JP2005257601A - Battery drive type electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform an warning informing a user of the necessity for exchange or charging of a battery with proper timing. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera is provided with a battery voltage detecting circuit for outputting a warning signal, in response to battery voltage. When a user performs power source off operation, output voltage of the battery is measured with the battery voltage detecting circuit, with which it is detected whether the measured voltage is a previously set reference voltage or smaller. When the measured voltage is the reference voltage or smaller, a warning signal is transmitted to a microcomputer 41 from the battery voltage detecting circuit. The mircocomputer 41 displays an ending screen 30 incorporating a warning message 31, and a warning image 32 accelerating charging of the battery is displayed on an LCD panel for a fixed time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery-driven electronic device. More specifically, when it is detected that the remaining capacity of the battery is equal to or less than a predetermined capacity, a warning is issued to the user that the battery needs to be replaced or charged. The present invention relates to an electronic device provided with means.

  2. Description of the Related Art Digital cameras that record captured images obtained by imaging a subject with an imaging means such as a CCD as digital data on a memory card have become widespread. Since such a digital camera uses a battery or a rechargeable battery as a power source, there is a limit to the power that can be continuously supplied to each circuit of the camera. For this reason, if the battery is not replaced or charged before the battery is completely consumed, the battery runs out during shooting, the camera becomes unusable, and an important photo opportunity may be missed.

  In order to avoid such problems, many conventional digital cameras display an icon that schematically shows the remaining battery capacity on the built-in display continuously or temporarily, so that the user can replace or charge the battery. It warns that it is necessary. However, since the icon is relatively small and inconspicuous so that the display does not interfere with shooting, the user may not be aware of the warning display. I often noticed that.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, when the remaining capacity of the battery is equal to or less than a predetermined capacity, a warning-dedicated image is displayed so as to make the user expect that the warning is displayed, and the user is actively warned. I try to make it aware. In addition, since the warning timing is set to the time when shooting is not possible, such as when the power is turned on, when the flash is charged, or when image data is written to the recording medium after shooting, the display does not interfere with shooting. Never become.

JP 2000-236458 A

  However, if the warning display and the strobe charging are performed in parallel as in Patent Document 1, a large amount of power is consumed. In addition, even if the need to replace the battery is indicated by a warning display when the power is turned on, if you are not carrying a replacement battery on the road or outdoors, or if AC power is not available, remove the battery for a while. There is no other way to deal with it than to consume as much power as possible.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery-driven electronic device that can give a warning that a battery needs to be replaced or charged at an appropriate timing and can reliably present the warning to a user. .

  In achieving the above object, the battery-driven electronic device according to the present invention has a remaining capacity detecting means for detecting a remaining capacity of a replaceable or rechargeable battery, and the remaining capacity of the battery is not more than a preset capacity. When a battery is detected, the battery is provided with a warning means for warning that the battery needs to be replaced or charged, and a warning is given based on the remaining battery capacity when the power is turned off to turn off the power of the device body. Features. The warning means preferably displays a warning message and a warning image for prompting replacement or charging of the battery for a certain period of time on a display device provided in the apparatus main body.

  The recording means for recording data in the internal memory or the storage medium, the second remaining capacity detection means for detecting the remaining recording capacity of the internal memory or the storage medium, and the remaining recording capacity of the internal memory or the storage medium are preset. And a second warning means for warning that the remaining recordable capacity of the built-in memory or storage medium is close to zero when it is detected that the remaining capacity of the battery is less than the remaining capacity. And a warning based on the remaining capacity of the built-in memory or storage medium. The second warning means may display a warning message for calling attention to the remaining recordable capacity of the built-in memory or the storage medium and information on the remaining recordable capacity for a certain period of time on a display device provided in the apparatus main body. preferable.

  According to the present invention, when the power is turned off, a warning message for prompting replacement or charging of the battery and a warning image are displayed on the display device for a certain period of time, so that a warning can be reliably presented to the user. Thus, the user can recognize the necessity of battery replacement or charging at an optimal timing without overlooking the warning display.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of a digital camera 10 to which the present invention is applied, a lens barrel 12 incorporating a photographing lens 11 and a strobe light emitting unit 13 for emitting strobe light are provided. The lens barrel 12 is retracted into the camera body when the power of the digital camera 10 is off, and is extended forward from the camera body when the power is turned on. Behind the lens barrel 12, a CCD image sensor as an imaging means is arranged. A slot 15 in which a memory card 14 is set is provided on the side surface of the digital camera 10.

  A release button 16 and a shooting mode selection dial 17 having a donut shape so as to surround the outer periphery of the release button 16 are provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 10. By rotating the shooting mode selection dial 17, a plurality of shooting modes can be selected according to the shooting scene.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an operation unit 27 including a finder eyepiece window 28, an LCD panel 29, a power button 24, a mode lever 25, and the like is provided on the back of the digital camera 10. The mode lever 25 is an operation member that switches between a photographing mode for recording a photographed image captured by the CCD image sensor on a memory card and a reproduction mode for reproducing and displaying the image recorded on the memory card on the LCD panel 29.

  In addition to being used for image reproduction, the LCD panel 29 also functions as an electronic viewfinder that displays a through image for framing in the shooting mode. The LCD panel 29 is also used for displaying a setting screen for making various settings and an ending screen described later.

  The general-purpose key 26 includes four keys 26a to 26d arranged on the top, bottom, left, and right, and functions as a cursor shift key for selecting an image to be reproduced or selecting an item in the setting screen.

  For example, a rechargeable battery is used as the battery of the digital camera 10 and is detachable from the camera body. A charging device (not shown) is built in the camera body, and it is possible to charge the battery with the battery loaded in the camera body using an AC adapter. It is also possible to remove the battery from the camera body and charge it using a dedicated charging device. In addition, it is good also as a structure using commercially available dry batteries, such as AA type, instead of a rechargeable battery.

  The digital camera 10 has a function of measuring the output voltage of the battery, and can check the remaining capacity of the battery. The battery output voltage is measured when the camera body is turned off. The digital camera 10 compares the measured voltage with a preset voltage (hereinafter referred to as a reference voltage) that recommends battery charging. When the measured voltage is equal to or lower than the reference voltage, it is necessary to charge the battery. Implement the warning.

  As a method for indicating the warning, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, a warning message 31 such as “The battery level is insufficient! Please charge the battery!” And a battery with a small capacity are schematically shown. A warning image 32 that blinks the displayed image is incorporated into an ending screen 30 indicating that the power is turned off, and is displayed for a predetermined time. Such warning display allows the user to recognize the necessity of battery charging and to prompt use after charging. The digital camera 10 can freely select and combine the warning message and the warning image or change the display method thereof by setting operation. When using a replaceable battery, as shown in FIG. 3B, for example, a warning message 33 such as “The battery level is insufficient! Please prepare a replacement battery!” May be selected. It is also possible to set the display time of the ending image 30 indicating a warning.

  FIG. 4 shows the electrical configuration of the digital camera 10. The microcomputer 41 controls each part of the digital camera 10. The ROM 41a stores a control program, various image data, and the like. Various image data includes a setting screen, an ending screen 30, a warning image 32, and the like. The microcomputer 41 performs control according to the steps described in the control program based on the operation signal input from the operation unit 27. The RAM 41b is a working memory for the microcomputer 41 to execute the control program. .

  The lens barrel 12 and the photographic lens 11 are driven by a drive motor 42, and the lens barrel 12 is extended and retracted, and focus adjustment is performed. The microcomputer 41 controls the rotation amount of the drive motor 42 via the motor driver 43. The diaphragm 44 is driven by an AE control circuit (not shown).

  A CCD image sensor 45 is disposed behind the photographic lens 11. As is well known, the CCD image sensor 45 has a photocathode formed by arranging a large number of light receiving elements in a matrix, and photoelectrically converts subject light imaged on the photocathode.

  The CCD image sensor 45 is driven by a CCD driver 46. The charge accumulation time (exposure time) of the CCD image sensor 45 is determined according to the electronic shutter drive signal supplied from the CCD driver 46. Then, in synchronism with the vertical transfer clock and horizontal transfer clock supplied from the CCD driver 46, the charges accumulated for each pixel are output as serial imaging signals line by line.

  The image pickup signal output from the CCD image sensor 45 is input to the A / D converter 48 after noise is removed by the correlated double sampling process and amplified by the amplifier 47. The A / D converter 48 digitally converts the image pickup signal to generate image data, which is sequentially input to the image data processing circuit 49. The image data processing circuit 49 performs image processing such as matrix calculation processing, white balance adjustment, and gamma correction on the input image data. The processed image data is temporarily stored in the frame memory 50.

  The LCD driver 53 outputs the image data stored in the frame memory 50 or the memory card 14 or the image data in the ROM 41a to the LCD panel 29. A read / write (R / W) circuit 52 accesses the memory card 14 to write and read an image file.

  In the shooting mode, when the release button 16 is fully pressed, the image data stored in the frame memory 50 is sent to the compression / decompression processing circuit 52. The compression / decompression processing circuit 52 performs a compression process on the image data and outputs it to the R / W circuit 52. The R / W circuit 52 writes the compressed image file into the memory card 14.

  In the reproduction mode, the compression / decompression processing circuit 52 performs an expansion process on the image file read from the memory card 14 by the R / W circuit 52 and then outputs the image file to the LCD panel 29 via the LCD drive 53.

  The power supply circuit 55 supplies the power of the battery 54 to each circuit of the digital camera 10 while the power supply of the camera body is on. The battery voltage detection circuit 56 presses the power button 24 to turn off the power of the camera body, and at the same time, measures the output voltage of the battery 54 and detects whether the measured voltage is lower than the reference voltage. When the voltage of the battery 54 is equal to or lower than the reference voltage, a warning signal indicating a voltage drop is output to the microcomputer 41.

  The microcomputer 41 issues a warning according to the warning signal from the battery voltage detection circuit 56. The microcomputer 41 reads the warning message 31 and the warning image 32 urging the replacement of the battery 54 from the ROM 41a, incorporates them into the ending screen 30 of the LCD panel 29, and displays them for a predetermined time.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power button 24 is pressed to turn on the digital camera 10, power is supplied from the battery 54 to each circuit via the power circuit 55, and each unit can be operated. Then, a desired operation mode is selected, and the subject captured from the CCD image sensor 45 is imaged and recorded, and an image recorded on the memory card 14 is reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 29.

  When the power button 24 is pressed again to end the use of the digital camera 10, the battery voltage detection circuit 56 measures the output voltage V1 of the battery 54 and compares it with the reference voltage V0. When the battery voltage V1 is equal to or lower than the reference voltage V0, a warning signal indicating a voltage drop is output to the microcomputer 41. In response to the warning signal, the microcomputer 41 incorporates a warning message and a warning image for prompting charging of the battery 54 in the ending screen 30 and displays them on the LCD panel 29 for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the supply of power is stopped and the power is turned off.

  On the other hand, when the battery voltage V1 is higher than the reference voltage V0, the ending screen 30 is not displayed and the supply of power is immediately stopped and the power is turned off.

  In the said embodiment, although the warning was shown visually by displaying the ending screen 30 incorporating the warning message 31 and the warning image 32, the presentation method of a warning is not limited to this. For example, a warning message or a warning sound may be generated from a speaker, and the warning may be presented audibly. Moreover, you may make it perform a warning combining such an audio | voice warning and a visual warning like the said embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, a warning that the battery needs to be charged is issued in response to the power-off operation to turn off the power. However, in addition to this timing, the same warning is given to the power-on operation to turn on the power. May be performed.

  In the above embodiment, when the output voltage V1 of the battery 54 is higher than the reference voltage V0, the power is turned off immediately without displaying the ending screen 30. However, as shown in FIG. A message 61 to that effect may be incorporated into the ending screen 60 and displayed for a certain period of time.

  The digital camera 10 records image data obtained by imaging a subject on the memory card 14. A storage medium such as a memory card cannot be used continuously like a battery because the number of recorded images is limited. In the second embodiment, the digital camera 70 issues a warning that the battery needs to be charged or replaced (hereinafter referred to as a first warning process), and that the remaining recordable number of memory cards is close to zero. Make a warning.

  Since the digital camera 70 is configured substantially the same as the digital camera 10 described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, detailed description thereof is omitted. The digital camera 70 has a function of measuring the remaining recording capacity (remaining recording capacity) of the memory card 14 and a function of calculating the number of images that can be recorded (remaining recordable number) with respect to the measured remaining recording capacity. ing. The remaining recording capacity of the memory card 14 is measured when the power of the camera body is turned off, as in the case of measuring the remaining capacity of the battery. The digital camera 70 compares the remaining recording capacity of the memory card 14 with a preset non-zero capacity (hereinafter referred to as a reference capacity), and when the remaining recording capacity is less than the reference capacity, A warning that the recordable capacity is close to zero is implemented.

  As shown in FIG. 7, for example, a warning message 71 such as “the remaining capacity of the memory card is insufficient!” And information 72 indicating the remaining recordable number of sheets according to the image size and image quality mode are used. Are incorporated in the ending screen 70 and displayed for a predetermined time. The image size includes 3M (2,048 × 1,536 pixels), 2M (1,600 × 1,200 pixels), and the image quality mode includes fine, normal, and basic. Such warning display can prompt the user to pay attention to the remaining recordable number of memory cards. The digital camera 70 can change the display method of the warning message 71 and the remaining recordable sheet number information 72 by a setting operation. Similarly to the first warning process, the display time of the ending image 70 indicating a warning can be set.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the power of the digital camera 70 is turned on, power is supplied to each circuit, and each unit can operate. Then, a desired operation mode is selected, the subject is imaged, and an image recorded on the memory card 14 is reproduced and displayed on the LCD panel 29.

  When the power button 24 is pressed again to end the use of the digital camera 70, the first warning process is executed, followed by the second warning process. In the second warning process, the remaining capacity of the battery 54 and the remaining recording capacity P1 of the memory card 14 are measured. The remaining recordable number of sheets is calculated from the remaining recording capacity P1. When the remaining recording capacity P1 is equal to or less than the reference capacity P0, a warning message 71 for calling attention to the remaining recordable number of sheets of the memory card 14 and an ending image 70 displaying the remaining recordable sheet number information 72 are displayed for a certain period of time. The

  On the other hand, when the remaining recording capacity P1 exceeds the reference capacity P0, as shown in FIG. 9, the ending image 70 displaying only the remaining recordable sheet number information 72 is displayed for a certain period of time. Thereafter, the supply of power is stopped and the power is turned off.

  In the second embodiment, a warning is given to the remaining recordable capacity of the memory card 14, but the target of the warning is not limited to a storage medium such as a memory card. For example, a memory built in the camera body may be targeted.

  In the above embodiment, the digital camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be widely applied to various electronic devices driven by a battery.

It is a front perspective view of a digital camera. It is a back surface top view of a digital camera. It is explanatory drawing of the ending screen displayed when a battery voltage is below a reference voltage. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a digital camera. It is a flowchart of the example which performs the warning to the effect that a battery charge is required. It is explanatory drawing of the ending screen displayed when a battery voltage exceeds a reference voltage. It is explanatory drawing of the ending screen displayed when the remaining imaging | photography possible number is below a reference number. 10 is a flowchart of an example in which a warning that the remaining number of shootable images on the memory card is close to zero is given. It is explanatory drawing of the ending screen displayed when the remaining imaging | photography possible number of sheets exceeds a reference number.

Explanation of symbols

10 Digital Camera 24 Power Button 29 LCD Panel 41 Microcomputer 54 Battery 55 Power Supply Circuit 56 Battery Voltage Detection Circuit

Claims (4)

A remaining capacity detecting means for detecting a remaining capacity of a replaceable or rechargeable battery; and when it is detected that the remaining capacity of the battery is not more than a preset capacity, the battery needs to be replaced or charged. An electronic device that operates with a battery as a power source.
A battery-driven electronic device characterized in that a warning is given based on a remaining battery capacity by the warning means during a power-off operation for turning off the power of the device body. A device is equipped with a display device,
2. The battery-powered electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the warning means displays a warning message and a warning image for prompting replacement or charging of the battery on the display device for a predetermined time. The remaining capacity detecting means is a first remaining capacity detecting means, and the warning means is a first warning means,
Recording means for recording data in the built-in memory or storage medium, second remaining capacity detection means for detecting the remaining recording capacity of the built-in memory or storage medium, and the remaining recording capacity of the built-in memory or storage medium are preset. A second warning means for providing a warning that the remaining recordable capacity of the built-in memory or the storage medium is close to zero when it is detected that the capacity is less than the capacity;
The warning is performed based on the remaining capacity of the battery by the first warning unit and the warning is performed based on the remaining capacity of the built-in memory or the storage medium by the second warning unit when the power is turned off. Item 2. A battery-driven electronic device according to Item 1. A device is equipped with a display device,
The second warning means displays a warning message for calling attention to the remaining recordable capacity of a built-in memory or a storage medium and information on the remaining recordable capacity on the display device for a certain period of time. The battery-driven electronic device according to claim 3.

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