Digital camera including power supply controller responsive to connection detection

• US 7,042,499 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kido, Toshihito, Niikawa, Masahito
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Villecco, John M.
• Application Number:
  US09/363,642
• Time in Patent Office: 2,475 Days
• Field of Search: 396/303, 396/381, 396/301, 348/207.1, 348/208.16, 348/211.4, 348/333.13, 348/333.07, 348/333.06, 348/372, 348/211.14
• US Class Current: 348/211.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00904 Arrangements for supplying power to different circuits or for supplying power at different levels H04N1/00896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0044 Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors connection via a network H04N2201/0039
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding

Abstract

A digital camera comprises a camera body and an image sensing unit. The image sensing unit includes a taking lens, a driver of the taking lens and an image sensor, and is attachable to the camera body directly or by a cable. The camera body includes an image processor for processing image data from the image sensing unit, a flash for emitting flash light, a recorder for recording the image data, a display for displaying images, and other circuits. An interface for a personal computer and a video capture adaptor can be attached to the camera body instead of the image sensing unit. The camera body is provided with a power source section having power supplying portions each assigned to a specific circuit such as the lens driver, the image sensor, the flash, the image processor, the interface and the adaptor. The camera body detects what is attached thereto and whether the cable is used, and supplies power only to those circuits that should be activated in accordance with the result of the detection.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

an image sensing unit including;

a taking lens; and

an image sensing device for sensing a subject image formed by said taking lens and outputting the subject image as an electric signal; and

a camera body including;

an image processor for performing predetermined processing on the electric signal from said image sensing unit;

a detector for detecting a condition of a proper connection of said image sensing unit to said camera body;

a power supply controller for selectively controlling power supply in said camera body, wherein said selection is determined in accordance with a result of the detection; and

a flash control circuit for controlling light emission of a flash light emitter;

wherein in a case where said image sensing unit is connected to said camera body through a cable, when said detector detects that the cable has a length larger than a predetermined length, said power supply controller does not supply power to said flash control circuit.

2. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said detector detects that said image sensing unit is not connected to said camera body, said power supply controller does not supply power to said flash control circuit.

3. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image processor has a recorder for recording the electric signal as image data.

4. A digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of power supply portions for supplying power to a plurality of circuits in said digital camera, wherein power is supplied only to a specific power supply portion in accordance with the result of the detection.

5. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection is automatically performed in response to the said detector detecting a condition of connection.

6. A digital camera to which an image sensing unit having a taking lens and an image sensing device is connectable, comprising:

a connection device provided on a main body of the digital camera for detachably connecting external devices including said image sensing device;

an image processor for performing predetermined processing on image data from said image sensing unit;

a detector for detecting a condition of connection of an external device when connected to said connection device and for identifying the external device based on a detected condition of connection;

a power supply controller for controlling power supply to said digital camera in accordance with a result of the detection; and

a flash control circuit for controlling flash light emission;

wherein in a case where said image sensing unit is connected to a camera body through a cable, when said detector detects that the cable has a length larger than a predetermined length, said power supply controller does not supply power to said flash control circuit.

7. A digital camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein when it is detected that said image sensing unit is not connected, said power supply controller stops power supply to a circuit in said digital cameras which circuit is associated with said image sensing unit.

8. A digital camera as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a power supply portion for supplying power only to said image sensing unit, wherein when it is detected that said image sensing unit is not connected, said power supply controller does not supply power to said power supply portion.

9. A digital camera as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of power supply portions for supplying power to a plurality of circuits in said digital camera, wherein power is supplied only to a specific power supply portion in accordance with the result of the detection.

10. A digital camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein when said detector detects that said image sensing unit is not connected to a camera body, said power supply controller does not supply power to said flash control circuit.

11. A digital camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said image processor has a recorder for recording an electric signal as image data.

12. The digital camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein the power supply controller selectively controls power supply automatically in response to said detector detecting a condition of connection.

13. A power source control method in a digital camera having a connector to which each of a plurality of detachable device types, including an image sensing unit having a taking lens and an image sensing device, is replaceably connectable, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a condition of connection of a detachable device to said digital camera;

identifying the type of device connected to the connector of said camera based on a detected condition of connection; and

controlling power supply in said digital camera in accordance with a result of the detection, to selectively supply power to at least one power supply portion of the camera and not to other power supply portions of the camera, the selection being based on a type identified in the step of detecting.

14. A power source control method as claimed in claim 13, wherein when it is detected that said image sensing unit is not connected, power supply to a circuit in said digital camera which circuit is associated with said image sensing unit is stopped.

15. A power source control method as claimed in claim 13, wherein a different unit is connectable to said digital camera, and a condition of connection of the different unit is detected in said detecting step.

16. The power source control method as claimed in claim 13, wherein controlling the power supply in said digital camera comprises selectively controlling power supply automatically in response to said detector detecting a condition of connection.

17. A digital camera comprising:

a detachably connectable image sensing device including;

a taking lens; and

an image sensing device for sensing a subject image formed by said taking lens and outputting the subject image as an electric signal; and

a camera body including;

a connection terminal for connecting the image sensing unit or a different detachably connectable device;

an image processor for performing a predetermined processing on the electric signal from said image sensing device;

a detector for detecting a condition of connection of one of the detachable devices and for determining which detachable device is connected based on the detected condition; and

a power supply controller for controlling power supply in said camera body in accordance with a result of the detection, and including control logic for selectively supplying power to portions of the camera and not to other portions of the camera, the selection being based on a detected type of the device detected by the detector.

18. A digital camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein said camera body has a flash control circuit for controlling light emission of a flash light emitter.

19. A digital camera as claimed in claim 18, wherein when said detector detects that said image sensing unit is not connected to said camera body, said power supply controller does not supply power to said flash control circuit.

20. A digital camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein said image processor has a recorder for recording the electric signal as image data.

21. A camera according to claim 17, wherein the different detachably connectable device comprises one of an extension cable, a personal computer interface and a video capture adapter.

22. The digital camera as claimed in claim 17, wherein the power supply controller selectively controls power supply automatically in response to said detector detecting a condition of connection.

23. A digital camera comprising:

a detachably connectable image sensing device including;

a taking lens; and

an image sensing device for sensing a subject image formed by said taking lens and outputting the subject image as an electric signal; and

a camera body including;

a connection terminal for connecting the image sensing unit or a different detachably connectable device;

an image processor for performing a predetermined processing on the electric signal from said image sensing device;

a detector for detecting a condition of connection of one of the detachable devices and for determining which detachable device is connected based on the detected condition;

a power supply controller for controlling power supply in said camera body in accordance with a result of the detection, and

a flash control circuit for controlling light emission of a flash light emitter

wherein in a case where said image sensing unit is connected to said camera body through a cable, when said detector detects that the cable has a length larger than a predetermined length, said power supply controller does not supply power to said flash control circuit.