Signal processing apparatus and image sensing apparatus

• US 20020129287A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hirofumi Honda, Keiji Sato
• Original Assignee: Hirofumi Honda, Keiji Sato
• Inventors: Sato, Keiji, Honda, Hirofumi
• Granted Patent: US 6,848,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

Disclosed is a signal processing apparatus in which it is possible to obtain a favorable system construction in a case where the main unit of the apparatus and an external device have been connected via a digital interface in the recording standby mode. The signal processing apparatus is capable of constructing a network by being connected to a plurality of external devices. In a case where at least connection to an external device has been sensed when the apparatus is in an operation standby state, power shutdown is restricted to thereby curtail bus reset of the network.

Claims

1. A signal processing apparatus capable of constructing a network by being connected to a plurality of external devices, wherein in a case where at least connection to an external device has been sensed when the apparatus is in an operation standby state, power shutdown is restricted to thereby curtail bus reset of the network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

signal processing means for generating and processing a prescribed signal;

interface means for outputting a signal, which is output by said signal processing means, to an external device;

sensing means for sensing connection of the interface means to the external device; and

counting means;

wherein when said counting means counts a predetermined number in an operation standby mode, a transition is made from the operation standby mode to a stop or power conservation mode in a case where connection to an external device has been sensed by said sensing means, and a transition is made from the operation standby mode to a power shutdown mode in a case where connection to an external device has not been sensed by said sensing means.

3. An image sensing apparatus comprising:

image signal processing means for generating and processing image information;

interface means for outputting a signal, which is output by said image signal processing means, to an external device; and

sensing means for sensing connection of said interface means to an external device;

wherein depending upon status of a connection to an external device, a transition is made from a first operating mode, in which the apparatus stands by for operation of said image signal processing means, to a second operating mode in which said image signal processing means is partially shut down or to a third operating mode in which power to the apparatus is cut off.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a transition is made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in a case where connection to an external device has been sensed by said sensing means in the first operating mode, and a transition is made from the first operating mode to the third operating mode in a case where connection to an external device has not been sensed by said sensing means in the first operating mode.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising counting means, wherein when said counting means counts a predetermined number in the first operating mode, a transition is made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in a case where connection to the external device has been sensed by said sensing means, and a transition is made from the first operating mode to the third operating mode in a case where connection to the external device has not been sensed by said sensing means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a camera controller, a signal processor and a recorder controller are included as said image signal processing means.

7. A method of controlling a signal processing apparatus capable of constructing a network by being connected to a plurality of external devices, wherein in a case where at least connection to an external device has been sensed when the apparatus is in an operation standby state, the apparatus is controlled so as to restrict power shutdown.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said signal processing apparatus has signal processing means for generating and processing a prescribed signal;

interface means for outputting a signal, which is output by said signal processing means, to an external device;

sensing means for sensing connection of the interface means to an external device; and

counting means;

the image sensing apparatus being controlled in such a manner that when said counting means counts a predetermined number in an operation standby mode, a transition is made from the operation standby mode to a stop or power conservation mode in a case where connection to an external device has been sensed by said sensing means, and a transition is made from the operation standby mode to a power shutdown mode in a case where connection to an external device has not been sensed by said sensing means.

9. A method of controlling an image sensing apparatus having image signal processing means for generating and processing image information;

interface means for outputting a signal, which is output by said image signal processing means, to an external device; and

sensing means for sensing connection of said interface means to an external device;

the image sensing apparatus being controlled in dependence upon status of a connection to an external device in such a manner that a transition is made from a first operating mode, in which the apparatus stands by for operation of said image signal processing means, to a second operating mode in which said image signal processing means is partially shut down or to a third operating mode in which power to the apparatus is cut off.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said image sensing apparatus is controlled in such a manner that a transition is made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in a case where connection to an external device has been sensed by said sensing means in the first operating mode, and a transition is made from the first operating mode to the third operating mode in a case where connection to an external device has not been sensed by said sensing means in the first operating mode.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said image sensing apparatus further includes counting means, and the apparatus is controlled in such a manner that when said counting means counts a predetermined number in the first operating mode, a transition is made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in a case where connection to the external device has been sensed by said sensing means, and a transition is made from the first operating mode to the third operating mode in a case where connection to the external device has not been sensed by said sensing means.

13. The storage medium according to claim 12, wherein said signal processing apparatus has signal processing means for generating and processing a prescribed signal;

interface means for outputting a signal, which is output by said signal processing means, to an external device;

sensing means for sensing connection of the interface means to an external device; and

counting means;

said control program having code of a step in which when said counting means counts a predetermined number in an operation standby mode, a transition is made from the operation standby mode to a stop or power-conservation mode in a case where connection to an external device has been sensed by said sensing means, and a transition is made from the operation standby mode to a power shutdown mode in a case where connection to an external device has not been sensed by said sensing means.

15. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein said control program has code of a step of causing a transition from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in a case where connection to the external device has been sensed by said sensing means in the first operating mode, and from the first operating mode to the third operating mode in a case where connection to an external device has not been sensed by said sensing means in the first operating mode.

16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein said image sensing apparatus further includes counting means;

said control program having code of a step in which when said counting means counts a predetermined number in the first operating mode, a transition is made from the first operating mode to the second operating mode in a case where connection to the external device has been sensed by said sensing means, and a transition is made from the first operating mode to the third operating mode in a case where connection to the external device has not been sensed by said sensing means.

12. A storage medium storing a control program for controlling a signal processing apparatus capable of constructing a network by being connected to a plurality of external devices, wherein said control program has code of a step of restricting power shutdown in a case where at least connection to an external device has been sensed when the apparatus is in an operation standby state.

14. A storage medium storing a control program for controlling an image sensing apparatus having image signal processing means for generating and processing image information;

interface means for outputting a signal, which is output by said image signal processing means, to an external device; and

sensing means for sensing connection of said interface means to an external device, wherein said control program has code of a step of causing a transition from a first operating mode, in which the apparatus stands by for operation of said image signal processing means, to a second operating mode in which said image signal processing means is partially shut down or to a third operating mode in which power to the apparatus is cut off, the transition depending upon status of a connection to an external device.