JP2006345168A - Wireless system and method for operating it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an electric energy consumed by a receiver for a period making a flashing emission unnecessary, and to restrain the consumption of a battery supplying each circuit for the receiver with a power supply in a wireless system composed of a transmitter and the receiver. <P>SOLUTION: The transmitting unit 14 has a transmitter 22 outputting a spare information SI and a main information CI as light signals. The receiving unit 16 has a receiver 26 receiving the spare information SI and the main information CI and an operating section 30 operated in response to the main information CI received by the receiver 26. The receiving unit 16 sets the operating section 30 under an operable state from a low power-consumption state in response to the spare information SI received by the receiver 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless system including a transmitting device and a receiving device disposed at a position spatially separated from the transmitting device, and an operation method of the wireless system.

This type of wireless system is configured, for example, as a strobe flashing system. The strobe flash light emitting system includes, for example, a master flash light emitting device attached to a camera body and a remote flash light emitting device disposed at a position spatially separated from the master flash light emitting device. The master flash light emitting device has a transmission circuit that outputs an optical signal to the remote flash light emitting device in order to set the light emission state such as the light emission amount and the number of times of light emission of the remote flash light emitting device. The remote flash light emitting device receives a light signal transmitted from a transmission circuit, a flash light emitting circuit for flashing light to irradiate a subject, and controls the flash light emitting circuit based on the received light signal. A microcomputer and a battery for supplying power to each circuit are included (for example, Patent Document 1). In this type of wireless system, the microcomputer of the remote flash light emitting device has a signal generation unit that generates a high-frequency clock signal, for example, in order to respond to the received optical signal at high speed. For example, the microcomputer controls the flash light emitting circuit and the like using the clock signal generated by the signal generation unit.
JP 2000-78089 A

However, in the wireless system described above, the signal generation unit of the microcomputer generates the clock signal even when the optical signal is not received by the receiving circuit (period in which flashing is not required). There is a problem in that the life of the battery is shortened because the charging power of the battery is consumed by the microcomputer even during a period in which flashing is not required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a battery for supplying power to each circuit of a receiving device in a wireless system composed of a transmitting device and a receiving device by reducing the amount of power consumed by the receiving device during a period when flash emission is unnecessary. The purpose is to reduce the consumption of the.

According to another aspect of the wireless system of the present invention, the transmission device includes a transmission unit that outputs the preliminary information and the main information as optical signals. The receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives the preliminary information and the main information, and an operation unit that operates in response to the main information received by the receiving unit, and operates in response to the preliminary information received by the receiving unit. From the low power consumption state to the operable state.
In the operation method of the wireless system according to claim 8, the transmission unit of the transmission device outputs the preliminary information and the main information as an optical signal, the reception unit of the reception device receives the preliminary information and the main information, and the operation unit of the reception device is It operates in response to the main information received by the receiving unit, and sets the operating unit from the low power consumption state to an operable state in response to the preliminary information received by the receiving unit.

In the wireless system of claim 2 and the wireless system operation method of claim 9, the preliminary information and the main information are set in a state in which the operating unit is operable after the preliminary information is received by the receiving unit of the receiving device. The data are sequentially output from the transmission unit with a predetermined time interval until the transmission.
In the wireless system of claim 3 and the wireless system operation method of claim 10, the reception device reduces the operation unit when main information is not received by the reception unit until a predetermined time elapses after reception of the preliminary information. Return to power state.

In the wireless system of claim 4 and the wireless system operation method of claim 11, the receiving apparatus receives either the preliminary information or the next main information by the receiving unit until a predetermined time elapses after the main information is received. When not received, the operating unit is set to a low power consumption state.
In the wireless system of claim 5 and the operation method of the wireless system of claim 12, the main information output from the transmission unit of the transmission device is composed of a plurality of sub-information output from the transmission unit with a predetermined time interval. The receiving apparatus sets the operating unit to a low power consumption state when the receiving unit does not receive the subsequent sub information until a predetermined time elapses after receiving each sub information.

According to another aspect of the wireless system of the present invention, the operation unit of the receiving device is a flash light emitting unit that emits flash light to irradiate the subject with irradiation light, and the preliminary information and main information output from the transmission unit of the transmission device are flash light. This corresponds to setting information for setting the light emitting unit from a low power consumption state to a state capable of flashing, and light emission amount information representing the light emission amount of the flash light emitting unit.
According to another aspect of the wireless system of the present invention, the reception device includes a microcomputer having a signal generation unit that generates a clock signal, and the microcomputer of the reception device has a signal generation unit when the operation unit is set in an operable state. Is output to the operating unit, and when the operating unit is set to a low power consumption state, the signal generating unit stops generating the clock signal.

  The wireless system according to claim 1 and the wireless system operation method according to claim 8, wherein the reception device is operable when the preliminary information is received by the reception unit (period in which operation by the operation unit is necessary). And is operated in response to the main information received by the receiving unit. The reception device sets the operation unit to a low power consumption state when the preliminary information is not received (a period during which the operation by the operation unit is unnecessary). For this reason, it is possible to reduce the amount of power consumed by the receiving device during a period when the operation by the operating unit is unnecessary. As a result, consumption of a battery or the like that supplies power to the receiving device can be suppressed.

  In the wireless system according to claim 2 and the wireless system operation method according to claim 9, the preliminary information and the main information are necessary for a state in which the operating unit is operable after the preliminary information is received by the receiving unit of the receiving device. Output sequentially from the transmitter with a time interval. Therefore, the reception device can set the operation unit in an operable state before main information is received by the reception unit. For this reason, the operation unit can respond to the received main information without delay. As a result, it is possible to prevent the operating unit from malfunctioning.

  In the wireless system of claim 3 and the wireless system operation method of claim 10, the period in which the operating unit is set in an operable state is limited to a period until a predetermined time elapses after reception of the preliminary information. . That is, the period during which power necessary for operating the operating unit is supplied from a battery or the like that is a power source of the receiving apparatus is limited to a period until a predetermined time elapses after the reception of the preliminary information. For this reason, consumption of the battery etc. which are the power supplies of a receiver can be suppressed.

  In the wireless system of claim 4 and the wireless system operation method of claim 11, the period in which the operating unit is set to be operable is limited to a period until a predetermined time elapses after reception of the main information. . That is, the period during which power necessary for operating the operating unit is supplied from a battery or the like that is a power source of the receiving apparatus is limited to a period until a predetermined time elapses after the main information is received. For this reason, consumption of the battery etc. which are the power supplies of a receiver can be suppressed.

  In the wireless system of claim 5 and the wireless system operation method of claim 12, the period in which the operation unit is set to be operable is limited to a period until a predetermined time elapses after reception of each sub information. The That is, the period during which power necessary for operating the operating unit is supplied from a battery or the like as a power source of the receiving apparatus is limited to a period until a predetermined time elapses after each sub information is received. For this reason, consumption of the battery etc. which are the power supplies of a receiver can be suppressed.

  According to another aspect of the wireless system of the present invention, when the setting information is received (a period during which the flash emission by the flash emission unit is necessary), the reception device flashes to flash the flash emission unit based on the received emission amount information. Set the unit to a state where it can flash. When the setting information is not received (period in which the flash emission by the flash emission unit is not required), the reception device sets the flash emission unit to a low power consumption state. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the amount of power consumed by the receiving device during a period in which flash emission by the flash light emitting unit is unnecessary. As a result, consumption of a battery or the like that supplies power to the receiving device can be suppressed.

  According to another aspect of the wireless system of the present invention, the period during which the clock signal is generated by the signal generation unit is limited to the time when the operation unit is set in an operable state (a period in which operation by the operation unit is necessary). That is, a period during which power necessary for generating a clock signal from the battery or the like that is a power source of the receiving device is supplied to the signal generation unit is limited to a period during which the operation by the operation unit is necessary. For this reason, consumption of the battery etc. which are the power supplies of a receiver can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a wireless system of the present invention. In this example, the wireless system 100 is configured as a flash light emitting system that emits flash light to irradiate the subject with irradiation light when photographing the subject. The wireless system 100 includes a master flash light emitting device 14 connected to the hot shoe 12 of the camera body 10 and a remote flash light emitting device 16. For example, the hot shoe 12 is provided with a communication contact for transferring various information between the master flash light emitting device 14 and the camera body 10.

The master flash light emitting device 14 includes an operation unit 18, a master microcomputer 20 (hereinafter referred to as a master microcomputer 20), and a master flash light emission circuit 22.
The operation unit 18 functions as an interface for a photographer to input control information CI for controlling a remote flash light emitting circuit 30 (described later) of the remote flash light emitting device 16.
The master microcomputer 20 is connected to the communication contact of the hot shoe 12, the operation unit 18, and the master flash light emission circuit 22. For example, the master microcomputer 20 outputs the control information CI received from the operation unit 18 to the master flash light emission circuit 22 before photographing the subject. The control information CI may be given from the camera body 10 to the master microcomputer 20 via the communication contact of the hot shoe 12.

The master flash light emission circuit 22 is controlled by the master microcomputer 20 and includes a high voltage control circuit, a discharge tube Xe, and the like (not shown). The master flash light emission circuit 22 causes the high-voltage control circuit to charge the electric charge and causes the discharge tube Xe to flash using the charged electric charge.
The master flash light emitting circuit 22 receives the control information CI from the master microcomputer 20, and outputs the received control information CI to the remote flash light emitting device 16 as a control signal CS by flash emission of the discharge tube Xe.

  The master flash light emitting circuit 22 outputs a switching signal SS to the remote flash light emitting device 16 by flash light emission of the discharge tube Xe before outputting the control signal CS. The switching signal SS is a pulse signal for switching an operation mode of a remote microcomputer 28 (hereinafter referred to as a remote microcomputer 28) to be described later from the standby mode STB to the normal operation mode ORD. Details of the control signal CS and the switching signal SS will be described with reference to FIG.

The remote flash light emitting device 16 is disposed at a position away from the camera body 10 and the master flash light emitting device 14, and includes an operation unit 24, a remote receiving circuit 26, a remote microcomputer 28, a remote flash light emitting circuit 30, and the like.
The operation unit 24 functions as an interface for the photographer to input the control information CI. The control information CI input by the photographer is output from the operation unit 24 to the remote microcomputer 28.

The remote receiving circuit 26 sequentially photoelectrically converts the switching signal SS and the control signal CS received from the master flash light emitting circuit 22. The remote receiving circuit 26 converts the photoelectrically converted analog signal into a digital signal, and outputs the converted digital signal to the remote microcomputer 28 as switching information SI and control information CI.
The remote microcomputer 28 controls each circuit based on the control information CI received from the operation unit 24 or the remote reception circuit 26. The remote microcomputer 28 includes an oscillation circuit 32, a decoder 46 and a processor 48 shown in FIG. A crystal oscillator 34 that outputs a clock signal CLK1 (for example, 10 KHz) to the oscillation circuit 32 is connected to the remote microcomputer 28.

The oscillation circuit 32 generates a clock signal CLK2 (for example, 10 MHz) based on the clock signal CLK1 (for example, 10 KHz) received from the crystal oscillator 34, and outputs the generated clock signal CLK2 to each circuit.
The remote microcomputer 28 has two operation modes: a normal operation mode ORD for enabling the function of the oscillation circuit 32 to make the remote flash light emission circuit 30 flash, and a standby mode STB for enabling only the function of the remote reception circuit 26. have.

  In response to the switching information SI received from the remote receiving circuit 26, the remote microcomputer 28 switches the operation mode from the standby mode STB to the normal operation mode ORD. That is, the oscillation circuit 32 starts generating the clock signal CLK2 in response to the switching information SI. The remote flash light emitting circuit 30 is controlled by the remote microcomputer 28 and emits flash light to irradiate the subject with irradiation light.

  FIG. 2 shows details of the switching signal SS and the control signal CS. FIG. 2A shows the switching signal SS and the control signal CS output from the discharge tube Xe of the master flash light emission circuit 22 (FIG. 1). The switching signal SS is output as a single pulse signal prior to the control signal CS. The control signal CS is output a plurality of times with a predetermined time interval. The switching signal SS and the control signal CS are sequentially output in this order with the time Tw opened. The time Tw indicates the time from when the switching signal SS rises to when the leading pulse signal of the control signal CS rises.

  FIG. 2B shows details of the control signal CS. The control signal CS is composed of a channel designation part CA and a control information part CC. The channel designating unit CA is a pulse signal indicating an identifier DI for identifying the wireless system 100 and other wireless systems. The channel designating part CA is composed of three pulse signals (PS1, PS2, PS3). Times T1 and T2 indicate the time from the rise of the pulse signal PS1 to the rise of the pulse signal PS2, and the time from the rise of the pulse signal PS2 to the rise of the pulse signal PS3, respectively. The ratio of the time T1 and the time T2 (for example, 1: 3) is recognized by the remote microcomputer 28 as the identifier DI of the wireless system 100.

  The control information section CC is composed of a plurality of pulse signals (PS4 to PSn) indicating the light emission amount LQ, the light emission frequency LN, etc. of the discharge tube Xe of the remote flash light emission circuit 30. The time (for example, time T3) from the rising time of each pulse signal (for example, pulse signal PS4) to the rising time of the next pulse signal (for example, pulse signal PS5) is the discharge tube Xe of the remote flash light emitting circuit 30. The remote microcomputer 28 recognizes the light emission amount LQ, the light emission frequency LN, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows an internal configuration of the remote flash light emitting device 16 shown in FIG. The remote flash light emitting device 16 includes an operation unit 24, a remote receiving circuit 26, a remote microcomputer 28, a remote flash light emitting circuit 30, a battery 36, a DC / DC converter 38, a booster circuit 40, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and an LCD driver 42. , Diodes D1 and D2.
The remote receiving circuit 26 includes a photodiode D3, resistors R1, R2, and R3, a comparator 44, and a MOS-Tr (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Transistor).

The photodiode D3 is connected to the connection node ND1 and the voltage line PS1. The photodiode D3 receives the switching signal SS and the control signal CS from the discharge tube Xe of the master flash light emitting circuit 22, and generates a current proportional to the received light amount.
One end and the other end of the resistor R1 are connected to the connection nodes ND1 and ND2, respectively. One end and the other end of the resistor R2 are connected to the voltage line PS1 and the connection node ND3, respectively. One end and the other end of the resistor R3 are connected to the connection nodes ND3 and ND4, respectively.

The inverting input (−) terminal and the non-inverting input (+) terminal of the comparator 44 are connected to the connection node ND1 and the connection node ND3, respectively. The comparator 44 compares the voltage value V1 between the connection nodes ND1 and ND2 with the voltage value V2 between the connection nodes ND3 and ND4.
The comparator 44 outputs the digital signal “L” to the remote microcomputer 28 as the switching information SI and the control information CI in response to the voltage value V1 exceeding the voltage value V2 due to the current generated in the photodiode D3.

The drain terminal, source terminal, and gate terminal of the MOS-Tr are connected to the connection node ND2, the ground line GND, and the output port of the remote microcomputer 28, respectively. For example, the MOS-Tr receives a signal for permitting connection between the connection node ND2 and the ground line GND (hereinafter, connection permission signal CE) from the output port of the remote microcomputer 28.
The MOS-Tr connects the connection node ND2 and the ground line GND in response to the high level (“H”) of the connection permission signal CE. In this example, in order for the photodiode D3 to receive the switching signal SS and the control signal CS, the connection permission signal CE is always set to a high level (“H”).

The remote microcomputer 28 includes an oscillation circuit 32, a decoder 46, a processor 48, and the like. The decoder 46 decodes the digital signal “L” received from the comparator 44 as the switching information SI and the control information CI.
The decoder 46 calculates each time (time T1, T2, T3 in FIG. 2) from the received digital signal “L”, and based on each calculated time, the control information CI (identifier DI, light emission amount LQ, and light emission frequency LN). ). The decoder 46 outputs the decoded switching information SI and control information CI to the oscillation circuit 32 and the processor 48, respectively.

  In response to the switching information SI received from the decoder 46, the oscillation circuit 32 starts generating the clock signal CLK2. The oscillation circuit 32 outputs the clock signal CLK2 to each circuit (the DC / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40, and the light emission control circuit 50) when the time Tw elapses after the generation of the clock signal CLK2 is started. The time Tw indicates the time from when the generation of the clock signal CLK2 is started until the clock signal CLK2 reaches a steady value (for example, 10 MHz).

The processor 48 outputs the control information CI received from the decoder 46 to each circuit. The processor 48 outputs a permission signal described later to each circuit (the DC / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40, the LCD driver 42, and the light emission control circuit 50) via the output port of the remote microcomputer 28.
The remote flash light emission circuit 30 includes a light emission control circuit 50, a high voltage control circuit 52, and a discharge tube Xe. The light emission control circuit 50 reads the control information CI received from the processor 48 at the timing of the clock signal CLK2 received from the oscillation circuit 32. The light emission control circuit 50 controls the discharge tube Xe via the high voltage control circuit 52 based on the read control information CI. The high voltage control circuit 48 includes a capacitor, a transformer, and the like (not shown).

The high voltage control circuit 48 generates a voltage using a capacitor and a transformer in order to flash the discharge tube Xe. The high voltage control circuit 48 excites the xenon gas in the discharge tube Xe by applying the generated voltage to the trigger terminal of the discharge tube Xe. By this excitation, the discharge tube Xe emits flash light.
The input terminal of the light emission control circuit 50 is connected to the output port of the remote microcomputer 28. The light emission control circuit 50 receives a signal permitting control of the high voltage control circuit 52 (hereinafter, a light emission permission signal LE) from the output port of the remote microcomputer 28. The light emission control circuit 50 starts control of the high voltage control circuit 52 in response to the high level (“H”) of the light emission permission signal LE.

  The battery 36 is a rechargeable battery. The battery 36 is charged until the value of the terminal voltage reaches a predetermined voltage value (for example, 3.0 V). The cathode terminal of the battery 36 is connected to the ground line GND. The anode terminal of the battery 36 is connected to the DC / DC converter 38, the diode D1, and the booster circuit 40 in order to output a DC voltage (for example, 3.0V) to each circuit. A DC voltage (for example, 3.0 V) output from the battery 36 is input to the power supply terminal of each circuit via the diode D1 and the voltage line PS1.

  The DC / DC converter 38 reads the control information CI received from the processor 48 at the timing of the clock signal CLK2 received from the oscillation circuit 32. The DC / DC converter 38 boosts the DC voltage (for example, 3.0 V) input from the battery 36 to a predetermined DC voltage (for example, 5.0 V) based on the read control information CI, and boosts the DC voltage. (For example, 5.0 V) is input to the power supply terminal of each circuit via the diode D2 and the voltage line PS1.

  The input terminal of the DC / DC converter 38 is connected to the output port of the remote microcomputer 28. For example, the DC / DC converter 38 receives from the output port of the remote microcomputer 28 a signal that permits boosting of the DC voltage (for example, 3.0 V) input from the battery 36 (hereinafter, boosting permission signal SE). The DC / DC converter 38 starts boosting the DC voltage (eg, 3.0 V) in response to the high level (“H”) of the boost permission signal SE.

  The booster circuit 40 reads the control information CI received from the processor 48 at the timing of the clock signal CLK2 received from the oscillation circuit 32. The booster circuit 40 boosts the DC voltage (for example, 3.0V) input from the battery 36 to a predetermined voltage value (for example, 300V) based on the read control information CI, and boosts the DC voltage (for example, 300V). ) To the high voltage control circuit 52 and the discharge tube Xe via the voltage line PS2.

  The input terminal of the booster circuit 40 is connected to the output port of the remote microcomputer 28. The booster circuit 40 receives from the output port of the remote microcomputer 28 a signal that permits boosting of a DC voltage (for example, 3.0 V) input from the battery 36 (hereinafter, boosting permission signal PE). In response to the high level (“H”) of the boost permission signal PE, the booster circuit 40 starts boosting the DC voltage (for example, 3.0 V) input from the battery 36.

The LCD is controlled by the remote microcomputer 26 via the LCD driver 42. The LCD displays time, operation mode (standby mode STB and normal operation mode ORD), and the like. A crystal oscillator 54 that outputs a clock signal CLK3 (for example, 32 KHz) to the LCD driver 42 is connected to the LCD driver 42.
The LCD driver 42 reads the control information CI received from the processor 48 at the timing of the clock signal CLK3 (for example, 32 KHz) received from the crystal oscillator 54. The LCD driver 42 displays the time, operation mode, and the like on the LCD based on the read control information CI.

The input terminal of the LCD driver 42 is connected to the output port of the remote microcomputer 28. The LCD driver 42 receives a signal for permitting control of the LCD (hereinafter, a display permission signal IE) from the output port of the remote microcomputer 28. The LCD driver 42 starts controlling the LCD in response to the high level (“H”) of the display permission signal IE.
FIG. 4 shows a flashing operation of the wireless system 100. In this example, in the initial state (time 0), the operation mode of the remote microcomputer 28 is set to the standby mode STB.

At time Ta, in order to switch the operation mode of the remote microcomputer 28 from the standby mode STB to the normal operation mode ORD, the master flash light emission circuit 22 outputs a switching signal SS to the remote receiver 16 by flash emission of the discharge tube Xe. .
At time Tb, the flash emission output from the master flash emission circuit 22 is received as a switching signal SS by the photodiode D3. The photodiode D3 generates a current proportional to the amount of received light. At this time, the comparator 44 outputs the digital signal “L” to the oscillation circuit 32 as the switching information SI in response to the voltage value V1 exceeding the voltage value V2. The oscillation circuit 32 starts generating the clock signal CLK2 in response to the switching information SI received from the comparator 44 via the decoder 46 (that is, the operation mode of the remote microcomputer 28 is changed from the standby mode STB to the normal operation mode ORD). ).

At time Tc (when the time Tw has elapsed from the output of the switching signal SS (time Ta)), the master flash light emission circuit 22 starts to output the control signal CS to the remote receiver 16 by the flash emission of the discharge tube Xe. .
At time Td (when the time Tw has elapsed since the reception of the switching signal SS and the generation of the clock signal CLK2 (time Tb) has elapsed), the flash emission output from the master flash emission circuit 22 is generated as a control signal CS by the photodiode D3. Received light. The comparator 44 outputs the digital signal “L” to the processor 48 as the control information CI in response to the voltage value V1 exceeding the voltage value V2 due to the current generated in the photodiode D3. In response to the stabilization of the clock signal CLK2, the oscillation circuit 32 starts outputting the clock signal CLK2 to each circuit (the light emission control circuit 50, the DC / DC converter 38, and the booster circuit 40). At this time, the processor 48 sets the level of each permission signal (light emission permission signal LE, boost permission signal SE, boost permission signal PE, and display permission signal IE) to “H”, and each circuit (light emission control circuit 50, DC / Output of control information CI to DC converter 38, booster circuit 40 and LCD driver 42) is started. Each circuit (the light emission control circuit 50, the DC / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40, and the LCD driver 42) starts reading the output control information CI. Thus, after receiving the switching signal SS, the time Tw until each circuit (the light emission control circuit 50, the DC / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40, and the LCD driver 42) reads the control signal CI is equal to the clock signal CLK2. This is equal to the time Tw from the start of generation until the clock signal CLK2 is stabilized. Therefore, each circuit (the light emission control circuit 50, the DC / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40, and the LCD driver 42) can read the control information CI received from the processor 48 by using the stable clock signal CLK2. As a result, each circuit can be prevented from malfunctioning.

At time Te, the comparator 44 ends the output of the control information CI. The light emission control circuit 50 causes the discharge tube Xe to flash with a predetermined light emission amount, the number of times of light emission, etc., based on the read control information CI (light emission amount LQ, number of times of light emission LN, etc.).
At time Tf (when either the switching signal SS or the next control signal CS is not received after the time Tg elapses after the switching signal SS is received by the diode D3 (time Tb)), the oscillation circuit 32 is connected to each circuit. (Generation of the clock signal CLK2 output to the light emission control circuit 50, the DC / DC converter 38, and the booster circuit 40) is stopped (that is, the operation mode of the remote microcomputer 28 is switched again from the normal operation mode ORD to the standby mode STB). . At this time, the processor 48 sets the level of each permission signal (light emission permission signal LE, boost permission signal SE, boost permission signal PE, and display permission signal IE) to “L”, and each circuit (light emission control circuit 50, DC The output of the control information CI to the / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40 and the LCD driver 42) is stopped.

  As described above, in this embodiment, only in the normal operation mode ORD (time Tb to time Tf), generation of the clock signal CLK2 by the oscillation circuit 32 and each circuit (light emission control circuit 50, DC / DC converter 38, booster circuit 40). And the power supplied from the battery 36 is consumed by reading the clock signal CLK2 by the LCD driver 42). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the power supplied from the battery 36 from being consumed in the standby mode STB (time 0 to time Tb, after time Tf) in which the remote flash light emission circuit 22 does not need to be flashed. As a result, consumption of the battery 36 can be suppressed.

  In the embodiment described above, an example is described in which the oscillation circuit 32 stops generating the clock signal CLK2 output to each circuit at the time Tf, and the processor 48 sets the level of each permission signal to “L”. It was. The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, at time Te (when the control signal CS is not received until the time Th elapses after the switching signal SS is received by the diode D3 (time Tb)), the oscillation circuit 32 outputs to each circuit. The generation of the clock signal CLK2 to be stopped is stopped, and the processor 48 may set the level of each permission signal to “L”. As a result, the generation of the clock signal CLK2 by the oscillation circuit 32 and each circuit (the light emission control circuit 50, the DC / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40, and the LCD driver 42) only at time Tb to time Te (in the normal operation mode ORD). ), The power supplied from the battery 36 is consumed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the power supplied from the battery 36 from being consumed during the standby mode STB (time 0 to time Tb, time Te or later). As a result, consumption of the battery 36 can be suppressed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, at the time Te (when the control information part CC is not received before the time Ti elapses after the light reception of the channel designating part CA by the diode D3 (time Td)), the oscillation circuit 32 The generation of the clock signal CLK2 output to each circuit may be stopped, and the processor 48 may set the level of each permission signal to “L” and stop outputting the control information CI to each circuit. As a result, the generation of the clock signal CLK2 by the oscillation circuit 32 and each circuit (the light emission control circuit 50, the DC / DC converter 38, the booster circuit 40, and the LCD driver 42) only at time Tb to time Te (in the normal operation mode ORD). ), The power supplied from the battery 36 is consumed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the power supplied from the battery 36 from being consumed during the standby mode STB (time 0 to time Tb, time Te or later). As a result, consumption of the battery 36 can be suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the time period, the operation mode, and the like are displayed on the LCD is the normal operation mode ORD (time Tb to time Tf) has been described. The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The period in which the time and operation mode are displayed on the LCD may be both in the standby mode STB (time 0 to time Tb, after time Tf) and in the normal operation mode ORD (time Tb to time Tf). Specifically, the remote microcomputer 28 may include an oscillation circuit that generates a clock signal CLK3 (for example, 32 KHz) and a liquid crystal driver. In the standby mode STB (time 0 to time Tb, after time Te), the remote microcomputer 28 reads information indicating the time, operation mode, etc. at the timing of the clock signal CLK3, and the read time, operation mode, etc. are read out by the liquid crystal driver. It may be displayed on the LCD via Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the time, the operation mode, and the like even in the standby mode STB (time 0 to time Tb, time Te or later).

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail, said embodiment and its modification are only examples of this invention, and this invention is not limited to this. Obviously, modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention is applied to a wireless system including a transmitting device and a receiving device arranged at a position spatially separated from the transmitting device, and a method for operating the wireless system.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the clamp apparatus and imaging device of this invention. It is a wave form diagram which shows the detail of a switching signal and a control signal. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of a remote flash light-emitting device. It is a timing chart which shows the flash light emission operation | movement of a wireless system. It is a timing chart which shows the flash light emission operation | movement of a wireless system. It is a timing chart which shows the flash light emission operation | movement of a wireless system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera body, 12 Hot shoe, 14 Master flash light-emitting device, 16 Remote flash light-emitting device, 18, 24 Operation part, 20 Master microcomputer, 22 Master flash light-emitting circuit, 26 Remote receiver circuit, 28 Remote microcomputer, 30 Remote flash light emitting circuit, 32 oscillator circuit, 34, 54 crystal oscillator, 36 battery, 38 DC / DC converter, 40 booster circuit, 42 LCD driver, 44 comparator, 46 decoder, 48 processor, 50 light emission control circuit, 52 high voltage control Circuit, 100 wireless system, D1, D2, D3, D4 diode, GND ground line, ND1, ND2, ND3, ND4 connection node, R1, R2, R3, R4 resistance, PS1, PS2 voltage line, Xe discharge tube

Claims (12)

A transmission device having a transmission unit that outputs the preliminary information and the main information as an optical signal;
A reception unit that receives the preliminary information and the main information; and an operation unit that operates in response to the main information received by the reception unit, and that responds to the preliminary information received by the reception unit. And a receiving device that sets the operating unit from a low power consumption state to an operable state. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein
The preliminary information and the main information are transmitted at a predetermined time interval after the preliminary information is received by the receiving unit of the receiving device until the operating unit is set to the operable state. The wireless system is characterized by being sequentially output from the unit. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein
The wireless communication system, wherein the receiving device returns the operating unit to the low power state when the main information is not received by the receiving unit until a predetermined time elapses after receiving the preliminary information. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein
The receiving device sets the operating unit to the low power consumption state when either the standby information or the next main information is not received by the receiving unit until a predetermined time elapses after receiving the main information. A wireless system characterized by configuration. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein
The main information output from the transmission unit of the transmission device is composed of a plurality of sub-information output from the transmission unit with a predetermined time interval,
The receiving device sets the operation unit to the low power consumption state when no subsequent sub information is received by the receiving unit until a predetermined time elapses after receiving the sub information. And wireless system. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein
The operating unit of the receiving device is a flash light emitting unit that emits flash light to irradiate a subject with irradiation light,
The preliminary information and the main information output from the transmission unit of the transmission device include setting information for setting the flash light emitting unit from a low power consumption state to a state capable of flash light emission, and a light emission amount of the flash light emitting unit. A wireless system characterized by corresponding to each light emission amount information to be expressed. The wireless system of claim 1, wherein
The receiving device includes a microcomputer having a signal generation unit that generates a clock signal,
The microcomputer of the receiving device outputs the clock signal generated by the signal generation unit to the operation unit when the operation unit is set to an operable state, and the operation unit is set to a low power consumption state. A wireless system that causes the signal generator to stop generating the clock signal when An operation method of a wireless system including a transmission device having a transmission unit, and a reception device having a reception unit and an operation unit,
The transmitter outputs the preliminary information and main information as an optical signal,
The receiving unit receives the preliminary information and the main information,
The operating unit operates in response to the main information received by the receiving unit,
A method of operating a wireless system, wherein the operating unit is set from a low power consumption state to an operable state in response to the preliminary information received by the receiving unit. The method of operating a wireless system according to claim 8,
The preliminary information and the main information are sequentially transmitted from the transmission unit after a predetermined time interval from when the preliminary information is received by the reception unit until the operation unit is set to the operable state. A method of operating a wireless system, characterized in that the method is output. The method of operating a wireless system according to claim 8,
A method of operating a wireless system, wherein when the main information is not received by the receiving unit until a predetermined time elapses after receiving the preliminary information, the operating unit is returned to the low power state. The method of operating a wireless system according to claim 8,
The operation unit is set to the low power consumption state when either the preliminary information or the next main information is not received by the reception unit until a predetermined time elapses after the reception of the main information. And how the wireless system works. The method of operating a wireless system according to claim 8,
The main information output from the transmitter is composed of a plurality of sub-information output from the transmitter with a predetermined time interval,
A wireless system characterized by setting the operation unit to the low power consumption state when no subsequent sub information is received by the receiving unit until a predetermined time elapses after receiving each sub information. How it works.

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