Digital camera and system thereof

• US 20060017840A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sawachi, Youichi
• Application Number:
  US11/233,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017840A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In the digital camera that can be used in connection to a mobile phone or other mobile electronic devices and the system thereof, a battery mounted in each device is shared to allow power to be supplied between the devices, and allow both devices to be used for longer hours. The digital camera and the mobile phone are electrically connectable by a connection cable. Generally, a power supply selection switch is set to A, and a power supply selection switch is set to D. The digital camera receives power supplied from a battery, and the mobile phone receives power supplied form a battery. From this state, when the power supply selection switch is switched to C, power is supplied from the battery to the mobile phone. On the other hand, when the power supply selection switch is set to B, and the power supply selection switch is set to D, power is supplied from the battery of the mobile phone to the digital camera.

Claims

1. A digital camera connectable to a mobile electronic device capable of being driven by a battery, the digital camera comprising:

a first battery which provides a supply source of power necessary to operate the digital camera;

a connecting unit which electrically connects to the mobile electronic device;

a power input terminal which receives power supplied from a second battery mounted in the mobile electronic device connected via the connecting unit; and

a power supply selection device which selectively switches a power supply such that power is supplied from one of the first battery and the second battery.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a power output terminal capable of supplying power from the second battery to the mobile electronic device connected via the connecting unit.

4. The digital camera according to claim 2, further comprising:

a detecting device which detects the power supply selected by the power supply selection device; and

a control device which operates to reduce power consumption of the digital camera when the detecting device detects a state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera.

5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the control device supplies power to an image pickup circuit system only when the detecting device detects the state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera and the digital camera is set to an image-capturing mode.

6. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein as the operation to reduce the power consumption of the digital camera, the control device performs at least one of operations comprising supplying power to an image display device, stopping supplying power to a flash circuit, and reducing a clock operation frequency.

7. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein the control device supplies power to an image pickup circuit system only when the detecting device detects the state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera and the digital camera is set to an image-capturing mode.

12. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting device which detects the power supply selected by the power supply selection device; and

a control device which operates to reduce power consumption of the digital camera when the detecting device detects a state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera.

13. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein the control device supplies power to an image pickup circuit system only when the detecting device detects the state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera and the digital camera is set to an image-capturing mode.

14. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein as the operation to reduce the power consumption of the digital camera, the control device performs at least one of operations comprising supplying power to an image display device, stopping supplying power to a flash circuit, and reducing a clock operation frequency.

15. The digital camera according to claim 14, wherein the control device supplies power to an image pickup circuit system only when the detecting device detects the state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera and the digital camera is set to an image-capturing mode.

3. (canceled)

8-11. -11. (canceled)

16-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A digital camera connectable to a mobile electronic device capable of being driven by a battery, the digital camera comprising:

a battery which provides a supply source of power necessary to operate the digital camera;

a connecting unit which electrically connects to the mobile electronic device; and

a power output terminal capable of supplying power from the battery mounted in the digital camera to the mobile electronic device connected via the connecting unit.

20. (canceled)

21. A digital camera system capable of transferring image data by connecting a mobile electronic device capable of being driven by a battery and a digital camera, wherein:

the digital camera comprises;

a first battery which provides a supply source of power necessary to operate the digital camera;

a first connecting unit which electrically connects to the mobile electronic device;

a first power input terminal which receives power supplied from a second battery mounted in the mobile electronic device connected via the first connecting unit;

a first power supply selection device which selectively switches a power supply such that power is supplied from one of the first battery and the second battery; and

a first power output terminal capable of supplying power from the first battery to the mobile electronic device connected via the first connecting unit;

the mobile electronic device comprises;

a second battery which provides a supply source of power necessary to operate the mobile device;

a second connecting unit which electrically connects to the digital camera;

a second power input terminal which receives power supplied from the first battery mounted in the digital camera connected via the second connecting unit;

a second power supply selection device which selectively switches a power supply such that power is supplied from one of the first battery and the second battery; and

a second power output terminal capable of supplying power from the second battery to the digital camera connected via the second connecting unit; and

the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit are used so that the first power input terminal and the second power output terminal are connected and the first power output terminal and the second power input terminal are connected to allow power to be supplied between the digital camera and the mobile electronic device.

23. The digital camera system according to claim 21, wherein a circuit is configured such that the first battery and the second battery are not electrically connected to each other in any setting states of the first power supply selection device and the second power supply selection device.

22. (canceled)

24. (canceled)