Imaging device, GPS control method, and computer program

• US 8,098,324 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ueno, Ichiro, Mitani, Hitoshi, Liao, Baiping
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGUE, DENNIS A
• Application Number:
  US12/940,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20110050891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• 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 1/00904 Arrangements for supplying power to different circuits or for supplying power at different levels H04N1/00896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

An imaging device includes an imaging unit configured to execute processing to capture image data, a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to execute position calculation processing based on data received from a satellite, and a main controller configured to measure an imaging frequency of the imaging unit, to determine or update a control parameter as a condition for a transition of an operation state of the GPS device based on the measured imaging frequency, and to cause a transition of the operation state of the GPS device based on the determined or updated control parameter.

Claims

1. An imaging device, comprising:

an imaging unit configured to execute processing to capture image data;

a position calculating device configured to execute position calculation processing based on data received; and

a main controller configured to measure an imaging frequency of the imaging unit by counting a number of captured images over a predetermined period of time, to determine or update a control parameter as a condition for a transition of an operation state of the position calculating device based on the measured imaging frequency, and to cause a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein to cause the transition of the operation state of the position calculating device in accordance with the control parameter, the main controller is configured to output a command to a power supply controller that controls power supply to the position calculating device so that power is continuously or intermittently supplied to the position calculating device, depending on an intended operation state of the position calculating device.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to determine or update, based on the imaging frequency, a maximum duration of a normal operation state and a maximum duration of an intermittent operation state as the determined or updated control parameter, and to cause a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter, wherein in the normal operation state power is continuously supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes continuous position calculation processing, and wherein in the intermittent operation state power is intermittently supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes intermittent position calculation processing.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to obtain an imaging frequency level associated with a data range of the imaging frequency, to determine or update the control parameter based on the imaging frequency level, and to cause a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the main controller executes processing to determine or update the control parameter while differentiating a control parameter for a state in which the imaging unit is in a normal operation state from a control parameter for a state in which the imaging unit is in an activation waiting state, and causes a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter.

6. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the main controller is configured to determine or update a maximum duration of a state in which the imaging unit is in an activation waiting state as the determined or updated control parameter, and to cause a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter.

7. An imaging device, comprising:

an imaging unit configured to execute processing to capture image data;

a position calculating device configured to execute position calculation processing based on data received; and

a main controller configured to measure an imaging frequency of the imaging unit, to determine or update a control parameter as a condition for a transition of an operation state of the position calculating device based on the measured imaging frequency, and to cause a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter,

when the imaging frequency of the imaging unit is at a high level, the main controller is configured to execute processing to determine or update the control parameter so that a maximum duration of a normal operation state is set to a long period and a maximum duration of an intermittent operation state is set to a short period, wherein in the normal operation state power is continuously supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes continuous position calculation processing, and wherein in the intermittent operation state power is intermittently supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes intermittent position calculation processing, and

when the imaging frequency of the imaging unit is at a low level, the main controller is configured to execute processing to determine or update the control parameter so that the maximum duration of the normal operation state is set to a short period and the maximum duration of the intermittent operation state is set to a long period.

8. A position calculating control method in an imaging device including a position calculating device, the method comprising:

measuring an imaging frequency of an imaging unit that executes processing to capture image data by counting a plurality of captured images over a predetermined period of time;

determining or updating a control parameter as a condition for a transition of an operation state of the position calculating device based on the measured imaging frequency; and

causing a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter.

9. The position calculating control method according to claim 8, wherein the transition causing step includes outputting a command to a power supply controller that controls power supply to the position calculating device so that power is continuously or intermittently supplied to the position calculating device, depending on an intended operation state of the position calculating device.

10. The position calculating control method according to claim 8, wherein the determining or updating step includes determining or updating, based on the imaging frequency, a maximum duration of a normal operation state and a maximum duration of an intermittent operation state as the determined or updated control parameter, wherein in the normal operation state power is continuously supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes continuous position calculation processing, and wherein in the intermittent operation state power is intermittently supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes intermittent position calculation processing.

11. The position calculating control method according to claim 8, wherein the determining or updating step includes obtaining an imaging frequency level associated with a data range of the imaging frequency, and determining or updating the control parameter based on the imaging frequency level.

12. The position calculating control method according to claim 8, wherein the determining or updating step includes executing processing to determine or update the control parameter while differentiating between a control parameter for a state in which the imaging unit is in a normal operation state and a control parameter for a state in which the imaging unit is in an activation waiting state.

13. The position calculating control method according to claim 8, wherein the determining or updating step includes determining or updating a maximum duration of a state in which the imaging unit is in an activation waiting state as the determined or updated control parameter.

14. A position calculating control method in an imaging device including a position calculating device, the method comprising:

measuring an imaging frequency of an imaging unit that executes processing to capture image data;

determining or updating a control parameter as a condition for a transition of an operation state of the position calculating device based on the measured imaging frequency; and

causing a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter, when the imaging frequency of the imaging unit is at a high level, the determining or updating step includes executing processing to determine or update the control parameter so that a maximum duration of a normal operation state is set to a long period and a maximum duration of an intermittent operation state is set to a short period, wherein in the normal operation state power is continuously supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes continuous position calculation processing, and wherein in the intermittent operation state power is intermittently supplied to the position calculating device and the position calculating device executes intermittent position calculation processing, and

when the imaging frequency of the imaging unit is at a low level, the determining or updating step includes executing processing to determine or update the control parameter so that the maximum duration of the normal operation state is set to a short period and the maximum duration of the intermittent operation state is set to a long period.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including a program executable by a processor comprising computer code that causes execution of a position calculating control method in an imaging device including a position calculating device, the method comprising:

measuring an imaging frequency of an imaging unit that executes processing to capture image data, the imaging frequency being a number of captured images over a predetermined period of time;

determining or updating a control parameter as a condition for a transition of an operation state of the position calculating device based on the measured imaging frequency; and

causing a transition of the operation state of the position calculating device based on the determined or updated control parameter.