JPH03205972A - Feeder system for electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need of providing overlappingly an AC/DC power source circuit part by feeding to an external apparatus through a camera from a feeding block, in the case the external apparatus is used by connecting it to an electronic camera. CONSTITUTION:In the case an electronic camera is connected to an external apparatus 23, but a feeding block 15 is not connected, a CPU 11 in the camera recognizes a fact that an external apparatus connecting state detecting signal 'EXT' is grounded through terminals T1, T2 and the external apparatus is connected, recognizes that an input signal AD/BT becomes an 'L' level by a contact V1 of a jack 16 and feed is executed from a built-in battery 14 and sends out a command for stopping to the operation. In the case the feeding block 15 is also connected, normal contacts C1, C2 of the jack 16 are broken, the signal AD/BT becomes an 'H' level by a pull-up resistance R2, and the CPU 11 in the camera, and an external apparatus side CPU 11 are operated normally. In such a way, it becomes unnecessary to provide overlappingly an AC/CD power source circuit part as a system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a power supply system for an electronic camera, and more particularly, to a power supply system for an electronic camera when an external device such as a playback processor is connected to the electronic camera. [Prior art] As an electronic camera system, ■Electronic camera 21 is operated by a built-in (removable) battery during normal shooting operation, and also has the function of playing back recorded images. Figure: ■When charging the electronic camera 2l's built-in batteries or when making the electronic camera 2l play back recorded images, a power supply device (AC Adapter power supply 22...1...
・Figure 12. Fig. 14B; ■ The electronic camera 21 is configured to operate by receiving power from a commercial AC power source, and when the electronic camera 21 is to perform a reproduction operation of recorded images, the electronic camera 21 can be operated as required.
A device IF (external device, so-called playback processor) 23 that is connected to the electronic camera 21 and performs special processing such as multi-screen or zoom playback on the playback signal from the electronic camera 21 and outputs the processed signal.
．． 23A -...--1 There are some things that are shown in II, including Figures 13 and 14A. In the case of such a system, as is particularly clear from Figures 14A and 14B, AC/DC power supply circuit sections are required for the AC adapter #22 in the above (■) and the external device 23 in the above (■), respectively. Become. If the external device 23 in ■ is configured to supply power (or charge) to the electronic camera 2l in ■, the A/C/
There is no need to redundantly provide DC power supply circuit sections for (1) and (2) as a system. ) Problem to be solved by invention C] ゛On the other hand, in the above system, since the electronic camera 21 itself has the function of playing back recorded images,
It is desirable that the user be able to select whether or not to include external equipment 23 such as a playback processor in the system as desired. However, if you do not have the external device 23A, there will be no way to power (or charge!) the electronic camera 21, so in the end, the system will not have the external device 23A.
It becomes essential to have A (Figure 14A). In addition, providing the electronic camera 2l itself with an AC/DCi power circuit unit that can receive power from a commercial AC power source to play back recorded images and charge the built-in battery makes it compact and lightweight. This would seriously impair the functionality of the electronic camera, which is intended to be portable. On the other hand, if you want to use the camera 2l without worrying about the capacity of its built-in battery, use A as shown in Figure 15B.
Connect the C adapter power supply 22 to the camera 21, and
If power is supplied from However, as shown in FIG. 15A, this camera 21 has an external device 23 with a built-in power supply.
In a system in which A is connected and used, when viewed as a power supply system, the power supply section built in the external device 23A and the A
Since there are two power supplies, including the C adapter power supply 22, the system becomes extremely uneconomical. Moreover, the built-in power supply of the external device 23A has to supply power not only to the external device but also to the camera side, so it becomes large, which goes against the trend of reducing the size of the external device as much as possible.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15C, the external device 2 is connected to the camera 21.
If you connect 3 and power it from the camera's built-in power supply without connecting the AC adapter power supply, the camera's built-in battery will only have the minimum capacity required for recording and playback with the camera alone, as described above. If you want to supply power to external devices, you will only be able to supply power for a short period of time. Therefore, if we tried to incorporate a battery into the camera with a capacity that could power not only the camera but also external devices, the built-in battery would be large and the camera would have to be made smaller. This completely goes against the idea of weight reduction.

In view of the above points, the present invention makes it possible to supply power (or charge) to the electronic camera (■) from a commercial AC power supply regardless of whether or not it is equipped with the external device (■), and also to
The present invention aims to provide a power supply system for an electronic camera that does not require the provision of duplicate C/DC power supply circuit sections as a system.

[! II! [Means and effects for solving the problem] The electronic camera power supply system of the present invention is detachable from a power supply block (AC adapter power supply 22 in FIG. 16A) that receives power from a commercial AC power source and can perform power supply operation as a predetermined DC power source. When an electronic camera (Fig. 16A, 21) is connected in such a manner, power is supplied to the electronic camera (2l) from this power supply block (22), and a detachable block is connected to the DC power supply circuit in the electronic camera (21). When Mr. B connects the external circuit block (external device 23 in Figure 16A), this electronic camera (21)
The device is characterized in that it is configured so that power can be supplied from the external circuit block to the external circuit block.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, one aspect of the present invention is that even if the external circuit block (23) is connected to the electronic camera (2l), when the power supply block is not connected, the external circuit block (23) is connected to the electronic camera (2l). The external circuit block (23) is also supplied with power only when the power supply block (22) is connected as shown in FIG. 16A.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

First, before describing embodiments of the present invention, means necessary for the power supply system for an electronic camera according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 2 is a system controller that controls the operation sequence of the entire camera. The system controller 2 receives operation signals from external operation keys 1 such as a power switch and a trigger switch for starting a recording operation, and performs various camera operations. In particular, in order to enable the electronic camera power supply system according to the present invention, it is necessary to detect whether the AC adapter power supply or the built-in battery is currently connected to the electronic camera.
The C adapter/BAT detection means 5 and the external device connection state detection means 6 that detect whether or not external devices such as a playback processor are connected are important, and the signals from both of these detection means 5 and 6 are used as external devices. The information is supplied to an external device operation permission determining means 4 which determines whether or not the operation of the external device is possible. Then,
Based on the output of the determination means 4, the system controller 2 instructs the external device communication means 3 to perform serial communication with an external device (not shown) and operate the external device. The above is an overview of the means necessary for the electronic camera power supply system according to the present invention.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a power supply system for an electronic camera showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, this power supply system includes a power supply block 1 that receives power from a commercial power source and can supply power to electronic cameras and external devices as an AC adapter power source.
5, an electronic camera 2l which is removably connected to this power supply block 15 by plug and jack connection and is supplied with power, and a connector connection terminal T to the DC power circuit of this electronic camera 2l.
．． It is protected from the external device 23 which is removably connected and supplied with power at Tt.

The electronic camera 21 includes each circuit 12 on the camera side, a CPU II in the camera that controls the operation sequence of each circuit 12, a built-in battery 14 that supplies power to each circuit in the camera when the power supply block 15 is not connected, and the power supply block 15
0 A jack 16 into which a plug (not shown) is inserted, a battery remaining amount check circuit 13 that monitors the DC voltage V 6 6 of the CPU II in the camera, and a resistor R connected to the input and output terminals of the CPU II in the camera, respectively, as shown in the diagram. ,~R
s=Rh. Transistor Q. ．． Q. ．． It consists of a starting power switch SW +. The external device 23 includes each external device side circuit l8 and an external device side C that controls the operation sequence of the power supply system of each of these circuits l8.
PU 17 and resistors Ra, Rs. }Ran resistor Q3
and the signal VC output from this external device side CPU17.
Turn on the power supply to each circuit 18 on the external device side controlled by T.
It is controlled by a switch SW, which turns it off.

The operation of this first embodiment, which is thus freed up, will be explained next. First, the electronic camera alone, that is, the power supply block 15
, when none of the external devices 23 are connected to this electronic camera 21, the built-in battery 14 of the electronic camera 21 is supplied with power to each circuit 12 on the camera side through the normal make contact C of the jack 16, so that it can be used as a single unit. A camera operation is performed.

On the other hand, since the connector connection terminal T, is not connected to T, the external device connection state detection signal "E Since it is pulled up to the camera, it recognizes that no external device is connected, and performs the necessary control operations to function as a standalone camera. Next, a case will be described in which the electronic camera is connected to the external device 23 but the power supply block 15 is not connected. In this case, since the connector connection terminal TI is connected to the connection terminal T2, the CPU II in the camera detects that the external device connection state detection signal "EXT" is connected to the terminal T. It is grounded through Tt and becomes the ground level, and it is recognized that external equipment is connected. The input signal AD/BT of this in-camera C P Ull is set to ``L'' by the contact C1 of the jack 16.
level, the CPU II in the camera recognizes that this power supply system is being supplied with power from the built-in battery 14. In this state, as explained in the conventional example, the built-in camera battery 1 is barely able to operate only the electronic camera.
In step 4, since the electronic camera and external equipment must be operated, one can only expect operation for a very limited time or unstable operation from the beginning. Therefore, the in-camera CPU 11 sends a command to stop the operation of both the electronic camera and the external device. Finally, a case will be described in which the external device 23 is connected to the electronic camera 21 and the power supply block 15 is also connected. At this time, since the plug (not shown) of the power supply block 15 is inserted into the jack 16 of the electronic camera power supply 25, the normal contacts C, , C of the Janok 16 are connected by the plug. breaks. Therefore, the power supply line l1 of the electronic camera power supply 25 is supplied with power from this power supply block l5, thereby operating the camera CPU 11 and the external device side CPU 17. In addition, by breaking the contact C1 of the above-mentioned jack l6, the signal A D
/B T is set to "H" level by pull-up resistor R2, so the CPU II in the camera is connected to the external device side C.
PU17 will also operate normally. Then, the output signal "BATE" of the battery remaining amount check circuit 13, which normally outputs "H" level and "L" level when the voltage of the power line l1 falls below a predetermined value, is input to the CPU in the camera. Therefore, this CPU II constantly monitors the power supply voltage. In addition, the signal "Pw sw" from the startup power switch SW is also input to the CPU II in the camera, and is normally held at the "H" level by the pull-up resistor R1, and becomes active when the switch SW1 is turned on. It becomes “L”. Signals are exchanged between the CPU II in the camera and the CPU 17 on the external device side through three signal lines. That is, the clock signal "CLK" generated by the CPU II in the camera and the signal "SU" transmitted from the camera to the external device are transmitted through transistors Q, . Q. The transmission signal SI from the external device to the camera is supplied to the CPU 17 in the camera via the transistor Q3. The terminal side of each of these signal lines is a resistor R S+ R 41
It is designed to be pulled up to the power supply voltage by R.
In other words, such a transistor Ql+Q. ．． QU and pull-up resistor Rs. R4. If signals are exchanged via Rs, each resistor Rs. By R=, Rs, each C P
The human power to Ull. 17 is pulled up and fixed to non-active H''. Only after TITT, is connected, communication between each CPU Ull. 17 becomes possible.
Since communication begins when the signal is actually output to the line, reliable signal exchange can be performed. When the CPU17 on the external device side is activated by such signal transmission, the signal VCT output from the CPU17 becomes active "H", which causes the analog switch S
Since Wt operates, power is supplied to each circuit 18 on the external device side.

3 and 4 are flowcharts of this first embodiment, with FIG. 3 showing the operations on the camera side and FIG. 4 showing the operations on the external device side, respectively. In FIG. 3, when the power is turned on, a "power-on reset" is performed in step S1, and then the process proceeds to step S2, where the RAM (not shown) built into the camera's CPU II is "initialized". In step S3, it is determined whether the logic output level of the battery remaining amount check circuit 13, that is, the signal BATE, is at the "L" level.If the signal BATE is at the "L II" level, the voltage of the power supply line l1 is less than a predetermined value, so it is satisfied. You cannot expect circuit operation. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S4, where "empty processing" such as displaying the battery as empty or turning off the power is performed, and then the process returns to step S3. Further, if the signal BATE is at the "H" level, the battery voltage exceeds the predetermined value, so the process proceeds to the next step S5 and the signal p
Determine whether wsw is at the "L" level. This signal pw
If sw is "'L" level, start power switch SW
Since I is being pressed by the operator, that is, the operator is about to perform a camera operation, step S9 is executed.
Then, it is determined whether the signal EXT is at the "L" level.
If this signal EXT is at the "L" level, it means that an external device is connected to the camera, so even if the camera operates in this condition, the camera's built-in battery will quickly become exhausted and satisfactory camera operation cannot be expected. , return to step S3 above. If the signal EXT is at the "H" level, no external device is connected to the camera, that is, the camera is a single unit, so proceed to step 310 and perform the required "camera operation".
will be executed. Returning to step S5 above, if the signal pwsw is not at the "L" level, it means that the starting power switch SW has not been pressed down, and the operator is therefore expecting a playback function, rather than a shooting function of the camera. it is conceivable that. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S6 to determine whether or not the signal EXT is at the "L" level. If the signal EXT is at the "H" level, the process returns to step S3, and if the signal EXT is at the II L11 level, an external device is connected, so the process proceeds to step s7. Then, the signal AD/BT becomes “H”.
If this signal A D/B T is at the "L" level, the power supply block 15 is not connected. In other words, since the camera and external equipment are operated using the built-in battery of the camera, such operation is prohibited and the process returns to step S3. Also, the signal AD/BT is “H”.
If the level is I1, the power supply block 15 is connected, so the process proceeds to step S8, and the camera sends an operation start command to the external device via serial communication to perform the required external operation. The above is the operation of the camera CPU 11 in this first embodiment. Next, the external device side CP
The operation of U17 will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, when the power is turned on, a "power-on reset" is performed in step 311, and then the process proceeds to step S12, where the RAM built in the external device side CPU 17 is "initialized".

Then, the process advances to step S13 and waits until a "operable" command is sent from the camera's CPU11 via serial communication, and when the command is sent, the process advances to step S14. In this step 514, the signal "vCT" is made active "H" to turn on the analog switch SWt, thereby supplying power to each circuit 18 on the external device side. and,
Proceeding to step S15, for example, multi-motion or smooth motion is performed. The above is the explanation of the first embodiment of the present invention. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a power supply system for an electronic camera showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the dedicated line f. However, in this second embodiment, three signal lines are used for the same purpose without providing a dedicated line. That is, when the external device is not connected, the line 13 that transmits the signal Sl has the potential of the power supply line 11 due to the pull amplifier resistor R, but when the external device is connected, the external device side CPU 17 is connected to the terminal T.
, the transistor Q3 is turned on, and the line l, which transmits the signal S, becomes "L".
level, and the CPU II in the camera recognizes that the external device is connected. Except for this point, the second embodiment is completely the same as the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given to each structure and member, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

6 and 7 are flowcharts of this second embodiment, with FIG. 6 showing the operations of the CPU II in the camera, and FIG. 7 showing the operations of the CPU 17 on the external device side. and,
Routines that are the same as the routines in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the first embodiment are given the same step numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 6, the signal Sl
The determination is made based on whether or not the signal is at the "L" level. Except for steps S21 and S22, steps S1 to S5 and 37, S8, and SI are the same as in FIG. 3 above.
It is composed of O. In Fig. 7, the control knob S2 sets the signal Sl to "L" level in order to make the in-camera CP (Jll) recognize that an external device is connected.
3 is inserted between steps S12 and 313, the configuration is exactly the same as that shown in FIG. 4 above.

According to the second embodiment described above, the signal EXT and its dedicated line 12 for making the CPU II in the camera recognize that an external device is connected to the electronic camera are not required, so the circuit can be simplified accordingly. Become. Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a power supply system for an electronic camera showing a third embodiment of the present invention. In the above-mentioned Embodiment 1.2, when the power supply block is not connected even though the external device is connected to the electronic camera, power is supplied only to the CPU II in the camera and the CPU 17 on the external device side. Power was not supplied to the circuit 12 or the external device side circuit 18.

By the way, the current consumption in the external device side CPU 17 is
Normally, the power is on the order of several tens of microamperes, so in this third embodiment, power is not supplied to the CPU 17 on the external device side to reduce the consumption of the camera's internal battery I4. That is, the analog switch SW2, which was provided on the external device 23 side in FIGS. 2 and 5 above, is moved to the camera side and the SW
3, the CPU II in the camera outputs the signal VCT, and the analog switch SW is activated by this signal VCT.
3 is controlled. Therefore, when the power supply block 15 is not connected even though the external device 23 is connected to the electronic camera 21, power is supplied only to the CPU II in the camera from the built-in battery of the camera. Except for this point, the structure is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given to each component and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

9 and 10 are flowcharts of this third embodiment, with FIG. 9 showing the operation of the CPU in the camera, and FIG. 10 showing the operation of the CPU 17 on the external equipment side.
Routines that are the same as the routines in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the first embodiment are given the same step numbers and their explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, step S31 is provided between steps S7 and S8, and step 514 in FIG.
VCT=H" routine is executed. Therefore, in FIG. 10, step 314 in FIG. 4 above is unnecessary,
The process proceeds from step S13 to step S15. According to the third embodiment described above, it is possible to further reduce the consumption of the built-in battery of the camera when the power supply block is not connected even though an external device is connected to the electronic camera. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when an external device is used by connecting it to an electronic camera, power is supplied from the power supply block to the external device via the camera.
There is no need to have multiple DC power supply circuits as a power supply system, the entire system is simplified, and the cost of the system can be significantly reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a power supply system for an electronic camera showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of means necessary for the power supply system for an electronic camera according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the respective operations of the camera internal CPU and the external device side CPU in FIG. Figures 6 and 7 show the CPU in the camera in Figure 5 above.
FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a power supply system for an electronic camera showing a third embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 9 and 10 are a flow chart showing the operations of the external device side CPU; In-camera CP in
Flowcharts showing the operations of U and the CPU on the external device side, Figures 11 to 15C are diagrams explaining the power supply system of a conventional electronic camera, Figures 16A and 16B are diagrams explaining the outline of the system of the present invention Figure 16A is a diagram for connecting external devices to the camera and supplying power to them from the AC adapter'a source.
16th BTj! J is a diagram showing the case where only external equipment is connected to the camera. 15. (22)...
−・・１・−・・Power supply block 21 Electronic camera

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) When an electronic camera is removably connected to a power supply block that can receive power from a commercial AC power supply and perform power supply operation as a specified DC power supply, power is supplied from this power supply block to the electronic camera, and 1. A power supply system for an electronic camera, characterized in that when the external circuit block is detachably connected to a DC power supply circuit of the electronic camera, power can be supplied from the electronic camera to the external circuit block. (2) The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera is provided with means for allowing a substantial power supply operation to the external circuit block only when the power supply block is connected. Camera power supply system. (3) The electronic camera includes means for sending a power reception permission signal to the external circuit block to permit the external circuit block to actually receive power only when the power supply block is connected. A power supply system for an electronic camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the power supply system is a power supply system for an electronic camera according to claim 1. (4) The power supply system for an electronic camera according to claim 3, wherein the external circuit block includes means for performing a substantial power reception operation when receiving the power reception permission signal.