Image capturing device and activation method therefor

• US 20090304375A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/303
• 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. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of operational states including a first and a second operational states an image capturing operation being performable in the first operational state wherein:

said portable apparatus comprising;

a touch sensor for detecting user'"'"'s touch,

one or plurality of components including imaging capturing unit, the one or plurality of components consuming less power in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

a power supply section for supplying power to the one or plurality of components; and

the power management of said portable apparatus comprising steps of;

monitoring a user'"'"'s touch operation to the touch sensor in the second operational state,

when detecting a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, controlling the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and supplying sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

wherein the portable apparatus changes into a state capable of initiating image capturing according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

2. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputting an analog signal to the processing unit.

3. A portable apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the processing unit is an application specific IC.

4. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup screen to have a user perform configuration settings for the portable apparatus.

5. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detection of the user'"'"'s touch being performed by using a threshold operation in order to provide an appropriate sensitivity for the detection of the user'"'"'s touch.

6. A portable apparatus of claim 5, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by a user.

7. A portable apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

8. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the power management of said portable apparatus controlling the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on a sensor-detecting area.

9. A portable apparatus of claim 1, power supply to the said one or plurality of components being shut off during the one or plurality of components being in said power saving state.

10. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an attitude sensor.

11. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

12. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

13. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an gyrosensor.

14. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control unit operable of monitoring and processing an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

15. A portable apparatus of claim 14, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

16. A portable apparatus of claim 15 wherein said control unit performing an interruption when receiving said signal.

17. A portable apparatus of claim 1 wherein power is supplied from said power supply voltage generating section to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

18. A portable apparatus of claim 1 capable of accepting a configuration operation where a desired item on a screen can be selected by the user.

19. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a camera signal processor.

20. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

21. A portable apparatus of claim 1 capable of performing image stabilization function.

22. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of operational states including a first and a second operational states an image capturing operation being performable in the first operational state wherein:

said portable apparatus comprising;

a touch sensor for detecting user'"'"'s touch,

one or plurality of components including imaging capturing unit, the one or plurality of components consuming less power in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

a power supply section for supplying power to the one or plurality of components; and

the power management of said portable apparatus comprising steps of;

monitoring a user'"'"'s touch operation to the touch sensor in the second operational state,

when detecting a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, controlling the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and supplying sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

wherein the portable apparatus changes into a state that capturing preparation is established according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

23. A portable apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputting an analog signal to the processing unit.

24. A portable apparatus of claim 23, wherein

the processing unit is an application specific IC.

25. A portable apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup screen to have a user perform configuration settings for the portable apparatus.

26. A portable apparatus of claim 22, wherein the detection of the user'"'"'s touch being performed by using a threshold operation in order to provide an appropriate sensitivity for the detection of the user'"'"'s touch.

27. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by a user.

28. A portable apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

29. A portable apparatus of claim 22, wherein

the power management of said portable apparatus controlling the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on a sensor-detecting area.

30. A portable apparatus of claim 22, power supply to the said one or plurality of components being shut off during the one or plurality of components being in said power saving state.

31. A portable apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an attitude sensor.

32. A portable apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

33. A portable apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

34. A portable apparatus of claim 22 further comprising an gyrosensor.

35. A portable apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a control unit operable of monitoring and processing an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

36. A portable apparatus of claim 35, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

37. A portable apparatus of claim 36 wherein said control unit performing an interruption when receiving said signal.

38. A portable apparatus of claim 22 wherein power is supplied from said power supply voltage generating section to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

39. A portable apparatus of claim 22 capable of accepting a configuration operation where a desired item on a screen can be selected by the user.

40. A portable apparatus of claim 22, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a camera signal processor.

41. A portable apparatus of claim 22, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

42. A portable apparatus of claim 22 capable of performing image stabilization function.

43. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of operational states including a first and a second operational states an image capturing operation being performable in the first operational state wherein:

said portable apparatus comprising;

a touch sensor for detecting user'"'"'s touch,

one or plurality of components including imaging capturing unit, the one or plurality of components consuming less power in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

a power supply section for supplying power to the one or plurality of components; and

the power management of said portable apparatus comprising steps of;

monitoring a user'"'"'s touch operation to the touch sensor in the second operational state,

when detecting a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, controlling the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and supplying sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

wherein the portable apparatus changes into a state monitoring user'"'"'s image capturing user'"'"'s instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

44. A portable apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputting an analog signal to the processing unit.

45. A portable apparatus of claim 44, wherein

the processing unit is an application specific IC.

46. A portable apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup screen to have a user perform configuration settings for the portable apparatus.

47. A portable apparatus of claim 43, wherein the detection of the user'"'"'s touch being performed by using a threshold operation in order to provide an appropriate sensitivity for the detection of the user'"'"'s touch.

48. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by a user.

49. A portable apparatus of claim 48, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

50. A portable apparatus of claim 43, wherein

the power management of said portable apparatus controlling the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on a sensor-detecting area.

51. A portable apparatus of claim 43, power supply to the said one or plurality of components being shut off during the one or plurality of components being in said power saving state.

52. A portable apparatus of claim 43 further comprising an attitude sensor.

53. A portable apparatus of claim 43 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

54. A portable apparatus of claim 43 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

55. A portable apparatus of claim 43 further comprising an gyrosensor.

56. A portable apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a control unit operable of monitoring and processing an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

57. A portable apparatus of claim 56, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

58. A portable apparatus of claim 57 wherein said control unit performing an interruption when receiving said signal.

59. A portable apparatus of claim 43 wherein power is supplied from said power supply voltage generating section to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

60. A portable apparatus of claim 43 capable of accepting a configuration operation where a desired item on a screen can be selected by the user.

61. A portable apparatus of claim 43, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a camera signal processor.

62. A portable apparatus of claim 43, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

63. A portable apparatus of claim 43 capable of performing image stabilization function.

64. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of operational states including a first and a second operational states an image capturing operation being performable in the first operational state wherein:

said portable apparatus comprising;

a touch sensor for detecting user'"'"'s touch,

one or plurality of components including imaging capturing unit, the one or plurality of components consuming less power in the second operational state than in the first operational state, and

a power supply section for supplying power to the one or plurality of components; and

the power management of said portable apparatus comprising steps of;

monitoring a user'"'"'s touch operation to the touch sensor in the second operational state,

when detecting a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, controlling the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and supplying sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

wherein the portable apparatus changes into a state capable of image capturing with user'"'"'s instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

66. A portable apparatus of claim 64 further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputting an analog signal to the processing unit.

67. A portable apparatus of claim 66, wherein

the processing unit is an application specific IC.

68. A portable apparatus of claim 64 further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup screen to have a user perform configuration settings for the portable apparatus.

69. A portable apparatus of claim 64, wherein the detection of the user'"'"'s touch being performed by using a threshold operation in order to provide an appropriate sensitivity for the detection of the user'"'"'s touch.

70. A portable apparatus of claim 69, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by a user.

71. A portable apparatus of claim 70, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

72. A portable apparatus of claim 64, wherein

the power management of said portable apparatus controlling the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on a sensor-detecting area.

73. A portable apparatus of claim 64, power supply to the said one or plurality of components being shut off during the one or plurality of components being in said power saving state.

74. A portable apparatus of claim 64 further comprising an attitude sensor.

75. A portable apparatus of claim 64 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

76. A portable apparatus of claim 64 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

77. A portable apparatus of claim 64 further comprising an gyrosensor.

78. A portable apparatus of claim 64 further comprising a control unit operable of monitoring and processing an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

79. A portable apparatus of claim 64, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

80. A portable apparatus of claim 79 wherein said control unit performing an interruption when receiving said signal.

81. A portable apparatus of claim 64 wherein power is supplied from said power supply voltage generating section to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

82. A portable apparatus of claim 64 capable of accepting a configuration operation where a desired item on a screen can be selected by the user.

83. A portable apparatus of claim 64, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a camera signal processor.

84. A portable apparatus of claim 64, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

85. A portable apparatus of claim 64 capable of performing image stabilization function.

65. A portable apparatus of 64, wherein changes into a state capable of image capturing with user'"'"'s shutter release instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.