Electronic device and imaging apparatus

• US 8,269,464 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mori, Nobuyuki, Akesaka, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes-Vivour, Temilade S
• Application Number:
  US12/152,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20080315840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0025 Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply

Abstract

An electronic device having a display section, which may include, a housing section configured to house a plurality of batteries, a detection section configured to detect status of each of the plurality of batteries housed in the housing section, a selection section configured to select part of the plurality of batteries for use as a power supply of the electronic device in accordance with the status detected by the detection section, and a display control section configured to display on the display section an indication identifying the part of the plurality of batteries.

Claims

1. An electronic device having a display section, comprising:

(a) a housing section configured to house a plurality of batteries;

(b) a detection section configured to detect status of each of said plurality of batteries housed in said housing section;

(c) a selection section configured to select part of said plurality of batteries for use as a power supply of said electronic device in accordance with the status detected by said detection section; and

(d) a display control section configured to display on said display section an indication identifying said part of said plurality of batteries,

wherein said part of said plurality of batteries is a number of said batteries which is less than a total number of said batteries,

wherein said detection section includes;

(b-2) a remaining level detection section configured to detect a remaining battery level of each of said plurality of batteries, and

wherein said display control section includes;

(d-1) a section configured to (i) display on said display section numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said part of said plurality of batteries selected by the selection section in accordance with the status detected by said detection section, (ii) display on said display section numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said plurality of batteries unselected by the selection section in accordance with the status detected by said detection section, and (iii) cause the display pertaining to each unselected battery to be displayed in a less conspicuous manner than that of the display of each selected battery so as to enable a user to easily recognize the battery or batteries currently selected for use as the power supply of said electronic device.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said detection section includes:

(b-1) an output detection section configured to detect output status of each of said plurality of batteries.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising:

(e) a selective connection section configured selectively to connect said plurality of batteries to an input terminal of a power supply circuit of said electronic device;

wherein said output detection section includes a section configured to detect output status of each of said plurality of batteries at a detection terminal connected electrically to the input terminal of said power supply circuit, said plurality of batteries being switched by said selective connection section for connection to said power supply circuit.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of batteries has a microcomputer capable of acquiring information about said remaining battery level;

and

wherein said remaining level detection section includes a section configured to detect said remaining battery level of each of said plurality of batteries in accordance with the information acquired by said microcomputer.

5. An imaging apparatus having a display section, comprising:

(a) a housing section configured to house a plurality of batteries;

(b) a detection section configured to detect status of each of said plurality of batteries housed in said housing section;

(c) a selection section configured to select part of said plurality of batteries for use as a power supply of said imaging apparatus in accordance with the status detected by said detection section; and

(d) a display control section configured to display on said display section an indication identifying said part of said plurality of batteries along with a display of information about imaging,

wherein said part of said plurality of batteries is a number of said batteries which is less than a total number of said batteries,

wherein said detection section includes;

(b-1) a remaining level detection section configured to detect a remaining battery level of each of said plurality of batteries, and

wherein said display control section includes;

(d-1) a section configured to (i) display on said display section numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said part of said plurality of batteries selected by the selection section in accordance with the status detected by said detection section, (ii) display on said display section numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said plurality of batteries unselected by the selection section in accordance with the status detected by said detection section, and (iii) cause the display pertaining to each unselected battery to be displayed in a less conspicuous manner than that of the display of each selected battery so as to enable a user to easily recognize the battery or batteries currently selected for use as the power supply of said electronic device.

6. An electronic device having a display section, comprising:

a detection section configured to detect status of each of a plurality of batteries;

a selection section configured to select part of said plurality of batteries for use as a power supply of said electronic device in accordance with the status detected by said detection section; and

a display control section configured to display on said display section an indication identifying said part of said plurality of batteries,

wherein said part of said plurality of batteries is a number of said batteries which is less than a total number of said batteries,

wherein said detection section includes;

(b-1) a remaining level detection section configured to detect a remaining battery level of each of said plurality of batteries, and

wherein said display control section includes;

(d-1) a section configured to (i) display on said display section numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said part of said plurality of batteries selected by the selection section in accordance with the status detected by said detection section, (ii) display on said display section numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said plurality of batteries unselected by the selection section in accordance with the status detected by said detection section, and (iii) cause the display pertaining to each unselected battery to be displayed in a less conspicuous manner than that of the display of each selected battery so as to enable a user to easily recognize the battery or batteries currently selected for use as the power supply of said electronic device.

7. An electronic device having display means, comprising:

(a) housing means for housing a plurality of batteries;

(b) detection means for detecting status of each of said plurality of batteries housed in said housing means;

(c) selection means for selecting part of said plurality of batteries for use as a power supply of said electronic device in accordance with the status detected by said detection means; and

(d) display control means displaying on said display means an indication identifying said part of said plurality of batteries,

wherein said part of said plurality of batteries is a number of said batteries which is less than a total number of said batteries,

wherein said detection means includes;

(b-1) means for detecting a remaining battery level of each of said plurality of batteries, and

wherein said display control means includes;

(d-1) means for (i) displaying on said display means numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said part of said plurality of batteries selected by the selection means in accordance with the status detected by said detection means, (ii) displaying on said display means numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said plurality of batteries unselected by the selection means in accordance with the status detected by said detection means, and (iii) causing the display pertaining to each unselected battery to be displayed in a less conspicuous manner than that of the display of each selected battery so as to enable a user to easily recognize the battery or batteries currently selected for use as the power supply of said electronic device.

8. An imaging apparatus having display means, comprising:

(a) housing means for housing a plurality of batteries;

(b) detection means for detecting status of each of said plurality of batteries housed in said housing means;

(c) selection means for selecting part of said plurality of batteries for use as a power supply of said imaging apparatus in accordance with the status detected by said detection means; and

(d) display control means for displaying on said display means an indication identifying said part of said plurality of batteries along with a display of information about imaging,

wherein said part of said plurality of batteries is a number of said batteries which is less than a total number of said batteries,

wherein said detection means includes;

(b-1) means for detecting a remaining battery level of each of said plurality of batteries, and

wherein said display control means includes;

(d-1) means for (i) displaying on said display means numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said part of said plurality of batteries selected by the selection means in accordance with the status detected by said detection means, (ii) displaying on said display means numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said plurality of batteries unselected by the selection means in accordance with the status detected by said detection means, and (iii) causing the display pertaining to each unselected battery to be displayed in a less conspicuous manner than that of the display of each selected battery so as to enable a user to easily recognize the battery or batteries currently selected for use as the power supply of said electronic device.

9. An electronic device having display means, comprising:

detection means for detecting status of each of a plurality of batteries;

selection means for selecting part of said plurality of batteries for use as a power supply of said electronic device in accordance with the status detected by said detection means; and

display control means for displaying on said display means an indication identifying said part of said plurality of batteries,

wherein said part of said plurality of batteries is a number of said batteries which is less than a total number of said batteries,

wherein said detection means includes;

(b-1) means for detecting a remaining battery level of each of said plurality of batteries, and

wherein said display control means includes;

(d-1) means for (i) displaying on said display means numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said part of said plurality of batteries selected by the selection means in accordance with the status detected by said detection means, (ii) displaying on said display means numerical information and a graphic image about the remaining battery level of each battery of said plurality of batteries unselected by the selection means in accordance with the status detected by said detection means, and (iii) causing the display pertaining to each unselected battery to be displayed in a less conspicuous manner than that of the display of each selected battery so as to enable a user to easily recognize the battery or batteries currently selected for use as the power supply of said electronic device.