Mobile device and wireless communication apparatus

• US 20070196099A1
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Tsuneo, Ishiyama, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/301
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/26 Power supplies; Circuitry or arrangement to switch on the power source; Circuitry to check the power source voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00891 Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use H04N1/00896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00928 Initialisation or control of normal start-up or shut-down, i.e. non failure or error related
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/327 Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor H04N1/32614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32795 Arrangements for keeping the communication line open
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm

Abstract

A mobile device is equipped with a transmitting function to transmit data. When a power switch is turned off during data transmission, a transition is made to a transmission-during-power-off mode that continues data transmission. The transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode is performed when an inquiry is made on a screen as to whether transmission will be performed and “continue” is subsequently selected. In this mode, even when the mobile device with the power switch being turned off is carried around, data transmission is continued and data is recorded into a storage section of a home personal computer.

Claims

1. A mobile device having a transmitting section that transmits data, the device comprising:

a power operating section that performs power-on/off operations; and

a power supply control section that supplies power to each section of the mobile device, including the transmitting section, which are activated when power is supplied, in response to a power-on operation by the power operating section, and cuts off supply of power to each section in response to a power-off operation by the power operating section,

wherein when data is being transmitted by the transmitting section, the power supply control section causes the transmitting section to continue data transmission by continuously supplying power even when a power-off operation is received from the power operating section, and cuts off the power supply to the transmitting section upon completion of data transmission by the transmitting section.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply control section cuts off power supply to each section including the transmitting section in the event that data transmission is not performed by the transmitting section when a power-off operation by the power operating section is received.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a state transition notification section that notifies a user of a transition to a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

7. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission completion notification section that notifies a user of a completion of data transmission in a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

9. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission result notification section that detects, in response to a power-on operation of the power operating section, whether data transmission was performed by the transmitting section after the previous power-off operation of the power operating section, detects whether the data transmission is completed or not when the data transmission was performed, and notifies a user of a transmission result.

11. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting section transmits data via wireless.

13. The mobile device according to claim 11, further comprising a power saving control section that performs power saving while maintaining receiver sensitivity in the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the power-saving control section performs power saving by spreading a transmission and reception interval of probe signals used for searching communication destinations.

15. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the power-saving control section performs power saving by limiting frequencies used for communication.

16. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting section comprises a wireless communication antenna that is movable between a first position having a small volume of projection from a chassis of the mobile device and a second position having a large volume of projection from the chassis of the mobile device, and

the mobile device comprises an antenna drive section that moves the antenna to the first position in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

17. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting section comprises an antenna having a fixed antenna primary radiating element and a movable antenna secondary element that controls at least a directivity of communication by the antenna primary radiating element, and

the mobile device comprises an antenna drive section that moves the antenna secondary element so that the directivity of the communication by the antenna primary radiating element spreads in a direction that approximates omni-directivity, in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

18. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting section comprises a movable antenna that is movable between a first position having a small volume of projection from a chassis of the mobile device and a second position having a large volume of projection from the chassis of the mobile device and functions as an antenna at the second position, and a fixed antenna that is fixed to the chassis of the mobile device and is either built into the chassis or has a volume of projection from the chassis that is less than the volume of projection of the first antenna at the second position, and

the mobile device comprises an antenna drive section that moves the movable antenna to the first position in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

19. The mobile device according to claim 11, further comprising a communication function limiting section that limits a communication function of the transmitting section, wherein the communication function limiting section lifts limitations on the communication function of the transmitting section in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

20. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a device having a function of a digital camera that generates image data of a subject image in response to image taking operations.

22. The mobile device according to claim 20, wherein the transmitting section transmits all unsent image data in data transmission.

23. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a lens unit having an image taking optical system and an image pickup device to generate image data, and a main body unit, to which the lens unit is detachably mounted, that receives image data from the lens unit to perform image processing.

25. The mobile device according to claim 23, wherein the power operating section interprets a detachment of the lens unit from the main body unit as a power-off operation.

26. The mobile device according to claim 25, wherein the transmitting section suspends data transmission in response to a mounting of the lens unit when performing data transmission in a state in which the lens unit is detached from the main body unit.

2. A mobile device having a transmitting section that transmits data, the device comprising:

a power operating section that performs power-on/off operations; and

a power supply control section that supplies power to each section of the mobile device, including the transmitting section, which are activated when power is supplied, in response to a power-on operation by the power operating section, and cuts off supply of power to each section in response to a power-off operation by the power operating section,

wherein the transmitting section commences data transmission in response to a power-off operation of the power operating section, and

the power supply control section causes the transmitting section to perform data transmission by supplying power thereto when receiving a power-off operation from the power operating section, and cuts off the power supply to the transmitting section upon completion of data transmission by the transmitting section.

4. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply control section maintains a cut-off state of power to the transmitting section in the event that no unsent data exists when a power-off operation by the power operating section is received.

6. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising a state transition notification section that notifies a user of a transition to a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

8. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising a transmission completion notification section that notifies a user of a completion of data transmission in a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

10. The mobile device according to claim 2, comprising a transmission result notification section that detects, in response to a power-on operation of the power operating section, whether data transmission was performed by the transmitting section after the previous power-off operation of the power operating section, detects whether the data transmission is completed or not when the data transmission was performed, and notifies a user of a transmission result.

12. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting section transmits data via wireless.

21. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the mobile device is a device having a function of a digital camera that generates image data of a subject image in response to image taking operations.

24. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising a lens unit having an image taking optical system and an image pickup device to generate image data, and a main body unit, to which the lens unit is detachably mounted, that receives image data from the lens unit to perform image processing.

27. A wireless communication apparatus provided with a mode selection switch that allows an image pickup apparatus that is a mobile device to select any of a plurality of operating modes, an image pickup apparatus-side battery and a power switch, the wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on the image pickup apparatus, and the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication processing section that performs transmission and reception processing of image data with an external device;

a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power;

an operating mode determination section that determines what operating mode is selected by the mode selection switch; and

a first power control section that suspends power supply from the wireless communication apparatus-side battery to the wireless communication processing section according to an operating mode determined by the operating mode determination section.

28. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising:

an attachment/detachment determination section that determines attachment to or detachment from the image pickup apparatus;

a switchover state determination section that determines whether the power switch is turned on or off;

a wireless communication state detection section that detects whether wireless communication is being executed; and

a second power control section that, when either detachment from the image pickup apparatus is detected by the attachment/detachment determination section or the power switch is detected to be turned off by the switchover state determination section, maintains power supply to the wireless communication processing section as long as execution of wireless communication is being detected by the wireless communication state detection section, and suspends power supply when the execution of wireless communication is no longer detected.

32. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

36. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.

29. A wireless communication apparatus provided with a mode selection switch that allows an image pickup apparatus that is a mobile device to select any of a plurality of operating modes, an image pickup apparatus-side battery and a power switch, the wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on the image pickup apparatus, and the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

an attachment/detachment determination section that determines attachment to or detachment from the image pickup apparatus;

an operating mode determination section that determines what operating mode is selected by the mode selection switch;

a wireless communication processing section that performs transmission and reception processing of image data to an external device;

a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power;

a switchover state determination section that determines whether the power switch is turned on or off;

a first remaining battery level monitoring section that monitors a remaining battery level of the image pickup apparatus-side battery;

a second remaining battery level monitoring section that monitors a remaining battery level of the wireless communication apparatus-side battery; and

a charging control section that executes charging from the image pickup apparatus-side battery to the wireless communication apparatus-side battery either when the power switch is detected to be turned off by the switchover state determination section, in the event that mounting to the image pickup apparatus is detected by the attachment/detachment determination section, a remaining battery level exceeding a predetermined level is detected by the first remaining battery level monitoring section and the second remaining battery level monitoring section detects that the wireless communication apparatus-side battery is not fully charged, or when the power switch is detected to be turned on by the switchover state determination section and a selection of an operating mode other than an image taking mode that performs image taking is detected by the operating mode determination section.

33. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

37. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.

30. A wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on an image retaining apparatus that retains image data and serves as a mobile device, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

an inter-apparatus communication section that, in a mounted state to the image retaining apparatus, receives image data from the image retaining apparatus;

an image data storage section that stores image data received from the inter-apparatus communication section;

an image size conversion section that converts image size of image data stored in the image data storage section; and

a wireless communication section that performs wireless transmission of image data converted by the image size conversion section to an external device.

34. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power, wherein

the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

38. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.

31. A wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on an image pickup apparatus that retains image data and serves as a mobile device, the wireless communication apparatus comprising:

an inter-apparatus communication section that, in a mounted state to the image pickup apparatus, receives image data from the image pickup apparatus;

an operation type selection section that selects whether an operation will be performed as a memory operation that stores image data or as a wireless communication operation that transmits image data to an external device;

an image data storage section that stores image data received by the inter-apparatus communication section;

a memory management section that prohibits overwriting of image data on the image data storage section when a memory operation is selected by the operation type selection section and allows overwriting of image data on the image data storage section when a wireless communication operation is selected by the operation type selection section; and

a wireless communication section that performs wireless transmission of image data stored in the image data storage section to an external device when a wireless communication operation is selected by the operation type selection section.

35. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power, wherein

the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

39. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.