JP2007028048A - Mobile wireless device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the careless cutting of the wireless connection state of a digital camera with a wireless LAN. <P>SOLUTION: In the digital camera loading the radio LAN, an operation detecting means 10 is fitted for detecting whether or not the camera is brought to the state in which the camera is held to a user. In the digital camera, when the camera is brought to the state in which the camera is held to the user, a constitution is formed in which a supply voltage to a wireless communication means is increased or maximized more than the camera is brought to the state in which the camera is not held to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable wireless device equipped with wireless communication means.

  Conventionally, a portable device equipped with wireless communication means such as a wireless LAN has disclosed a transmission power control method for power saving. For example, the transmission power control method described in Patent Document 1 below is as follows.

The master station of the wireless LAN communication system transmits a signal with a predetermined transmission power controlled by the control means. Then, the portable communication terminal that is a child station of the wireless LAN communication system detects the received electric field strength of the signal received from the parent station by the electric field strength measuring unit, and the control unit reduces the transmission power when the received electric field strength is large. Thus, there is a tendency to increase the transmission power when the received electric field strength is small, and adjust the transmission power of the signal to the master station according to the detected received electric field strength.
JP 2000-261392 A

  However, the above-described conventional example is a control method that is effective only on the assumption that the wireless radiation / incident characteristics of the portable wireless terminal are substantially uniform and the wireless transmission / reception state does not change abruptly. On the other hand, when a wireless communication means such as a wireless LAN is mounted on a digital camera that has been remarkably spreading in recent years, the following problems are assumed.

  In other words, the use of metal parts in digital cameras and the installation of an antenna that protrudes from the camera body when a wireless LAN is installed reduces the operability of the camera. It is expected that it is difficult to make the shooting characteristics substantially uniform.

  In addition, it is difficult to mount a plurality of antennas in order to make the wireless incident / incident characteristics uniform, because it is disadvantageous for miniaturization and cost reduction of the camera.

  In addition, even if the camera's wireless incident / emission characteristics are uniform, if the user holds the camera in his / her hand, the user's hand or the user himself / herself becomes an obstacle, and the wireless entry / exit There is a high possibility that the shooting characteristics will be non-uniform.

  Therefore, in a digital camera equipped with a wireless function, the wireless transmission / reception state changes abruptly only by changing the direction of the camera, so there is a problem that it is difficult to control wireless power for power saving as in the conventional example. there were.

  An object of the first invention according to the present application is to propose a power saving method for a portable wireless device such as a digital camera in which wireless emission / incidence characteristics are nonuniform depending on a use state.

  The object of the second invention according to the present application is to reduce the cost of a power saving method for a digital camera equipped with a wireless LAN.

  Furthermore, an object of the third invention according to the present application is to accurately determine whether or not a digital camera equipped with a wireless LAN is being held by a user.

  In order to achieve the first object, the first invention according to the present application is a method for wirelessly transmitting / receiving information data such as image data and the like with recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing images and the like between other devices. A wireless communication means, a communication power control means for changing a communicable distance of the wireless communication means by controlling power supplied to the wireless communication means, and the portable Operation detecting means for detecting that the wireless device is operated, and when the portable wireless device is in data communication with another device by the wireless communication means, the portable detection device is operated by the operation detecting means. If it is determined that the wireless device is hand-held by the user, the communication power is greater than when the operation detection unit determines that the portable wireless device is not hand-held. The control means is characterized in that so as to increase the power supplied to the communication unit.

  In order to achieve the first object, the second invention according to the present application wirelessly transmits / receives information data such as image data and the like with recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing the image and the like between other devices. In a portable wireless device having a wireless communication means for controlling the communication power control means for changing the communicable distance of the communication means by controlling the power supplied to the communication means, and the portable wireless device is operated. Operation detecting means for detecting that the portable wireless device communicates with the other device by the wireless communication device when the portable wireless device communicates with another device by the portable wireless device. When it is detected that the device is hand-held by the user, the power supplied to the wireless communication means is maximized. With this configuration, when it is detected by the operation detection means that the portable wireless device is held by the user, the wireless communication control distance is increased or maximized in advance by the wireless power control means. There is an effect that it is possible to more easily prevent a situation where the wireless device and the communication partner are inadvertently disconnected due to a sudden deterioration due to a change in the positional relationship with the user. is there.

  In order to achieve the second object, in the third invention according to the present application, the portable wireless device is a digital still camera, and the digital still camera is a camera shake caused by photographing the digital still camera by hand. And the operation detection means determines that the digital still camera is hand-held by a user when the camera shake is detected by the camera shake detection means. The power supplied to the wireless communication means is increased. With this configuration, since the operation detection unit is also used as a camera shake detection unit mounted on the digital still camera, there is an effect that it is not necessary to newly provide an operation detection unit.

  In order to achieve the second object, according to a fourth aspect of the present application, the portable wireless device has a shooting state of the portable wireless device in a relationship between a shooting screen of the portable wireless device and a subject. , Having a horizontal / vertical detection means for detecting which long side or short side of the shooting screen is on the upper side of the subject, and the operation detection means detects the shooting state of the portable wireless device by the horizontal / vertical detection means. 3. The portable wireless device according to claim 1, wherein when it is detected that a change has occurred within a predetermined time, it is determined that the portable wireless device is hand-held by a user. 4. The power supplied to the communication means is increased. With this configuration, since the operation detection means is also used as the horizontal / vertical detection means mounted on the digital still camera, there is an effect that it is not necessary to newly provide an operation detection means.

  In order to achieve the third object, the operation detection means uses a detection sensor that detects that the portable wireless device is held in a user's hand during a handheld operation of the portable wireless device. . With this configuration, it is possible to more accurately detect whether or not the portable wireless device is held by the operator by using a dedicated detection sensor for the operation detection unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing an image and the like, and a wireless communication means for transmitting / receiving information data such as image data wirelessly between other devices. The portable wireless device is operated by communication power control means for changing the communicable distance of the wireless communication means by controlling the power supplied to the wireless communication means, and the portable wireless equipment. An operation detecting means for detecting the handheld operation of the portable wireless device by the operation detecting means when the portable wireless device is in data communication with another device. If it is determined that the portable wireless device is not operated by hand, the communication power control means determines that the communication power control means does not perform the communication. Since so as to increase the power supplied to the unit, there is an effect such proper transmission power and stable communication in accordance with the use state of the camera becomes possible.

  According to the second invention of the present invention, in the portable wireless device of the first invention, when the portable wireless device is in data communication with another device by the wireless communication device, the portable detection device is operated by the operation detection device. When it is detected that a wireless device is being operated, the power supplied to the communication means by the communication power control means is maximized, so that communication when the camera is in a handheld state is the first invention. There is an effect that it can be performed more stably.

  According to the third invention of the present invention, in the digital still camera, the digital still camera is provided with camera shake detecting means for detecting camera shake caused by photographing the digital still camera by hand, and the operation detecting means is When the camera shake is detected by the camera shake detection means, it is determined that the digital camera is operated and the power supplied to the communication means is controlled, so that there is an effect that the operation detection means becomes unnecessary.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital still camera, when the shooting state of the digital still camera is the relationship between the shooting screen and the subject, which long side or short side of the shooting screen is above the subject. A horizontal / vertical detecting means for detecting whether the portable wireless device is operated when the operation detecting means detects that the state of the horizontal / vertical detecting means has changed within a predetermined time; By determining and controlling the power supplied to the communication means, there is an effect that the operation detection means becomes unnecessary.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by using a detection sensor for detecting that the portable wireless device is held in an operator's hand during the handheld operation of the portable wireless device in the operation detecting means. There is an effect that it is possible to reliably detect that the portable wireless device is in a handheld state.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below based on examples.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera embodying the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves, and 2 denotes a transmission / reception switching unit for switching the transmission / reception state of the antenna 1. A receiving unit 3 performs predetermined conversion on a signal received by the antenna 1, and a transmitting unit 4 converts a video signal or the like into a transmission signal. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image pickup unit that generates a predetermined video signal using a photographing lens or an image pickup device (not shown). A storage unit 6 stores the signal data converted by the receiving unit 3 and the video signal obtained by the imaging unit 5. A display unit 7 displays a video signal obtained by the imaging unit 5 and information stored in the storage unit on a display unit such as an LCD. Reference numeral 8 denotes a reception intensity detection unit that detects the intensity of radio waves received by the antenna 1, and 9 denotes a transmission power control unit that controls transmission power of radio waves output to the antenna 1. A camera operation detection unit 10 detects whether or not the digital camera is hand-held by a user. In this embodiment, a gyro sensor mounted to detect camera shake is also used. A central processing unit (CPU) 11 controls the operation of the digital camera.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the antenna 1 is housed in the digital camera body. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the antenna 1a is placed in the housing of the digital camera body 21 so as not to impair the design of the camera. It is stored. Reference numeral 22 denotes a cover that covers the antenna 1a formed of plastic or the like so as not to absorb and reflect radio waves incident and radiated from the antenna 1a.

  Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the communication power of the digital camera embodying the present invention. The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, when the digital camera is turned on (S101) and a wireless communication device (not shown) is selected (S102), the reception intensity detector 8 detects and measures the received radio wave intensity f of the radio wave from the selected wireless communication device. (S103).

  Next, the operation detection unit 10 is set in the operating state (S104), and it is determined from the output signal from the camera operation detection unit 10 whether the digital camera body is currently being handheld by the user (S105). If it is determined that the state is determined, the process proceeds to S106. If it is determined that the state is not the handheld state, the process proceeds to S107.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship of the transmission radio wave intensity set in S106 and S107 according to the reception radio wave intensity f.

  In the figure, the relationship between the received radio wave intensity and the transmitted radio wave intensity when the camera is not operated by hand is controlled so as to be as shown by the diagram A. When the camera is operated by hand, the diagram B It is controlled so as to be in the relationship shown.

  That is, when the received radio wave intensity is f in S103, the transmission radio wave intensity is transmitted with a when the camera is not being held (S106), and when the camera is being handheld, the transmission radio wave intensity is greater than b. (S107).

  The relationship between the received radio wave intensity f and the transmitted radio wave intensity may be as shown in FIG. That is, in the figure, the relationship between the received radio wave intensity and the transmitted radio wave intensity when the camera is not being handheld is controlled so as to be the relationship indicated by the diagram A as in FIG. As shown in the diagram B, the signal is always transmitted with the maximum transmission strength b regardless of the reception strength.

  When the transmission radio wave intensity is set in S106 or S107, the wireless communication state with the communication device is entered, and a communication command wait state is entered (S108). Thereafter, S102 to S108 are repeated.

  In this embodiment, the operation state of the digital camera is detected by the gyro sensor. However, when a horizontal / vertical sensor for detecting the vertical / horizontal shooting state of the camera is mounted, the horizontal / vertical sensor within a predetermined time. The presence or absence of a change in the detection state, that is, if the detection state changes within a predetermined time, it may be determined as a hand-held state, and if it does not change within a predetermined time, it may be determined that it is not in a hand-held state.

  Furthermore, in order to more accurately detect whether or not the camera is in a hand-held state, a detection unit that detects that the user has held the camera may be provided.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example thereof. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 101 denotes an operation detection button provided on the grip portion of the camera 102. When the camera 102 is held by the user's hand 103 in order to operate the camera 102, the operation detection is performed. When the button 101 is pressed, a detection switch (not shown) provided immediately below the button 101 is switched from OFF to ON.

  When the detection switch is in the ON state, or when the ON-OFF state is switched within a predetermined time, it is determined that the camera is held by the user.

  Instead of the detection switch, a detection sensor that detects a capacitance that changes when the user's hand touches the operation detection button may be used.

As described above, this embodiment has the following effects.
1. When the relationship between the reception radio wave intensity and the transmission radio wave intensity is as shown in FIG. 4, the transmission radio wave intensity can be controlled to an optimum value according to the reception radio wave intensity.
2. When the relationship between the received radio wave intensity and the transmitted radio wave intensity is as shown in FIG. 5, the most stable wireless communication is possible during the hand-held operation of the camera.
3. Since the operation detection button is arranged on the front surface of the grip portion of the camera, there is a high possibility that the operation detection button is operated when shooting the camera.

Block diagram of a digital camera embodying the present invention The exploded perspective view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the antenna of the digital camera which implemented this invention The flowchart figure which shows the communication control flow of the digital camera which implemented this invention The figure which shows the graph of the 1st example of the control relation of the reception intensity and transmission intensity of a radio wave The figure which shows the graph of the 2nd example of the control relation of the radio wave reception intensity and transmission intensity External view showing another example of operation detection means

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a Antenna 3 Reception part 4 Transmission part 5 Imaging part 6 Storage part 7 Display part 8 Reception intensity detection part 9 Transmission power control part 10 Camera operation detection part (gyro sensor)
11 CPU

Claims (5)

A portable wireless device having recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing images and the like, and wireless communication means for wirelessly transmitting / receiving information data such as image data between other devices,
Communication power control means for changing the communicable distance of the wireless communication means by controlling power supplied to the wireless communication means, and operation detection means for detecting that the portable wireless device is operated. And, when the portable wireless device is in data communication with another device by the wireless communication means, when the operation detecting means determines that the portable wireless device is being handheld by a user, The portable wireless device, wherein the power supplied to the communication unit by the communication power control unit is increased compared to when the operation detection unit determines that the portable wireless device is not operated by hand.   The communication power control means detects that the portable wireless device is being hand-held by a user by the operation detecting means when the portable wireless device communicates with another device by the wireless communication device. 2. The portable wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the power supplied to the wireless communication means is maximized.   The portable wireless device is a digital still camera, and the digital still camera has a camera shake detection unit that detects camera shake caused by photographing the digital still camera by hand, and the operation detection unit is the camera shake detection unit. 3. The portable wireless device according to claim 1, wherein when the camera shake is detected, the digital still camera is determined to be handheld by a user.   The portable wireless device is a digital still camera, and the digital still camera has a shooting state of the digital still camera in which long side or short side of the shooting screen in relation to a shooting screen of the portable wireless device and a subject. It has horizontal / vertical detection means for detecting whether the side is on the upper side of the subject, and the operation detection means detects that the photographing state of the portable wireless device has changed within a predetermined time by the horizontal / vertical detection means. 3. The portable wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the portable wireless device is determined to be handheld by a user.   3. The portable device according to claim 1, wherein the operation detection means is a detection sensor that detects that the portable wireless device is held in a user's hand during a handheld operation of the portable wireless device. Type wireless equipment.

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