Abstract: An intelligent power management system is particularly applicable to accessory devices that can be coupled to a basic device to provide the basic device with an enhanced feature. The accessory device includes a control processor and a power supply unit, wherein the power supply unit supplies electrical energy to the control processor in response to a control signal received from the basic device. The power supply unit includes a power management circuit that maintains the electrical energy supplied to the control processor during fluctuations of the control signal.

Abstract: An image sensor may have a power supply voltage regulator controlled by a feedback loop. The feedback signal may be derived by applying the supply voltage at a point distant from the voltage regulator to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which may be a spare channel of an ADC provided for the output of the pixel array. The digital feedback loop may be controlled via a chip I2C bus.

Abstract: A signal processor for reducing power consumption. The signal processor includes a signal processing circuit and a first regulator connected to the signal processing circuit. The first regulator receives an external regulated voltage from an external regulator connected to the signal processor and generates an internal regulated voltage that is in accordance with an output level of a CCD image sensor. The signal processing circuit operates with the internal regulated voltage and performs a predetermined signal processing on an image signal generated by the CCD image sensor.

Abstract: In displaying image data received from a camera module on a display device such as a view finder, image data having a size suited for display from an image size conversion circuit is displayed via line memories included in a signal-for-display generation circuit. Vertical synchronization in an image data storage including these line memories is established by initializing a reading address in accordance with a frame head pixel indication and a reading completion indication of one line in the line memories. It is possible to reduce power consumption of an image display system for displaying an image of a imaging subject.

Abstract: This invention is more particular to a camera that is fully equip with an inbuilt motion and smoke detector and a digital audio recorder and a vice synthesizer and a text generator, the camera is specially design to be set by the user to capture any emergency condition detected by any of the said inbuilt detectors, and automatically send picture or pictures of the emergency along with an audio speech pre-recorder by the user or a written text pre-enter by the user at the top of the picture or bottom, side or middle of the captured image, the voice synthesizer, or the text generator states the exact emergency which can be fire or intrusion, why the pre-recorder audio or text entered by the user states the address of the emergency both information combined together (the emergency and the address) is sent out by the camera to one or more preset number of a cellular telephone of the user choice, cellular telephone that can receive the picture with the text or the audio by means of any available telecommunication

Abstract: An adapter for different models of digital cameras includes a universal base for supplying a battery of the digital camera with electric power and for taking out digital images from a memory of the digital camera and an exchangeable holder mounted on the universal base. The exchangeable holder is shaped to be fitted for a specific one of the different models of digital cameras and also standardized for mounting on the universal base.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a power source, a power supply circuit connected to the power source and having power supply lines for supplying a positive voltage and a negative voltage, an image pickup element, plural drivers for generating multi-phase driving signals and applying the generated multi-phase driving signals to the image pickup element, a discharging circuit connected in parallel with the plural drivers, and a conducting circuit for allowing unnecessary charge accumulated in the power source to discharge through the power supply circuit for a negative voltage to the discharging circuit at the time when the power source is turned off, wherein the power supply circuit for a negative voltage is connected to the plural drivers.

Abstract: An electronic camera is provided which can transfer shot data to an external device. The electronic camera includes an operation unit configured to instruct a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation, a connection unit configured to establish a logical connection with an external device, and a control unit configured to perform control so that the connection unit establishes a logical connection with the external device when the shooting preparation operation or the shooting operation is started by the operation unit.

Abstract: An electronic camera device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a battery which supplies a power supply, a detector which detects a state of the power supply of the loaded battery, a flash device configured to illuminate a subject, a charge controller which controls a charge processing of charging an energy supplied to the flash device, a processing part which executes at least one processing requiring an electric power more than a predetermined value except a charge processing, and a part configured to execute the charge processing and at least one processing each unit of a predetermined processing by timesharing while keeping the electric power supplied by the battery to maximum.

Abstract: A signal processor for reducing power consumption. The signal processor includes a signal processing circuit and a first regulator connected to the signal processing circuit. The first regulator receives an external regulated voltage from an external regulator connected to the signal processor and generates an internal regulated voltage that is in accordance with an output level of a CCD image sensor. The signal processing circuit operates with the internal regulated voltage and performs a predetermined signal processing on an image signal generated by the CCD image sensor.

Abstract: An input library and input attribute corresponding to input processing for image data from each of a plurality of types of image input devices are stored in a ROM. The image input device connected to an image processing apparatus is designated with a keyboard. The input library and input attribute corresponding to the designated image input device are acquired from the ROM. Input processing for image data from the image input device is executed on the basis of the input library and input attribute.

Abstract: This electronic image pickup apparatus converts a subject image formed by an image-taking optical system into an electrical signal. In order to realize miniaturization by efficiently arranging components in the apparatus, this apparatus includes a plurality of electrical boards which have respective component sides parallel to a principal plane of the apparatus body having a flat shape and which are arranged so as to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval from the principal plane of the body. A plurality of power supply batteries are arranged in the apparatus so that the axial direction of the plurality of power supply batteries are parallel to the component sides of these electrical boards in a space sandwiched by this plurality of electrical boards. A relay board is arranged in a space between a lens barrel which holds the image-taking optical system and the plurality of power supply batteries and connects the plurality of electrical boards.

Abstract: A signal processor for reducing power consumption. The signal processor includes a signal processing circuit and an output circuit, which outputs an image signal generated by the signal processing circuit. The signal processor further includes a first regulator for generating a first regulated voltage from a power supply voltage and supplying the first regulated voltage to the signal processing circuit. A second regulator generates a second regulated voltage, which is greater than the first regulated voltage, from the power supply voltage and supplies the second regulated voltage to the output circuit.

Abstract: A battery locking device and an electronic appliance adopting the same. The battery locking device includes a battery mounting unit provided in a case of an electronic appliance, and a locking device to lock and release a battery mounted in the battery mounting unit through at least two operations.

Abstract: Image sensing apparatus having an image sensing element for sensing an object of shooting is provided. According to one aspect of the invention, when a cleaning mode is designated and executed to remove a foreign substance in the neighborhood of and on the image sensing element, the remaining amount of a battery which supplies electric power to the image sensing apparatus is detected by a voltage detector. If the remaining amount of the battery declines to a first predetermined value or less, a warning is issued by a lamp or a sound production unit. Moreover, if the remaining amount of the battery is the first predetermined value or less, a shift to the cleaning mode is prohibited. Furthermore, if the remaining amount of the battery declines to a second predetermined value or less, which is a lower value than the first predetermined value, mirror-down processing is performed so that cleaning operation cannot be executed.

Abstract: A night vision system that allows a video camera to continue to be operational after a power control signal, such as a headlamp switch, to the camera has been temporarily interrupted. The system is designed to avoid a camera calibration or equalization process every time the power control signal from the camera or a display unit is disrupted.

Abstract: With the use of the MOS-type solid-state imaging device, it is possible, by extending the period during which the VDD voltage rises from Low level to High level, that the gate voltage of the resetting unit does not fluctuate to have a positive electric potential due to the coupling capacitance between the VDD power and the gate of the resetting unit, unlike the conventional case. Consequently, the electrons necessary for rendering the accumulation unit non-selectable do not flow from the accumulation unit to the VDD power. This prevents the level of the electric potential in the accumulation unit of non-selectable row from becoming positive. Also, the detecting unit is not switched on, which prevents the error of selecting a non-selectable row.

Abstract: Digital cameras and methods that provide for a rapid camera power-on sequence. A warm-sleep state is defined in which the camera and nearly all of its internal components are shut down, yet just enough information is retained within high speed volatile storage and processing units to rapidly return the camera to full operating state. The warm-sleep state is managed to consume a minimum amount of power to keep the vital information intact. Upon receipt of a power-on indication, the camera then transitions from the warm-sleep state to full operation by simply activating the processing units, and continuing operation from the state it was in immediately prior to the power-off request.

Abstract: A video acquirement apparatus to acquire a video signal of monitoring area, to convert the acquired video signal into a differential video signal and a network stream, and to transmit the converted signal to a repeater apparatus using a UTP cable. The repeater apparatus supplies power to the video acquirement apparatus using the UTP cable, and receives the differential video signal and the network stream from the video acquirement apparatus. If network condition is unsatisfactory, the repeater apparatus outputs the received differential video signal to a video recording apparatus using one UTP cable. The video recording apparatus converts the output differential video signal using one UTP cable into a general video signal, and variably amplifies and records the converted general video signal.

Abstract: An imaging device and/or system which has an image sensor module for generating first image data representing images captured by the image sensor module. The imaging device also has an image processor for receiving and processing the first image data. The image processor has a power-up image circuit for generating and/or outputting second image data representing a power-up image. When the imaging device is being powered up, the image processor is capable of selectively outputting the first and second image data for display.

Abstract: A digital camera has a battery that supplies electric power, a battery level detector, a time detector, a remaining voltage calculator, and a boot controller. When the digital camera is turned off, the battery level detector detects a remaining voltage level of the battery. When the digital camera is turned on, the time detector detects an elapsed time from the last electric power OFF operation to the current electric power ON operation, namely, a time period in which the camera is in the OFF state. Further, when the digital camera is turned on, the remaining voltage calculator calculates a remaining voltage-level of the battery on the basis of the detected elapsed time, the last detected remaining voltage level, and the discharge characteristic of the battery. Then, the boot controller allows the digital camera to boot if the calculated remaining voltage level is larger than a limited voltage necessary to boot the digital camera.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device includes an improved battery compartment door having a miniature camera disposed thereon. The battery compartment door with its camera advantageously does not alter the form factor of the handheld electronic device and can easily be replaced with a similar battery door without a camera which, when installed on the handheld electronic device, will provide the same form factor. A battery compartment of the handheld electronic device is configured to be larger than required to accommodate a battery of the handheld electronic device in order to also accommodate the camera of the battery compartment door.

Abstract: A power supply system of a light source includes a luminance control unit, luminance adjusting unit, control circuit and voltage transformer. The luminance control unit is for receiving a turn-on signal and outputting a first luminance signal during a predetermined time period. The luminance adjusting unit is for outputting a second luminance signal according to an input of a user. The control circuit is for outputting a power control signal according to the first luminance signal and the second luminance signal. The voltage transformer is for outputting an AC voltage for driving a light source according to the power control signal. During the predetermined time period, the control circuit outputs the power control signal according to the first luminance signal and after the predetermined time period, the control circuit outputs the power control signal according to the second luminance signal.

Abstract: A digital camera, in which power supply to a display screen constituted by an LCD is ON/OFF-controlled, is disclosed. When drive power is supplied to the LCD, an object image is displayed on the LCD based on image data obtained by image pickup, and the LCD is used as a viewfinder in photographing. At this time, when a period, in which the level of the brightness of the object image expressed by a luminance signal of the image data is less than a predetermined level, continues for a predetermined period or longer, the supply of the drive power to a display system including the LCD is controlled to stop the supply of the drive power and save power consumption.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and a method of transmitting and/or receiving data between the photographing apparatuses wirelessly are provided. The photographing apparatus includes a camera unit for photographing a video to generate a video signal; a signal processor for processing the video signal to transform the video signal into digital video data; a display for displaying the digital video data; a compressor for compressing the digital video data in a predetermined format; a storage unit for storing the compressed digital video data; a wireless receiver for receiving a video signal from an external photographing apparatus wirelessly and transmitting the video signal to the signal processor; and a power switch for supplying power to the wireless receiver and/or intercepting the supply of power to the wireless receiver. Thus, data can be transmitted and/or received wirelessly so as to provide a convenient photographing environment to a user.

Abstract: A digital camera 10 includes a systems control section 20. When the systems control section 20 receives any of operation signals from a key operation section 18, the systems control section 20 measures the passage of time with a timer 22, and continues the time measurement for a specified period of time until any of the operation signals is supplied. In an imaging mode, the system controls section 20 generates an oscillation frequency higher than a normal oscillation frequency with a signal generation circuit 260 in response to a button depressing operation of a release shutter button 180, and generates the normal oscillation frequency upon receipt of any one of the operation signals in a specified period of time.

Abstract: A bands-free portable digital video camera device having an independent digital image capturing device and an independent central processing device wireless connected to the digital image capturing device. The digital image capturing device is used to shoot pictures and then transmit image data of the pictures to the central processing device wireless connected to storage and display. Since the digital video camera is consisted of two independent parts, each part can be made to a small product to directly wear on a user's body to shoot pictures or films. Therefore, the user uses the portable digital video camera device without the user's hand or hands.

Abstract: An imaging device that is activated quickly and prevents deterioration of an image signal. The imaging device includes a boosting circuit for boosting an input voltage to generate a boosted voltage. A solid state imaging device receives the boosted voltage and generates the image signal. A clock signal generation unit is connected to the boosting circuit to determine a timing for generating the image signal in correspondence with a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal and to generate a boosting clock signal for operating the boosting circuit. The clock signal generation unit continuously generates the boosting clock signal during a predetermined period in which the imaging operation starts and, after the predetermined period, generates the boosting clock signal during at least part of a blanking period of the vertical synchronization signal and the horizontal synchronization signal.

Abstract: The camera includes a sensor for sensing the photographer's iris image and registering the image in advance. The iris image is recorded in the image of a subject by a digital MCU at a timing different from that at which the image of the subject is captured. The recording timing is that at which the camera power supply is turned off, that at which a recording medium is ejected from the camera or that at which the iris image to be recorded is changed to the registered iris image of another photographer. The recording of the iris image is achieved by embedding it as a watermark or by appending it to metadata.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus is capable of data communication with equipment connected to the photographing apparatus via a communication cable and capable of supplying power to the equipment via the communication cable. The apparatus includes: a connecting section for connecting the communication cable; a connection detecting section for detecting connection of the communication cable to the connecting section; a recognizing section for recognizing that a photographing process is under operation; and a power supply controller for controlling power supply to the communication cable. Wherein, when the connection detecting section has detected that the communication cable is connected to the connection section and the recognizing section has recognized that the photographing process is under operation, the power supply controller controls not to supply power to the communication cable.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image optical pick-up device, first and second driving mechanisms, a shutter, and a driving current controlling mechanism. The image optical pick-up device photoelectrically converts an incident light image of a subject of a photograph. The first driving mechanism drives the image optical pick-up device and performs a rapid sweep function for rapidly draining unnecessary electric charges remaining in the image optical pick-up device. The shutter opens and closes a light passage for passing the incident light image into the image optical pick-up device. The second driving mechanism generates pulses to drive the shutter. The driving current controlling mechanism performs a control such that a first duration in which the first driving mechanism operates the rapid sweep function and as second duration in which the second driving mechanism generates a pulse for closing the shutter do not overlap under predetermined imaging environmental conditions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sensor array in which a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element and a switching element are arrayed in a row direction and a column direction, signal wiring connected to a plurality of the switching elements provided in the column direction, and a reading-circuit unit connected to the signal wiring, where the reading-circuit unit includes a first operational area including a first amplifying circuit and a second operational area including a second amplifying circuit connected to the first operational area, and the first and second amplifying circuits are each arranged to be supplied with power within a range, the maximum of the power-supply voltage range of the first amplifying circuit being larger than the maximum of a power-supply voltage range of the second amplifying circuit.

Abstract: A system of reducing power consumption in and active pixels sensor. The sensor is broken into different blocks, and each of the blocks is individually optimized. The optimization may include minimizing the parasitic capacitance on the readout bus, turning off biases when not in use, and operating in a way that minimizes static power consumption of different elements such as A/D converters.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus, including a power supply configured to supply power to a plurality of devices or circuits to operate said plurality of devices or circuits; and a moderation mechanism configured to control the power supplied to the plurality of devices or circuits, wherein the moderation mechanism is configured to control the power supplied to the plurality of devices or circuits such that the plurality of devices or circuits does not operate simultaneously at the time when the plurality of devices or circuits initiates its operation or stops.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit for picking up an image, a lens barrier for covering the front of a lens of the image pickup unit, a display for displaying image data recorded on a recording unit, and a controller for controlling mode switching of the image pickup apparatus in response to a mode switching command from a mode switching unit. The controller switches among three modes including an image pickup mode, a play mode, and a review mode. During the image pickup mode, power is supplied to the image pickup unit for image pickup. During the play mode, data is played on the display with power supplied to the image pickup unit for image pickup. After an elapse of a predetermined threshold time, power supplying to the image pickup unit is stopped. During the review mode, data is played on the display.

Abstract: An image sensor such as the conventional CMOS image sensor, in which automatic controls including so-called automatic iris control and white balance adjustment for adjusting the sensor sensitivity, namely the charge accumulation time in each pixel, according to the brightness of the image sensing ambience are performed, involves the problem that, when the frame rate of the image sensor is slowed to save power consumption, the operation of the automatic control systems will also become slower and the image quality deteriorates. In the invented image sensor system using a CMOS image sensor, while a CMOS image sensor is operated at the full frame rate all the time, a circuit for processing image signals from the CMOS image sensor is operated at a speed close to that of full frame processing only when the power supply is turned on or when the image sensing ambience varies and switched to a lower frame processing speed when automatic controls, including iris control, have become stabilized.

Abstract: An image signal processor for reducing power consumption. The image signal processor is connected between a solid-state imaging device, which generates a first image signal, and an external device, and includes first and second regulators, a switch circuit, a signal processing circuit, and an output circuit. The first regulator generates a first voltage that is in accordance with an output level of the solid-state imaging device. The second regulator generates a second voltage that is in accordance with an input level of the external device. The switch circuit supplies the power supply voltage or the second voltage to the output circuit in accordance with the operating state of the imaging external device. The signal processing circuit operates with the first voltage and generates a second image signal. The output circuit provides the second image signal to the external device.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes an electronic image sensor, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes a full-size image storage storing one or more full-size digital images and a transfer image storage storing one or more corresponding transfer images. During an image capture, the image capturing device captures and stores a full-size image and also stores a transfer image that is a smaller version of the full-size image. The size of the transfer image is predetermined by the user.

Abstract: A composite system includes first and second devices, each operated using its own power source device as a driving source. The system comprises a signal line connecting loads of the first and second devices so that the first and second devices operate in cooperation with each other; and a power source line connecting a first line connecting the first power source device and the load of the first device via a diode and a second line connecting the second power source device and the load of the second device via a diode so that the first and second devices can operate using the power source device of the counterpart device as the drive source.

Abstract: Camera systems are often built up from a base station, a detachable cable, and a camera. A dangerous situation may arise the moment the cable is detached from the camera because there is (still) a voltage present on the cable. The invention provides a camera system in which this problem is solved by means of a safety circuit capable of detecting from the base station whether a camera is connected to the cable or not.

Abstract: A power supply having a stable reset function a mobile electronic unit is provided that simultaneously resets the digital signal processing unit and the controller in a mobile electronic unit. The stable reset function occurs during the period of time when the power source of the mobile electronic unit is changed by removing an AC adapter from the mobile electronic unit and applying the power source of the battery which was previously installed in the mobile electronic unit.

Abstract: A sensor integrated on a single semiconductor substrate comprises a sensor block including a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels each including a light-receiving element and scanning units for selecting a pixel of the pixel unit, and a signal processing block for processing a signal output from the sensor block. To reduce noise and power consumption, the power supply voltage or the amplitude or high level of a clock signal used in the sensor block is higher than the power supply voltage of the signal processing block.

Abstract: A control method for an electronic device such as a digital camera, having a mechanical driving member comprising a collapsible barrel, a lens barrier and the like, which performs mechanical operations, and a system controller which controls the overall device including the mechanical driving member is provided. In accordance with turning on of power supply to the system controller, the mechanical driving member is driven until the device enters a main-operation stand-by status, in parallel to start of an OS by the system controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera which can adjust the start-up time in accordance with an amount of an electric energy of a power source being used at the time. The electric energy of the power source and the type thereof are determined on the basis of a voltage value of the power source which is inputted via a bus (steps 202, 206 and 218). If it is determined that the amount of the electric energy of the power source is large, the DC motor and the stepping motor are driven simultaneously so as to reduce the start-up time. If it is determined that the amount of the electric energy of the power source is small, the DC motor and the stepping motor are sequentially driven to save the electric energy.

Abstract: A camera is made compact with its internal temperature adjusted to a more appropriate temperature. A temperature T is read from a temperature sensor disposed within the camera (S100) and it is judged whether or not the temperature T exceeds a threshold Tref1 (S102). When the temperature T exceeds the threshold Tref1, the operation of the camera is changed to a power-saving mode where the power consumption is lower than in the ordinary mode (S104). The threshold Tref1 is determined to be a rated temperature at which the camera can operate stably or a temperature lower than that. Thus, the temperature in the camera can be made appropriate.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided with, a voltage detection unit for a driving power supply, a temperature detection unit which detects an inner temperature and an outer temperature of the apparatus, a power supply detection unit which detects whether the power supply is an AC power supply or a DC power supply (battery), a power-supply condition control unit which makes a determination as to a power-supply state of the apparatus based upon a voltage, a temperature and the kind of the power supply that have been respectively detected by the respective detection and monitoring unit; and a focusing unit which automatically focuses a focus lens system onto a subject, and in this arrangement, the gap of automatic focusing timing is varied by an output from the power-supply condition control unit.

Abstract: A signal processor for reducing power consumption. The signal processor includes a first regulator for generating a first regulated voltage with a power supply voltage and supplying the first regulated voltage to a signal processing circuit. A second regulator generates a second regulated voltage with the power supply voltage and supplies the second regulated voltage to an output circuit. The second regulator shifts the second regulated voltage in accordance with a change in an input level of the external device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an electronic-flash charging capacitor and first and second battery storage areas separately disposed from each other so as to have the electronic-flash charging capacitor sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: A warning is displayed for a constant time prior to end of a battery with respect to battery packs having various cell structures. A microcomputer 14 in the side of a video camera recorder body 10 obtains a reference voltage value from a voltage correction value decided based on information concerning a capacity of a cell in a battery pack obtained from a battery pack 20, and an end voltage value at which use of the battery is ended. A display section 15 is controlled by a result of comparison between the voltage value of the battery pack 20 and the reference voltage value, and a warning is displayed when the voltage value of the battery pack becomes equal to or lower than the reference voltage value.

Abstract: A battery property judging circuit measures a voltage of battery before and while a zoom motor is operated respectively. A type of the battery is determined by a voltage change of the battery. A CPU selects either one of a normal operation sequence or a power-saving operation sequence in accordance with the type of battery upon carrying out an operation mode. In the normal operation sequence, whose operation mode is zooming or focusing, the zoom motor and an AF motor are simultaneously driven so as to perform zooming and focusing, whereas in the power-saving operation sequence, zooming first, then focusing is performed.