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.

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.

Abstract: A camera apparatus and a camera system of the present invention are configured so that a lens unit is attachable/detachable. The lens unit contains at least a lens and an iris, and contains a memory storing setting information required for operating the lens and the iris. When a camera microcomputer checks detection information stored in a memory in a sub-microcomputer at a time of start-up of the camera apparatus, and first detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from the lens unit. When second detection information is stored in the memory, the setting information is acquired from another memory in the camera apparatus. Due to this configuration, the time for shifting the switch-on to a photographable state is shortened, and the ease of convenience can be enhanced.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided which includes an image sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, an output unit configured to output a signal from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and a reading unit configured to read the signal from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units via the output unit, a display unit configured to display image data from the image sensor, and a control unit configured to control a first operation in which image data serially read from the image sensor is displayed by the display unit as a serial image and a second operation in which a still image is shot according to an instruction for picking up the still image while the first operation is being performed, and further configured to restrain/inhibit supplying power to the output unit at a predetermined timing during a time period in which the first operation is being performed.

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.

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: A mode-switching system, comprising plural switches, a timer, and a controller, is provided. The mode-switching system switches an operation mode of a first unit to one of normal and power-saving modes. The plural switches separately correspond to plural specific functions. Each of the specific functions is carried out when the corresponding switch is switched on. The timer clocks the elapsed time since the switching operation is carried out for any of the switches. The controller switches the operation mode to the power-saving mode from the normal mode when the elapsed time exceeds a threshold value determined for the switch for which the latest switching operation has been carried out. The threshold value is determined individually for each of the switches.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for power management in an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the electronic device includes the functionality of a personal digital assistant, wireless email paging and a camera with a flash that is operated via self-contained power supply in the form of a battery. The device also includes a supervisor circuit which causes the device to enter sleep mode, or disables the device, or certain features of the device, if the battery level falls below a certain threshold. A method in accordance with an embodiment performs, in response to a request to fire the flash, a pre-flash test which is selected so as to not trip the supervisor circuit. The battery level is examined after the pre-flash test. If the battery level meets certain criteria, the full flash is permitted to proceed, else the full flash is not permitted to proceed.

Abstract: An image display apparatus comprising: a first storage device which stores an image file including an image and the photographing date and time information of the image; an operation device which performs a predetermined operation; a timing determination device which makes a determination whether or not it is the timing at which no operation occurs on the operation device; a photographing date and time information acquisition device which acquires the photographing date and time information from the image file stored in the first storage device when a determination is made that it is the timing at which no operation occurs on the operation device; a second storage device which stores the photographing date and time information acquired by the photographing date and time information acquisition device associated with the image file; a display device which displays the image within the image file; and a display control device which controls the display on the display device by sorting the images within the i

Abstract: A video camera having a power-On recording standby mode, a power-On recording disabled mode, and a power-saving mode, in addition to power-OFF mode. The power-saving mode is a state in which the time taken to shift to said recording standby mode is shorter than the time taken to shift from power-OFF mode. Switching to the power-saving mode is inhibited when recording on the recording medium is not possible, thereby improving the operability of the video camera for the user. The user is prevented from attempting to record during power saving mode.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus, such as a camera, is configured to be driven by a fuel cell. The fuel cell includes a fuel unit and a power generation unit. The fuel unit is configured to store fuel, and the power generation unit is configured to generate electric power with at least one power generation cell by receiving fuel from the fuel unit. The camera includes a fuel cell storage section configured to store both the fuel unit and the power generation unit, and a power generation unit determination device configured to determine an output characteristic of the power generation unit. A memory in the power generation unit holds information on one of a voltage, an electric current, and an internal resistance. This information is read by a system controller in the camera.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a global positioning system (GPS) device configured to execute position calculation processing based on data received from a satellite; a power supply controller configured to control power supply to the GPS device; and a device controller configured to monitor a state of use of the information processing device by a user, to calculate a use frequency of the information processing device per unit time, and to cause the power supply controller to intermittently supply power to the GPS device if the calculated use frequency is lower than a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: An electronic device for automatically shutting off a power source is provided with a key input section, and a touch sensor. The key input section includes plural keys and a switch for turning on the power source. When the power source is turned on by operation of the key or the switch, a time period corresponding to the operated key or switch is set for shutting off the power source, a time duration is counted during which no operation is performed, and the power source is shut off when the counted time duration has reached the time period previously set. The power source may automatically be shut off at the time that a user intended, and power consumption is effectively reduced without troublesome operation to turn on and/or off the power source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zoom camera with an automatic power-shutoff function, that includes a motor including a zoom motor, a focal-distance-recognizing unit for outputting a signal corresponding to a focal distance, and a controller for positioning a body tube in a wide-angle position in the case when the camera has not operated during a first stop-time period and shuts off power if the camera has not operated during a second stop-time period, wherein it becomes possible to protect the body tube from an external impact by positioning the body tube in the wide-angle position during the first stop-time period and to take a photograph instantly when he sees a subject by eliminating the time required for turning the power on again.

Abstract: A one-time use camera comprising a filmstrip having successive frames including first- and last-to-be-exposed frames and a pre-exposure frame immediately preceding the first-to-be-exposed frame, a backframe opening at which the respective frames of the filmstrip beginning with the first-to-be exposed frame and ending with the last-to-be-exposed frame are exposed during picture-taking, a film cartridge which contains a film take-up spool that is manually rotated decreasing angles of rotation to wind the respective frames of the filmstrip beginning with the pre-exposure frame from the backframe opening onto said spool, and an exposure-related component that must be enabled in order to operate, is characterized in that a rotation-sensing detector for sensing rotation of the spool is connected with the exposure-related component to enable the exposure-related component when the spool is rotated an angle of rotation no greater than an angle sufficient to wind the last-to-be exposed frame onto the spool, whereby th

Abstract: A camera having a manual film winding apparatus in which a film is wound in association with a rotation of a winding operation device from a wind start position to a wind end position includes: an encoder which rotates in association with the movement of the film which is wound by the rotation of the winding operation device and generates a signal each time the winding operation device is rotated by a predetermined angle; a film feed amount detection device which counts output of the encoder to detect the feed amount of the film; a rotation detection device for detecting the rotation of the winding operation device; and a controller which interrupts the encoder by turning the encoder OFF after the lapse of a predetermined time when the winding operation device is stopped during the winding operation, wherein the controller turns the encoder ON when the rotation detection device detects rotation of the winding operation device thereafter, so that the film feed amount detection device continues the counting ope

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a driving power supply unit which can be selectively connected to, as a driving power supply, an internal power supply including a battery and an external power supply, an image sensing unit for sensing an image and generating image data, a recording unit for signal-processing the image data from the image sensing unit and recording the data on a recording medium, a reconstruction unit for reconstructing an image from the recording medium and outputting the reconstructed image data to a printer, a display unit for selectively displaying a picture, a reconstructed image, and an operation menu, a power supply recognition unit for recognizing whether the driving power supply is a battery, and a control unit for inhibiting display by the display unit in accordance with the operation state of the printer when the power supply recognition unit recognizes the battery as the driving power supply.

Abstract: An electronic device has a plurality of prestored limit times that define a time period of non-use, after which the electronic device will enter an energy-saving state. A different one of the plurality of limit times can be selected for different operating modes of the electronic device. Thus, when the electronic device is switched between different modes, different limit times, which define the duration of the non-use period prior to entering the energy-saving state, will take effect. Additionally or alternatively, a different one of the plurality of limit times can be selected for different geographical conditions. Thus, when the electronic device is being used in a first geographical condition, for example, a place where batteries are readily available and inexpensive, the limit time is increased in order to improve the operability of the electronic device.

Abstract: A vibration preventing device is provided with a vibration preventing mode selector capable of selecting a vibration preventing mode in which vibration prevention driving is effected during exposure and a non-vibration preventing mode. Also provided are a vibration prevention start selector for selecting whether vibration prevention control is to be started, and a vibration prevention driving start instructing portion for instructing the start of vibration prevention. Start of vibration prevention driving occurs driving even before the start of exposure when the vibration preventing mode selector selects the vibration preventing mode and the vibration prevention start selector selects the start of the vibration prevention control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for timelapse capture in an image capture unit. A system and method for timelapse capture according to the present invention comprises capturing a first image automatically; initiating a sleep mode after capturing the first image; and transitioning from the sleep mode into a wake mode prior to capturing a second image. According to the present invention, a system and method is provided which provides a digital camera with the ability to automatically place the digital camera in a sleep mode during the interval when the camera is inactive. The sleep mode minimizes power consumption during inactive periods of a timelapse capture sequence, thus allowing automation of timelapse sequences. The sleep mode can be initiated if a predetermined time interval is greater than a setup time required prior to initiating the next image capture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus which is arranged to drive a load by means of a microcomputer to which the boosted voltage obtained by boosting a battery output by boosting means is applied. The present invention also relates to a method of making the boosting means inoperative upon completion of a load-driving operation by the computer after the battery output is restored to a predetermined level, and switching the voltage to be applied to the microcomputer in the electronic apparatus from the boosted output to the battery output, thereby preventing the microcomputer from malfunctioning due to a lowering in the battery output.

Abstract: In a single use camera having a flash circuit and a film drive motor operated from a single battery source, a control circuit is provided with a diode that is coupled from a terminal on the motor control switch to the flash charging circuit to suppress operation of the flash charging circuit while the film drive motor is operating to advance the film after a picture taking event. The motor OFF position of the control switch is connected to battery positive terminal and the control circuit includes a capacitive connection from the switch to the flash charging circuit such that when the motor switch changes over from the motor ON to motor OFF position, a positive pulse is applied to restart operation of the flash charging circuit when the motor is turned off. This arrangement suppresses operation of the flash charging circuit while the motor is running, allowing full battery current to be applied to the motor.

Abstract: This camera performs battery checking which corresponds to the respective photographing modes at the time of presetting the various photographing modes. This battery check calculates an added electrical quantity between an electrical quantity consumed for 5 minutes, during which an auto-power off mechanism is operated in a state where a photographing mode is set and an electrical quantity required for the time from the start of the photographing under this photographing mode to completion of the photographing under this photographing mode in association with the selected photographing mode. Then, the added electrical quantity thus calculated is compared with a residue of the battery for a camera power source, and, only when the residue of the battery exceeds the added electrical quantity, presetting of the photographing mode is permitted.

Abstract: A camera includes a display that displays in the viewfinder a photographic screen size even when the low consumption power supply mode is in use. The camera includes a power source, a controller, a film winding motor, a panorama frame driving motor, a CPU, an EEPROM, a viewfinder LCD and a timer. When the power switch is turned on, the CPU causes the panorama frame to move and changes the transmissivity of the viewfinder LCD to match the photographic screen size selected the largest number of times. When a new photographic screen size is selected using the photographic screen size switch, the number of times the photographic screen size has been selected is calculated and stored in the EEPROM. In addition, the time that has elapsed after the power switch has been turned on is measured by the timer, and when the time exceeds a predetermined value, the camera moves into the low consumption power supply mode with power still being supplied to the viewfinder LCD.