JP2021061460A - Communication device, control method of the same, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve the problem in which it may be difficult to reduce the power consumption for wireless communication even when the power is on.SOLUTION: A communication device includes detection means for detecting the proximity of a user's biological portion and communication means for wirelessly communicating with an external device. When the proximity of the user's biological portion is detected by the detection means in a power-on state, a frequency of communication with the external device by the communication means is changed to a higher frequency.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a communication device that connects to an external device via wireless communication.

A mobile device such as a camera or a mobile phone is connected to an earphone, and the electronic shutter sound or warning sound of the portable device is listened to through the earphone. This allows the photographer to check the shutter sound, warning sound, etc. in a quiet place without hearing the sound around.

When connecting an earphone to a mobile device, it was common to use a wired cable, but in recent years, wireless communication has also been used for connection.

Here, the connection by wireless communication consumes a large amount of power as compared with the wired communication, and even maintaining the communication consumes a large amount of power for the mobile device, causing a decrease in the operating time, the shooting time, and the number of shots. It also causes a decrease in operating time in wireless earphones.

Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, in order to reduce the power consumption of wireless communication, the power consumption of the camera's auto power-off period is reduced by making the communication interval of the camera's auto power-off period longer than the power-on period. There is.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-12261

However, Patent Document 1 does not consider the power consumption during the power-on period. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the power consumption for wireless communication even during the power-on period.

In order to achieve the above object, the communication device of the present invention includes a detection means for detecting the proximity of the user's biological part, a communication means for wireless communication with an external device, and the user's living body by the detection means in a power-on state. When the proximity of the parts is detected, the frequency of communication with the external device by the communication means is changed to a higher frequency.

The power consumption for wireless communication can be reduced even during the power-on period.

It is a block diagram of the communication device of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the external device of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of 1st Embodiment. It is a timing chart of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart of 2nd Embodiment. It is a timing chart of the second embodiment. It is a flowchart of 3rd Embodiment. It is a timing chart of the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The embodiment described below is an example as a means for realizing the present invention, and may be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions. It is also possible to combine each embodiment as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram of a photographing device 300 which is an example of a communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The photographing optical system 100 includes an aperture 11, a camera shake correction lens group 12, and a focus lens group 13, and can guide an optical image to the camera body 200. The camera body 200 includes an image pickup element 21 that photoelectrically converts the optical image of the photographing optical system 100 and a mechanical shutter 22 that adjusts the exposure time. The camera body 200 includes a rear liquid crystal 23 on the back surface, a small liquid crystal 24 and an optical system 25 on the finder, and can display an image captured by the image sensor 21. The user who uses the image pickup apparatus 300 can grasp the range to be imaged by looking at the finder unit. If the image sensor has an electronic shutter function, the mechanical shutter is unnecessary, and even if the mechanical shutter is provided, the mechanical shutter remains fully open when the exposure time is adjusted by the electronic shutter. The release button 31, which is an operation detecting means, is composed of two switches, SW1 and SW2, which are not shown. At the time of shooting, SW1 is turned on by pressing the release button 31 shallowly to the first step, so-called "half-pressing", and shooting conditions such as shutter speed and aperture value are set by automatic focusing and automatic exposure mechanism. Further, by pressing the release button 31 deeply from half-pressed to the second step, so-called "full-pressed", SW2 is turned on, and the electronic shutter function of the mechanical shutter 22 or the image sensor 21 operates to perform imaging.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the photographing apparatus 300 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The camera body 200 includes an electric circuit 20, and the electric circuit 20 is equipped with a CPU, an image processing circuit, a control circuit, a sound reproduction circuit, and the like. The aperture 11, the image stabilization lens group 12, the focus lens group 13, and the mechanical shutter 22 are each controlled by a control circuit via a drive means (not shown). The signal photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 21 can be converted into digital data via an image processing circuit and stored in a recording medium (not shown). The finder unit is equipped with a detection means for detecting the proximity of the user's biological part. In the present embodiment, the eyepiece sensor 26, which is an eyepiece detection means, is provided, and it is possible to detect whether or not the photographer is in contact with the finder. The CPU can detect the state of the release button 31 (“half-pressed” or “full-pressed”), which is an operation detecting means. The camera body 200 includes an audio output unit 27, and can output an audio signal reproduced by an audio reproduction circuit. If the audio output unit 27 is, for example, a speaker, the audio can be directly reproduced.

The short-range wireless communication unit 32, which is a communication control means, is a block for making a communication connection with a wireless earphone 400, which is an external wireless connection device. The wireless earphone 400 will be described later. The short-range wireless communication unit 32 is composed of, for example, an antenna for wireless communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit, and a communication controller for processing wireless signals. The short-range wireless communication unit 32 outputs a modulated wireless signal from the antenna and demolishes the wireless signal received by the antenna to perform short-range wireless communication in accordance with the IEEE802.15 standard (so-called Bluetooth®). To realize. In the present embodiment, Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication adopts version 4.2 of Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy, which has low power consumption.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining battery level of the photographing device 300.

The CPU is a processing device capable of electrically controlling all the above-mentioned elements.

The image pickup apparatus 300 has a power-on state, an auto-power-off state, and a power-off state as the state of the entire device.

The power-on state is a state in which power is supplied to each part including the CPU of the image pickup apparatus 300. The auto power-off state is a state in which the power consumption is lower than that in the power-on state when a predetermined time elapses without operating the image pickup device 300 in the power-on state, for example, by turning off the rear liquid crystal 23. become. However, since the user may not be using the image pickup apparatus 300 temporarily, the power supply to the CPU is maintained so that the user can immediately respond to the instruction of the user. Further, in the power-off state, the power supply to each part of the image pickup apparatus 300 including the CPU is cut off. This state transitions when the user switches a power switch (not shown) to an off state. This state is a state in which the power consumption is lower than that in the auto power off state. Even in this state, the power supply to the short-range wireless communication unit 32 and the eyepiece sensor 26 is maintained, and the power is turned on in response to the connection request from the external device and the detection of the user's eyepiece. You may make a transition.

In FIG. 1, the control signal line is omitted, and only the flow of information between each element is indicated by an arrow.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a wireless earphone 400 which is an external wireless connection device. The wireless earphone 400 is wirelessly connected to the image pickup device 300, and reproduces sounds such as a focusing sound and a shutter sound based on the wireless data from the image pickup device 300.

The control unit 42 is a control unit that controls the entire wireless earphone 400.

The short-range wireless communication unit 41 is a block for making a communication connection with an external image pickup device. The short-range wireless communication unit 41 is composed of, for example, an antenna for wireless communication, a modulation / demodulation circuit, and a communication controller for processing wireless signals. The short-range wireless communication unit 41 outputs the modulated wireless signal from the antenna and demodulates the wireless signal received by the antenna to realize short-range wireless communication according to the standard of IEEE802.15. In the present embodiment, the short-range wireless communication unit 112 communicates with the image pickup apparatus 400 according to the standard of IEEE802.5.1 (so-called Bluetooth). Further, in the present embodiment, Bluetooth communication adopts version 4.2 (hereinafter referred to as BLE) of Bluetooth Low Energy, which has low power consumption.

The control unit 42 instructs the voice reproduction 43 to generate voice data based on the communication command from the image pickup device 400 acquired via the short-range wireless communication unit 41. The voice reproduction circuit 43 uses the voice data of the voice ROM 45 based on the instruction of the control unit 42 to generate a voice signal such as a focusing sound or a shutter sound and outputs the voice signal to the speaker 44. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of the image pickup apparatus 300.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of the image pickup apparatus 300.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart when the power of the photographing device 300 is turned on.

While explaining the details of the present embodiment with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 will be shown and described. First, the configuration of FIG. 4 will be described.

In FIG. 4, 51 shows a period in which the power of the photographing apparatus 300 is turned on. 52 indicates the timing of eyepiece detection by the eyepiece sensor 26. Reference numeral 53 denotes a timing at which "half-press" is detected by SW1 of the release button 31. Reference numeral 54 denotes a timing at which "fully pressed" is detected by SW2 of the release button 31. Reference numeral 55 denotes a timing of the focusing operation of the image pickup apparatus 300. Reference numeral 56 denotes a timing of the imaging operation of the imaging device 300. Reference numeral 58 denotes a BLE communication packet between the image pickup device 300 and the wireless earphone 400.

The details of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S102, the CPU first pairs the image pickup device 300 and the wireless earphone 400 with the advertisement signal using the short-range wireless communication unit 32 to establish a BLE communication connection. The image pickup device 300 becomes the master device of BLE, and the wireless earphone 400 becomes the slave device of BLE.

During the subsequent BLE connection, the image pickup apparatus 300 and the wireless earphone 400 periodically communicate with each other at a communication interval called Connection Interval, which is different from the advertisement signal transmission interval. This communication interval can be set to any interval, for example, between 7.5 msec and 4 sec.

If the communication interval is lengthened, the power consumption is reduced, but the time lag for transmitting the communication packet to the wireless earphone 400 becomes large.

Although the power consumption increases when the communication interval is shortened, the time lag of transmitting the communication packet to the wireless earphone 400 is reduced.

In step S103, the CPU notifies the wireless earphone 400 that the Connection Interval is set to 100 msec, and sets the communication interval to 100 msec. As a result, the communication frequency of the image pickup apparatus 300 and the wireless earphone 400 can be reduced, and as a result, the power consumption can be reduced. The period in which the communication interval is 100 msec corresponds to T11 and T13 in FIG.

In step S104, the CPU confirms eyepiece detection with the eyepiece sensor 26, which is an eyepiece detection means. If the eyepiece is not detected, the eyepiece detection of S104 is continued. The communication interval remains 100 msec. If the eyepiece is detected, the process proceeds to S105.

In step S105, the CPU notifies the wireless earphone 400 that the communication interval is changed to 7.5 msec, changes the communication interval to 7.5 msec, and enhances the communication response between the image pickup device 300 and the wireless earphone 400. .. However, as shown in FIG. 4, since communication is performed in a cycle of 100 msec until immediately before, the communication interval is changed to 7.5 msec from the timing of the next 100 msec cycle. The period during which the communication interval is 7.5 msec corresponds to T12 in FIG.

In step S106, the CPU confirms the half-press detection with the release button 31 which is the operation detection means. If half-press detection is not detected, the process proceeds to confirmation of eyepiece detection in S121. If half-press is detected, the focus shifts to S107.

In step S121, if the eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 26, the CPU returns to S106 and continues to confirm the half-press detection. If the eyepiece is not detected, it is determined that the photographer's intention to shoot has been lowered, the process returns to S103, and the communication interval is changed to 100 msec. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption during a time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low.

In step S107, the CPU performs a focusing operation using the photographing optical system.

After the focusing operation is completed, the CPU transmits a focusing sound command to the wireless earphone 400 in S108. The communication packet of this focusing sound command corresponds to 62 in FIG. By narrowing the communication interval to 7.5 msec in S105, it is possible to shorten the communication lime lag when transmitting the focusing sound command to the wireless earphone 400 in S108.

When the wireless earphone 400 receives the focusing sound command, the wireless earphone 400 generates the focusing sound and notifies the operator of the focusing sound as described with reference to FIG. The photographer can confirm the focusing sound with less time delay.

In step S109, the CPU confirms the detection of full press of the release button 31. If full press detection is not detected, the process proceeds to confirmation of eyepiece detection in S122. If the full press is detected, the imaging operation of S110 starts.

In step S122, if the eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 26, the CPU returns to the confirmation of the full press detection in S109. If the eyepiece is not detected, it is determined that the photographer's intention to shoot has been lowered, and the process returns to S103 to change the communication interval to 100 msec. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption during a time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low.

In step S110, the CPU starts the imaging operation, and in the following step S111, the CPU transmits a front curtain shutter sound command to the wireless earphone 400. The communication packet of this front curtain shutter sound command corresponds to 63 in FIG. Upon receiving the front curtain shutter sound command, the wireless earphone 400 generates a front curtain shutter sound and notifies the operator of the front curtain shutter sound.

When the work is completed in step S112, the CPU transmits a trailing curtain shutter sound command to the wireless earphone 400 in step S113. The communication packet of the trailing curtain shutter sound command corresponds to 64 in FIG.

When the wireless earphone 400 receives the rear curtain shutter sound command, it generates a rear curtain shutter sound and notifies the operator of the rear curtain shutter sound.

In step S114, the CPU confirms whether or not the eyepiece is still detected by the eyepiece sensor 26. If the eyepiece is detected, the process returns to S106 in order to prepare for the next shooting operation of the photographer. If the eyepiece is not detected, it is determined that the photographer's intention to shoot has been lowered, and the process returns to S103 to change the communication interval to 100 msec. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption during a time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low. This period corresponds to T13 in FIG.

As described above, in the photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, the communication cycle is changed by the communication control means when the eyepiece detection state of the finder detected by the eyepiece detection means changes. As a result, even during the power-on period, the power consumption during the power-on period can be reduced by reducing the power consumption during the time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low.

In the present embodiment, the communication cycle in the time zone in which the high speed of the voice response is high is 7.5 msec, and the communication cycle in the time zone in which the high speed of the voice response is low is 100 msec. It is not limited to numerical values.

Further, the communication cycle in the time zone in which the need for high-speed voice response is high and the communication cycle in the time zone in which the need for high-speed voice response is low do not have to be fixed, respectively, depending on other conditions. The communication cycle of may be changed. For example, when the remaining battery level detected by the battery level detection 35 is less than a predetermined threshold value, the communication cycle during the time period in which high speed of voice response is required is 30 msec, and the high speed of voice response is achieved. The communication cycle in the time zone when the need for is low is set to 300 msec. In this way, each communication cycle may be changed according to a predetermined condition.

In the present embodiment, the eyepiece sensor 26 that detects two states with and without eyepieces has been described as the eyepiece detection means, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the distance between the photographing device and the photographer is measured using a sensor capable of measuring the distance between the photographing device and the photographer. It may be a configuration.

In the present embodiment, the voice command is transmitted from the image pickup apparatus 300 to the wireless earphone 400, and the voice data is generated on the wireless earphone 400 side. However, the voice data itself may be transmitted.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the communication cycle interval when the finder eyepiece is not detected by the eyepiece detection means is lengthened to reduce the power consumption while keeping the voice response of the focusing operation sound and the shutter sound at high speed. went.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the communication cycle interval is lengthened when half-press detection is not performed by the release button which is the operation detection means. As a result, although the voice response of the focusing operation sound may not be high depending on the timing, the voice response of the shutter sound, which is the most important at the time of imaging, remains high, and the power consumption can be further reduced.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of the image pickup apparatus 300.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart when the power of the photographing apparatus 300 is turned on.

The details of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

However, the parts equivalent to those of the first embodiment are the same as those used in the description of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The flow of establishing the BLE connection between the image pickup apparatus 300 and the wireless earphone 400 in step S102 and setting the communication interval to 100 msec in S103 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The period in which the communication interval is 100 msec corresponds to T21 and T23 in FIG.

In step S204, the CPU confirms the half-press detection with the release button 31 which is the operation detection means. If half-press is detected, the process proceeds to S205. If the half-press is not detected, the confirmation of the half-press state is continued, and the communication interval remains at 100 msec. Although the communication response is low, the power consumption is reduced.

In step S205, the CPU notifies the wireless earphone 400 that the communication interval from the next time is changed to 7.5 msec, and changes the communication interval to 7.5 msec, as in S105 of the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 6, since communication is performed in a cycle of 100 msec until immediately before, the communication interval is changed to 7.5 msec from the timing of the next 100 msec cycle. The period during which the communication interval is 7.5 msec corresponds to T22 in FIG.

In step S207, the CPU performs a focusing operation, and after the focusing operation is completed, in step S208, the CPU transmits a focusing sound command to the wireless earphone 400, and the process proceeds to S209. The communication packet of this focusing sound command corresponds to 72 in FIG. As in the example of FIG. 6, if the focusing operation is completed immediately after half-pressing, the communication interval is still 100 msec cycle, so the communication time lag of the focusing sound command is compared with 7.5 msec of the first embodiment. Will grow. However, unlike the timing of FIG. 8, if focusing is completed after 100 msec elapses immediately after half-pressing, the communication time lag of the focusing sound command becomes the same 7.5 msec communication time lag as in the first embodiment. ..

As described above, in the second embodiment, although the communication time lag of the focusing sound command may increase depending on the timing, the power consumption when the release button 31 is half-pressed is reduced, and the first embodiment This is to further reduce power consumption.

In step S209, the CPU confirms the detection of full press of the release button 31. If the full press is detected, the imaging operation of S110 starts. If full press detection is not detected, the process proceeds to confirmation of half press detection in S222.

In step S222, the CPU confirms the half-press detection of the release button 31. If the half-press is detected, the process proceeds to S223 for confirming whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed. If the half-press is not detected, it is determined that the photographer's intention to shoot has been lowered, and the process returns to S103 to change the communication interval to 100 msec. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption during a time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low. The period in which the communication interval is 100 msec corresponds to T23 in FIG.

In step S223, the CPU determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the half-press detection was detected in S204. If a predetermined time (for example, 3 minutes) has elapsed, the process returns to S103 and the communication interval is changed to 100 msec. This is a time-out condition assuming that the operator carelessly and accidentally keeps pressing the release button 31. If the predetermined time has not passed yet, the process returns to the confirmation of the full press detection of S209.

The CPU imaging operation is started in step S110, the CPU transmits a front curtain shutter sound command in step S111, and when the imaging operation is completed in S112, the CPU transmits a rear curtain shutter sound command in S113 and proceeds to S214. The series of operations of S110 to S113 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In step S214, the CPU confirms the half-press detection of the release button 31. If half-press detection is still performed, the process returns to S207 in preparation for the photographer's next shooting operation. If the half-press is not detected, it is determined that the photographer's intention to shoot has been lowered, and the process returns to S103 to change the communication interval to 100 msec. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption during a time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low.

As described above, in the photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, when the operation detection state of the release button 31 which is the operation detection means changes, the communication cycle is changed by the communication control means. As a result, even during the power-on period, the power consumption during the power-on period can be further reduced as compared with the first embodiment by reducing the power consumption during the time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low. ..

Although the release button 31 is shown as an example of the operation detection means in the present embodiment, other buttons or a touch panel may be used.

In the present embodiment, the communication cycle in the time zone in which the high speed of the voice response is high is 7.5 msec, and the communication cycle in the time zone in which the high speed of the voice response is low is 100 msec. It is not limited to numerical values.

Further, it is not always necessary to have a fixed cycle, and when the remaining battery level detected by the battery remaining amount detection 35 becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, the communication cycle is widened to determine the remaining battery level, etc. The communication cycle may be changed according to the conditions of.

In the above configuration, the voice command is transmitted from the image pickup device 300 to the wireless earphone 400, and the voice data is generated on the wireless earphone 400 side. However, the voice data itself may be transmitted.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment describes an imaging device that controls the communication interval in three stages by combining the finder detection state of the eyepiece detection means and the operation detection state of the operation detection means. As a result, the voice response of the shutter sound, which is the most important in the imaging device, is set to high speed, the focusing sound is set to high speed or medium speed depending on the timing, and the normal sound is set to low speed. It is possible to reduce power consumption commensurately.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of the image pickup apparatus 300. FIG. 8 is a timing chart when the power of the photographing apparatus 300 is turned on.

The details of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7. However, the parts equivalent to those of the first embodiment are the same as those used in the description of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The flow of establishing the BLE connection between the image pickup apparatus 300 and the wireless earphone 400 in step S102 and setting the communication interval to 100 msec in S103 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The period in which the communication interval is 100 msec corresponds to T31 and T35 in FIG.

In step S301, the CPU confirms whether or not the eyepiece is detected by the eyepiece sensor 26 which is the eyepiece detection means. If the eyepiece is not detected, the eyepiece detection of S301 is continued. The communication interval remains 100 msec. If the eyepiece is detected, the process proceeds to S302.

In step S302, the CPU notifies the wireless earphone 400 that the communication interval is changed to 30 msec, changes the communication interval to 30 msec, and enhances the communication response between the image pickup device 300 and the wireless earphone 400. This makes it possible to moderately reduce the power consumption during the time period when the need for high-speed voice response is medium. The period during which the communication interval is 30 msec corresponds to T32 and T34 in FIG.

In step S303, the CPU confirms whether or not half-press detection is detected by the release button 31 which is an operation detection means. If half-press is detected, the operation proceeds to the communication interval setting operation of S305. If half-press detection is not detected, the process proceeds to confirmation of eyepiece detection in S304.

In step S304, the CPU confirms the eyepiece detection with the eyepiece sensor 26, and returns to S303 if the eyepiece is eyepieced. If the eyepiece is not detected, it is determined that the photographer's intention to shoot has been lowered, the process returns to S103, and the communication interval is changed to 100 msec. As a result, it is possible to reduce the power consumption during the time period when the need for high-speed voice response is the lowest. The period during which the communication interval is returned to 100 msec corresponds to T35 in FIG.

In step S305, the CPU notifies the wireless earphone 400 that the communication interval from the next is changed to 7.5 msec, and changes the communication interval to 7.5 msec, as in S105 of the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 8, since communication is performed at a cycle of 30 msec until immediately before, the communication interval is changed to 7.5 msec from the timing of the next 30 msec cycle. The period during which the communication interval is 7.5 msec corresponds to T33 in FIG.

In step S307, the CPU performs a focusing operation, and after the focusing operation is completed, in step S308, the CPU transmits a focusing sound command to the wireless earphone 400, and the process proceeds to S309. The communication packet of this focusing sound command corresponds to 82 in FIG. As in the example of FIG. 8, if the focusing operation is completed immediately after half-pressing, the communication interval is still 30 msec, so the communication time lag of the focusing sound command is compared with 7.5 msec of the first embodiment. Will grow. However, unlike the timing of FIG. 8, if focusing is completed after 30 msec elapses immediately after half-pressing, the communication time lag of the focusing sound command becomes the same 7.5 msec communication time lag as in the first embodiment. ..

As described above, in the first embodiment, although the communication time lag of the focusing sound command may be large depending on the timing, the power consumption is further reduced as compared with the first embodiment.

In step S309, the CPU confirms the detection of full press of the release button 31. If the full press is detected, the imaging operation of S110 starts. If the full press is not detected, the process proceeds to the confirmation of the half press detection of S310.

In step S310, the CPU confirms the detection of pressing the release button 31. If half-press detection is detected, the process proceeds to confirmation of eyepiece detection in S311. If half-press detection is not detected, the camera returns to S302 and the communication interval is changed to 30 msec in order to prepare for the next shooting operation of the photographer. The period during which the communication interval is 30 msec corresponds to T34 in FIG. This makes it possible to moderately reduce power consumption during times when the need for high-speed voice response is moderate.

If it is determined in step S311 that the eyepiece is detected by the CPU, the process returns to the confirmation of full press detection in S309. If it is determined that the eyepiece has not been detected, it is determined that the photographer's intention to shoot has been lowered, and the process returns to S103 to change the communication interval to 100 msec. As a result, it is possible to reduce power consumption during a time period when the need for high-speed voice response is low.

The imaging operation is started in step S110, the front curtain shutter sound command is transmitted in step S111, and when the imaging operation is completed in step S112, the rear curtain shutter sound command is transmitted in step S113, and eyepiece detection is performed in step S114. The series of operations of steps S110 to S114 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

With the above configuration, the communication cycle is changed to three stages according to the eyepiece detection state of the eyepiece sensor 26 which is the eyepiece detection means and the operation detection state of the release button 31 which is the operation detection means. As a result, the voice response of the shutter sound, which is the most important in the image pickup device, is made high speed, the focusing sound is made high speed or medium speed depending on the timing, and the normal sound is made low speed, which is suitable for the usage as an image pickup device. It is possible to reduce power consumption.

In the present embodiment, the communication cycle in the time zone in which the high speed of the voice response is high is 7.5 msec, and the communication cycle in the time zone in which the high speed of the voice response is low is 100 msec. It is not limited to numerical values.

Further, it is not always necessary to have a fixed cycle, and when the remaining battery level detected by the battery remaining amount detection 35 becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, the communication cycle is widened to determine the remaining battery level, etc. The communication cycle may be changed according to the conditions of.

In the above configuration, the voice command is transmitted from the image pickup device 300 to the wireless earphone 400, and the voice data is generated on the wireless earphone 400 side. However, the voice data itself may be transmitted.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It is also possible to realize the processing. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims (15)

It ’s a communication device,
A detection means that detects the proximity of the user's biological part,
Communication means for wireless communication with external devices,
A communication device characterized in that when the detection means detects the proximity of a user's biological part in a power-on state, the communication frequency of the communication means with the external device is changed to a higher frequency. Imaging means and
It has a finder for the user to grasp the range imaged by the imaging means.
The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means detects whether or not the eyepiece has been touched by the finder. It also has a receiving means for receiving instructions to be imaged from the user.
The communication device according to claim 2, wherein even when the instruction for imaging is received, the frequency of communication with the external device by the communication means is changed to a higher frequency. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein when the instruction for imaging is received, the image is captured by the imaging means and a shutter sound is transmitted to the external device. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the external device is an earphone. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when a predetermined time elapses after the communication frequency is changed, the communication frequency is returned to the original communication frequency. For wireless communication with the external device, Bluetooth Low Energy is used.
The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the communication frequency is changed by changing the Connection Interval. It is a control method for communication devices.
A detection step that detects the proximity of the user's biological part,
Communication steps for wireless communication with external devices,
A method for controlling a communication device, which comprises changing the communication frequency with the external device to a higher frequency in the communication step when the proximity of a user's biological part is detected by the detection step in the power-on state. The communication device has an imaging means and a finder for the user to grasp the range imaged by the imaging means.
The control method for a communication device according to claim 8, wherein the control method for the communication device is to detect whether or not the eyepiece has been touched by the finder in the detection step. It also has a reception step that accepts instructions to image from the user.
The control method for a communication device according to claim 9, wherein even when the instruction for imaging is received, the frequency of communication with the external device in the communication step is changed to a higher frequency. The control method for a communication device according to claim 10, wherein when the instruction for imaging is received, the image is captured by the imaging means and a shutter sound is transmitted to the external device. The method for controlling a communication device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the external device is an earphone. The method for controlling a communication device according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein when a predetermined time elapses after the communication frequency is changed, the original communication frequency is restored. For wireless communication with the external device, Bluetooth Low Energy is used.
The method for controlling a communication device according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the communication frequency is changed by changing the Connection Interval. A computer-readable program for operating a computer as each means of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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