Image capturing device and activation method therefor

• US 10,044,935 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2017
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fenwick, Warren K
• Application Number:
  US15/708,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20180007266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 396301-303, 34820819, 34833313, 348372
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

An image capturing device includes a first controller operable to control image capturing; an operation section including a switch; a detector operable to detect a change to an image capturing mode and to send a signal representing the change; a second controller operable to monitor and process the sent signal, the second controller having a power consumption less than that of the first controller; and a power supply operable to supply power to the first controller, the second controller, and a functional section of the device. When the second controller receives the signal sent from the detecting section in a power saving state in which power is supplied from the power supply to the second controller, the power saving state is changed to a power supplying state capable of image capturing by supplying power from the power supply to portions of the device including the first controller.

Claims

1. An image capturing system, comprising:

one or a plurality of modules including an image capturing unit, in which the one or plurality of modules is operable in powered operational states including first and second operational states, and in which an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit is performable in the first operational state;

a first control module configured to control processing of image data captured by the image capturing unit; and

a second control module configured to control, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, switching the one or plurality of modules from the second operational state to the first operational state,

wherein, in accordance with the user operating information detected by a detecting unit and the speed related information sensed by a sensor, the one or plurality of modules is switched from the second operational state to the first operational state,

wherein power consumption of the one or plurality of modules is less in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

wherein power is supplied from a power supply unit to the one or plurality of modules through a dedicated power-supply line.

2. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein the user operating information is touch information.

3. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein the user operating information is operating information of a switch or button.

4. An image capturing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data storage unit configured to store threshold data regarding the speed related information,

wherein the one or plurality of modules is switched from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with a relationship between the speed related information and the threshold data.

5. An image capturing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display a setup screen on which configuration settings for the image capturing system are selectable.

6. An image capturing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an image capturing control unit configured to control the image capturing operation in the first operational state.

7. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein a power supply to the imaging capturing unit is turned off in a case an instruction by a user is not detected in the first operational state.

8. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the user operating information or the speed related information is operable to be transmitted via an analog transmission.

9. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the user operating information or the speed related information is operable to be transmitted via a digital transmission.

10. An imaging apparatus comprising:

one or a plurality of modules including an image capturing unit, in which the one or plurality of modules is operable in powered operational states including first and second operational states, and in which an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit is performable in the first operational state; and

circuitry configured to control processing of image data captured by the image capturing unit,

wherein power consumption of the one or plurality of modules is less in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

wherein power is supplied from a power supply unit to the one or plurality of modules through a dedicated power-supply line.

11. An imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to control, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, switching the one or plurality of modules from the second operational state to the first operational state;

and

wherein the user operating information is touch information.

12. An imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to control, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, switching the one or plurality of modules from the second operational state to the first operational state, and

wherein the user operating information is operating information of a switch or button.

13. An imaging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the circuitry is configured to control, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, switching the one or plurality of modules from the second operational state to the first operational state, and

further comprising:

a data storage unit configured to store threshold data regarding the speed related information,

wherein the one or plurality of modules is switched from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with a relationship between the speed related information and the threshold data.

14. An imaging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display a setup screen on which configuration settings for the image capturing unit are selectable.

15. An imaging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an image capturing control unit configured to control the image capturing operation in the first operational state.

16. An imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein a power supply to the imaging capturing unit is turned off in a case an instruction by a user is not detected in the first operational state.

17. An imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to control, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, switching the one or plurality of modules from the second operational state to the first operational state, and

wherein at least one of the user operating information or the speed related information is operable to be transmitted via an analog transmission.

18. An imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the circuitry is configured to control, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, switching the one or plurality of modules from the second operational state to the first operational state, and

wherein at least one of the user operating information or the speed related information is operable to be transmitted via a digital transmission.

24. An imaging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the circuitry is configured to control, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, switching the one or a plurality of modules from the second operational state to the first operational state.

25. An imaging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the circuitry is configured to change operational state, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information.

26. An imaging apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the circuitry is configured to change operational state, in accordance with user operating information and speed related information, from the second operational state to the first operational state.

19. An image capturing method comprising:

supplying power from a power supply unit to one or plurality of components;

controlling the one or a plurality of components including an image capturing unit, in which the one or plurality of components is operable in powered operational states including first and second operational states, and in which an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit is performable in the first operational state; and

capturing an image by the image capturing unit,

wherein power consumption of the one or plurality of components is less in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

wherein power is supplied from the power supply unit to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

20. An image capturing method of claim 19, further comprising:

storing, by the processing device, threshold data regarding speed related information; and

switching from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with a relationship between the speed related information and the threshold data.

21. An image capturing method of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying, by the processing device, a setup screen on which configuration settings for the one or plurality of components are selectable.

22. An image capturing method of claim 19, further comprising:

controlling, by an image capturing control device external to the processing device, the image capturing operation in the first operational state.

23. An image capturing method of claim 19, further comprising:

controlling, by the processing device, turning off a power supply to the imaging capturing unit in a case an instruction by the user is not detected in the first operational state.

27. An image capturing method of claim 19, further comprising:

changing operational state in accordance with user operation and speed related information.

28. An image capturing method of claim 27, wherein the user operation is touch.

29. An image capturing method of claim 19, wherein the user operation is operation of a switch or button.

30. An image capturing method of claim 19, further comprising:

changing operational state from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with user operation and speed related information.