Digital camera including power supply controller responsive to connection detection
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A digital camera comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A digital camera to which an image sensing unit having a taking lens and an image sensing device is connectable, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A digital camera comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A digital camera comprising:
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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.
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Specification