JP2005274903A - Portable apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable apparatus in which the service life of a battery can be extended by automatically turning on/off a power supply within prescribed time including the ejecting operation of the portable apparatus from a portable holder and within a prescribed time including the storing operation of the portable apparatus in the portable holder. <P>SOLUTION: A power supply switch 102 is formed on the surface of a digital camera 10. An operation part 11b for operating the power supply switch 102 in accordance with the ejecting operation or storing operation of the digital camera 10 is formed on the portable holder 11. When the ejecting operation of the digital camera 10 from the stored state in the portable holder 11 is performed, the power supply switch 102 is turned on by the operation part 11b so that the digital camera 10 can be instantaneously turned to a usable state. Since the digital camera 10 is loaded with an automatic power off function, power supply is gradually interrupted with the lapse of time even when the power supply switch 102 is turned on by the operation part 11b in the stored state of the digital camera 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable device including a portable device body including a built-in battery and a circuit that operates by receiving power from the built-in battery, and a portable holder that detachably accommodates the portable device body.

  When I go on a trip, I often go with my camera. There are a wide variety of cameras, from small cameras to single-lens reflex cameras, and they carry their own cameras. Recently, there is a mobile phone equipped with a camera, and such a portable device is put in a pocket or the like when not in use and taken out from the pocket when in use.

  Some people who carry portable devices attach a portable holder to a belt or the like, and carry the portable device main body in the portable holder. The portable holder attached to this belt is convenient for carrying the portable device body, but when in use, the portable device body is taken out of the portable holder and the switch provided on the portable device body is operated. Then, it is a little inconvenient. In some cases, the power supply is inadvertently stored in the portable holder.

  Therefore, a switch that is operated by magnetism in the mobile device body and a magnetic member in the mobile holder, and when the mobile device body is stored in the mobile holder, the power is turned off by disconnecting the switch and the mobile device body is taken out from the mobile holder. In such a case, a technique for turning on the power by connecting the switch has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in Patent Document 1, once the portable device main body is taken out from the portable holder, the power remains on. In some cases, power is supplied from the battery until the portable device main body is accommodated in the portable holder again. to continue. If unnecessary power is supplied in this way, the life of the battery is shortened.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-111080

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a battery that is automatically controlled to be turned on and off within a predetermined time including when it is taken out from the portable holder and within a predetermined time including when it is stored in the portable holder. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable device capable of prolonging the service life.

The portable device of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a portable device body including a built-in battery and a circuit that operates upon receiving power from the built-in battery, and a portable holder that detachably accommodates the portable device body A portable device equipped with
The portable device body receives power and supplies power from the built-in battery to the circuit, and stops supplying power to the circuit when there is no operation to the portable device body for a predetermined time. Auto power off means to
The portable holder includes an operation unit for operating the power switch by an operation of taking out the portable device main body from a state accommodated in the portable holder.

  According to the portable device of the present invention, when an operation of taking out the portable device body from the state in which the portable device is housed in the portable holder is performed, the power switch is operated by the operation unit included in the portable holder, and the power to the circuit is Supply is started. When the portable device main body is taken out from the portable holder and used immediately, the use is started immediately. However, even if the portable device is taken out from the portable holder, the portable device main body is removed from the portable holder after a predetermined time. When the operation is not performed, the Aode power-off means works and the power is not automatically supplied from the battery.

  After the auto power-off means has been activated, when the user wants to use the portable device body, the power switch may be operated again by hand. In addition, when the power switch is operated and power is supplied from the battery, if the storage operation of the mobile device body to the mobile holder is performed, the power is turned on when the mobile device body is stored in the mobile holder. The switch is operated by the operation unit of the portable holder, so that no power is supplied from the battery. Further, the portable device main body may be accommodated in the portable holder while the auto power off means is in operation. At that time, after the power switch is operated on the operation unit of the portable holder, power is supplied from the battery for a predetermined time, but when the portable device main body is accommodated in the portable holder, Since the operation is not performed even after a predetermined time, the auto power-off function works and the power supply from the battery is not performed.

  Then, the power on / off is automatically controlled within a predetermined time including when the portable holder is taken out, and within a predetermined time including when the portable holder is stored, and the power is kept on. Battery life can be extended.

  Further, the portable device body has a power cut-off structure that receives a mechanical interruption of the connection between the built-in battery and the circuit, and the portable holder is used for accommodating the portable device body in the portable holder. Accordingly, the built-in battery is disconnected from the built-in battery and the circuit by acting on the power cut-off structure, and the operation of the power cut-off structure is stopped in response to an operation of taking out the portable device body from the portable holder. And the above circuit are preferably connected.

  Then, when the portable device main body is accommodated in the portable holder with the auto power off functioning, the portable holder acts on the power cutoff structure of the portable device main body to connect the built-in battery and the circuit. Is cut off mechanically and the supply of power from the battery is cut off immediately, so that the power consumed for auto power off is reduced and the battery life is further extended.

   As described above, the power on / off is automatically controlled within a predetermined time including when the portable holder is removed and within a predetermined time including when the portable holder is stored. A portable device capable of extending the life is realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the mobile device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a mobile device 1 including a mobile device body 10 and a mobile holder 11. Here, a digital camera is taken as an example of the mobile device body 10.

  The portable device 1 includes a digital camera 10 that includes a built-in battery and a circuit that operates by receiving power from the built-in battery, and a portable holder 11 that removably accommodates the digital camera 10. The portable holder 11 has an attachment portion 11c so that it can be attached to a belt or the like. When the attachment portion 11c is attached to a belt or the like and the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the portable holder 11, it can be worn and carried without using both hands. A power switch 102 is provided on the side surface of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the portable holder 11 supports the digital camera 10 when the digital camera 10 is accommodated, together with the support 11a. An operation unit 11b that also serves as a support unit for supporting the digital camera 10 from the lateral direction is provided. When the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the portable holder 11, the digital camera 10 is accommodated such that the surface of the digital camera 10 is in contact with the inner surface of the portable holder 11 including the support portion 11a and the operation portion 11b.

  In this example, an example in which a power switch 102 that performs a toggle operation, for example, is applied as a power switch is shown. The power switch 102 is turned on once and continuously operated for the second time. When turned on, it is switched on and off alternately, such as turning off.

  When the mobile device is configured to take out the digital camera 10 from the state in which it is stored in the mobile holder 11, the power switch 102 and the operation unit 11 b come into contact with each other when the digital camera 10 is taken out from the mobile holder 11. Sometimes, the power switch 102 is operated by the operation unit 11b to switch from off to on, or from on to off.

  In addition, a photographing lens 104 is provided in the center of the digital camera 10 accommodated in the portable holder 11, and a display screen is also provided on the back side, which is not shown in FIG. The display screen replaces the viewfinder. A release button 103 is also provided along with the power switch 102.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the power switch 102 comes into contact with the operation portion 11b of the portable holder 11 when the digital camera is taken out (in the direction of arrow A in the figure) and when the digital camera is accommodated (in the direction of arrow B in the figure). FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the power switch 102 comes into contact with the operation unit 111, the power switch 102 that has been turned off is operated by the operation unit 11b to be turned on, and power is supplied to the digital camera 11 from the built-in battery. The Similarly, the power switch 102 is operated and power is supplied from the built-in battery because it comes into contact when the battery is housed. However, since the auto power-off function described later works, the power of the battery exceeds a predetermined time. Will not continue to be supplied. Therefore, when the digital camera is taken out of the portable holder or when the portable device is stored in the portable holder, the power switch 102 is not kept on after that and the battery power is wasted. There will be no such thing. Further, it is conceivable that the power switch 102 is in an on state when being stored in the portable holder 11, and the operation unit 11b switches the power switch 102 to an off state in accordance with the take-out operation. In this case, after the digital camera 10 is taken out, the power switch 102 may be operated by hand to be switched on.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital camera 10 is provided with a mode switch 1030 for switching between a shooting mode and a playback mode. When the switch 1030 is switched to the shooting mode 1030a, the digital camera 10 functions as a camera. When the operation mode is switched to the reproduction mode side 1030b, an image based on image data recorded on a recording medium described later is displayed on the display screen. Here, assuming that the mode switch 1030 is switched to the shooting mode 1030a, the camera operation and the auto power off function of the digital camera 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 10.

  In the digital camera 10 of this embodiment, the CPU controls the operation of the digital camera 10 in an integrated manner based on the procedure of a program stored in the ROM in the CPU 100.

  First, when the CPU 100 detects that the power switch 102 is operated by the operation unit 11b of the portable holder 11 in accordance with the operation to be taken out from the portable holder 11 and the power switch 102 is switched from the off state to the on state, the CPU 100 Is supplied to the DC / DC converter 101. Then, from the DC / DC converter 101 to the CCD 105, timing generator (hereinafter referred to as TG) 1051, CDSAMP circuit 1052, A / D circuit 1053, image signal processing circuit 106, image reproduction processing circuit 107, driver 108a, display device 108, AF detection circuit. Power is supplied to each circuit such as 109a and AE & AWB detection circuit 109b, and a subject in a direction in which the photographing lens 104 is directed is displayed on the display screen of the display device. When the subject to which the photographic lens 104 is directed is displayed on the display screen of the display device 108, the AF detection circuit 109a shown in FIG. 3 is operated and the focus lens of the photographic lens 104 is always set to the focus position. The displayed image is displayed on the display screen, and the aperture (not shown) is switched according to the brightness detection result by the AE & AWB detection circuit 109b to always display the image with the appropriate exposure on the display screen of the display device 108. I am also doing so.

  Thus, the focus adjustment and the exposure adjustment are always performed, and the image data output from the CCD 105 at every predetermined time is sent to the A / D circuit 1053, the image signal processing circuit 106, the image reproduction processing circuit 107, and the drive circuit 108a. The image is supplied to the display device 108 via the display device, and on the display screen of the display device 108, the subject based on the image data is switched every predetermined time and displayed one after another. Shooting is performed by pressing the release button 103 while viewing the subject displayed on the display screen.

  Further, as described above, this digital camera has an auto power off function, and the auto power off function realizes a long battery life. In this embodiment, when the CPU 100 determines that there is no operation on the digital camera body 10 over a predetermined time even though power is supplied from the DC / DC converter 101 to each circuit, based on the determination. Then, the CPU 100 is configured to issue an instruction to stop the supply of power to the DC / DC converter 101. Here, when the automatic power-off function is activated, whether or not the predetermined time has been exceeded is determined based on the timing at which the CPU 100 issues a power supply instruction to each circuit to the DC / DC converter 101. The determination is made based on the timer value.

  In this way, the use of the digital camera 10 is started as soon as it is taken out from the portable holder 11, and the auto power-off function is activated when the portable device is not operated even after a predetermined time has elapsed. The power from the built-in battery is not automatically supplied.

  However, in this embodiment, power is constantly supplied to the CPU 100 from the built-in batteries 1000a and 1000b and the power switch 102 is turned on at all times. For this reason, power is always supplied from the built-in battery 1000 to the CPU 100, but the CPU 100 is made to consume little power from the built-in battery by using a low power consumption type CPU 100.

  Next, the flow of shooting data when shooting with this digital camera by operating the release button 103 will be briefly described.

  In response to the release button 103 being operated, the CPU 100 instructs the timing generator (hereinafter referred to as TG) 1051 to supply a release timing signal from the timing generator 1051 to the CCD 105. When a predetermined exposure time has elapsed after receiving this timing signal, an image signal representing the subject image is output from the CCD 105 to the subsequent CDSAMP circuit 1052. In the CDSAMP circuit 1052 that has received the image signal, the noise of the image signal is reduced, and the image signal with the noise reduced is supplied to the A / D circuit 1053. The A / D circuit 1053 performs conversion from an analog image signal to a digital image signal, and supplies the digital image signal to the image signal processing circuit. The image signal processing circuit 106 performs image processing on the image signal, and the image signal subjected to the image processing is further supplied to the compression / decompression processing circuit 1062 and the media control circuit 1063 via the bus 1061 for recording. It is recorded on the medium 1064.

  The above description has been made when the mode switch 1030 is switched to the shooting mode. However, when the playback mode is switched, an image based on any one of the image data recorded on the recording medium is displayed. Displayed on the screen.

  By providing the auto power off function in this way, it is possible to prevent the battery power from being wasted and to realize a portable device capable of extending the battery life.

  By using the auto power-off function described above, the battery life can be extended, but the connection between the battery terminal and the battery electrode that is responsible for the connection between the built-in battery of the digital camera and each circuit is mechanically connected. If it can be interrupted, the connection between the battery and each circuit is immediately interrupted without activating the auto power-off function, and it is possible to further extend the life of the battery.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which, in addition to the configuration described in FIGS. 1 to 3, a configuration for mechanically disconnecting the connection between the battery and each circuit is added.

  FIG. 4 shows a power cut-off structure including a positive electrode 1001a of one of the built-in batteries 1000a and a battery contact 10b of the digital camera, and a protrusion provided on the portable holder 11 in the power cut-off structure. A state in which 10d is applied is shown.

  Two built-in batteries 1000a and 1000b are loaded in the digital camera 10, and these built-in batteries 1000a and 1000b are connected to face in opposite directions as shown in FIG. Generally, the battery 1000 has a plus electrode and a minus electrode. Here, the plus electrode 1001b of one built-in battery 1000b is connected to the battery contact 10d, and the minus electrode 1002a of the other built-in battery 1000a is connected to the battery contact 10d. A series connection is realized. On the other battery contact side inside the digital camera 10, a battery contact 10c to which the minus electrode 1002b of one built-in battery 1000b is connected and a battery contact 10b to which the plus electrode 1001a of the other built-in battery 1001a is connected. Each is provided.

  Each circuit shown in FIG. 3 is connected between the battery contact 10b and the battery contact 10c, and power is supplied to each circuit.

  Here, the insulation protrusion 11d is made to act between the battery contact 10b that is closer to the portable holder 11 and the positive electrode 1001a of the other battery to achieve insulation.

  The portion that receives mechanical interruption of the connection between the positive electrode 1001a and the battery contact 10b corresponds to the power interruption structure according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an insulating protrusion 11d is provided on the portable holder 11, and the insulating protrusion 11d is interposed between the positive terminal 1001a of the built-in battery 1000a and the battery contact 10b through the slit 10a provided on the camera body. The built-in batteries 1000a and 1000b are disconnected from the respective circuits. Here, using the elasticity of the battery contact 10b, the insulation projection 11d is inserted to disconnect the electrode from the battery contact, or the insulation projection is removed according to the digital camera take-out operation. The electrode and the battery contact are connected.

  In this way, when the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the portable holder 11 by the accommodating operation, the connection between the positive electrode 1001a of the batteries 1000a and 1000b and the battery contact 10b with which the positive electrode 1001a contacts is disconnected. Thus, the supply of power from the batteries 1000a and 1000b to the circuit is completely stopped. Further, in response to the operation of taking out the digital camera 10 from the portable holder 11, the insulating protrusion 11d of the portable holder does not act on the power shutoff structure, the battery positive terminal and the battery terminal are connected, and the battery power is digital. Supplied to the camera.

  As described above, by causing the portable holder to mechanically cut off the connection of the power cut-off structure of the digital camera, a structure in which power supply is reliably cut off without using the auto power off function is realized. Then, the power from the battery is supplied to each circuit only when the digital camera is taken out of the portable holder, and when the digital camera is accommodated in the portable holder, the battery and each circuit are completely disconnected, and the battery Power is not wasted. As a result, compared with the case where the built-in battery is disconnected from each circuit in the digital camera by using the auto power off function, the battery power is not completely consumed during storage, and the battery life is further increased.

  In the present embodiment, a digital camera is taken as an example of the mobile device body, but it may be a mobile phone with a camera or an electronic notebook.

1 is an external view of a mobile device 1 including a mobile device body 10 and a mobile holder 11. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the power switch 101 contacted the operation part 111 at the time of taking out. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a digital camera 10. It is a figure which shows the example which added the structure which interrupts | blocks the connection of the battery and each circuit mechanically in addition to the structure demonstrated in FIGS.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable apparatus 10 Digital camera 10a Slit 10b 10c 10d Battery contact 100 CPU
1000a 1000b Battery 1001a Positive electrode of battery 1000a 101 DC / DC converter 102 Power switch 103 Release button 104 Shooting lens 105 Imaging element (CCD here)
1051 Timing generator (TG)
1052 CDSAMP circuit 1053 A / D circuit 106 Image signal processing circuit 1061 Bus 1062 Compression / decompression processing circuit 1063 Media control circuit 1064 Recording medium 107 Image reproduction processing circuit 108 Display device 108a Drive circuit 11 Portable holder 11a Support unit 11b Operation unit 11c Attachment Part 11d Insulation protrusion

Claims (2)

In a portable device comprising a built-in battery and a portable device body comprising a circuit that operates by receiving power from the built-in battery, and a portable holder for detachably storing the portable device body,
The portable device main body is operated to supply power to the circuit with power from the built-in battery, and the supply of power to the circuit is stopped when there is no operation over the portable device body for a predetermined time. Auto power off means to
A portable device, wherein the portable holder includes an operation unit for operating the power switch by an operation of taking out the portable device main body from a state accommodated in the portable holder. The mobile device body has a power cutoff structure that receives a mechanical cutoff of the connection between the built-in battery and the circuit,
The portable holder acts on the power cut-off structure in response to an accommodating operation of the portable device main body in the portable holder to cut off the connection between the built-in battery and the circuit, and the portable device main body from the portable holder. 2. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the power cut-off structure is stopped in response to a take-out operation to connect the built-in battery and the circuit.

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