Electronic device having common connector

• US 6,727,952 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xacti Corporation (Office Support KK)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirata, Makoto, Hayashi, Hideto
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Villecco, John M
• Application Number:
  US09/494,356
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.13, 348/14.01, 348/207.1, 348/207.2, 348/211.4, 348/211.12, 348/211.14, 348/372, 348/552, 396/301, 396/302, 396/303, 713/320, 713/323, 713/324
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 7/26 Power supplies; Circuitry or arrangement to switch on the power source; Circuitry to check the power source voltage

Abstract

A digital camera settable in a sleep mode including an ASIC for conducting data communication with a host computer connected to a USB connector, a microcomputer, a pull-up resistor connected to one of a pair of data lines, and a power source circuit. The camera further includes a power source input terminal connectable to a power source output terminal on the host computer, and an on/off switch for turning on/off the power to be supplied to the pull-up resistor. The microcomputer holds the on/off switch off when the camera is set in the sleep mode, while cancelling the sleep mode and turning on the on/off switch upon detecting the connection of the power source output terminal to the power source input terminal. This achieves a greater reduction in power consumption than conventionally, while rendering the camera adapted for a hot plug function even in the sleep mode.

Claims

1. An electronic device having a common connector capable of connecting a plurality of peripheral devices commonly to the electronic device, the electronic device comprising:

a data processing circuit for performing a specified function by conducting data communication with an information processing device connected to the common connector;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of the data processing circuit;

means for providing a predetermined potential difference between a pair of positive and negative data lines interconnecting the data processing circuit and the common connector; and

a power source circuit for supplying power to the data processing circuit, the control circuit and the potential difference providing means,

wherein the electronic device is settable in a sleep mode in which required power is supplied from the power source circuit to the control circuit, and the function of the data processing circuit is partly or entirely inactivated by limiting the supply of power to the data processing circuit,

wherein the electronic device further comprises;

a power source input terminal connectable to a power source output terminal provided on the information processing device;

means for detecting the connection of the power source output terminal to the power source input terminal; and

on/off means for turning on/off the power to be supplied from the power source circuit to the potential difference providing means,

wherein the control circuit being is operable to hold the on/off means off during a period in which the electronic device is set in the sleep mode, while cancelling the sleep mode and turning on the on/off means upon the connection detecting means detecting the connection.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the power source output terminal is connected, the control circuit gives the data processing circuit a command to cancel the sleep mode, notifies the data processing circuit of the connection of the power source output terminal, and thereafter gives the on/off means a command to turn on.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the potential difference providing means comprises a pull-up resistor connected to at least one of the pair of positive and negative data lines interconnecting the data processing circuit and the common connector.

4. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the common connector is a USB connector comprising a air of positive and negative data input-output terminals, and the pull-up resistor is connected to the positive data line extending from the positive data input-output terminal or to the negative data line extending from the negative data input-output line.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the connection detecting means is provided by connecting the power source input terminal to the control circuit via an inverting circuit.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the power source circuit comprises a primary or secondary cell or battery and which has a portable body.