JP2014194613A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly start up a system in a demo mode even when a communication cable is connected.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus includes mode setting means for setting one operation mode of a plurality of predetermined operation modes, connection means capable of connecting a cable for communication and power supply, connection detection means for detecting the presence of connection of the cable to the connection means, and processing changing means for changing, at the start-up of a system by a main program, start-up processing of the system according to an operation mode set at the previous completion of the system when the connection of the cable is detected by the connection detection means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus that controls the entire system by executing a main program.

  Various electronic devices are equipped with demonstration modes for demonstrating the functions and performance of products at stores. A specific example of an electronic device that can operate in this type of demo mode is described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2001-352479 A

  By the way, in order to prevent the battery of the electronic device from running out in the demonstration mode, a communication cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable is connected to the electronic device placed in the store, and power is supplied via the communication cable. Is supplied. When the electronic device is turned on while the communication cable is connected, the electronic device starts up the system by the main program in a communication mode for communicating with an external device. The main program can transition to the demo mode only after the system is started in the communication mode. When the main program transitions to the demo mode, the process that the initial program loader executes if the system is directly started in the demo mode must be executed instead of the initial program loader. Therefore, if the electronic device is turned on with the communication cable connected to the electronic device, it takes time until the system operates in the demo mode.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of quickly operating the system in the demo mode even when the communication cable is connected. is there.

  An electronic apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention controls a whole system by executing a main program, and includes mode setting means for setting one operation mode among a plurality of predetermined operation modes, communication, Connection means that can connect a cable for at least one of the power feeding, connection detection means that detects whether or not the cable is connected to the connection means, and connection detection means detects the connection of the cable when the system is started by the main program. Then, a process changing means is provided for changing the system startup process in accordance with the operation mode set at the end of the previous system.

  An electronic device according to another aspect of the present invention controls the entire system by executing a main program loaded into a memory by an initial program loader, and includes one of a plurality of predetermined operation modes. Mode setting means for setting an operation mode, connection means for connecting a cable for at least one of communication and power feeding, connection detection means for detecting whether or not a cable is connected to the connection means, and an initial program loader for main program When a connection of the cable is detected by the connection detection means when loading the memory into the memory, a process changing means for changing the processing by the initial program loader according to the operation mode set at the end of the previous system is provided. .

  According to the present invention, even when the power of the electronic device is turned on while the cable is connected, the main program is in the demo mode if the operation mode set at the end of the previous system is The system can be started directly in demo mode. For example, consider a demonstration machine placed in a store. In principle, this type of demo machine is set to demo mode. Therefore, the main program does not start the system in the communication mode, but starts it in the demo mode following the previous time. Therefore, the system can be quickly started and operated in the demo mode. In this specification, “system starts (or operates)” means that a system (a set of software and hardware) provided in an electronic apparatus is a predetermined process (for example, a digital image if it is a digital still camera). ) And the like can be executed.

  The plurality of operation modes include, for example, a communication mode for communicating with an external device connected to a cable, and a demonstration mode for predetermined demonstration.

  The electronic device may be configured such that a battery for supplying power and a memory card capable of storing electronic data are detachable. In this case, for example, when the connection detection unit detects the connection of the cable with at least one of the battery and the memory card being removed, the operation mode that was set at the end of the previous system is used. Regardless, the main program starts the system in demo mode.

  In addition, the process changing means is connected to the operation mode set at the end of the previous system when the connection detection means detects the connection of the cable with at least one of the battery and the memory card removed. First, the main program causes the initial program loader to prepare for starting the system in demo mode.

  Further, the process changing means may cause the initial program loader to drive and control a part of hardware prior to execution of the main program when the system is scheduled to start in the demo mode.

  The electronic device is different from the first storage medium in which the setting value referred to by the main program is stored, and the first storage medium in which information indicating the mode set at the end of the previous system is stored. It is good also as a structure provided with the 2nd recording medium.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic device capable of quickly operating a system in a demo mode even when a communication cable is connected.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the process performed by the initial program loader at the time of power activation of the electronic device of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the process performed by the main program started by process step S14 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the process performed when the setting of an electronic device is changed by the user operating UI in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Configuration of Electronic Device 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic device 1 according to the present embodiment. The electronic apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus capable of taking a digital image, for example, and specifically, a digital single-lens reflex camera (with a quick return mirror) in which a taking lens can be replaced. The electronic device 1 may be replaced with a mirrorless single-lens camera, a compact digital camera, a camcorder, a portable information terminal, a PHS (Personal Handy phone System), a smartphone, a feature phone, a portable game machine, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102, a flash memory 104, an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) 106, an RTC (Real Time Clock) 108, a power control unit 110, a lens mirror. Body control unit 112, CCD (Charge Coupled Device) imaging unit 114, UI (User Interface) 116, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display unit 118, audio playback unit 120, USB communication unit 122, SD card adapter 124, LED (Light Emitting) Diode) 126 and a battery 128 are provided.

  The UI 116 is a UI for the user to operate the electronic device 1. The UI 116 includes, for example, hardware keys provided on the body of the electronic apparatus 1, GUI (Graphical User Interface) and software keys displayed on the LCD display unit 118. The UI 116 includes a power switch. When the power switch is turned on, the power control unit 110 converts the power input from the battery 128 or the commercial power supply and supplies it to each hardware of the electronic device 1.

  The flash memory 104 stores various programs such as the initial program loader 200 and the main program 300, and setting values (changeable by a user operation) of the electronic apparatus 1 that are referred to by the initial program loader 200 and the main program 300. Various data are stored. The CPU 102 initializes each piece of hardware by executing the initial program loader 200 stored in the flash memory 104 immediately after power-on (start-up). Next, the CPU 102 loads the main program 300 stored in the flash memory 104 into a predetermined work area (for example, a predetermined area of the SDRAM 106), and executes the loaded main program 300, thereby controlling the entire electronic apparatus 1. .

  The RTC 108 has a small-capacity nonvolatile memory, and can set and save the current time. The RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) also has an area for storing arbitrary data other than time data. The RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) retains data such as various setting values at the time of the previous system end even after the electronic device 1 is turned off.

  The electronic apparatus 1 includes a lens barrel and a photographing lens that are not shown. The lens barrel control unit 112 performs zooming and focusing by driving the photographing lens by controlling the extension amount of the lens barrel according to the user's operation of the UI 116 and the AF (Autofocus) control result.

The CCD imaging unit 114 receives a subject image on the imaging surface via the imaging lens, accumulates an optical image formed on each pixel on the imaging surface as a charge corresponding to the amount of light, and converts it into an electrical signal. The CPU 102 performs predetermined signal processing such as color interpolation, matrix calculation, and Y / C separation on the electrical signal (shooting data) input from the CCD imaging unit 114 to generate a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr. JPEG (Joint Photographic
Compress in a predetermined format such as Experts Group. The compressed image signal (photographed image data) is stored in an SD card inserted into the SD card adapter 124. Further, the CPU 102 caches the signal after Y / C separation in the SDRAM 106, processes the cached signal so that it can be displayed on the monitor, and outputs it to the LCD display unit 118 at a predetermined frame rate. As a result, the user can view a real-time through image through the LCD display unit 118. During the live view reproduction, the audio reproduction unit 120 reproduces surrounding sounds picked up by a microphone (not shown).

  A USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122. The electronic device 1 can communicate with an external device via a USB cable connected to the USB communication unit 122. The electronic device 1 can also be supplied with power from a commercial power source, a PC, or the like via a USB cable connected to the USB communication unit 122.

[Processing by initial program loader 200 at power-on]
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of processing executed by the initial program loader 200 when the electronic apparatus 1 is powered on.

[S11 in FIG. 2 (Hardware initialization)]
The initial program loader 200 initializes each piece of hardware when the electronic device 1 is powered on.

[S12 in FIG. 2 (USB cable connection determination)]
The initial program loader 200 determines whether or not a USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122 by checking the port of the USB communication unit 122. When the initial program loader 200 determines that the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122 (S12 in FIG. 2: YES), the process of this flowchart is changed to the processing step S15 (reading of the demo mode flag) in FIG. Proceed. When the initial program loader 200 determines that the USB cable is not connected to the USB communication unit 122 (S12: NO in FIG. 2), the process of this flowchart is changed to the process step S13 (lens barrel extension) in FIG. Proceed.

[S13 in FIG. 2 (lens barrel extension)]
When the USB cable is not connected to the USB communication unit 122, the initial program loader 200 makes preparations for quickly starting the system in the normal mode. Specifically, the initial program loader 200 starts feeding out the lens barrel by the lens barrel control unit 112. By starting processing that takes time, such as feeding out the lens barrel, prior to the execution of the main program 300, it is possible to reduce the time required to complete the system startup by the main program 300. Here, the normal mode is a standard mode in which, for example, all the functions of the electronic apparatus 1 (excluding the inspection function used in the manufacturing process) can be used.

[S14 in FIG. 2 (Activation of Main Program 300)]
The initial program loader 200 loads the main program 300 into a predetermined work area. As a result, the main program 300 is activated. When the USB cable is not connected to the USB communication unit 122, the main program 300 starts the system in the normal mode.

[S15 in FIG. 2 (Read Demo Mode Flag)]
The RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) stores a flag value (“1” or “0”) of the demo mode. The demonstration mode is a mode for demonstrating the functions and performance of the electronic device 1 at a store. The demo mode includes, for example, a function that restricts some functions of the electronic device 1 with respect to the normal mode (for example, a photographed image is not recorded even when the shutter button is pressed to release a shutter), and a menu configuration for user operation. There are things that are different from those in the normal mode, things that let you experience the operation of the electronic device 1 with a guide screen, and things that reproduce a demonstration screen that introduces the functions and performance of the electronic device 1. Note that the demo mode flag can be switched to “1” or “0” through the operation of the UI 116 by the user after the system is started by the main program 300. “1” indicates that the operation mode to be set is the demo mode if the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122, and “0” indicates that the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122. If the state is set, it indicates that the operation mode to be set is the communication mode. When the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122, the initial program loader 200 reads the demo mode flag stored in the RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory).

[S16 in FIG. 2 (Demo Mode Flag Determination)]
The initial program loader 200 communicates with an external device via a USB cable when the demo mode flag in the RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) is set to “0” (S16: NO in FIG. 2). Without executing step S13 (lens barrel extension), the main program 300 is loaded into a predetermined work area and started in step S14 (activation of the main program 300) in FIG. In this case, the main program 300 activates the system in the communication mode.

  When the demo mode flag in the RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) is set to “1” (S16: YES in FIG. 2), the initial program loader 200 starts the system quickly in the demo mode. After the lens barrel control unit 112 starts feeding the lens barrel at processing step S13 (lens barrel feeding), the main program 300 is set to a predetermined value at processing step S14 (activation of the main program 300) in FIG. Load it into the work area and start it. In this case, the main program 300 starts the system in the demo mode.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even when the power of the electronic apparatus 1 is turned on with the USB cable connected, the main program 300 does not start the system in the communication mode, but directly in the demo mode. It can be started with. Therefore, the system can be quickly operated in the demo mode even when the USB cable is connected. Power to the electronic device 1 in the demo mode is supplied via a USB cable.

[Processing by main program 300 at power-on]
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of processing executed by the main program 300 activated in the processing step S14 (activation of the main program 300) in FIG. In the following, for the sake of convenience, first, each processing step from processing step S21 (USB cable connection determination) to processing step S25 (reproduction of system startup sound) in FIG. 3 will be described.

[S21 in FIG. 3 (USB cable connection determination)]
The main program 300 determines whether the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122 by checking the port of the USB communication unit 122.

[S22 in FIG. 3 (Lighting of LED (Light Emitting Diode) 126)]
The main program 300 turns on the LED 126. The LED 126 is a lamp that displays a power-on state, for example.

[S23 in FIG. 3 (Power-on of the CCD imaging unit 114)]
The main program 300 turns on the power of the CCD image pickup unit 114.

[S24 in FIG. 3 (Lighting of LCD Display 118)]
The main program 300 turns on the display on the LCD display unit 118.

[S25 in FIG. 3 (Reproduction of System Startup Sound)]
The main program 300 controls the audio playback unit 120 to play back a system start sound that notifies the user of the start of the system.

<Example of system startup by main program 300>
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, three examples of system activation by the main program 300 will be described.

-System startup example 1-
Consider a case where a USB cable is not connected to the USB communication unit 122. In this case, the main program 300 determines that the USB cable is not connected to the USB communication unit 122 in the processing step S21 (USB cable connection determination) in FIG. 3 (S21: NO in FIG. 3). Processing step S22 (LED 126 is turned on), processing step S23 (CCD imaging unit 114 is turned on), processing step S24 (LCD display unit 118 is turned on), and processing step S25 (reproduction of system startup sound) are executed. Next, the main program 300 shifts to the normal mode in the processing step 26 of FIG. This completes the startup of the system in the normal mode.

-System startup example 2-
Consider a case where a USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122. In this case, the main program 300 determines that the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122 in the processing step S21 (USB cable connection determination) in FIG. 3 (S21: YES in FIG. 3). In processing step 27, the demo mode flag stored in the RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) is read. When the demo mode flag in the RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) is set to “0” (S28: NO in FIG. 3), the main program 300 communicates with the external device via the USB cable. Without executing processing step S21 (USB cable connection determination) to processing step S25 (reproduction of system startup sound), the processing mode transitions to the communication mode in processing step S29 of FIG. This completes the activation of the system in the communication mode.

-System startup example 3-
Consider a case where a USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122. In this case, the main program 300 determines that the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122 in the processing step S21 (USB cable connection determination) in FIG. 3 (S21: YES in FIG. 3). In processing step 27, the demo mode flag stored in the RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) is read. When the demo mode flag in the RTC 108 (non-volatile memory) is set to “1” (S28: YES in FIG. 3), the main program 300 processes step S22 (LED 126 is lit) in FIG. (Power-on of the CCD image pickup unit 114), processing step S24 (lighting of the LCD display unit 118), and processing step S25 (reproduction of system start-up sound) are executed. Next, the main program 300 shifts to the demo mode in the process step 26 of FIG. This completes the startup of the system in the demo mode.

  As described above, in the system startup example 3, even when the power of the electronic apparatus 1 is turned on with the USB cable connected, the main program 300 directly performs the demonstration without starting the system in the communication mode. It can be activated in mode. Therefore, the system can be quickly operated in the demo mode even when the USB cable is connected. Power to the electronic device 1 in the demo mode is supplied via a USB cable.

[Processing when User Changes Settings for Electronic Device 1]
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of processing executed when the setting of the electronic apparatus 1 is changed by the user operating the UI 116.

[S31 in FIG. 4 (setting value writing to flash memory 104)]
The main program 300 writes (or updates) the setting value changed according to the user's operation of the UI 116 to the flash memory 104.

[S32 in FIG. 4 (Demo Mode Flag Change Determination)]
The main program 300 determines whether or not the changed setting value is the value of the demo mode flag. When the main program 300 determines that the changed setting value is not the value of the demo mode flag (S32: NO in FIG. 4), the main program 300 ends the process of this flowchart. When the main program 300 determines that the changed setting value is the value of the demo mode flag (S32 in FIG. 4: YES), the main program 300 performs the process of this flowchart with the processing step S33 in FIG. 4 (the demo mode flag in the RTC 108). Update).

[S33 in FIG. 4 (Update of Demo Mode Flag in RTC 108)]
When the value of the demo mode flag in the flash memory 104 is changed, the main program 300 updates the value of the demo mode flag stored in the RTC 108 (nonvolatile memory) with the changed value.

  Here, the reason why the value of the demo mode flag is stored in the RTC 108 will be described. The main program 300 is assembled in a higher level language than the initial program loader 200. Therefore, the main program 300 has a higher function than the initial program loader 200 in the setting value management mechanism. Therefore, it is difficult to adopt a common data management method for the main program 300 and the initial program loader 200. In addition, since the flash memory 104 stores various data, the data is frequently rewritten. Therefore, it is considered that the flash memory 104 has a higher probability of data inconsistency due to a rewrite error than other storage media in the electronic device 1. When the initial program loader 200 is configured to refer to the flash memory 104 in which the occurrence of data inconsistency is a concern, the risk that the system cannot be started increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the demo mode flag is stored in a storage medium (RTC 108) different from the storage location (flash memory 104) of other setting values referred to by the main program 300 and the initial program loader 200.

  The above is the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the embodiment of the present application also includes an embodiment that is exemplarily specified in the specification or a combination of obvious embodiments and the like as appropriate.

  For example, a demo machine placed at a store often has a battery or SD card removed to prevent theft. Therefore, in another embodiment, when the USB cable is connected to the USB communication unit 122 and at least one of the battery 128 or the SD card is removed, the USB communication unit 122 is regarded as being placed in the store, and the demo mode The system may be activated in the demo mode regardless of the flag value.

1 Electronic device 102 CPU
104 Flash memory 106 SDRAM
108 RTC
110 Power supply control unit 112 Lens barrel control unit 114 CCD image pickup unit 116 UI
118 LCD Display Unit 120 Audio Playback Unit 122 USB Communication Unit 124 SD Card Adapter 126 LED
128 Battery 200 Initial program loader 300 Main program

Claims (7)

In an electronic device that controls the entire system by executing a main program,
Mode setting means for setting one operation mode among a plurality of predetermined operation modes;
Connection means capable of connecting a cable for at least one of communication and power supply;
Connection detecting means for detecting whether or not the cable is connected to the connecting means;
When the connection detection unit detects the connection of the cable at the time of activation of the system by the main program, the activation process of the system is changed according to the operation mode set at the time of the last termination of the system. Processing change means;
An electronic device comprising: In an electronic device that controls the entire system by executing a main program loaded into memory by an initial program loader,
Mode setting means for setting one operation mode among a plurality of predetermined operation modes;
Connection means capable of connecting a cable for at least one of communication and power supply;
Connection detecting means for detecting whether or not the cable is connected to the connecting means;
When the connection detection unit detects the connection of the cable when the main program is loaded into the memory by the initial program loader, the processing by the initial program loader was set at the time of the previous end of the system. Process changing means for changing according to the operation mode;
An electronic device comprising: The plurality of operation modes are:
The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising a communication mode for communicating with an external device connected to the cable, and a demonstration mode for predetermined demonstration. A battery that supplies power and a memory card that can store electronic data are removable.
The process changing means is
If connection of the cable is detected by the connection detection means in a state where at least one of the battery or the memory card is removed, the main mode is set regardless of the operation mode that was set when the system was terminated last time. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the program causes the system to start in the demo mode. A battery that supplies power and a memory card that can store electronic data are removable.
The process changing means is
If connection of the cable is detected by the connection detection means in a state where at least one of the battery or the memory card is removed, the main mode is set regardless of the operation mode that was set when the system was terminated last time. 4. An electronic device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a program causes the initial program loader to perform preparations for starting the system in the demo mode. The process changing means is
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein when the system is scheduled to be started in the demo mode, the initial program loader is driven and controlled before the main program is executed. The electronic device according to claim 3 or 5. A first storage medium in which a setting value referred to by the main program is stored;
A second recording medium different from the first storage medium in which information indicating a mode set at the end of the previous system is stored;
The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

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