Image capturing device and activation method therefor

• US 8,254,777 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• 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 K
• Application Number:
  US12/380,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20090175614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 396/301, 396/303, 396/129, 396/205, 396/206, 396/29, 348/333.13, 348/372
• 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 powered operational states including first and 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 an 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

said portable apparatus comprising a power management processing apparatus including a variable frequency processor, wherein power is supplied from said power supply section to the power management processing apparatus through a power-supply line other than a power-supply line through which power from the power supply section is supplied to the one or plurality of components, said power management processing 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 an operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to control supply sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components is capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

to control the first operational state to get a time-out in a condition when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected in the first operational state;

wherein the detection of the user'"'"'s touch is performed by using a threshold operation in order to provide an appropriate sensitivity for the detection of the user'"'"'s touch.

2. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the step of controlling the first operational state to get a time-out, the time-out occurs when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected 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 outputs 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 is enabled to display a setup screen to have a user perform configuration settings for the portable apparatus.

7. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by a user.

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

9. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management of said portable apparatus controls the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on an operation performed with a sensor-detecting area.

10. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management of said portable apparatus further comprises steps of:

after controlling the first operational state of the portable apparatus to get a time-out condition, monitoring 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, changing operational state 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 are capable of working for the image capturing operation.

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

12. A portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein a power supply from said power supply section to said one or plurality of components is shut off during the one or plurality of components being in said second operational state.

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

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

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

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

17. A portable apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a control unit operable to monitor and process an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

18. A portable apparatus of claim 17, wherein said control unit is capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

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

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

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

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

23. A portable apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is capable of performing an image stabilization function.

24. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of powered operational states including first and 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 an 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

said portable apparatus comprising a power management processing apparatus including a variable frequency processor, wherein power is supplied from said power supply section to the power management processing apparatus through a power-supply line other than a power-supply line through which power from the power supply section, is supplied, to the one or plurality of components, the power management processing 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 an operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to control supply sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components is capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

to control the first operational state to get a time-out in a condition when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected in the first operational state;

wherein a power supply from said power supply section to said one or plurality of components is shut off during the one or plurality of components being in said second operational state.

25. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein, in the step of controlling the first operational state to get a timeout, the time-out occurs when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

26. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein the user'"'"'s instruction is user'"'"'s touch.

27. A portable apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputs an analog signal to the processing unit.

28. A portable apparatus of claim 27, wherein the processing unit is an application specific IC.

29. A portable apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus is enabled to display a setup screen to have a user perform configuration settings for the portable apparatus.

30. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein the detection of the user'"'"'s touch is performed by using a threshold operation in order to provide an appropriate sensitivity for the detection of the user'"'"'s touch.

31. A portable apparatus of claim 30, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by an user.

32. A portable apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus is enabled to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

33. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein the power management of said portable apparatus controlling the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on an operation performed with a sensor-detecting area.

34. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein the power management of said portable apparatus further comprises steps of:

after controlling the first operational state of the portable apparatus to get a time-out condition, monitoring 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, changing the operational state 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 is capable of working for the image capturing operation.

35. A portable apparatus of claim 24 wherein the apparatus changes into a state capable of image capturing with user'"'"'s instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

36. A portable apparatus of claim 24 further comprising an attitude sensor.

37. A portable apparatus of claim 24 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

38. A portable apparatus of claim 24 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

39. A portable apparatus of claim 24 further comprising an gyrosensor.

40. A portable apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a control unit operable to monitor and process an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

41. A portable apparatus of claim 40, wherein said control unit is enabled to receive said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

42. A portable apparatus of claim 41, wherein said control unit performs an interruption when receiving said signal.

43. A portable apparatus of claim 24 wherein the apparatus is enabled to accept a configuration operation where a desired item on a screen can be selected by the user.

44. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprises a camera signal processor.

45. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprises a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

46. A portable apparatus of claim 24, wherein the apparatus is capable of performing an image stabilization function.

47. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of powered operational states including first and 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 an 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

said portable apparatus comprising power management processing apparatus including a variable frequency processor, wherein power is supplied from said power supply section to the power management processing apparatus through a power-supply line other than a power-supply line through which power from the power supply section is supplied to the one or plurality of components, said power management processing 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 an operational state change of the portable apparatus from the second operational state to the first operational state and to control supply sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components is capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

to control the first operational state to get a time-out in a condition when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected in the first operational state;

wherein said portable apparatus further comprises a control unit operable to monitor and process an operation input signal of said user'"'"'s touch operation.

48. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein, in the step of controlling the first operational state to get the timeout, the time-out occurs when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected within a predetermined time in the first operational state.

49. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein the user'"'"'s instruction is user'"'"'s touch.

50. A portable apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a processing unit for monitoring output of the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor outputs an analog signal to the processing unit.

51. A portable apparatus of claim 50, wherein the processing unit is an application specific IC.

52. A portable apparatus of claim 47 further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus is enabled to display a setup screen to have a user perform configuration settings for the portable apparatus.

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

54. A portable apparatus of claim 53, wherein a threshold value for the operation can be adjusted by an user.

55. A portable apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a display unit, wherein the portable apparatus is enabled to display a setup menu for the threshold value adjustment.

56. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein the power management of said portable apparatus controls the operation state change of the portable apparatus based on an operation performed with a sensor-detecting area.

57. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein the power management of said portable apparatus further comprises steps of:

after controlling the first operational state of the portable apparatus to get the time-out condition, monitoring 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, changing operational state 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 is capable of working for the image capturing operation.

58. A portable apparatus of claim 47 wherein the apparatus changes into a state capable of image capturing with a user'"'"'s instruction according to another user'"'"'s operation in the first operational state.

59. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein a power supply from said power supply section to said one or plurality of components is shut off during the one or plurality of components being in said second operational state.

60. A portable apparatus of claim 47 further comprising an attitude sensor.

61. A portable apparatus of claim 47 further comprising an acceleration sensor.

62. A portable apparatus of claim 47 further comprising an angular velocity sensor.

63. A portable apparatus of claim 47 further comprising an gyrosensor.

64. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein said control unit capable of receiving said signal representing said user'"'"'s touch operation from said touch sensor through serial communication.

65. A portable apparatus of claim 64, wherein said control unit performs an interruption when receiving said signal.

66. A portable apparatus of claim 47 wherein the apparatus is enabled to accept a configuration operation where a desired item on a screen can be selected by the user.

67. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprises a camera signal processor.

68. A portable apparatus of claim 47, wherein said one or plurality of components further comprises a control unit capable of controlling said image capturing unit.

69. A portable apparatus of claim 47 wherein the apparatus is capable of performing an image stabilization function.

70. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of powered operational states including first and 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

said portable apparatus comprising power management processing apparatus including a variable frequency processor, wherein power is supplied from said power supply section to the power management processing apparatus through a power-supply line other than a power-supply line through which power from the power supply section is supplied to the one or plurality of components, said power management processing 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 control supply sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components is capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

to control the first operational state to get a time-out in a condition when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected in the first operational state,

wherein said 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.

71. A portable apparatus having functions of image capturing and power management, the portable apparatus operable in a plurality of powered operational states including first and 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

said portable apparatus comprising power management processing apparatus including a variable frequency processor, wherein power is supplied from said power supply section to the power management processing apparatus'"'"' through a power-supply line other than a power-supply line through which power from the power supply section is supplied to the one or plurality of components, said power management processing 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 control supply sufficient power to said one or plurality of components so that the one or more components is capable of working for the image capturing operation, and

to control the first operational state to get a time-out in a condition when there is no user'"'"'s instruction detected in the first operational state,

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