Digital camera and system capable of sharing power with a mobile device

• US 7,911,530 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sawachi, Youichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam; Hung H
• Application Number:
  US10/183,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20030011704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,189 Days
• Field of Search: 348/372, 348/374
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• 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 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In the digital camera that can be used in connection to a mobile phone or other mobile electronic devices and the system thereof, a battery mounted in each device is shared to allow power to be supplied between the devices, and allow both devices to be used for longer hours. The digital camera and the mobile phone are electrically connectable by a connection cable. Generally, a power supply selection switch is set to A, and a power supply selection switch is set to D. The digital camera receives power supplied from a battery, and the mobile phone receives power supplied form a battery. From this state, when the power supply selection switch is switched to C, power is supplied from the battery to the mobile phone. On the other hand, when the power supply selection switch is set to B, and the power supply selection switch is set to D, power is supplied from the battery of the mobile phone to the digital camera.

Claims

1. A digital camera connectable to a mobile electronic communication device capable of being driven by a battery, the digital camera comprising:

a first battery which provides a supply source of power necessary to operate the digital camera;

a connecting unit which electrically connects to the mobile electronic communication device;

a power input terminal which receives power supplied from a second battery mounted in the mobile electronic communication device connected via the connecting unit;

a power supply selection device which selectively switches a power supply such that power is supplied from one of the first battery and the second battery;

a power output terminal capable of supplying power from the first battery to the mobile communication electronic device connected via the connecting unit;

a detecting device which detects the power supply selected by the power supply selection device; and

a control device which operates to reduce power consumption of the digital camera when the detecting device detects a state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera,

wherein as the operation to reduce the power consumption of the digital camera, the control device performs operations comprising stopping supplying power to an image display device, stopping supplying power to a flash circuit, and reducing a clock operation frequency,

wherein the digital camera is a stand-alone digital camera.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control device supplies power to an image pickup circuit system only when the detecting device detects the state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera and the digital camera is set to an image-capturing mode.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a communication device which sends power supply switching information to the mobile electronic communication device when the detecting device detects the state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera.

4. The digital camera according to claim 3, further comprising:

a battery remaining amount determining device which determines remaining amount of the first battery; and

a power supply switching control device which automatically controls switching the first power supply selection device such that power is supplied from the second battery when the battery remaining amount determining device determines that the remaining amount of the first battery is below a predetermined reference value.

5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery remaining amount determining device which determines remaining amount of the first battery; and

a power supply switching control device which automatically controls switching the first power supply selection device such that power is supplied from the second battery when the battery remaining amount determining device determines that the remaining amount of the first battery is below a predetermined reference value.

6. The claim has been rejoined.

7. A digital camera system capable of transferring image data by connecting a mobile electronic communication device capable of being driven by a battery and a digital camera, wherein:

the digital camera comprises;

a first battery which provides a supply source of power necessary to operate the digital camera;

a first connecting unit which electrically connects to the mobile electronic communication device;

a first power input terminal which receives power supplied from a second battery mounted in the mobile electronic communication device connected via the first connecting unit;

a first power supply selection device which selectively switches a power supply such that power is supplied from one of the first battery and the second battery;

a first power output terminal capable of supplying power from the first battery to the mobile electronic communication device connected via the first connecting unit;

a detecting device which detects the power supply selected by the first power supply selection device;

a first control device which operates to reduce power consumption of the digital camera when the detecting device detects a state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera; and

a communication device which sends power supply switching information to the mobile electronic communication device when the detecting device detects the state where the power is supplied from the second battery to the digital camera; and

the mobile electronic communication device comprises;

a second battery which provides a supply source of power necessary to operate the mobile electronic communication device;

a second connecting unit which electrically connects to the digital camera;

a second power input terminal which receives power supplied from the first battery mounted in the digital camera connected via the second connecting unit;

a second power supply selection device which selectively switches a power supply such that power is supplied from one of the first battery and the second battery;

a second power output terminal capable of supplying power from the second battery to the digital camera connected via the second connecting unit;

a second control device which operates to reduce power consumption of the mobile electronic communication device based on the power supply switching information sent from the digital camera; and

the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit are used so that the first power input terminal and the second power output terminal are connected and the first power output terminal and the second power input terminal are connected to allow power to be supplied between the digital camera and the mobile electronic communication device,

wherein as the operation to reduce the power consumption of the digital camera, the control device performs operations comprising stopping supplying power to an image display device, stopping supplying power to a flash circuit, and reducing a clock operation frequency,

wherein the digital camera is a stand-alone digital camera.

8. The digital camera system according to claim 7, wherein a circuit is configured such that the first battery and the second battery are not electrically connected to each other in any setting states of the first power supply selection device and the second power supply selection device.

9. The digital camera system according to claim 7, wherein the mobile electronic communication device comprises a mobile telephone.

10. The digital camera system according to claim 7, wherein the mobile electronic communication device further comprises a DC-DC converter.

11. The digital camera system according to claim 7, wherein the digital camera further comprises a DC-DC converter.