JP2009273007A - Imaging apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of usefully and effectively using a battery. <P>SOLUTION: If the temperature of a battery 15, which is detected by a temperature sensor 18, is lower than a threshold when detecting no connection of an AC adaptor 3 at the start of the imaging apparatus 1, the imaging apparatus 1 is set to a low-temperature battery mode. In the low-temperature battery mode, a brightness threshold for setting photographing sensitivity is forcedly set by the control of a system LSI11, to a value that the photographing sensitivity is always high independently of the brightness of an object; and a charging current of a capacitor for driving light emission of a flash 19 is set lower than a predetermined threshold. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus that effectively uses a battery and a control method thereof.

  Digital cameras that form an image of a subject on a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD image sensor by an optical system and convert the image into an electric signal and record the obtained image data on a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory are widely used. In this digital camera, a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a rechargeable secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery is used for liquid crystal display, strobe light emission, driving of an optical system by a motor, and the like.

  Batteries generally have the property of increasing their internal resistance at low temperatures, so when a digital camera is started at low temperatures, the electromotive force is significantly reduced and falls below the lower limit voltage required for the operation of the device. There is a problem of shortening.

  In order to solve this problem, there has conventionally been proposed an imaging apparatus that controls the zoom speed, the brightness of the display screen, and the charging time of the strobe in accordance with the type of battery, voltage, and ambient temperature (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, an electronic still camera is disclosed in which when the battery voltage is lowered and the charging time is extended, the charging completion voltage is lowered to increase the ISO sensitivity (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Furthermore, in a camera equipped with a strobe, there is an example in which when the ambient temperature is low, the light emission reference level of the strobe is increased to increase the possibility of light emission operation (for example, see Patent Document 3).

  However, the example described in Patent Document 1 requires a means for identifying the type of the battery that is mounted, and has a drawback that the configuration of the apparatus is complicated. In addition, in the example described in Patent Document 2, there is a concern of light emission variation and light emission failure by lowering the charging completion voltage. Furthermore, in the example described in Patent Document 3, it is necessary to supply a large load current to activate the battery, which does not reduce power consumption.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-259191 JP 2007-173947 A Japanese Patent No. 3814383

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and a control method thereof that can effectively use a battery without waste.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus capable of changing imaging sensitivity, and includes a temperature detection unit that detects a temperature of a battery that is mounted, and a temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is smaller than a first threshold value. And a system control means for controlling the photographing sensitivity set at the time of photographing so as to be higher than the second threshold value.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a photographing unit that performs photographing at a photographing sensitivity set by a user, and the system control unit uses the use when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is smaller than a first threshold value. The photographing sensitivity set by the person is set higher than the second threshold.

  The imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an imaging sensitivity automatic determination unit that automatically determines the imaging sensitivity, and the system control unit performs the imaging when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is smaller than a first threshold value. The brightness threshold of the subject used when the automatic sensitivity determination unit determines the imaging sensitivity is set to a value such that the imaging sensitivity automatically determined by the automatic imaging sensitivity determination unit is higher than the second threshold. change.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube, and the system control means has a second imaging sensitivity set at the time of imaging when the temperature is lower than the first threshold. The charging current of the capacitor of the light emitting device is set lower than when the temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a first light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube and a second light emitting device that emits light using a light emitting diode, and the system control unit is configured such that the temperature is the first light emitting device. When the threshold is smaller than the first threshold, the imaging sensitivity set at the time of shooting is controlled to be higher than the second threshold, and the use of the first light emitting device is prohibited and the second light emitting device is operated. To control.

  The imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an electromotive force detection unit that detects an electromotive force of the battery, and the system control unit is configured such that the temperature is smaller than the first threshold and the electromotive force is smaller than a third threshold. The shooting sensitivity to be set at the time of shooting is the first shooting sensitivity, and the shooting sensitivity to be set at the time of shooting when the temperature is lower than the first threshold and the electromotive force is equal to or higher than the third threshold. When the second imaging sensitivity is set, the first imaging sensitivity is controlled to be higher than the second imaging sensitivity.

  The image pickup apparatus of the present invention can be operated by electric power supplied from an AC adapter, and the system control unit performs the temperature determination process only when electric power is supplied from the battery.

  An image pickup apparatus control method according to the present invention is an image pickup apparatus control method capable of changing a photographing sensitivity, wherein the temperature of a battery mounted on the image pickup apparatus is detected, and the temperature is lower than a first threshold value. And a control step for controlling the photographing sensitivity set at the time of photographing so as to be higher than the second threshold value.

  The control method of the imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a shooting step of shooting at a shooting sensitivity set by a user, and the control step sets the user when the temperature is lower than a first threshold value. The photographing sensitivity is set higher than the second threshold value.

  The method for controlling an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes a photographing sensitivity automatic determination step for automatically setting the photographing sensitivity at the time of photographing. When the temperature is smaller than a first threshold, the photographing sensitivity is automatically determined. The brightness threshold of the subject used in the above is changed to a value such that the shooting sensitivity to be determined in the shooting sensitivity automatic determination step is higher than the second threshold.

  The imaging device control method of the present invention includes a light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube, and when the temperature is lower than the first threshold, the imaging sensitivity set at the time of imaging is the second. Control is performed to be higher than the threshold value, and the charging current of the capacitor of the light emitting device is set lower than when the temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold value.

  According to the imaging device control method of the present invention, the imaging device includes a first light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube and a second light emitting device that emits light using a light emitting diode, and the temperature is When it is smaller than the first threshold value, the photographing sensitivity set at the time of photographing is controlled to be higher than the second threshold value, the use of the first light emitting device is prohibited, and the second light emitting device is Control to operate.

  The method for controlling an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a step of detecting an electromotive force of the battery, wherein in the control step, the temperature is smaller than the first threshold value and the electromotive force is smaller than a third threshold value. The shooting sensitivity to be set at the time of shooting is set as a first shooting sensitivity, and the shooting sensitivity to be set at the time of shooting when the temperature is lower than the first threshold and the electromotive force is equal to or higher than the third threshold is set to When the second imaging sensitivity is set, the first imaging sensitivity is controlled to be higher than the second imaging sensitivity.

  The image pickup apparatus control method of the present invention can operate even when the image pickup apparatus is supplied with power from an AC adapter, and detects the temperature only when power is supplied from the battery.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the imaging device which can use a battery effectively without waste, and its control method can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of an imaging device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an imaging apparatus 1 includes a system LSI 11, an imaging unit 12, an analog front end (hereinafter referred to as AFE) 13, an operation unit 14, a battery 15, a power supply detection circuit 16, a power supply circuit 17, a temperature sensor 18, a flash 19, The LCD module 20 includes a backlight driver 21, a medium 22, and an audio / video unit 23. An AC adapter 3 can be connected to the imaging apparatus 1.

  The system LSI 11 includes a CPU (not shown), a ROM 111, and a RAM 112. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM 112 to perform initial setting, signal processing of a captured image, and the like, and Supervise and control each part.

  The imaging unit 12 includes an imaging element 121 such as a CCD or a CMOS and an optical lens 122, and images an object to generate an image signal.

  The AFE 13 includes a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS), a variable gain amplifier circuit (VGA), and an A / D converter. The AFE 13 samples and holds the image signal output from the imaging unit 12 and simultaneously removes noise. Thus, only the image signal component is extracted, amplified with a gain set according to the ISO sensitivity, and then converted into a digital signal. In the imaging apparatus 1, the ISO sensitivity can be changed by controlling the gain set in the VGA. For example, the ISO sensitivity increases as the gain increases.

  The operation unit 14 is operated by a user and includes various operation switches such as a shutter button for instructing imaging of a subject.

  The battery 15 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery, or a rechargeable secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, and supplies power for operating each part of the imaging device 1.

  The power supply detection circuit 16 detects whether the AC adapter 3 is connected and notifies the system LSI 11, and when detecting that the AC adapter 3 is connected, the power supply detection circuit 16 is supplied from the AC adapter 3. The DC power is prioritized and output to the power circuit 17. On the other hand, when the connection of the AC adapter 3 is not detected, the electromotive force (voltage) of the battery 15 is detected, whether or not there is a predetermined electromotive force is notified to the system LSI 11 and discharged from the battery 15. The DC power to be output is output to the power supply circuit 17.

  The power supply circuit 17 is supplied with DC power from the AC adapter 3 or the battery 15, and supplies power of a required voltage to each unit that consumes power in the imaging device 1.

  The temperature sensor 18 is composed of, for example, a thermistor whose resistance value changes depending on the temperature, and is disposed near or in contact with the battery 15 to detect the temperature of the battery 15 and notify the system LSI 11 of the temperature.

  The flash 19 emits light under the control of the system LSI 11 using a xenon tube as a light source, boosting the voltage supplied from the power supply circuit 17 to about 300 V, and charging the capacitor as a power supply.

  The LCD module 20 is composed of a liquid crystal display including a backlight 201 made of LEDs or the like, and displays an image obtained by capturing an image of a subject, a menu screen, and the like.

  The backlight driver 21 controls lighting of the backlight 201 of the LCD module 20 with a predetermined current.

  The medium 22 is a portable storage device configured by a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and records the image data obtained by compressing and encoding image data obtained by imaging the subject.

  The audio / video unit 23 is provided with a microphone and inputs sound when the subject is imaged. Further, the image data recorded on the medium 22 is output to an external display such as a personal computer or a television via an input / output terminal (not shown).

  The AC adapter 3 converts commercial alternating current into direct current having a predetermined voltage value, and supplies power to the power supply circuit 17 for operating each part of the imaging device 1.

  Next, a control method for the imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the initial setting operation of the photographing sensitivity when the image pickup apparatus 1 is activated.

  In FIG. 2, when the power is turned on by operating the operation unit 14 of the imaging apparatus 1 (step S101), the system LSI 11 determines whether or not the connection of the AC adapter 3 has been detected by the power detection circuit 16 (step S101). S102).

  As a result, when the AC adapter 3 is not connected, the system LSI 11 acquires the temperature data of the battery 15 detected by the temperature sensor 18, compares it with a predetermined temperature threshold value, and determines the magnitude (step S103). ).

  If the result of determination in step S103 is that the temperature of the battery 15 is greater than or equal to the threshold, the system LSI 11 sets the initial setting mode at startup to the normal battery mode (step S104).

  In the normal battery mode, shooting is performed with an automatic shooting mode in which shooting is performed by automatically setting shooting sensitivity (ISO sensitivity) according to the brightness of the subject at the time of shooting, and with a fixed ISO sensitivity set by the user. Fixed shooting mode is included. In step S104, which of the automatic shooting mode and the fixed shooting mode is set depends on which shooting mode is set when the power is turned on. Hereinafter, the automatic shooting mode included in the normal battery mode is referred to as “automatic shooting mode (normal)”, and the fixed shooting mode included in the normal battery mode is referred to as “fixed shooting mode (normal)”.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of ISO sensitivity setting in the automatic shooting mode (normal). As shown in the figure, a plurality of threshold values are provided for the brightness of the subject. For example, when the brightness x is 60 <x <50, the ISO sensitivity is set to 50, and when the brightness x is 50 <x <40. The system LSI 11 determines the ISO sensitivity using these threshold values such that the ISO sensitivity is set to 100 and the ISO sensitivity is set to 1600 when 20 <x <10. This brightness threshold is one of the parameters for determining the ISO sensitivity.

  After determining the ISO sensitivity, the system LSI 11 completes the setting of the ISO sensitivity by setting the gain of the VGA in the AFE 13 to a gain corresponding to the determined ISO sensitivity. The brightness of the subject may be determined based on a signal output from the image sensor 121 or may be determined based on information from the light receiving sensor provided separately.

  In the case of the fixed photographing mode (normal), the system LSI 11 completes the setting of the ISO sensitivity by setting the gain of the VGA in the AFE 13 to a gain corresponding to the ISO sensitivity set by the user. This gain is also one of the parameters for determining the ISO sensitivity.

  Returning to FIG. 2, if the result of determination in step S103 is that the temperature is lower than the threshold value, the system LSI 11 sets the initial setting mode at startup to the low-temperature battery mode (step S105).

  The low-temperature battery mode includes an automatic shooting mode and a fixed shooting mode as in the normal battery mode, and a shooting mode preset by the user is set. Hereinafter, the automatic shooting mode included in the low temperature battery mode is referred to as “automatic shooting mode (low temperature)”, and the fixed shooting mode included in the low temperature battery mode is referred to as “fixed shooting mode (low temperature)”.

  In the automatic shooting mode (low temperature), the brightness threshold used when the system LSI 11 automatically determines the ISO sensitivity as shown in FIG. 3 is used, and the ISO sensitivity to be automatically determined is a predetermined threshold (for example, , ISO 800).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of ISO sensitivity threshold setting in the automatic shooting mode (low temperature). The threshold value used in the automatic shooting mode (normal) shown in FIG. 3 is changed as shown in FIG. 4 (the threshold range (20 <x <10) for determining that the sensitivity suitable for the subject is ISO sensitivity 1600). By changing (60 <x <0), the ISO sensitivity is forcibly set to ISO 1600 regardless of the brightness of the subject.

  In the fixed shooting mode (low temperature), the system LSI 11 sets the gain of the VGA so that the ISO sensitivity preset by the user is higher than a predetermined threshold (for example, ISO 800). For example, regardless of the ISO sensitivity set by the user, the system LSI 11 forcibly sets the gain of the VGA to a gain according to ISO 1600.

  Thereby, since the ISO sensitivity is set to a high sensitivity, the opportunity for the flash 19 to emit light can be reduced at the time of auto shooting of the image pickup apparatus 1, or the light emission amount can be reduced even if light is emitted. Thus, power consumption can be reduced and the battery can be used effectively without waste.

  In the low temperature battery mode, it is preferable to set the charging current of the capacitor for driving the flash 19 to emit light lower than a predetermined threshold (value set in the normal battery mode). Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the consumption of the battery 15 by charging the capacitor, and it is possible to reduce the power consumption and to use the battery effectively without waste.

  Returning to FIG. 2 again, if connection of the AC adapter 3 is detected as a result of the determination in step S102, the process skips to step S106 and sets the AC adapter mode. The AC adapter mode is the same mode as the normal battery mode.

  As described above, in the imaging apparatus of this embodiment, when the battery temperature is lower than the threshold value when the AC adapter is not connected, the initial setting is set to the low temperature battery mode, and the brightness of the subject is set. Regardless, the shooting sensitivity is forcibly set to ISO 1600, and the charging current of the capacitor for driving the flash is set lower than a predetermined threshold, thereby reducing power consumption and using the battery effectively without waste. Can do.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The imaging device 2 of the present embodiment is configured to include an LED flash 24 in addition to the configuration of the imaging device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. Constituent elements common to both drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted.

  The LED flash 24 is a light-emitting light source configured by arranging a large number of LED chips of R, G, and B in an array, and emits white light when all the LED chips are turned on simultaneously under the control of the system LSI 11. To do.

  Next, a control method for the imaging device 2 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the initial setting operation of the photographing sensitivity when the image pickup apparatus 2 is activated. In FIG. 6, the same processes as those in FIG.

  If the result of determination in step S103 is that the temperature is lower than the threshold value, the system LSI 11 sets the initial setting mode at startup to the low-temperature battery mode (step S205).

  In the low-temperature battery mode (fixed shooting mode (low temperature), automatic shooting mode (low temperature)) of the present embodiment, the following processing is performed in addition to the processing described in the first embodiment.

  The system LSI 11 prohibits the flash 19 from emitting light, and causes the LED flash 24 to emit light when flash emission is necessary. As a result, the current for charging the capacitor is smaller than that in the case of the light emitting device using the xenon tube, so that power consumption can be reduced and the battery can be used effectively without waste.

  As described above, in the imaging apparatus of this embodiment, when the battery temperature is lower than the threshold value when the AC adapter is not connected, the initial setting is set to the low temperature battery mode, and the brightness of the subject is set. Regardless, the shooting sensitivity is forcibly set to ISO1600, and the xenon tube flash is prohibited, and if flash emission is required, the LED flash is emitted to reduce power consumption and waste the battery. Can be used effectively.

  When light emission from the flash 19 is prohibited, the light from the LED flash 24 may be used as auxiliary light that is irradiated to the subject during AF (automatic focus adjustment).

(Third embodiment)
The imaging device of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the imaging device 1 in the first embodiment, and a part of the control method is different. Therefore, illustration of the configuration of the imaging apparatus and description thereof are omitted.

  Next, a control method for the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the initial setting operation of the photographing sensitivity when the image pickup apparatus 1 is activated. In FIG. 7, the same processes as those in FIG.

  When the connection of the AC adapter 3 is not detected by the power supply detection circuit 16 in step S102, the system LSI 11 determines whether or not the electromotive force of the battery 15 is smaller than a predetermined threshold (step S301).

  As a result of the determination, if the electromotive force of the battery 15 is greater than or equal to the threshold, the system LSI 11 proceeds to the procedure of step S103, determines whether or not the temperature of the battery 15 is lower than the threshold, and step S103 or step depending on the determination result. The procedure of S105 is executed.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S301 is that the electromotive force of the battery 15 is smaller than the threshold value, the system LSI 11 determines whether or not the temperature of the battery 15 is lower than the threshold value in step S302, as in the procedure of step S104. .

  As a result of the determination, if the temperature of the battery 15 is equal to or higher than the threshold, the system LSI 11 sets the initial setting mode at the time of startup to the normal battery mode (step S303).

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S302 is that the temperature is lower than the threshold value, the system LSI 11 sets the initial setting mode at startup to the low temperature / low voltage battery mode (step S304).

  The low-temperature / low-voltage battery mode includes an automatic shooting mode and a fixed shooting mode as in the normal battery mode, and a shooting mode preset by the user is set. Hereinafter, the automatic shooting mode included in the low temperature / low voltage battery mode is referred to as “auto shooting mode (low temperature / low voltage)”, and the fixed shooting mode included in the low temperature / low voltage battery mode is referred to as “fixed shooting mode (low temperature / low voltage)”. Voltage) ”.

  In the automatic shooting mode (low temperature / low voltage), the ISO sensitivity for automatically determining the brightness threshold value used when the system LSI 11 automatically determines the ISO sensitivity as shown in FIG. The value is changed to a value higher than the ISO sensitivity (ISO 1600) automatically determined in the automatic shooting mode (low temperature).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of ISO sensitivity threshold setting in the automatic shooting mode (low temperature / low voltage). The threshold value used in the automatic photographing mode (normal) shown in FIG. 3 is changed as shown in FIG. 8 (the threshold range (10 <x <0) for determining that the sensitivity suitable for the subject is ISO sensitivity 3200). (Change to 60 <x <0), the ISO sensitivity is forcibly set to ISO 3200 regardless of the brightness of the subject.

  In the fixed shooting mode (low temperature / low voltage), the system LSI 11 increases the gain of the VGA so that the ISO sensitivity preset by the user is higher than the ISO sensitivity (ISO 1600) set in the fixed shooting mode (low temperature). Set. For example, regardless of the ISO sensitivity set by the user, the system LSI 11 forcibly sets the gain of the VGA to a gain corresponding to the ISO 3200.

  Thereby, when the temperature is low and the voltage is low, the ISO sensitivity is set higher than when the temperature is low and the voltage is not low. Therefore, the power consumption of the battery 15 when the temperature is low and the electromotive force is small is reduced. Furthermore, the life can be reduced and the life can be extended.

  In step S304 in FIG. 7, the initial setting mode may be set to the low temperature battery mode instead of the low temperature / low voltage battery mode. Conversely, in step S105 of FIG. 7, the initial setting mode may be set to the low temperature / low voltage battery mode instead of the low temperature battery mode.

  As described above, the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment sets the initial setting to the low temperature / low voltage battery mode when the battery electromotive force is smaller than the threshold and the temperature is low, and the brightness of the subject. Regardless, by setting the photographing sensitivity to a higher value than in the low temperature battery mode, it is possible to further reduce power consumption and extend the life of the battery.

  Hereinafter, control methods that enable further reduction of power consumption in the low-temperature battery mode or the low-temperature / low-voltage battery mode will be listed.

(1) The system LSI 11 increases the display gain of the LCD module 20 and controls the backlight driver 21 to decrease the current supplied to the backlight 201.
As a result, the operating power can be reduced while maintaining the apparent brightness of the LCD module 20, and the power consumption of the battery 15 can be reduced to prolong the life.

(2) The system LSI 11 displays the low temperature battery mode or the low temperature / low voltage battery mode on the LCD module 20 or the LED display unit (not shown) to notify the user. Alternatively, when the imaging apparatus 1 further includes an EVF (Electronic View Finder), the EVF and the LCD module 20 that have lower power consumption are preferentially displayed.
This can prompt the user to charge the battery 15.

  (3) The system LSI 11 changes the driving method of the image sensor 121 during shooting. For example, by adopting a driving mode in which charges generated by the photoelectric conversion elements of the image sensor 121 are mixed and read, power consumption during driving of the image sensor 121 can be reduced.

  In FIG. 7, the processing of steps S103 and S302 is omitted. If step S301: YES, the low-temperature battery mode or the low-temperature / low-voltage mode is set. If step S301: NO, the normal mode is set. Anyway. That is, there may be a control method for changing the mode according to only the electromotive force of the battery 15 without depending on the temperature of the battery 15.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an initial setting operation when the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is activated. It is a figure which shows the example of the imaging sensitivity set according to the brightness of a to-be-photographed object in the normal battery mode of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the imaging sensitivity set according to the brightness of a to-be-photographed object in the low temperature battery mode of the imaging device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the imaging device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an initial setting operation when an imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention is activated. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an initial setting operation at the time of activation of an imaging apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the imaging sensitivity set according to the brightness of a to-be-photographed object in the low temperature and low voltage battery mode of the imaging device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Imaging device 3 AC adapter 11 System LSI
12 Imaging unit 13 Analog front end (AFE)
15 Battery 16 Power supply detection circuit 18 Temperature sensor 19, 24 Flash

Claims (14)

An imaging device capable of changing the shooting sensitivity,
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the battery installed;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: system control means for controlling the photographing sensitivity set at the time of photographing to be higher than the second threshold when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is smaller than the first threshold value. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
It is equipped with a photographing means for photographing at the photographing sensitivity set by the user,
The system control unit is an imaging apparatus that sets a photographing sensitivity set by the user to be higher than the second threshold when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is smaller than a first threshold. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,
A photographing sensitivity automatic determination means for automatically determining the photographing sensitivity;
When the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is lower than a first threshold, the system control unit sets a brightness threshold of a subject used when the shooting sensitivity automatic determination unit determines the shooting sensitivity. An image pickup apparatus that changes the photographing sensitivity automatically determined by the automatic sensitivity determination means to a value that is higher than the second threshold value. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Equipped with a light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube,
When the temperature is lower than the first threshold, the system control means controls the shooting sensitivity set during shooting to be higher than the second threshold, and the charging current of the capacitor of the light emitting device, An imaging device that is set lower than when the temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A first light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube;
A second light emitting device that emits light using a light emitting diode;
When the temperature is lower than the first threshold, the system control means controls the shooting sensitivity set during shooting to be higher than the second threshold, and prohibits the use of the first light emitting device. And an imaging device that controls the second light emitting device to operate. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An electromotive force detecting means for detecting an electromotive force of the battery;
The system control means sets the photographing sensitivity to be set when photographing when the temperature is smaller than the first threshold and the electromotive force is smaller than a third threshold as a first photographing sensitivity, and the temperature is the first When the shooting sensitivity to be set when shooting when the electromotive force is smaller than the first threshold and the electromotive force is not less than the third threshold is the second shooting sensitivity, the first shooting sensitivity is the second shooting sensitivity. An image pickup apparatus that controls to be higher than that. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
It can also be operated with power supplied from an AC adapter,
The imaging apparatus that performs the temperature determination process only when power is supplied from the battery. An imaging apparatus control method capable of changing imaging sensitivity,
Imaging including a control step of detecting a temperature of a battery mounted on the imaging device and controlling the imaging sensitivity set during imaging to be higher than the second threshold when the temperature is lower than the first threshold. Control method of the device. A control method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 8,
It has a shooting step for shooting at the shooting sensitivity set by the user,
In the control step, when the temperature is lower than a first threshold, the imaging sensitivity is set by the user so that the imaging sensitivity is set higher than the second threshold. A control method for an imaging apparatus according to claim 8,
A shooting sensitivity automatic determination step for automatically setting the shooting sensitivity at the time of shooting;
When the temperature is lower than the first threshold value, the brightness threshold of the subject used when automatically determining the shooting sensitivity is set so that the shooting sensitivity to be determined in the shooting sensitivity automatic determination step is greater than the second threshold value. The control method of the imaging device is changed to a value that also increases. It is the control method of the imaging device of any one of Claims 8-10, Comprising:
The imaging device includes a light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube,
When the temperature is lower than the first threshold value, control is performed so that the photographing sensitivity set at the time of photographing is higher than the second threshold value, and the charging current of the capacitor of the light emitting device is controlled by the temperature. The control method of the imaging device that is set lower than when it is equal to or greater than the threshold. It is the control method of the imaging device of any one of Claims 8-10, Comprising:
The imaging device includes a first light emitting device that emits light using a xenon tube, and a second light emitting device that emits light using a light emitting diode,
When the temperature is lower than the first threshold, control is performed such that the shooting sensitivity set during shooting is higher than the second threshold, and the use of the first light-emitting device is prohibited, and the second A method for controlling an imaging apparatus for controlling a light emitting apparatus to operate. It is a control method of an imaging device given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 8-12,
Detecting the electromotive force of the battery,
In the control step, the photographing sensitivity to be set at the time of photographing when the temperature is smaller than the first threshold and the electromotive force is smaller than the third threshold is set as a first photographing sensitivity, and the temperature is set to the first When the shooting sensitivity to be set when shooting when the electromotive force is less than or equal to the third threshold is the second shooting sensitivity, the first shooting sensitivity is greater than the second shooting sensitivity. The control method of an imaging device which controls so that it may become high. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13,
The imaging device can also be operated by power supplied from an AC adapter,
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus that detects the temperature only when power is supplied from the battery.

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