Image capturing device and activation method therefor

• US 9,503,642 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fenwick, Warren K
• Application Number:
  US14/870,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20160021310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 396/129, 396/205, 396301-303, 348/333.13, 348/372, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

An image capturing device includes a first controller operable to control image capturing; an operation section including a switch; a detector operable to detect a change to an image capturing mode and to send a signal representing the change; a second controller operable to monitor and process the sent signal, the second controller having a power consumption less than that of the first controller; and a power supply operable to supply power to the first controller, the second controller, and a functional section of the device. When the second controller receives the signal sent from the detecting section in a power saving state in which power is supplied from the power supply to the second controller, the power saving state is changed to a power supplying state capable of image capturing by supplying power from the power supply to portions of the device including the first controller.

Claims

1. An image capturing system, comprising:

one or a plurality of components including an image capturing unit, in which the one or plurality of components is operable in powered operational states including first and second operational states, and in which an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit is performable in the first operational state;

a detecting unit configured to detect a user operation by a user;

a sensor configured to sense speed related information; and

a control unit configured;

to monitor the user operation and the speed related information, and

to switch from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with the user operation and the speed related information,

wherein power consumption of the one or plurality of components is less in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

wherein power is supplied from a power supply unit to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

2. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein the user operation is touch.

3. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein the user operation is operation of a switch or button.

4. An image capturing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data storage unit configured to store threshold data regarding the speed related information,

wherein the control unit is configured to switch from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with a relationship between the speed related information and the threshold data.

5. An image capturing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display a setup screen on which configuration settings for the image capturing system are selectable.

6. An image capturing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an image capturing control unit external to the control unit, wherein the image capturing control unit is configured to control the image capturing operation in the first operational state.

7. An image capturing system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control turning off a power supply to the imaging capturing unit in a case an instruction by the user is not detected in the first operational state.

8. An image capturing method comprising:

monitoring, by a processing device, a user operation and speed related information; and

switching, by the processing device, one or a plurality of components including an image capturing unit, in which the one or plurality of components is operable in powered operational states including first and second operational states, and in which an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit is performable in the first operational state, from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with the user operation and the speed related information,

wherein power consumption of the one or plurality of components is less in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

wherein power is supplied from a power supply unit to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

9. An image capturing method of claim 8, wherein the user operation is touch.

10. An image capturing method of claim 8, wherein the user operation is operation of a switch or button.

11. An image capturing method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing, by the processing device, threshold data regarding the speed related information,

wherein the switching from the second operational state to the first operational state is in accordance with a relationship between the speed related information and the threshold data.

12. An image capturing method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying, by the processing device, a setup screen on which configuration settings for the one or plurality of components are selectable.

13. An image capturing method of claim 8, further comprising:

controlling, by an image capturing control device external to the processing device, the image capturing operation in the first operational state.

14. An image capturing method of claim 8, further comprising:

controlling, by the processing device, turning off a power supply to the imaging capturing unit in a case an instruction by the user is not detected in the first operational state.

15. An apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to control;

monitoring a user operation and speed related information; and

switching one or a plurality of components including an image capturing unit, in which the one or plurality of components is operable in powered operational states including first and second operational states, and in which an image capturing operation by the image capturing unit is performable in the first operational state, from the second operational state to the first operational state in accordance with the user operation and the speed related information,

wherein power consumption of the one or plurality of components is less in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

wherein power is supplied from a power supply unit to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.