ELECTRONIC DEVICE, POWER CONTROL METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM THEREOF

• US 20140281631A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Asano, Kohei
• Granted Patent: US 9,915,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/325 Power saving in peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

In an electronic device, a first sensor detects a detection target on a first region. A second sensor detects a detection target on a second region. A third sensor detects a detection target on a third region. A power control unit turns on the second sensor in a case where the first sensor detects the detection target on the first region. The power control unit turns on the third sensor and turns off the first sensor in a case where the second sensor detects the detection target on the second region.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a first sensor configured to detect a detection target on a first region;

a second sensor configured to detect a detection target on a second region;

a third sensor configured to detect a detection target on a third region; and

a power control unit configured to turn on the second sensor in a case where the first sensor detects the detection target on the first region, and

configured to turn on the third sensor and to turn off the first sensor in a case where the second sensor detects the detection target on the second region.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power control unit controls said electronic device to transition from a power saving mode to a normal operation mode in a case where the second sensor detects the detection target on the second region.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power control unit turns off the second sensor in a case where the first sensor detects the detection target after the second sensor detects the detection target.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said power control unit controls said electronic device to transition from a normal operation mode to a power saving mode when the first sensor detects the detection target after the second sensor detects the detection target.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power control unit comprises a switch which is connected to the second sensor and is configured to turn on or off the second sensor, and

said switch opens/closes a power supply line to the second sensor using a detection signal line of the first sensor.

6. A power control method executed in an electronic device, which has a first sensor configured to detect a detection target on a first region, a second sensor configured to detect a detection target on a second region, and a third sensor configured to detect a detection target on a third region, the method comprising:

turning on the second sensor in a case where the first sensor detects the detection target on the first region; and

turning on the third sensor and turning off the first sensor in a case where the second sensor detects the detection target on the second region.

7. A computer-readable medium that stores therein a program of a power control method executed in an electronic device, which has a first sensor configured to detect a detection target on a first region, a second sensor configured to detect a detection target on a second region, and a third sensor configured to detect a detection target on a third region, the program for causing a computer to:

turn on the second sensor in a case where the first sensor detects the detection target on the first region; and

turn on the third sensor and turning off the first sensor in a case where the second sensor detects the detection target on the second region.