Image capturing device and activation method therefor

• US 20090175614A1
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,254,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/301
• 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 activation method for an image capturing device having a function of controlling power supplying operation, the image capturing device having a plurality of operational states including a first operational state capable of image capturing operation and a second operational state, wherein power consumption of an unit of the image capturing device in the second operational state is less than power consumption of the unit in the first operational state, the activation method comprising:

in the second operational state, monitoring a user'"'"'s touch operation to a touch sensor of the image capturing device; and

when a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing a change to the image capturing operation is detected in the second operational state, changing the second operational state to the first operational state and supplying power to the unit so that the unit becomes capable of working in the image capturing operation.