Information processing apparatus with power saving control

• US 6,628,336 B2
• Filed: 06/25/1997
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Hamamura, Akihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US08/882,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,288 Days
• Field of Search: 348/372, 348/373, 348/333.13, 348/207, 348/222, 348/231, 348/232, 348/371, 348/207.99, 348/222.1, 348/231.99, 348/231.3, 358/906, 358/909.1, 396/205, 396/206
• US Class Current: 348/371
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/212 Selecting different recording or reproducing modes, e.g. high or low resolution, field or frame
• 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 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9264 using transform coding

Abstract

When the power supply is turned on, the value of a mode flag first is set to 0, the mode flag is evaluated, and processing of the record mode is executed. In the record mode, charging processing of the strobe is performed for a specified interval of time, and the strobe can be reliably caused to flash. Charging processing of the strobe is not performed while processing of reproduction (play) mode or another mode is being performed, and battery consumption is controlled.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an input device for inputting information;

a memory for storing information input by the input device;

a power supply that supplies electric power to the input device;

an indicator that indicates power supply to the input device;

a mode switch that switches between a first mode to store in the memory information input by the input device, and a second mode to reproducing information stored in the memory;

a strobe drive circuit having a condenser and a charge voltage detector that detects a charge voltage of the condenser; and

a controller that controls the input device, the power supply, the mode switch and the strobe drive circuit, wherein when power supply is indicated by the indicator, the controller switches the mode switch to the first mode regardless of the mode selected by the mode switch, and activates the strobe drive circuit to start a charge operation of said condenser until either said charge voltage detector detects that the charge voltage of the condenser is charged over a predetermined level or the mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode.

2. An information processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the input device inputs an image, the first mode is an image recording mode and the second mode is an image reproducing mode.

3. A method for operating an information processing apparatus having a mode switch that switches between a first mode that stores information, and a second mode that reproduces information, comprising:

inputting information using an input device;

storing the input information in a memory;

supplying electric power to the input device;

indicating power supply to the input device;

automatically switching the mode switch to the first mode regardless of the mode selected by the mode switch when the power supply is indicated by an indicator and then activating a strobe drive circuit having a condensor and a charge voltage detector that detects a charge voltage of the condensor to start a charge operation of said condensor until either said charge voltage detector detects that the charge voltage of the condensor is charged over a predetermined level or the mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode.

4. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an input device for inputting information;

a memory for storing information input by the input device;

a power supply that supplies electric power to the input device;

an indicator that indicates power supply to the input device;

a mode switch that switches between a first mode to store in the memory information input by the input device, and another mode which does not operate the input device;

a strobe drive circuit having a condenser and a charge voltage detector that detects a charge voltage of the condenser; and

a controller that controls the input device, the power supply, the mode switch and the strobe drive circuit, wherein when power supply is indicated by the indicator, the controller operates the mode switch and the strobe drive circuit to;

(a) switch the mode switch to the first mode regardless of the mode selected by the mode switch,

(b) activate the strobe drive circuit to start a charge operation of the condenser until said charge voltage detector detects that the charge voltage of the condenser is charged over a predetermined level,

(c) stop the charge operation of the condenser when the mode is changed to the another mode from the first mode, and

(d) resume the charge operation of the condenser when the mode is returned to the first mode from the another mode.

5. An information processing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the input device inputs an image and the first mode is an image recording mode.

6. An information processing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the input device inputs an image and the another mode is an image reproducing mode.

7. An information processing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the input device inputs an image and the another mode is a sound recording mode.

8. A method for operating an information processing apparatus having a mode switch that switches between a first mode to store in a memory information input by an input device, and another mode which does not operate the input device, the method comprising:

inputting information using the input device;

storing the input information in the memory;

supplying electric power to the input device;

indicating power supply to the input device using an indicator;

detecting a charge voltage of a condenser in a strobe drive circuit; and

controlling the input device, the power supply, the mode switch, and the strobe drive circuit wherein when power supply is indicated by the indicator, the controller operates the mode switch and the strobe drive circuit to;

(a) switch the mode switch to the first mode regardless of the mode selected by the mode switch,

(b) activate the strobe drive circuit to start a charge operation of the condenser until a charge voltage detector detects that the charge voltage of the condenser is charged over a predetermined level,

(c) stop the charge operation of the condenser when the mode is changed to the another mode from the first mode, and

(d) resume the charge operation of the condenser when the mode is returned to the first mode from the another mode.