JP2013246498A - Electronic apparatus and control method of electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus and a control method of the electronic apparatus which can enhance reduction effect on power consumption while the electronic apparatus is in a power-saving mode.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus 1 performs authentication on the basis of authentication data input from the outside. A sensor 5 outputs a predetermined signal when measured illuminance is equal to or less than a predetermined value. When the predetermined signal is input, a control unit 2 controls power of a battery 3 to be supplied to a communication unit 4, then reads the authentication data by the communication unit 4. When authentication of the authentication data read by the communication unit 4 is successful, the control unit 2 controls the power of battery to be supplied to the entire electronic apparatus.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device and a method for controlling the electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device and a method for controlling the electronic device that reduce power consumption of the electronic device.

  In recent years, electronic devices such as mobile terminal devices including a smart phone and a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a notebook computer, and a portable game system have been widely used. In order to improve operability and operation speed of these electronic devices, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display screen, which is a display unit of the electronic device, is increased in size and an operation clock frequency of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is increased. As a result, power consumption is increasing. On the other hand, these electronic devices are usually driven by a battery, and it is desired to extend the driving time of the battery driving the electronic device. Generally, reduction of power consumption is considered effective for extending battery driving time. For this reason, reduction of the power consumption of the battery which drives an electronic device is urgent.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reducing power consumption. The electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a personal authentication function, and when a user's operation is not performed for a certain period of time, only the minimum necessary part including a part for performing personal authentication (personal authentication unit) is included. A power saving mode that supplies power is adopted, thereby reducing power consumption. Then, the personal authentication unit performs personal authentication of the user to return from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

  The electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a CPU, a power supply unit, a power supply control unit, and a personal authentication unit (non-contact IC card reader). The non-contact IC card reader includes a microcomputer that controls the non-contact IC card reader and a receiving unit that receives data transmitted from the non-contact IC card. The CPU controls various functions of the electronic device. The power supply unit has each power supply system that supplies power to each unit. The power supply control unit controls on / off of each power supply system included in the power supply unit. The non-contact IC card reader uses a microcomputer to check data (authentication data) received at the receiving unit, and when this data can be authenticated, a return signal for turning on each power supply system to the power control unit Is output. The authentication data is data for authenticating an individual for permitting operation of the electronic device.

  Here, an operation of returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the electronic device is in the power saving mode will be described. In the power saving mode, the power control unit turns off the power supply to the CPU and turns on the power of the personal authentication unit (non-contact IC card reader). That is, power is supplied to the microcomputer and the receiving unit in the non-contact IC card reader. The current consumption of the receiver is generally about 100 mA and is relatively large. This microcomputer monitors input data from a receiving unit in a non-contact IC card reader. When there is input data, the microcomputer examines this data (authentication data). When the data is authenticated, the microcomputer determines that there is an access from the user, and returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode. A return signal is output. The power supply control unit receives the return signal output from the microcomputer and turns on each power supply system of the power supply unit. As a result, power is also supplied to the CPU, and the electronic device returns to the normal mode.

  As described above, the electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a device that performs authentication when returning from the power saving mode to the normal mode. The power saving mode is set when an operation by the user is not performed for a certain period of time. This power saving mode is a mode in which power is supplied to the microcomputer and the receiving unit in the personal authentication unit (non-contact IC card reader) used when the power supply to the CPU is turned off and the normal mode is restored. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 reduces the power consumption of the electronic device by using this mode.

JP 2009-288971 A

  The electronic device described in Patent Document 1 described above reduces the power consumption of the electronic device by setting the electronic device to the power saving mode when the operation by the user is not performed for a certain period of time. However, in this power saving mode, the power supply to the CPU is turned off, but the personal authentication unit (non-contact IC card reader) used when returning to the normal mode, that is, the microcomputer and the receiving unit are turned on. I have to. For this reason, there is a problem that power is consumed by the microcomputer and the receiving unit in the non-contact IC card reader all the time during the power saving mode.

  The objective of this invention is providing the control method of the electronic device which can solve the said subject, and can improve the reduction effect of power consumption in the period of a power saving mode.

  The electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device that performs authentication based on authentication data input from the outside, a battery, and a sensor that outputs a predetermined signal when the measured illuminance is less than a predetermined value, When the communication unit that reads the authentication data and when the predetermined signal is input, the power of the battery is controlled to be supplied to the communication unit, and the authentication data read by the communication unit can be authenticated And a control unit for controlling the battery power to be supplied to the entire electronic device.

  The electronic device control method of the present invention is a control method of an electronic device that performs authentication based on authentication data input from the outside, and the illuminance is measured by a sensor and the measured value is equal to or less than a predetermined specified value. When the predetermined signal is output from the sensor by the control unit provided in the electronic device, the power of the battery provided in the electronic device is supplied to the communication unit provided in the electronic device. The authentication data is controlled to be supplied, is supplied with power from the battery by the communication unit, reads authentication data when the power is being supplied, and the authentication data read by the communication unit by the control unit When the authentication is successful, the battery power is controlled to be supplied to the entire electronic device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device and an electronic device control method capable of enhancing the power consumption reduction effect during the period of the power saving mode.

It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the electronic device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the portable terminal device for demonstrating the positional relationship of a communication part and a sensor in the electronic device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an electronic apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The electronic device 1 is an electronic device that performs authentication based on authentication data input from the outside, and returns to the normal mode from the power saving mode when the authentication is performed. The power saving mode is determined in advance when the electronic device 1 is turned on and there is no input for a predetermined time or when a short press of the power key of the electronic device 1 is detected. In this mode, the supply of power to other than the part (for example, the part necessary for returning to the normal mode) is stopped. In the case of mobile terminal devices including smartphones and tablet PCs, the power saving mode is entered when the mobile terminal device transitions to a standby state in which use of the mobile terminal device is temporarily suspended. The normal mode is a mode for supplying power to the entire electronic device 1.

  Electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment includes battery 3, sensor 5, communication unit 4, and control unit 2. FIG. 1 also shows a user interface (UI) of the electronic device 1, for example, an operation unit 6 capable of touch operation and a display unit 7 such as an LCD.

  The battery 3 supplies power to the electronic device 1. The sensor 5 is constantly supplied with power from the battery 3. And the sensor 5 is set to the housing | casing of the electronic device 1, and measures the illumination intensity which this set location receives. A signal indicating that the measured value is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 100 lux. The value may be appropriately changed depending on the use environment and the system without being particular about this value). A predetermined signal). The communication unit 4 receives supply of power from the battery 3 when the sensor 5 outputs a signal indicating that the value is equal to or less than the specified value, and reads the authentication data when receiving the supply of power. The control unit 2 is constantly supplied with power from the battery 3 and controls to supply the power of the battery 3 to the communication unit 4 when receiving a signal from the sensor 5 indicating that the power is below a specified value. Further, the authentication data read by the communication unit 4 is authenticated, and when the authentication is successful, control is performed so that the power of the battery 3 is supplied to the entire electronic device 1 including the sensor 5 and its own control unit 2.

  That is, after the electronic device 1 enters the power saving mode, the electronic device 1 returns to the normal mode as follows. When the electronic device 1 enters the power saving mode, the sensor 5 and the control unit 2 are supplied with power from the battery 3, and the communication unit 4, the operation unit 6, and the display unit 7 are supplied with power from the battery 3. Is not supplied. Therefore, the sensor 5 and the control unit 2 operate, and the communication unit 4, the operation unit 6, and the display unit 7 do not operate. The current consumption during the operation of the sensor 5 is generally about 100 μA. Further, the current consumption during operation of the communication unit 4 is generally about 100 mA, which is 1000 times the current consumption during operation of the sensor 5. The sensor 5 is set in the vicinity of the communication unit 4 so that the illuminance measured by the sensor 5 is not more than a specified value when the communication unit 4 reads the authentication data from the IC card. In order to operate the electronic device 1 that has been stopped in the power saving mode, the user holds, for example, an IC card that stores authentication data and includes communication means over the communication unit 4. At this time, for example, an IC card shadow is applied to the sensor 5. The sensor 5 measures the illuminance at this time, and outputs a signal (a signal indicating that the IC card is held up) indicating that the measured value is equal to or less than a specified value when the measured value is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The control unit 2 receives a signal indicating that the value is equal to or less than the specified value from the sensor 5, and controls the power of the battery 3 to be supplied to the communication unit 4. The communication unit 4 receives power supplied from the battery 3 and reads authentication data from the IC card. The control unit 2 authenticates the authentication data read by the communication unit 4, and controls to supply the electric power of the battery 3 to the entire electronic device 1 including the sensor 5 and its own control unit 2 when authentication is successful.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the power saving mode is set, power from the battery 3 is supplied to the sensor 5 and the control unit, and the communication unit 4 is supplied from the battery 3. No power is supplied. When the sensor 5 outputs a signal indicating that the sensor 5 is equal to or less than the specified value (a signal indicating that the IC card is held up), the communication unit 4 operates with power supplied and reads authentication data from the IC card. . Then, the authentication data read by the communication unit 4 is authenticated by the control unit, and when the authentication is successful, the power of the battery 3 is supplied to the entire electronic device. As a result, the electronic device returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the power supplied to the communication unit for reading the authentication data is stopped in the power saving mode. Then, the start of the authentication operation when returning to the normal mode is detected by the sensor (current consumption, 100 μA), and after the detection, power is supplied to the communication unit (current consumption, 100 mA) that reads the authentication data. For this reason, since it is not always necessary to supply power to the communication unit during the period of the power saving mode, the effect of reducing power consumption can be enhanced during the period of the power saving mode.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the control unit 2 of FIG. 1 is divided into a device control unit 8 and a power supply control unit 9. Other than the device control unit 8 and the power supply control unit 9, the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  Electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment includes battery 3, sensor 5, communication unit 4, device control unit 8, and power supply control unit 9. FIG. 2 also shows an operation unit 6 and a display unit 7 which are user interfaces (UI) of the electronic device 1.

  The device control unit 8 is supplied with electric power from the battery 3 at all times, and receives a signal indicating that the electric power is less than a specified value from the sensor 5. The first supply for supplying the electric power of the battery 3 to the communication unit 4. Output instructions. Further, the authentication data read by the communication unit 4 is authenticated, and when the authentication is successful, a second supply instruction for supplying the power of the battery 3 to the entire electronic device 1 is output.

  The power supply control unit 9 receives the first supply instruction from the device control unit 8 and controls the power of the battery 3 to be supplied to the communication unit 4. Further, upon receiving a second supply instruction from the device control unit 8, the power of the battery 3 is controlled to be supplied to the entire electronic device 1.

  The communication unit 4 has a short-range wireless communication function, and reads authentication data stored in an IC card capable of short-range wireless communication by short-range wireless communication.

  The sensor 5 is set in the vicinity of the communication unit 4 so that the illuminance measured by the sensor 5 is not more than a specified value when the communication unit 4 reads the authentication data from the IC card.

  Next, the operation of the electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a portable terminal device for explaining the positional relationship between the communication unit 4 and the sensor 5 in the electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The sensor 5 is set in the vicinity of the communication unit 4. That is, for example, when the user holds the IC card storing the authentication data to use the electronic device 1 over the communication unit 4 in the antenna portion shown in FIG. Is set to such a position as to be applied to the sensor 5. (A) shows an example of a portable terminal device when the IC card is not held over the communication unit 4. And the display part 7 (LCD), the communication part 4, and the sensor 5 are arrange | positioned in the front of a portable terminal device, for example. The communication unit 4 is incorporated in the mobile terminal device, and a dotted line indicating the position of the antenna is described. A part of the sensor 5 is buried in the mobile terminal device and is partially visible from the window. (B) shows an example of a portable terminal device when the IC card is held close to the antenna portion of the communication unit 4. The sensor 5 is covered with the IC card, and the sensor 5 is shaded.

  Here, an operation in which the electronic device 1 returns to the normal mode after entering the power saving mode will be described. When the electronic device 1 enters the power saving mode, the power from the battery 3 is supplied to the sensor 5, the device control unit 8, and the power supply control unit 9, and the communication unit 4, the operation unit 6, and the display unit 7 are supplied. Is not supplied with power from the battery 3. Accordingly, the sensor 5, the device control unit 8, and the power supply control unit 9 operate, and the communication unit 4, the operation unit 6, and the display unit 7 do not operate. It is assumed that the electronic device 1 is set within the brightness of a normal office environment (for example, about 300 lux).

  In step S <b> 1 of FIG. 3, the sensor 5 continues this operation until the illuminance is measured and the measurement value is equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 100 lux). Then, in order to operate the electronic device 1 that has been stopped in the power saving mode, the user holds an IC card provided with a short-range wireless communication means storing authentication data over the communication unit 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the shadow of the IC card is applied to the sensor 5. At this time, the measured value becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S <b> 2 of FIG. 3, the sensor 5 outputs a signal (signal indicating that the IC card is held up) indicating that the value is equal to or less than the specified value.

  In step S <b> 3 of FIG. 3, the device control unit 8 receives a signal indicating that the value is equal to or less than the specified value from the sensor 5, and outputs a first supply instruction for supplying the power of the battery 3 to the communication unit 4.

  In step S <b> 4 of FIG. 3, the power supply control unit 9 receives the first supply instruction from the device control unit 8 and controls the power of the battery 3 to be supplied to the communication unit 4.

  In step S5 of FIG. 3, the communication unit 4 operates by receiving power from the battery 3 and reads authentication data from the IC card applied to the communication unit 4 by short-range wireless communication.

  In step S6 in FIG. 3, the device control unit 8 checks whether the authentication data read by the communication unit 4 is in the authentication information stored in advance. If the authentication data is included in the authentication information, the process proceeds to step S7 because it can be authenticated. If the authentication data is not included in the authentication information, the process proceeds to step S1 because it cannot be authenticated.

  In step S <b> 7 of FIG. 3, the device control unit 8 outputs a second supply instruction for supplying the power of the battery 3 to the entire electronic device 1.

  In step S <b> 8 of FIG. 3, the power supply control unit 9 receives the second supply instruction from the device control unit 8 and controls to supply the electric power of the battery 3 to the entire electronic device 1.

  Thereby, the electric power from the battery 3 is supplied to the entire electronic device 1, and the electronic device 1 returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the power saving mode is entered, the power from the battery 3 is supplied to the sensor 5, the device control unit 8, and the power supply control unit 9. No power is supplied from the battery 3 to the unit 4. When the sensor 5 outputs a signal indicating that the sensor 5 is equal to or less than the specified value (a signal indicating that the IC card is held up), the communication unit 4 operates with power supplied and reads authentication data from the IC card. . Then, the authentication data read by the communication unit 4 is authenticated by the device control unit 8, and when the authentication is successful, the power of the battery 3 is supplied to the entire electronic device by the power supply control unit 9. As a result, the electronic device returns from the power saving mode to the normal mode.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the power supplied to the communication unit for reading the authentication data is stopped in the power saving mode. Then, the start of the authentication operation when returning to the normal mode is detected by the sensor (current consumption, 100 μA), and after the detection, power is supplied to the communication unit (current consumption, 100 mA) that reads the authentication data. For this reason, since it is not always necessary to supply power to the communication unit during the period of the power saving mode, the effect of reducing power consumption can be enhanced during the period of the power saving mode.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device 2 Control part 3 Battery 4 Communication part 5 Sensor 6 Operation part 7 Display part 8 Equipment control part 9 Power supply control part

Claims (7)

An electronic device that performs authentication based on authentication data input from the outside,
Battery,
A sensor that outputs a predetermined signal when the measured illuminance is less than or equal to a predetermined value;
A communication unit for reading the authentication data;
When the predetermined signal is input, the power of the battery is controlled to be supplied to the communication unit, and when the authentication data read by the communication unit is authenticated, the power of the battery is A control unit that controls to supply to the entire device;
An electronic device characterized by comprising: The controller is
When receiving the predetermined signal from the sensor, it outputs a first supply instruction for supplying the battery power to the communication unit, and can authenticate and authenticate the authentication data read by the communication unit. A device control unit that outputs a second supply instruction for supplying power of the battery to the entire electronic device;
Receiving the first supply instruction from the device control unit and controlling the battery power to be supplied to the communication unit, receiving the second supply instruction from the device control unit and supplying the battery power to the communication unit A power supply control unit that controls to supply to the entire electronic device;
The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   3. The communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit has a short-range wireless communication function and reads the authentication data stored in an IC card capable of short-range wireless communication by short-range wireless communication. Electronic equipment.   The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is set in the vicinity of the communication unit such that when the communication unit reads the IC card, an illuminance to be measured is equal to or less than the specified value. A method of controlling an electronic device that performs authentication based on authentication data input from the outside,
The sensor measures the illuminance and outputs a predetermined signal when the measured value is equal to or less than a predetermined value,
When the control unit provided in the electronic device receives the predetermined signal from the sensor, the power of the battery provided in the electronic device is controlled to be supplied to the communication unit provided in the electronic device,
The communication unit receives power supply from the battery and reads authentication data when receiving the power supply,
The control unit authenticates the authentication data read by the communication unit, and controls to supply power of the battery to the entire electronic device when authentication is successful.
A method for controlling an electronic device.   6. The method of controlling an electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the communication unit reads the authentication data stored in an IC card capable of short-range wireless communication by short-range wireless communication.   The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is set in the vicinity of the communication unit such that when the communication unit reads the IC card, the illuminance to be measured is equal to or less than the specified value. Control method.

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