an electronic device, a switching signal output when a power supply switch is closed according to an operation input by a user is fixed. Detected at each time, from the time when the switching signal is first detected, start the initialization process for transitioning to the power-on state, the initialization process ends normally, and the switching signal is a predetermined number of times. A power supply control method is provided, characterized in that the electronic device is shifted to the power-on state when continuously detected.

In such a power supply control method, the switching signal is detected at regular time intervals, and when it is continuously detected a predetermined number of times, it is determined that an operation input has been made. Further, at the time when the switching signal is first detected, the initialization process for transitioning to the power-on state is performed in parallel without waiting for the determination that there is an operation input. Therefore, the time from the start of the operation input by the user until the electronic device shifts to the power-on state is shortened.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A digital still camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a device for recording a captured image as digital data in a memory card 10 which is a removable semiconductor memory. It is also possible to reproduce and display the image recorded in the memory card 10.

The digital still camera 1 includes an image recording / reproducing section 2 for picking up and recording / reproducing an image, a display section 3 for displaying the picked-up image and the reproduced image, and a system control for controlling the entire apparatus. It is composed of a unit 4, an input unit 5 through which a user inputs an operation, and a power supply unit 6.

The image recording / reproducing section 2 is an image pickup block 2 for picking up an image and outputting a digital image signal accordingly.
1, an image signal processing unit 22 that performs compression encoding processing and expansion decoding processing of an image signal, and a memory R / W that writes / reads data to / from the memory card 10.
Imaging block 21 including (reader / writer) 23
Is an optical system with a lens on which light from a subject is incident, an iris, a shutter, and a CCD (Ch
a large coupled device), a signal processing circuit that performs digital conversion processing on an output signal from the image sensor, a memory for temporarily storing image signals, and the like. The imaging block 21 is used by the system control unit 4
Under the control by, the image signal is sequentially output from the image pickup device according to the incident light from the subject. Further, this image signal is subjected to conversion processing into a digital signal, noise removal processing, image quality correction processing, conversion processing into a luminance / color difference signal, etc. in a signal processing circuit, and the image signal processing unit 22 and display unit 3 Send to. Further, the shutter is operated in response to an instruction from the system control unit 4, and the image signal for one frame at this time is output to the image signal processing unit 22.

The image signal processing section 22 includes an image pickup block 21.
The image signal output from the JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Gr
oup) Convert to a specified data format such as a standard,
It is supplied to the memory R / W 23. In addition, the memory R / W23
The image data read out from the memory card 10 is subjected to decompression / decoding processing and conversion processing such as data format and resolution, and is output to the memory R / W 23 or the display unit 3.

The memory R / W 23 has an image signal processing section 22.
The image data converted into the predetermined data format in (2) is written in the mounted memory card 10. Further, the image data recorded in the memory card 10 is read out and sent to the image signal processing unit 22.

The display unit 3 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Cryst).
al Display), LED (Light Emitting Diode) (neither is shown), and the like. The LCD displays not only the so-called camera through image captured by the image capturing block 21, but also the image read from the memory card 10. In addition, predetermined character information and the like are displayed on-screen according to a control signal from the system control unit 4.
The LED lights up under the control of the system control unit 4, and notifies the user of the power-on state or the like, for example.

The system control unit 4 is a control processing unit that controls each device in the digital still camera 1, and controls the operation of each device based on an instruction input signal from the input unit 5.

The input unit 5 includes, for example, a shutter release button for operating the opening / closing operation of the shutter of the image pickup block 21, a selection switch for selecting an operation mode, and a power switch for turning on / off the power source (whichever is selected). (Not shown) or the like, and outputs an instruction input signal to the system control unit 4 according to an operation by the user.

The power supply unit 6 is equipped with a small removable battery such as a dry battery or a stick type battery, or a rechargeable battery thereof. The power supply unit 6 supplies a predetermined voltage obtained from the removable battery to each circuit block of the digital still camera 1 under the control of the system control unit 4.

Next, an image recording / reproducing operation of the digital still camera 1 will be described. When an image recording operation is performed, an image is captured by the imaging block 21 under the control of the system control unit 4, and digital image signals sequentially output in accordance with this imaging are displayed on the display unit 3. Is entered. As a result, the camera through image is displayed on the display unit 3. Further, at this time, the system control unit 4 receives a notification of the remaining battery capacity from the power supply unit 6, and based on this notification, displays a number indicating the remaining recordable time, an image indicating the remaining battery capacity, etc. on the display unit 3. Let

In this state, when an instruction input for shutter operation is made at the input section 5, the shutter is opened / closed at the image pickup block 21, and one frame of the image signal at this time is extracted to obtain an image. It is output to the signal processing unit 22. The image signal processing unit 22 performs compression coding processing on the image signal input from the imaging block 21 and converts the image signal into a predetermined data format. The converted image data is sent to the memory R / W 23 and written in the memory card 10.

When the image reproducing operation is performed,
In response to an instruction input from the input unit 5, the memory R / W 23 reads predetermined image data from the memory card 10. This image signal is output to the display unit 3 after being subjected to decompression decoding processing in the image signal processing unit 22. As a result, the reproduced image is displayed on the display unit 3.

Further, in response to an instruction input from the input section 5,
The image data read from the memory card 10 is input to the image signal processing unit 22, and the data compression rate, pixel size,
Alternatively, the data format is converted and the memory R is read again.
It is also possible to write to the memory card 10 via / W23.

Next, the processing when the power is turned on in this digital still camera 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example related to power control in the digital still camera 1. In FIG. 2, solid line arrows indicate signal lines, and double line arrows indicate power supply lines.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system controller 4 is
It has a main controller 41 and a sub-controller 42. The main controller 41 is a control unit for controlling the operation of each device such as the image recording / reproducing unit 2 and the display unit 3, and is driven by being supplied with power from a DC / DC converter 62 of a power supply unit 6 described later. It The sub-controller 42 controls ON / OFF of operations of the DC / DC converter 62 and the main controller 41 based on a switching signal from the power switch 51 included in the input unit 5. The sub-controller 42 is driven by being directly supplied with power from the battery 61 of the power supply unit 6 described later.

Further, the power switch 5 provided in the input section 5
1 is an unlock push switch, which is pressed by the user to close the contacts,
A switching signal is output to the sub controller 42. In addition to the power switch 51, the input section 5 includes a shutter release button, an operation mode selection switch, and the like, which are connected to the main controller 4 according to a user's input operation.
1, a switch for outputting a signal is provided, but it is omitted here.

The power supply unit 6 includes a battery 61 and a DC.
The / DC converter 62 is provided. Battery 61
Is a detachable small battery made of, for example, lithium ion, and supplies a predetermined voltage to the DC / DC converter 62 and the sub controller 42. DC
The / DC converter 62 converts the voltage obtained from the battery 61 into a predetermined voltage under the control of the sub-controller 42, and the main controller 41 and the digital still camera 1 such as the image recording / reproducing unit 2 and the display unit 3. Supply power to each device.

In FIG. 2, the LCD 31 is shown as a component of the display unit 3. Although not shown, the LCD 31 includes a liquid crystal display unit that displays an image by controlling the transmission of light, a backlight that irradiates uniform light from the back surface of the liquid crystal display unit, and the like.

In such a configuration, when the power of the digital still camera 1 is off, the sub-controller 42 is operated by the power supply from the battery 61, and the switching signal from the power switch 51 is monitored.
At this time, the DC / DC converter 62 is in the off state, and the power supply to the main controller 41, the image recording / reproducing unit 2 and the display unit 3 is cut off.

By the way, when the power switch 51 is opened and closed, chattering occurs in the switching signal output to the sub-controller 42, so the sub-controller 42 is considered to have eliminated the influence of this chattering. The operation input of the power switch 51 is determined more accurately. Specifically, the switching signal from the power switch 51 is detected at regular intervals, and it is determined that an operation input has been made at the time when the switching signal is continuously detected a predetermined number of times. Therefore, when the power is turned on, the user needs to keep pressing the power switch 51 for a certain period of time.

Further, in order for the digital still camera 1 to shift to the ON state in which the digital still camera 1 can be actually used by the power supply from the DC / DC converter 62, it is necessary to perform initialization processing in the apparatus for this purpose. is there. For example, first DC
/ DC converter 62 is turned on, and then this D
The main controller 41 is turned on by the power supply from the C / DC converter 62. Then, the main controller 41 initializes itself by referring to various operation settings and the like before, and further determines whether or not each unit such as the image recording / reproducing unit 2 and the display unit 3 can be normally turned on. And so on.

According to the present invention, after the power switch 51 is pressed by the user, the digital still camera 1 can perform the continuous detection process for the switching signal and the process for shifting to the power-on state in parallel. Shorten the time until the power is turned on.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the processing when the power is turned on in the digital still camera 1. First,
From timing T301 in the power-off state, the power switch 51 is pressed, and the sub-controller 42 detects the switching signal output from the power switch 51. The sub-controller 42 continuously detects the switching signal at a constant time interval from this point.

At timing T302 immediately after the first detection of the switching signal, the initialization process for shifting to the power-on state is started. The initialization process may be started when the switching signal is detected a predetermined number of times less than the number of times of detection for removing chattering.

At timing T303, when the main controller 41 is activated and the initialization process ends normally, the main controller 41 and the DC / DC converter 62 enter a standby state for the continuous detection process of switching signals by the sub-controller 42.

At timing T304, when the number of continuous detections of switching signals by the sub-controller 42 reaches a predetermined number, the sub-controller 42 determines that an operation input has been made to the power switch 51. The sub-controller 42 causes the DC / DC converter 62 to start supplying power to each unit in the apparatus, and causes the main controller 41 to start the control operation of each unit, whereby the digital still camera 1 shifts to the ON state. .

Here, for example, when the detection interval of the switching signal by the sub-controller 42 is 20 msec,
When it is judged that there is an operation input when it is detected twice,
The time from the start of pressing the power switch 51 to this determination is 500 msec. On the other hand, the initialization process for shifting to the power-on state usually requires a time of, for example, about 150 msec. This makes it possible to shift to the power-on state at the same time when it is determined that there is an operation input to the power switch 51. Conventionally, since the initialization process was started after it was determined that there was an operation input, the time until the power is turned on is
It is shortened by about 150 msec by the above processing.

Next, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing by the sub-controller 42 when the power is turned on. At the start of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the digital still camera 1 is in the power-off state, the operation of the DC / DC converter 62 is stopped, and the sub-controller 4
Only 2 are working. In addition, the sub-controller 42
Has a count control unit that counts the number of times a switching signal is detected. At this point, a value such as "25" that is the number of times for determining an operation input is set as an initial value of the count value. .

In step S401, it is determined whether or not a switching signal (denoted as SW signal in the drawing) from the power switch 51 is detected, and this determination is repeated at regular time intervals until it is detected. If a switching signal is detected, the process proceeds to step S402.

In step S402, after the DC / DC converter 62 is turned on, the main controller 41 which is supplied with power is activated. As a result, the initialization process for shifting to the power-on state is started. Further, in step S403, the number of times of detection is counted down.

In step S404, it is determined whether or not a switching signal is detected at the next detection timing. If not detected, the process proceeds to step S405,
When detected, it progresses to step S407.

In step S405, since the detection of the switching signal is interrupted, the DC / DC converter 6
2 and the main controller 41 are turned off, and the initialization process is stopped. In step S406, the count value of the number of times of detection is initialized, the process returns to step S401, and the switching signal detection determination is performed again.

On the other hand, when the switching signals are continuously detected, the number of times of detection is counted down in step S407. In step S408, it is determined whether or not this count value is "0". If it is not "0", the process returns to step S404 to determine again whether or not the switching signal is detected at the next detection timing. If the count value is "0", it is determined that an operation input has been made to the power switch 51, and the process proceeds to step S409.

In step S409, the main controller 41 is queried as to whether or not the initialization processing for shifting to the power-on state is normally completed. If the initialization is normally completed, the process proceeds to step S410. If not completed normally, the process proceeds to step S405, the DC / DC converter 62 and the main controller 41 are turned off, and the power is turned off. At this time, for example, via the main controller 41, the LCD 31 may be caused to display that the activation has not been normally performed to notify the user.

In step S410, it is determined that the initialization process has been completed normally, and the power is turned on. At this time, power supply from the DC / DC converter 62 to each device such as the image recording / reproducing unit 2 and the display unit 3 is started, and each device is activated. LCD, for example
Since the backlight of 31 is turned on and the camera through image is displayed, the user can determine that the power supply is normally turned on.

With the above processing, in the digital still camera 1, the time from when the user presses the power switch 51 to when the power is actually turned on is shortened. It can be reduced.
Further, particularly in the case of an electronic device having portability such as the digital still camera 1, the power may be frequently returned to the off state even during use in order to suppress the consumption of the battery having a small power capacity. Therefore, by speeding up the transition from the power-off state to the power-on state, it is possible to reduce the loss of shooting opportunities even when the user is carried in the power-off state, which is useful for the user.

In the above-described embodiment, as a method for eliminating the influence of chattering and accurately determining the operation input to the power switch 51, the switching signal is continuously detected a predetermined number of times by the detection at every fixed time. When it is detected, it is judged that there was an operation input,
It is not limited to this method. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to all electronic devices that require time for removing the influence of chattering on the switch operation for turning on the power and for the initialization process for shifting to the power-on state.

[0057]

As described above, in the electronic device of the present invention, when the operation input determination means first detects the switching signal, the operation input determination means determines that there is an operation input. The initialization process for shifting to the power-on state is performed in parallel under the control of the power-on control means without waiting. Therefore, the time from the start of the operation input by the user until the electronic device shifts to the power-on state is shortened.

Further, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, when the switching signal is first detected by the operation input judging means, the power is turned on without waiting for the operation input judging means to judge that there is an operation input. Under the control of the control means, initialization processing for shifting to the power-on state is performed in parallel. Therefore, from the start of operation input by the user,
The time until the image pickup apparatus shifts to the power-on state is shortened.

Further, in the power supply control method of the present invention, the detection of the switching signal is performed at regular time intervals, and when the switching signal is continuously detected a predetermined number of times, it is determined that the operation input has been made. Further, at the time when the switching signal is first detected, the initialization process for transitioning to the power-on state is performed in parallel without waiting for the determination that there is an operation input. Therefore, the time from the start of the operation input by the user until the electronic device shifts to the power-on state is shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example related to power control in a digital still camera.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a processing example when the power is turned on in the digital still camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing by a sub controller when the power is turned on.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an example of processing when power is turned on in a conventional electronic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Digital still camera, 2 ... Image recording / playback unit,
3 ... Display unit, 4 ... System control unit, 5 ... Input unit,
6 ... Power supply unit, 10 ... Memory card, 21 ... Imaging block, 22 ... Image signal processing unit, 23 ... Memory R / W, 31 ... LCD, 41 ... Main controller, 42 ... Sub Controller, 51 ... Power switch, 61 ... Battery, 62 ... DC / DC converter

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masafumi Fukuda             2-1-1, Umezono, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture             Cos Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akiko Ogata             1-5-2 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo             Within Ikuro Technology Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AB40 AC69 AC73                 5H410 CC02 DD02 EA02 EB01 EB11                       EB25 EB37 FF03 GG07 HH05                 5H730 AA12 FF09 XC02 XC20

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device, which is turned on by an operation input of a user, opens and closes in response to the operation input and outputs a switching signal in a closed state, and a power switch based on detection of the switching signal. Operation input determination means for determining whether or not the operation input is accurate, and initialization processing for shifting to the power-on state from the time when the switching signal is first detected by the operation input determination means in the power-off state. Is started, the initialization process is normally completed, and it is determined by the operation input determination means that the operation input is present,
An electronic device, comprising: a power-on control unit that shifts to the power-on state. 2. The operation input determination means performs a detection operation for the switching signal at regular time intervals, and when the switching signal is continuously detected a predetermined number of times, it is determined that the operation input is present. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a determination is made. 3. A voltage conversion means for converting a supply voltage from the power source into a predetermined voltage and outputting the voltage to each circuit in the electronic device, the initialization processing under the control of the power-on control means. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage conversion means is turned on at the start. 4. The system further comprises system control means for controlling each circuit in the electronic device in the power-on state, and in the initialization processing, after the voltage conversion means is in the on-state, the system further comprises: The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein power supply from the voltage conversion means to the system control means is started. 5. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein when the power supply is turned on, power supply from the voltage conversion means to each circuit in the electronic device is started. 6. An image pickup apparatus for recording a picked-up image, wherein a power switch that opens and closes according to an operation input by a user and outputs a switching signal in a closed state, and the operation input based on detection of the switching signal. And an operation input determination means for determining whether the switching signal is first detected in the power-off state by the operation input determination means, and an initialization process for transitioning to the power-on state is started. When the initialization processing is normally completed and it is determined by the operation input determination means that the operation input is made,
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a power-on control unit that shifts to the power-on state. 7. The operation input determination means performs a detection operation for the switching signal at regular time intervals, and when the switching signal is continuously detected a predetermined number of times, it is determined that there is the operation input. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a determination is made. 8. A power supply control method for controlling on / off of a power supply in an electronic device, wherein a switching signal output by closing a power supply switch in response to an operation input by a user is detected at regular time intervals. Then, from the time when the switching signal is first detected, start the initialization process for transitioning to the power-on state, the initialization process is normally completed, and the switching signal is a predetermined number of times continuously. A power supply control method, wherein the electronic device is shifted to the power-on state when detected.