JP2004013404A - Electronic equipment, laser pointer and power source control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electronic equipment, a laser pointer and a power source control method for operating an APO function even if a timer is temporarily stopped, saving electric power, dispensing with a re-input operation, and preventing the erroneous operation of equipment. <P>SOLUTION: In this laser pointer 10 with the timer, a CPU 21 has the function as a control means for temporarily stopping a timer function, and restarting the temporarily stopped timer function, and starts to count the APO function simultaneously when stopping a count of the timer when temporarily stopping the timer function, and controls power for clearing the count of the APO function simultaneously when restarting the count of the timer when restarting the timer function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device having an auto power off function, a laser pointer, and a power control method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a portable information terminal or a small electronic device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a battery that becomes a power source when there is no key input for a certain period of time, for example, about 5 minutes while the power is on. An automatic power-off (hereinafter, abbreviated as APO or APO function) function for automatically turning off the power in order to avoid unnecessary consumption of the power is mounted.
[0003]
Some recent electronic organizers and the like have a communication function of transmitting and receiving data to and from a personal computer or the like by externally connecting the personal computer or the like. If the APO function is activated in an electronic device having a communication function regardless of the communication state, the power will be turned off during the data communication and the communication data will be lost. There was a possibility to invite.
[0004]
Therefore, conventionally, there is known a technique in which the operation of the APO is prohibited during the instruction so that the APO does not operate during the execution of the instruction. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-186493 discloses a tape printer that prohibits the operation of the APO only during execution of a print command, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-78119 discloses an APO while data transmission / reception is being executed. Each prohibiting device is disclosed.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-80509 discloses a technique for avoiding unnecessary power consumption even during the processing of an instruction. A technique is disclosed in which the APO is stopped and the APO is activated.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional electronic device having the APO function, it is impossible to resume the APO function while the instruction is temporarily stopped and to resume the instruction after the APO operation. Means that power consumption cannot be substantially reduced by the APO function. For this reason, when taking a break at irregular intervals in a situation such as a long lecture, it is necessary in the prior art to temporarily clear the count and turn off the power, or hold the pause state.
[0006]
In the former case, it is necessary to add up the counts before and after the break in order to know the total time of the lecture, and in the latter case, the power is wasted and the device may operate unexpectedly due to erroneous operation of the device. For example, unexpected operation of a device, such as a laser pointer that emits a laser beam onto a screen or the like and gives an instruction to the human body depending on handling, is a serious defect in terms of safety.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can operate the APO function even when the timer is temporarily stopped. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device, a laser pointer, and a power supply control method that can prevent such a problem.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device having a timer function for measuring a set time and an auto power off function for turning off the power when there is no key input or the like for a certain period of time while the power is on, Control means for suspending the timer function and resuming the paused timer function, wherein the control means stops counting of the timer when the timer function is suspended, When the count of the power-off function is started and the timer function is restarted, the count of the timer is restarted and the count of the auto power-off function is cleared at the same time.
[0009]
More preferably, when the timer is restarted after the operation of the auto power-off function, if there is no timer count when the timer is temporarily stopped, the control means may operate the key that restarted the timer. Instead of turning on the power, the power may be turned on by operating the power key of the electronic device body.
A laser pointer according to the present invention includes a laser output unit in a case, and a laser pointer that emits a laser beam, wherein the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 and 2 is provided.
[0010]
Also, the power control method of the present invention is a power control method for an electronic device having a timer function for measuring a set time and an auto power off function, wherein the step of temporarily stopping the timer function and the method of temporarily stopping the timer function are performed. If the timer function is stopped, the step of stopping the counting of the timer and simultaneously starting the counting of the auto power off function, the step of restarting the temporarily stopped timer function, and the step of counting the timer when the timer function is restarted. And the step of clearing the count of the auto power off function at the same time as restarting.
In the electronic device, the laser pointer, and the power control method configured as described above, the APO operates even when the timer is temporarily stopped, and power consumption can be suppressed.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an electronic device, a laser pointer, and a power supply control method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a laser pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is an example in which the present invention is applied to an electronic device having an APO function and a laser pointer with a timer as a power supply control device.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, a laser pointer 10 (electronic device) with a timer has a main body 10a (case) with a display 11 composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) for a timer, and a plurality of timers (not shown here) for notifying the remaining time of the timer according to the light emission mode. Here, four light emitting display elements (LEDs) 12 for LED 12a to LED 12d), a laser output confirmation pilot lamp 13, a pointer key 14 as a laser output execution key, and a power key 15 for turning on / off the power of the laser pointer. , A remaining time display button 16 for displaying the remaining time on the display 11, a timer setting key button 17 including a cursor key for setting a timer, a start key 18 for starting counting of the timer, and a stop key for stopping the timer 19 is provided.
[0013]
The pointer key 14, the remaining time display button 16, the timer setting key button 17, the start key 18, and the stop key 19 constitute a keyboard 20, which is an input unit.
A laser light source, a laser unit (laser output means), a switch, a battery, and the like (all not shown) are housed inside the laser pointer main body 10a with a timer. When conduction is established, the laser light from the laser light source is emitted from the laser emission port 10b at the tip of the main body 10a. The user can point an arbitrary portion of the screen projected by the OHP / projector or the like by pointing the laser emission port 10b in a direction to be pointed and pressing the pointer key 14.
[0014]
The power key 15 is turned on when pressed once, and is turned off when pressed, for example, for about 2.3 seconds.
The display 11 is a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays the remaining time as a numerical value. The display 11 turns on the backlight when the remaining time display button 16 is pressed, so that the remaining time can be confirmed. In other cases, the remaining time is roughly grasped by the timer light-emitting display element (LED) 12, which is a schematic display section.
[0015]
The light-emitting display element (LED) 12 for a timer includes four LEDs 12a to 12d, and when the timer is started, all four LEDs are turned on. Each time a quarter of the timer setting time elapses, the LEDs are turned off one by one from the left. That is, the remaining time can be roughly grasped from the number of lit LEDs.
[0016]
The timer setting key button 17 sets the time of the timer and starts the timer simultaneously with the start of the lecture. When the user wants to roughly check the remaining time during the lecture, he or she checks the remaining time by using the LED 12 which is a schematic display unit. When the user wants to accurately check the remaining time, he presses the remaining time display button 16 and turns on the backlight. The light is turned on, and the remaining time is confirmed as a numerical value on the display 11.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the laser pointer 10 with a timer.
In FIG. 2, a laser pointer 10 with a timer includes a CPU 21 (control means) for controlling input / output / computation processing and APO functions of the entire device, a ROM 22 for storing various control programs, and stores numerical values and operation data of a counter. RAM 23, LCD display 24 having backlight 24a, CD driver 25 for driving LCD display 24, laser unit 26 (laser output means) for emitting laser light, pilot lamp 27 linked to laser emission, counts time It comprises an input section 29 such as a counter 28, a timer setting key button 17, a remaining time display button 16, a pointer key 13, and the like, and an input / output port (I / O port) 30 for sending a key input to the CPU 21.
[0018]
The CPU 21 is a control unit that controls the entire apparatus, and executes various processes such as a timer execution process using a memory storing data to be used for calculation in accordance with a program on the ROM 22.
Further, the CPU 21 controls each function of the laser pointer 10 with a timer, such as a key reading process, a power control process of the laser unit 26, a display process, a timer setting process, and a timer execution process, in accordance with a program on the ROM 22.
[0019]
In particular, in an electronic device having an APO function and a timer function, the CPU 21 has a function as control means for temporarily stopping the timer function and resuming the temporarily stopped timer function, and temporarily stopping the timer function. In this case, the count of the APO function is started at the same time as the count of the timer is stopped, and when the timer function is restarted, the power supply is controlled to restart the count of the timer and clear the count of the APO function. Further, in the laser pointer 10 of the present embodiment, in order to reliably prevent malfunction of the device due to erroneous operation, when the timer is restarted after the APO function is operated, or when the timer count is stopped when the timer is temporarily stopped, Controls that the power is not turned on by pressing the start key 18 that has restarted the timer, but is turned on by pressing the power key 15 of the main body 10a.
[0020]
The ROM 22 is a read-only semiconductor memory that stores programs necessary for the operation of the CPU 21, fixed data such as control data, CG for display, and the like.
The RAM 23 is used as a so-called working memory that temporarily stores data related to timer notification, data used for calculation, calculation results, and the like. The RAM 23 stores data necessary for the timer operation in a flag and a work area (to be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6).
[0021]
A part of the RAM 23 is composed of an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) which is an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory, and changes various specifications of the laser pointer 10 with a timer by changing a program to be written in the EEPROM. be able to.
The laser unit 26 is a drive circuit that drives a laser light source, and receives a laser irradiation signal from the CPU 21 to drive and output laser light.
Hereinafter, the operation of the laser pointer with a timer configured as described above will be described.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the APO counting process of the laser pointer with a timer, which is executed by the CPU 21. In the figure, S indicates each step of the flow.
After a reset or power ON, the APO counting process starts. First, the main power is turned on by the power key 15 in step S1. As a result, the laser pointer function is enabled, and the laser unit 26 can emit a laser in conjunction with the input of the pointer key 14. At this time, when the pointer key 14 is pressed, laser light is emitted from the laser emission port 10b.
[0023]
Next, in step S2, the timer is set by the timer setting key button 17. This timer setting is the time during which the laser pointer can be operated. Or it may be time to give a lecture. After setting the timer, the timer is started by depressing the start key 18 in step S3 in order to operate the timer. Thereby, operation of the laser pointer is also enabled. At this time, it is assumed that the count of the timer is displayed on the display 11 composed of an LCD. As a display method, the remaining time of the timer is displayed or the elapsed time is displayed. It is also used when displaying by the LED 12.
[0024]
Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the counting of the timer is temporarily stopped. When the timer is temporarily stopped by the stop key 19, APO (auto power off function) counting is started in step S5. If the timer is not to be temporarily stopped, the process proceeds to step S14 to continue counting until the timer ends in step S14.
[0025]
When the APO counting is started in step S5, it is determined in step S6 whether the APO counting is completed. A branch occurs when the counter of the APO reaches a predetermined time while the timer is temporarily stopped, and when the timer is restarted before the timer reaches the predetermined time. If the timer is to be restarted before the APO count is completed, the start key 18 is input in step S7, the APO count is stopped in step S8, and the APO count is cleared. Next, the counting of the timer is restarted in step S9, and the counting is continued until the count of the timer ends (step S14).
[0026]
On the other hand, if the count of the APO has reached the predetermined time while the timer is temporarily stopped in step S6, the count value of the timer is stored in the RAM 23 in step S10, and the power is turned off in step S11. Then, when the timer is operated from the power-off state before the APO operation, that is, when the timer is operated from the power-off state at the APO, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the start key 18 is pressed. It becomes possible by inputting. Next, the numerical value of the timer stored before the APO operation is read from the RAM 23 in step S13, and the counting of the timer is restarted in step S9.
[0027]
When the counting of the timer is completed in step S14, the counting of APO is started in step S15, and the process proceeds to step S16.
In step S16, the presence or absence of a key input during the counting of the APO is checked. If there is a key input, the counting of the APO is cleared in a step S17, and the process returns to the step S15 again to restart the counting of the APO.
[0028]
If there is no key input in step S16, APO count end processing is performed in step S18. Specifically, a state in which the timer has not been activated and there is no key input and the APO count has reached a predetermined time is regarded as APO count end, and in step S19, the power of the device is turned off and the present flow is ended. .
The availability of the pointer function in each step of the above-described processing flow and the flow of the operation state of the timer / APO counter will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.
[0029]
4 to 6 are diagrams showing operating states of the respective functions of the electronic device. The time table of FIG. 4 shows an example in which the timer is not used, and the time table of FIG. An example of resuming before the use / APO operation is shown, and the time table of FIG. 6 shows an example of resuming the pause of the timer after the use / APO operation. The APO counter is not operated during the operation of the timer, and if any key is input during the operation of the APO counter, the APO counter is cleared and starts counting from 0 again.
Example 1 in FIG. 4 shows a case in which after the timer is activated, the timer is not stopped and the timer is continuously counted until the timer ends, and then the APO is activated and the power is automatically turned off.
[0030]
In STEP 20, the power is turned on, the pointer function can be used and the timer can be set when the power is turned on, and the APO count is started. The pointer function can be used in any state as long as the power of the device is turned on.
[0031]
In STEP 21, a timer is set, and when the timer starts, the timer is counted and the APO count is cleared. During the timer operation, the APO is not counted. At this time, if the timer is not operating, the APO counting operation is continued unless a key input is performed. Therefore, if there is no key input for a certain period of time after the power is turned on, the power is turned off by the APO.
[0032]
In STEP 22, when the counting of the timer ends, the counting of the APO starts. Then, in STEP 23, when the APO count reaches a predetermined time, the power is turned off, and the pointer / timer function is disabled. Then, the counting of the APO ends. Here, if there is any key input during the APO count, the APO count is cleared and then restarted.
[0033]
Example 2 in FIG. 5 illustrates a case where the timer is temporarily stopped during the operation of the timer and the timer is restarted before the APO operates.
In STEP 24, the use of the pointer function and the setting of the timer are enabled when the power is turned on, and the counting of the APO is started. The pointer function can be used in any state as long as the power of the device is turned on (similar to STEP 20 above).
[0034]
In STEP 25, the timer is set, and when the timer is started, the timer is counted and the APO count is cleared. At this time, since the APO count continues unless a key input is performed, the power is turned off by the APO when there is no key input for a certain period of time after the power is turned on. Also, it is assumed that the APO is not counted while the timer is operating (similar to STEP 25 above).
[0035]
In STEP 26, the count of the timer is stopped by the stop key 19. Then, APO counting is started. Then, it is assumed that the counting of the APO is started and the timer is restarted by the start key before the APO operates.
[0036]
In STEP 27, the count of the timer is restarted by the start key 18, and the count of APO is cleared. At this time, the count of the APO stops because the timer has been activated.
In STEP28, the counting of the timer ends, and the counting of the APO is started (similar to STEP22 described above).
[0037]
In STEP 29, when the APO count reaches a predetermined time, the power is turned off, and the pointer / timer function is disabled. If any key input is made during the APO count, the APO count is cleared and then restarted.
[0038]
Example 3 in FIG. 6 shows a case where the timer is temporarily stopped by the stop key during the operation of the timer, and then the timer is restarted after the APO is operated.
In STEP 30, when the power is turned on, the pointer function can be used, the timer can be set, and the APO count is started. The pointer function can be used in any state as long as the power of the device is turned on (similar to STEP 20 above).
[0039]
In STEP 31, when the timer is set and the timer is started, the timer is counted and the APO count is cleared. At this time, since the APO count continues unless a key input is performed, the power is turned off by the APO when there is no key input for a certain period of time after the power is turned on. Also, it is assumed that the APO is not counted while the timer is operating (similar to STEP 21 above).
[0040]
In STEP 32, the count of the timer is stopped by the stop key 19, and the counting of APO is started (similar to STEP 26 described above). Thereafter, it is assumed that APO counting is started, the APO is activated, and the power is turned off.
In STEP 33, when the APO count reaches a predetermined time, the power is turned off, and the pointer / timer function is disabled. When the timer is temporarily stopped, the power is turned off after the value of the timer is stored in the RAM 23. If any key input is made during the APO count, the APO count is cleared and then restarted.
[0041]
In STEP 34, after the APO is operated and the power is turned off, when the start key 18 is pressed to resume the pause of the timer, the count data in the RAM 23 is read and the numerical value is stored. Reads the value, turns on the power of the device, and restarts the timer from the previous halfway.
[0042]
If the numerical value is not stored, in order to prevent malfunction, the power is not turned on by the start key 18, the power is turned on by the power key 15, and the timer is set again. More specifically, when the APO is activated and the power is turned off in a state where the timer is not set, pressing the start key 18 does not turn on the power. This is to prevent the power from being turned on unless the button is pressed. In other words, since it is not known what the state before the operation of the APO will be, or how it will be used at the time of resumption, such as when used by another person, it is necessary to prevent a malfunction of the laser pointer. Start from the first state with the power key. At this time, when the power is turned on, the counter of the APO is also cleared, but the count of the APO stops because the timer is operating.
[0043]
In STEP 35, the counting of the timer ends, and the counting of APO starts (similar to STEP 22 described above).
In STEP 36, when the APO count reaches a predetermined time, the power is turned off, and the pointer / timer function is disabled. If there is any key input during the APO count, the APO count is cleared and then restarted (similar to STEP 23 above).
[0044]
As described above, the laser pointer 10 with a timer according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 21 for controlling input / output / arithmetic processing and APO functions of the entire device, a ROM 22 for storing various control programs, a numerical value of a counter, and arithmetic data. 23, LCD display 24 and LCD driver 25, laser unit 26 for emitting laser light, pilot lamp 27 linked to laser emission, counter 28 for counting time, key button 17 for timer setting, display of remaining time The CPU 21 includes an input unit 29 such as the button 16 and the pointer key 13, and an input / output port 30 for sending a key input to the CPU 21. The CPU 21 suspends the timer function and resumes the paused timer function. With a timer function When the timer is stopped, the timer count is stopped and the APO function count is started at the same time. When the timer function is restarted, the timer control is restarted and the APO function count is cleared simultaneously. Even when the timer is temporarily stopped, the APO operates and power consumption can be suppressed.
Further, since the instruction can be restarted from the stopped state even after the APO has been activated, an operation such as re-input of the timer setting is not required.
[0045]
As described above, since the APO operates even when the electronic device is temporarily stopped, and the counting can be resumed from the state before the APO, a long interruption time, such as a timer used for a long lecture during a break. Suitable for equipment.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the timer is restarted after the APO function is operated, or when there is no timer count when the timer is temporarily stopped, the power is turned on by pressing the start key 18 which restarted the timer. Instead, control is performed to turn on the power by pressing the power key 15 of the main body 10a. Therefore, the APO works when left unattended in a temporary stop state, so that the device operates unexpectedly and is suitable for an electronic device such as a laser pointer that causes a safety problem.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, the electronic device having the APO function and the timer function is applied to the laser pointer with the timer. However, the electronic device having the APO function and the timer function is applicable to any electronic device having the APO function and the timer function. It is possible. Further, the computer according to the present embodiment may be incorporated as an extended function of a portable information terminal or a personal computer such as a PDA equipped with a power control device, a timer device, a laser pointer with a timer, or a power control method.
[0047]
Further, in the present embodiment, the plurality of light-emitting display elements are four LEDs, but are not limited to LEDs, and may have any number, shape, color, or the like.
Further, the circuit parts constituting the electronic device and the laser pointer, for example, the type and number of LEDs, the type and number of keys, the power-off time, the laser irradiation mechanism, and the like are not limited to the above-described embodiments.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the APO function can be operated even when the timer is temporarily stopped, and power saving, unnecessary re-input operation, and operation of the device due to erroneous operation can be prevented. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a laser pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a laser pointer according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an APO counting process of the electronic device, the laser pointer, and the power supply control method according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation state of each function of the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation state of each function of the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation state of each function of the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Laser pointer with timer (electronic equipment)
10a Body (case)
10b Laser emission port 11 Indicator 12, 12a-12d Light emitting display element (LED) for timer
13, 27 Laser output confirmation pilot lamp 14 Pointer key 15 Power key 16 Remaining time display button 17 Timer setting key button 18 Start key 19 Stop key 20 Keyboard 21 CPU (control means)
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 LCD display 24a Backlight 25 CD driver 26 Laser unit (laser output means)
28 counter 29 input unit 30 input / output port (I / O port)

Claims (4)

A timer function that measures the set time,
In an electronic device having an auto power off function of turning off the power when there is no key input or the like for a certain period of time while the power is on,
The timer function is temporarily suspended, and control means is provided for resuming the suspended timer function.
The control means, when temporarily stopping the timer function, stops counting the timer and simultaneously starts counting the auto power off function,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the timer function is restarted, the count of the timer is restarted and at the same time, the count of the auto power-off function is cleared. The control means, after the auto power-off function is activated, when the timer is restarted, when there is no timer count when the timer is temporarily stopped, the power is not turned on by operating the key that restarted the timer. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the power is turned on by operating a power key of the electronic device body. In a laser pointer that has laser output means in the case and emits laser light,
A laser pointer comprising the electronic device according to claim 1. A power supply control method for an electronic device having a timer function for measuring a set time and an auto power off function,
Suspending the timer function;
When the timer function is temporarily stopped, the step of stopping the timer count and simultaneously starting the count of the auto power off function;
Resuming the paused timer function;
A step of clearing the count of the auto power-off function at the same time as restarting the count of the timer when the timer function is restarted.

Images