JP2018007186A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To activate a main system to enable power-saving notification without wastefully consuming a battery during a time when setting an interval operation of an electronic device.SOLUTION: An electronic device (100) comprises: clock management means for managing time in the electronic device; oscillation means for generating clock signals of the clock management means; first power source means for driving the clock management means; control means for controlling a system in the electronic device; second power source means for driving the control means; notification means caused to operate by a signal from the control means and a power source from the second power source means; and setting means for activating the second power source in response to a signal from the clock management means at intervals of a predetermined time. The clock management means uses a signal from the clock management means to control the notification means while the second power source stops.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device capable of emitting LED light even in a standby state.

  In general, it is known to use an electronic device that automatically drives the electronic device at predetermined time intervals using a timer function to execute a predetermined process (hereinafter, interval operation). Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, a light notification system using a mobile phone capable of controlling a notification means such as an LED linked to a timer switch has been proposed.

JP 2007-189479 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to control the LED by starting the system and the power source for driving the system at the timing when the LED serving as the notification unit emits light in the standby state when the system is stopped. As described above, in the configuration and control in which the system is activated each time notification is made, constant power is consumed when the system is activated, so that battery consumption is accelerated and driving time is shortened.

  Therefore, power saving when controlling the notification means is desired.

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device according to the present invention is
A clock management means for managing time in the electronic equipment, an oscillation means for generating a clock signal of the clock management means, and a first power supply means for driving the clock management means A control means for controlling the system in the electronic device, a second power supply means for driving the control means, a signal from the control means and a notification operated by the power supply from the second power supply means And a setting means for activating the second power supply by a signal from the clock management means every predetermined time, and the clock management means has the clock management while the second power supply is stopped. The notification means is controlled using a signal from the means.

  According to the electronic device according to the present invention, it is possible to perform power saving notification without activating the main system and consuming the battery unnecessarily during the interval operation setting of the electronic device.

1 is a configuration block diagram of an electronic device 100 in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a control flowchart according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram according to the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of the electronic device 100 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a control flowchart according to the first embodiment.
First, the overall configuration of the electronic device 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
The battery 10 is an input power source for driving the electronic device 100. For example, the control unit 101 executes various processes (programs) according to operation signals from the operation unit 102 that receives an operation from a CPU (MPU) and a user, and controls each block of the electronic device 100. Control data transfer between blocks.

  The operation unit 102 includes switches for inputting various operations related to shooting such as a power button, a still image recording button, and a moving image recording start button. Further, a menu display button, a determination button, other cursor keys, a pointing device, a touch panel, and the like are provided, and an operation signal is transmitted to the control unit 101 when these keys and buttons are operated by the user. The bus 103 is a general-purpose bus for sending various data, control signals, instruction signals, and the like to each block of the electronic device 100.

  The imaging unit 110 controls the amount of light of the optical image of the subject captured by the lens using an aperture, converts the optical image into an image signal using an imaging element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, performs analog-digital conversion, and stores the image in the memory 104. Send and store temporarily.

  The image processing unit 111 executes processing necessary for image recording / playback, and is a microcomputer equipped with a program for executing the following processing. Further, the following processing may be executed as a partial function of the control unit 101. The image processing unit 111 obtains a white balance, color, brightness, and the like for the digital image signal acquired by the imaging unit 110 and stored in the memory 104, and a setting value determined from a setting value set by the user or image characteristics. An image quality adjustment process for adjusting based on the image quality is performed.

  The moving image data and still image data generated by the image processing unit 111 are stored in an area other than the area where the above-described digital image signal is stored in the memory 104. In the present embodiment, the digital image signal obtained by the imaging unit 110 and the moving image data and still image data generated by the image processing unit 111 are described as being stored in the same memory 104. Another memory may be used.

  The control unit 101 reads out still image data stored in the memory 104 and transfers it to the recording / reproducing unit 140. The recording / reproducing unit 140 records the transferred still image data on the recording medium 141 as a still image file.

  The recording / playback unit 140 reads (plays back) a still image file or the like recorded on the recording medium 141. Then, the control unit 101 transmits still image data included in the read still image file to the image processing unit 111, and the image processing unit 111 stores an image of the still image data in the memory 104. Then, the display control unit 131 sequentially reads out one frame image stored in the memory 104 and displays it on the display unit 130.

  The light emitting unit 170 is an LED or the like for notifying means, and is a light emitting means for notifying that the recording / reproducing unit 140 and the recording medium 141 are communicating or setting the interval operation.

  The clock management unit 200 is a time measuring unit that generates a reference clock based on an oscillation signal from the oscillation unit 201 and manages a set time. The clock management unit 200 has a register function, a timer function, a function of outputting a start signal of the second power supply unit 204, and a function of outputting a pulse signal at an interval of a reference clock multiplication cycle, which is set by the operation unit 102. The start signal and pulse signal are output at the timer time and interval.

  The first power supply unit 202 is an LDO or the like that generates power to be supplied from the battery 10 to the watch management unit 200 and supplies power to the watch management unit 200 at all times while the battery 10 is being filled.

  The second power supply unit 204 is a DCDC converter or the like that generates power to be supplied from the battery 10 to each block of the electronic device 100. The second power supply unit 204 uses a start signal from the power button of the operation unit 102 and a start signal from the clock management unit 200. Start power supply.

  Next, the operation of the electronic device 100 in the first embodiment will be described. When the user operates the power button of the operation unit 102, the electronic device 100 issues an activation instruction from the operation unit 102 to the second power supply unit 204. In response to this instruction, the second power supply unit 204 supplies power to each block of the electronic device 100.

  When power is supplied, the control unit 101 confirms an activation factor of the electronic device 100. For example, if the operation unit 102 is activated from the power button, it can be detected from the signal level of the power button that the user is pressing the power button. Further, if it is an activation from the clock management unit 200, it may be determined that the activation is not from the power button, or may be determined from a determination flag of a register provided in the clock management unit.

  If the activation factor is activation from the power button, the control unit 101 determines which mode, such as “still image shooting mode”, “moving image shooting mode”, “playback mode”, etc., of the mode changeover switch of the operation unit 102. Is confirmed by an instruction signal from the operation unit 102.

  In the “still image shooting mode”, the electronic device 100 performs shooting by a user operating the still image recording button of the operation unit 102 in a shooting standby state, and a still image file is recorded on the recording medium 141. And it will be in a photography standby state again. In the “moving image shooting mode”, the electronic device 100 starts shooting when the user operates the moving image recording start button of the operation unit 102 in a shooting standby state. During that time, moving image data and audio data are recorded on the recording medium 141. The Then, when the user operates the moving image recording end button of the operation unit 102, photographing is ended, and the moving image data and audio data recorded in the recording medium 141 are completed as a moving image file. After that, the shooting standby state is entered again. In the “playback mode”, a still image file or a moving image file related to a file selected by the user is reproduced from the recording medium 141, and a still image, a moving image, or sound is output.

  If the activation factor is activation from the clock management unit 200, an interval operation process preset by the user is executed. For example, the interval operation is interval still image shooting assuming astronomical shooting or the like.

  Here, a specific operation of interval still image shooting will be described based on the flow of FIG.

  When the user inputs the shooting menu and various settings of the electronic device 100 in advance, a flag for executing interval still image shooting is set in the register of the clock management unit 200, and the interval time and the timer activation count are set (S100).

  Next, when the user presses the power button to turn off the electronic device 100 (the second power supply is stopped in S102 to S106), the timer function of the clock management unit 200 operates and is set. It counts up to the interval time (S108). Meanwhile, the LED of the light emitting unit 170 is lit at a predetermined interval (S110). For example, in the initial setting, it is controlled to light for 0.3 seconds after being turned off for 4 seconds, and the turn-off time (lighting interval) and lighting time (or the time ratio of turning on and off) are changed according to the remaining battery level and interval time. Also good.

  Next, when the set interval time has elapsed (Yes in S112), an activation signal is output from the clock management unit 200, and the second power supply unit 204 is activated. The control unit 101 supplied with power from the second power source unit 204 recognizes that the activation factor of the electronic device 100 is due to interval still image shooting from the clock management unit 200 (S114). When interval still image shooting is executed under shooting conditions set in advance by the user (S116, S118), the control unit 101 confirms the number of times the timer is started.

  If the set number of activations has been reached (Yes in S120), the control unit 101 sets zero in the register of the clock management unit 200 and ends the setting of interval still image shooting (S122). Stop (S124). If the set number of activations has not been reached (No in S120), the power supply of the electronic device 100 is once turned off (the second power supply is stopped in S104 and S106), and the clock management is performed. The count-up by the timer function of the unit 200 is resumed (S108).

  During interval still image shooting, for example, if an interval time of 1 hour is set, the electronic device 100 is stopped for 1 hour after the electronic device 100 is stopped until the next interval activation. In the stop state, the lighting control of the LED of the light emitting unit 170 is performed.

  Here, the LED lighting control of the light emitting unit 170 during interval still image shooting will be described with reference to the circuit block diagram of FIG.

  When the electronic device 100 is normally activated by the activation signal from the power button, the LED of the light emitting unit 170 is controlled to be turned on, for example, connected to the power source Vs supplied to the control unit 101 via the resistor 400. The switch 402 controls lighting and extinguishing while limiting the current.

  On the other hand, if the LED lighting of the light emitting unit 170 during the interval still image shooting is to be controlled similarly, it is necessary to activate the second power supply unit 204 and the control unit 101 even in the camera standby state during the interval time. If the control unit 101 is activated every time it is turned on, useless standby power is consumed, and battery consumption is accelerated. For example, if the standby power when the control unit 101 is started is 200 mW, the light is lit for 0.3 seconds every 4 seconds, but the standby state is about 0.1 hour per hour, and the reactive power consumed at that time Becomes 0.02J. If the effective power that can be extracted from the battery 10 is 3.7 J, 5% or more is wasted per hour.

  In the first embodiment, the first power supply unit 202 that supplies the clock management unit 200 without starting the second power supply unit 204 or the control unit 101 in the camera standby state at the time of interval still image shooting, and the clock management unit Based on the clock output signal from 200, the LED lighting control of the light emitting unit 170 is performed. Specifically, a pulse signal generated by an oscillation signal from the oscillation unit 201 input to the clock management unit 200 is output through the buffer circuit 406 while the current is limited by the resistor 408. Lighting control of the LED of the light emitting unit 170 is performed.

  At this time, a backflow prevention diode 412 is connected so that the voltage from the first power supply unit 202 is not applied to the control unit 101 to which no power is supplied. Similarly, a backflow preventing diode 410 is connected so that the voltage from the second power supply unit 204 is not applied to the buffer circuit 406 during normal startup. Here, the voltage value of the first power supply unit 202 is 3.0 V and the voltage value of the second power supply unit 204 is 3.3 V. If the magnitude relationship of the voltage values is reversed, the diode 412 becomes unnecessary. In view of the voltage drop when the LED of the light emitting unit 170 is turned on, the diode 412 and the diode 410 may be formed of a field effect transistor.

  As described above, the feature of the hardware configuration of the first embodiment is that the LED of the light emitting unit 170 can be controlled to be turned on from any one of the power source Vs supplied to the control unit 101 and the power source Vo supplied to the clock management unit 200. It is in.

  In addition, the control method of the first embodiment is characterized in that the LED of the light emitting unit 170 can be controlled to be turned on by the clock signal from the clock management unit 200 even when the control unit 101 is stopped. Here, when the lighting control is performed, the lighting current may be switched between a plurality of set values by changing the resistor 408. The switching control of the lighting current may be changed depending on whether or not the electronic device 100 is shooting. In other words, while the electronic device 100 is photographing astronomical objects while exposing in the dark for a long time, lighting that causes light pollution is controlled to be dark, and when it is not exposed, the visibility at the time of notification is emphasized and the lighting is brightened. Control.

  Similarly, the switching control of the lighting current may be performed according to the imaging sensitivity during the long second exposure. In other words, if the imaging sensitivity is set high, there is a concern that even a small amount of light may cause light damage, and therefore lighting control is performed more darkly. Further, the lighting current may be switched in accordance with the external light captured from the lens by the imaging unit 110.

  That is, according to the external brightness, lighting is controlled to be bright in the bright state with emphasis on the visibility at the time of notification, and in the dark state, the lighting is controlled to be dark in order to avoid light pollution and dazzling lighting for the user. Further, the lighting current may be controlled according to the voltage or remaining amount of the battery 10. That is, when the voltage is lowered, the lighting control is performed to reduce the lighting current to save power. Further, the frequency of the clock signal from the clock management unit 200 and the ON / OFF time ratio may be variably controlled according to the voltage and remaining amount of the battery 10.

  In other words, when the voltage is lowered, the lighting control is performed to reduce the average lighting current per unit time by reducing the lighting frequency or the lighting time ratio, thereby reducing power consumption.

  As described above, when the electronic device 100 according to the first embodiment is used, it is possible to perform power saving notification without activating the main system and consuming the battery wastefully during the interval operation setting of the electronic device 100.

10 battery, 100 electronic device, 101 control unit, 102 operation unit, 104 memory,
110 imaging unit, 111 image processing unit, 130 display unit, 131 display control unit,
140 recording / playback unit, 141 recording medium, 170 light emitting unit, 200 clock management unit,
201 Oscillator, 202 First power supply, 204 Second power supply, 400 Resistance,
402 switch, 406 buffer, 408 resistor, 410 diode,
412 diode

Claims (5)

Electronic equipment,
Clock management means for managing the time in the electronic device;
Oscillation means for generating a clock signal of the clock management means;
First power supply means for driving the clock management means;
Control means for controlling a system in the electronic device;
A second power supply means for driving the control means;
Informing means that operates with a signal from the control means and a power supply from the second power supply means,
Setting means for activating the second power supply by a signal from the clock management means at predetermined time intervals;
Have
The electronic device characterized in that the clock management means controls the notification means using a signal from the clock management means while the second power supply is stopped.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the timepiece management unit controls a light emission current of the light emitting unit according to an exposure state of the electronic device.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the clock management unit controls a light emission current of the light emitting unit according to an imaging sensitivity of the electronic device.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clock management unit controls a light emission current of the light emitting unit in accordance with an external luminance.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the clock management unit controls a light emission current of the light emitting unit according to a remaining battery level.