Image capturing device and activation method therefor

• US 9,794,481 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• 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): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): FENWICK, WARREN K
• Application Number:
  US15/168,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20160277682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 396129, 396205, 396301-303, 34820816, 34833313, 348372
• 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 imaging apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to;

receive an attitude detection signal from an attitude sensor; and

control the imaging apparatus to change operational state from a low power operational state to a high power operational state in a case the attitude detection signal satisfies an attitude condition, in which the imaging apparatus operates at a power higher than a power of the low power operational state and image capturing operation is performable in the high power operational state,

in which an operation state change according to the attitude detection signal is set to enable and disable according to an user'"'"'s input.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the circuitry is configured to control the imaging apparatus to change the operational state from the low power operational state to the high power operational state

in a case a touch detection signal from a touch sensor of the imaging apparatus satisfies a touch condition or the attitude condition is satisfied in a first mode, and

in a case both the touch condition and the attitude condition are satisfied in a second mode.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

an image sensor which is operable in the high power operational state and is not operable in the low power operational state.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attitude condition represents that the imaging apparatus is raised by a user.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attitude condition represents that the imaging apparatus is held by a user.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is a portable apparatus.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor changes the operational state while performing background processing.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply switch, and

wherein the circuitry is configured to control change of the operational state from the high power operational state to the low power operational state in a case the power supply switch is not operated for a predetermined period after the attitude condition is satisfied.

9. An imaging processing method comprising:

controlling, by a processing device;

receiving an attitude detection signal from an attitude sensor of an imaging apparatus; and

controlling the imaging apparatus to change operational state from a low power operational state to a high power operational state in a case the attitude detection signal satisfies an attitude condition, in which the imaging apparatus operates at a power higher than a power of the low power operational state and image capturing operation is performable in the high power operational state,

in which an operation state change according to the attitude detection signal is set to enable and disable according to an user'"'"'s input.

10. The imaging processing method according to claim 9,

controlling, by the processing device, the imaging apparatus to change the operational state from the low power operational state to the high power operational state

in a case a touch detection signal from a touch sensor of the imaging apparatus satisfies a touch condition or the attitude condition is satisfied in a first mode, and

in a case both the touch condition and the attitude condition are satisfied in a second mode.

11. The imaging processing method according to claim 9, wherein the attitude condition represents that the imaging apparatus is raised by a user.

12. The imaging processing method according to claim 9, wherein the attitude condition represents that the imaging apparatus is held by a user.

13. The imaging processing method according to claim 9, further comprising:

controlling, by the processing device, changing the operational state while performing background processing.

14. The imaging processing method according to claim 9, further comprising:

controlling, by the processing device, change of the operational state from the high power operational state to the low power operational state in a case a power supply switch of the imaging apparatus is not operated for a predetermined period after the attitude condition is satisfied.

15. A non-transitory recording medium configured to record a program executable by a computer, the program comprising:

receiving an attitude detection signal from an attitude sensor of an imaging apparatus; and

controlling the imaging apparatus to change operational state from a low power operational state to a high power operational state in a case the attitude detection signal satisfies an attitude condition, in which the imaging apparatus operates at a power higher than a power of the low power operational state and image capturing operation is performable in the high power operational state,

in which an operation state change according to the attitude detection signal is set to enable and disable according to an user'"'"'s input.