Image capturing device and activation method therefor

• US 8,190,018 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• 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
• Application Number:
  US12/797,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20100245605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 396/129, 396/205, 396/301, 396/303, 396/302, 348/333.13, 348/372
• US Class Current: 396/301
• 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

a power management unit of said portable apparatus configured;

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

when detecting a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, to control the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to supply 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

to shut off the power supply to the one or plurality of components including imaging capturing unit when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected in the first operational state,

wherein the portable apparatus is configured to change to a state capable of image capturing with background processing.

2. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the shut off, the shut off occurs when there is no user'"'"'s instruction within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

3. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s instruction is user'"'"'s touch.

4. 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.

5. A portable apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is an application specific IC.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. A portable apparatus of claim 7, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by an user.

9. A portable apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

10. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management unit of said portable apparatus controlling the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on a sensor-detecting area.

11. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the power management unit of said portable apparatus further configured:

after controlling the power to the one or plurality of components including imaging capturing unit being shut off automatically, to monitor a user'"'"'s touch operation to the touch sensor in the second operational state, and when detecting a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation, to change operational state of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to supply sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components capable of working for the image capturing operation.

12. A portable apparatus of claim 1 changes into a state capable of image capturing with user'"'"'s instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

13. 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 a power saving state.

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

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

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

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

18. 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.

19. A portable apparatus of claim 18, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

20. A portable apparatus of claim 18, wherein said control unit performing an interruption when receiving said signal.

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

22. 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.

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

24. 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.

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

26. 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:

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

a power management unit of said portable apparatus configured;

to monitor 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, to control the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to supply 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

to control the operational state of the portable apparatus change from the first operational state to the second operational state when there is no user'"'"'s explicit instruction in the first operational state,

wherein the portable apparatus is configured to change to a state capable of image capturing with background processing.

27. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein, in the step of controlling the operational state change, the operational state change from the first operational state to the second operational state occurs when there is no user'"'"'s explicit instruction within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

28. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein the user'"'"'s instruction is user'"'"'s touch.

29. A portable apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputting an analog signal to the processing unit.

30. A portable apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is an application specific IC.

31. A portable apparatus of claim 26 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.

32. A portable apparatus of claim 31, 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.

33. A portable apparatus of claim 32, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by an user.

34. A portable apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

35. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein the power management unit of said portable apparatus controlling the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on a sensor-detecting area.

36. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein the power management unit of said portable apparatus further configured:

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

37. A portable apparatus of claim 26 changes into a state capable of image capturing with user'"'"'s instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

38. A portable apparatus of claim 26, power supply to the said one or plurality of components being shut off during the one or plurality of components being in a power saving state.

39. A portable apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an attitude sensor.

40. A portable apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

41. A portable apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

42. A portable apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an gyrosensor.

43. A portable apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a control unit operable of monitoring and processing an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

44. A portable apparatus of claim 43, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

45. A portable apparatus of claim 44, wherein said control unit performing an interruption when receiving said signal.

46. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein power is supplied from said power supply section to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

47. A portable apparatus of claim 26 capable of accepting a configuration operation where a desired item on a screen can be selected by the user.

48. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a camera signal processor.

49. A portable apparatus of claim 26, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

50. A portable apparatus of claim 26 capable of performing image stabilization function.

51. 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

a power management processing unit of said portable apparatus configured;

to monitor 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, to control the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to supply 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

to control the operational state of the portable apparatus change from the first operational state to the second operational state according to certain detecting condition of a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch in the first operational state,

wherein the portable apparatus is configured to change to a state capable of image capturing with background processing.

52. A portable apparatus of claim 51, wherein, in the control of the operational state change, the operational state change from the first operational state to the second operational state occurs according to certain detecting condition of a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch being detected within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

53. A portable apparatus of claim 51, the power management unit of said portable apparatus further configured:

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

54. 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 one or plurality of components; and

a power management processing unit of said portable apparatus configured;

to monitor 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, to control the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to supply 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

to control the operational state change from the first operational state to the second operational state, when a signal representing a user'"'"'s certain touch operation is not detected,

wherein the portable apparatus is configured to change to a state capable of image capturing with background processing.

55. A portable apparatus of claim 54, the power management processing unit of said portable apparatus controlling the operational state change from the first operational state to the second operational state, when a detection signal representing a user'"'"'s certain touch operation is not detected within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

56. A portable apparatus of claim 54, the power management processing unit of said portable apparatus further configured:

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

57. 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 components consuming less power in the second operational state than in the first operations state, and a power supply section for supplying power to the one or plurality of components; and

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

a power management processor of said portable apparatus configured;

to monitor a user'"'"'s touch operation to the touch sensor in the second operations state,

when detecting a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, to control the operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operation 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

to control the operational state of the portable apparatus change from the first operational state to the second operational state without any user'"'"'s explicit operation instruction in the first operational state,

wherein the portable apparatus is configured to change to a state capable of image capturing with background processing.

58. A portable apparatus of claim 57, wherein, in the control of the operational state of the portable apparatus, the operational state changes from the first operational state to the second operational state without any user'"'"'s explicit operation instruction within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

59. A portable apparatus of claim 57, the power management processor of said portable apparatus further configured:

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

60. 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

wherein

when a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, the operational state of the portable apparatus is switched from the second operational state to the first operational state by 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

when there is no user'"'"'s explicit instruction in the first operational state, the portable apparatus gets time-out of the first operational mode,

wherein the portable apparatus is configured to change to a state capable of image capturing by background processing.

61. A portable apparatus of claim 60, wherein, the time-out occurs when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

62. A portable apparatus of claim 60, wherein the user'"'"'s instruction is user'"'"'s touch.

63. A portable apparatus of claim 60 further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputting an analog signal to the processing unit.

64. A portable apparatus of claim 63, wherein the processing unit is an application specific IC.

65. A portable apparatus of claim 60 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.

66. A portable apparatus of claim 60, 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.

67. A portable apparatus of claim 66, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by an user.

68. A portable apparatus of claim 67, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus capable to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

69. A portable apparatus of claim 60, wherein, the signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state is the signal from a predetermined sensor-detecting area,

when a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, the operational state of the portable apparatus is switched from the second operational state to the first operational state by 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

when there is no user'"'"'s explicit instruction in the first operational state, the portable apparatus gets time-out of the first operational mode.

70. A portable apparatus of claim 60, wherein after the portable apparatus gets time-out of the first operational mode, controlling the operational state of the portable apparatus exit the first operational state, monitoring a user'"'"'s touch operation to the touch sensor in the second operational state, and when a signal representing a user'"'"'s touch operation instructing activation of the image capturing operation in the second operational state, the operational state of the portable apparatus is switched from the second operational state to the first operational state by 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.

71. A portable apparatus of claim 60 changes into a state capable of image capturing with user'"'"'s instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

72. A portable apparatus of claim 60, power supply to the said one or plurality of components being shut off during the one or plurality of components being in a power saving state.

73. A portable apparatus of claim 60 further comprising an attitude sensor.

74. A portable apparatus of claim 60 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

75. A portable apparatus of claim 60 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

76. A portable apparatus of claim 60 further comprising an gyrosensor.

77. A portable apparatus of claim 60 further comprising a control unit operable of monitoring and processing an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

78. A portable apparatus of claim 77, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

79. A portable apparatus of claim 78, wherein said control unit performing an interruption when receiving said signal.

80. A portable apparatus of claim 60, wherein power is supplied from said power supply voltage generating section to the one or plurality of components through a dedicated power-supply line.

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

82. A portable apparatus of claim 60, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a camera signal processor.

83. A portable apparatus of claim 60, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprising a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

84. A portable apparatus of claim 60 capable of performing image stabilization function.