JP2002044498A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a proper operation control corresponding to the residue of a battery to an electronic camera to be driven by a battery which is provided with voice-reproducing function. SOLUTION: A signal indicating an image photographed and outputted by using a CCD 12 is converted into image data an A/D 14, and the image data are data-compressed by a JPEG processing part 18, and recorded in a SSFDC 20. The voice compressed data, preliminarily recorded in the SSFDC 20, are data-extended by a voice data extension processing part 21, and converted into a voice signal by a D/A 22, and reproduced by a loudspeaker 24. A sub- CPU 27 checks the voltage of a battery 29 notified by a voltage-detecting part 31. When the value becomes smaller than a prescribed first value, the inhibition of the operation of the voice reproducing function is notified to the main CPU 25; and when the voltage value is turned into a prescribed second value smaller than the first value, the inhibition of the operation of the voice-reproducing function and the re-permission of the operation of the voice-reproducing function is notified to the main CPU 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for managing a power supply of an electronic camera, and more particularly to a technique for managing a power supply of a battery-driven electronic camera having an audio reproducing function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic camera that converts a subject image formed by using an optical lens or the like into an electric signal by an image pickup device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and records the image data as digital data on a recording medium ( Digital cameras) are widely used. Many electronic cameras use a battery as a power source for convenience in carrying. As batteries used in electronic cameras, primary batteries include alkaline batteries and the like, and secondary batteries include nickel metal hydride batteries and lithium ion batteries.

[0003] In many electronic cameras, the remaining amount of a battery as a power source (remaining electric energy that can be discharged) is monitored. Recording operation on a recording medium (hereinafter, these operations are simply referred to as “photographing operation”)
The operation is controlled so that the photographing operation is not performed when the amount is less than the required amount.
In addition, many electronic cameras are configured to notify the user when the remaining battery power is reduced to an amount close to the minimum amount required for a photographing operation and display a warning. Exists.

In such an electronic camera, as a recording medium for recording image data, for example, smart media (Smart Media is a registered trademark of Toshiba Corporation), compact flash (compact flash is a registered trademark of SanDisk Corporation) So-called IC memory cards are widely used. In recent years, audio data such as music that has been data-compressed is recorded in advance in this IC memory card, and the audio data is read from the IC memory card and subjected to data decompression processing and conversion processing to an analog audio signal, thereby obtaining the original music or the like. Portable audio playback device (audio player) that plays back audio
Distribution in the market has begun.

[0005]

As described above, the IC
Both the image data and the audio data can be recorded together on the memory card. Therefore, it is considered that an electronic camera having the functions of the above-described audio reproducing apparatus is added to the electronic camera, and the electronic camera has both functions of capturing an image and recording image data and reproducing audio data.

In such an electronic camera, the main function is merely a photographing / recording function. For example, since the voice reproducing function has been used for a long time, the remaining amount of the battery is reduced to the photographing / recording function. There is a demand to avoid a situation where the necessary amount is divided and a valuable shutter chance is missed.

Further, there is a large difference between the power consumption in the photographing operation and the power consumption in the sound reproduction. Generally, the power consumption in the sound reproduction is much smaller than the power consumption in the photographing operation. Therefore, even if the remaining amount of the battery is such that the photographing operation cannot be performed, the remaining amount may be sufficient for sound reproduction.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery-operated electronic camera having an audio reproducing function with appropriate operation control according to the remaining battery level.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera for photographing a subject image and recording image data representing an image obtained by the photographing, and recording the image data on a recording medium. Read out the audio data
Audio reproduction means for reproducing an audio signal indicated by the audio data; battery remaining amount detection means for detecting a remaining amount of a battery serving as a power supply for operating the image pickup means and the audio reproduction means; First determining means for determining whether the remaining amount is less than a predetermined first amount, and when the first determining unit determines that the remaining amount of the battery is lower than the first amount, A first prohibition instructing means for giving an instruction to prohibit the permitted operation of the sound reproducing means, and whether the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined second amount smaller than the first amount. Second determining means for determining whether or not the operation of the photographing means that has been permitted is prohibited when the second determining means determines that the remaining amount of the battery is lower than the second amount. Second prohibition instruction means for giving an instruction to perform Sea urchin to solve the aforementioned problems by configuring.

Here, for example, the second amount is the minimum remaining amount of the battery capable of operating the photographing means, and the remaining amount of the battery obtained by increasing the second amount by a certain margin is defined as the second amount. One amount. According to the above configuration, when it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is smaller than an amount (first amount) in which a certain margin is provided for an amount in which the photographing unit can be operated, the sound reproducing unit is activated. Since the operation is prohibited, the situation in which the operation of the photographing means cannot be performed at all because the energy held in the battery is consumed by excessive use of the sound reproducing means is avoided.

In the electronic camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first amount is such that the photographing means performs operations of photographing a predetermined number of images and recording image data of the images. The second amount may be a minimum remaining amount of the battery capable of operating the photographing unit.

According to this structure, the operation of the audio reproducing means can be prohibited while the battery has enough energy for the photographing means to perform the photographing / recording operation for a predetermined number of images. . Further, in the electronic camera according to the first aspect of the present invention described above, it is determined whether the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined third amount smaller than the second amount. Determining means, the second determining means determining that the remaining amount of the battery is less than the second amount, and determining that the remaining amount of the battery is not less than the third amount. Permission means for canceling an instruction to prohibit the operation of the sound reproducing means by the first prohibition instruction means when the judgment by the judgment means judgment is made, and giving an instruction to permit the operation. You may.

Here, for example, the third amount is the minimum remaining amount of the battery capable of operating the sound reproducing means.
According to this configuration, even after it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery has decreased so that the photographing unit can no longer be operated (below the second amount), as long as it is determined that operation is possible, Since the audio reproduction means can be operated (until the amount falls below the third amount), the remaining amount of the battery can be effectively used.

An electronic camera according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
Photographing means for photographing a subject image and recording image data indicating an image obtained by the photographing; and audio reproduction for reading audio data recorded on a recording medium and reproducing an audio signal indicated by the audio data Means, a battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of a battery which is a power source for operating the photographing means and the sound reproducing means, and whether or not the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined first amount When the first determination means determines that the remaining amount of the battery is less than the first amount,
First prohibition instructing means for giving an instruction to prohibit the operation of the photographing means which has been permitted, and whether or not the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined second amount smaller than the first amount A second determining means for determining whether the remaining amount of the battery is lower than the second amount, and prohibiting the operation of the sound reproducing means which is permitted when the second determining means determines that the remaining amount of the battery is lower than the second amount. The above-described problem is solved by having a second prohibition instructing means for giving an instruction.

Here, for example, the first amount is the minimum remaining amount of the battery capable of operating the photographing means, and the second amount is the minimum remaining amount of the battery capable of operating the sound reproducing means. Amount. According to the above configuration, even after it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery has decreased so that the photographing unit can no longer be operated (below the first amount),
As long as the operation is determined to be operable (until the amount falls below the second amount), the sound reproducing means is operated, so that the remaining amount of the battery can be used effectively.

An electronic camera according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
Photographing means for photographing a subject image and recording image data indicating an image obtained by the photographing; and audio reproduction for reading audio data recorded on a recording medium and reproducing an audio signal indicated by the audio data Means, a determination as to whether or not the photographing means can be operated based on a remaining amount of a battery which is a power source for operating the photographing means and the sound reproducing means, and the sound reproducing means based on the remaining amount of the battery And a prohibition instructing means for performing an instruction to prohibit the operation of the photographing means or the sound reproducing means in accordance with the respective results of the determinations. The above-mentioned problem is solved by having a configuration having the above.

According to the above arrangement, even if it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is so low that either the photographing means or the sound reproducing means cannot be operated, as long as it is determined that the battery can be operated, Since the other is operated, the remaining amount of the battery can be used effectively.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital camera (hereinafter, referred to as “this device”) that embodies the present invention.

In FIG. 1, A / D 14, image processing unit 1
5, LCD driver 16, JPEG processing unit 18, SDR
AM19, SSFDC20, audio data decompression processing unit 2
1, the D / A 22, the main CPU 25, the flash memory 26, and the sub CPU 27 are all connected to the bus 40, and can exchange data with each other via the bus 40.

The optical lens 11 forms a subject image on the CCD 12. The CCD 12 is an image pickup device, and photoelectrically converts a subject image formed on the CCD 12 by the operation of the optical lens 11 and outputs an electric signal indicating the image. The imaging processing unit 13 controls the driving of the CCD 12 and also reduces the noise component of the electrical signal output from the CCD 12 by a CDS (Correlated Double Sampler).
ng) and AGC (Automatic
Gain control).

The A / D 14 performs an analog-to-digital conversion of an electric signal, which is an analog signal output from the imaging processing unit 13, and outputs image data representing a subject image. In addition,
The above-described optical lens 11, CCD 12, imaging processing unit 1
3. The A / D 14 is generically referred to as an “imaging unit”.

The image processing unit 15 is used to reproduce or display image data temporarily stored in the SDRAM 19, or to reproduce or display image data recorded in the SSFDC 20, and to control the brightness of the image input / output.・
Gamma correction processing, color processing, etc., for correcting saturation, hue, etc. are performed.

An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) driver 16 drives an LCD display unit 17 and an image processing unit 15.
Is displayed on the LCD display unit 17. LCD display unit 17
Is provided with a liquid crystal display device for displaying an image.

The LCD driver 16 and L
The CD display unit 17 is generically called an “image display unit”. The JPEG processing unit 18 performs a JPEG processing for recording the image data stored in the SDRAM 19 in the SSFDC 20.
The data compression processing by the PEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method and the image compression data decompression processing for displaying the image data which has already been subjected to the compression processing by the JPEG method and recorded in the SSFDC 20 are performed.

SDRAM (Synchronus DRAM) 19
Is used for temporarily storing image data being processed in the image data compression / expansion processing by the JPEG processing unit 18 or for temporarily storing audio data being processed in the audio compression data expansion processing by the audio data expansion processing unit 21. Further, these memories are used as work areas for the main CPU 25 to execute control processing.

SSFDC (Solid State Floppy Disk Ca)
rd) 20 is an I which is generally called smart media.
The C memory card is used as a recording medium for recording image data and audio data. The SSFDC 20 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus, and when attached to the apparatus, the bus 40
Connected to.

The audio data decompression processing unit 21
For example, MP3 (MPEG (Movi)
ng Picture Experts Group) Performs audio compression data expansion processing for reproducing audio data (audio data) that has been subjected to data compression using an audio data compression technique such as the Audio Layer-3) method.

The D / A 22 is an audio data decompression processor 21
The digital-to-analog conversion is performed on the audio data that is the digital data subjected to the decompression processing, and an audio signal (audio signal) that is an analog signal is output. The audio amplifier 23 amplifies the audio signal output from the D / A 22 so that the speaker 24 can be driven.

The speaker 24 emits a sound indicated by the audio signal amplified by the audio amplifier 23. Note that the audio data decompression processing unit 21, D /
A22, audio amplifier 23, and speaker 24 are collectively referred to as an "audio unit".

The main CPU 25 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the entire apparatus by executing firmware stored in the flash memory 26 in advance. The flash memory 26 has an electrically rewritable R
OM, in which firmware executed by the main CPU 25 is recorded in advance.

The sub CPU 27 detects the contents of various operations performed on the SW unit 28, monitors the power supply unit 30, executes the monochrome LC
This is a processing device that performs processing such as display control of the D display unit 31 and exchange of various information with the main CPU 25.

The SW unit 28 corresponds to a group of switches operated by a user of the apparatus to give various instructions to the apparatus, for example, a mode switching button for selecting an operation mode of the apparatus. A switch that operates in response to a release button that instructs recording of an image captured by the imaging unit, and a switch that operates in response to a voltage mode setting switch button related to the present invention. It also has. The voltage mode will be described later.

The battery 29 is a power source for operating each component of the apparatus. The power supply unit 30 transforms the discharge voltage of the battery 29 to a power supply voltage value required for the operation of each component of the present apparatus, and supplies power to each component. The power supply unit 30 includes a voltage detection unit 31 that detects the discharge voltage of the battery 29 to monitor the remaining amount of the battery 29. The voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit 31 is constantly notified to the sub CPU 27. Is done.

The monochrome LCD display unit 32 displays information such as the operation mode of the apparatus and the number of images (number of images) that can be recorded in the SSFDC 20 in the future. This apparatus is configured as described above, and is pre-recorded in the SSFDC 20 together with a function of capturing an image and recording image data of the captured image in the SSFDC 20 (these functions are collectively referred to as “photographing functions”). An audio reproduction function for reading audio data and reproducing the audio is also provided.

Next, the voltage mode in the present apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Note that in FIG.
Is rated voltage (discharge start voltage at the time of no discharge) is 6.0 volts. In this device, as the voltage mode,
Two modes, a “normal mode” and a “photographing priority mode”, are defined.

In the normal mode, as shown in FIG.
The magnitude of the voltage value of the battery 29 and two voltage values of “camera limit voltage” and “audio limit voltage” are determined.
Here, the camera limit voltage is a lower limit voltage value at which the present apparatus can perform the photographing function with the battery 29, and the audio limit voltage is a lower limit value at which the present apparatus can perform the audio reproduction function with the battery 29. Voltage value. As described above, since the power consumption in the shooting operation is generally larger than the power consumption in the audio reproduction, the camera limit voltage has a higher voltage value than the audio limit voltage as shown in FIG.

The camera limit voltage and the audio limit voltage are set to values measured in advance at the time of design. In the example of this apparatus shown in FIG. 2A, it is shown that the set values are 3.5 volts for the camera limit voltage and 3.0 volts for the audio limit voltage.

In the normal mode, as a result of the above-mentioned determination, if the voltage value of the battery 29 is larger than either of the camera limit voltage and the audio limit voltage, both functions of the photographing function and the audio reproduction function of the apparatus are performed. Are allowed together. If the voltage value of the battery 29 is smaller than either of the camera limit voltage and the audio limit voltage, the operation of both the photographing function and the audio reproduction function of the apparatus is prohibited (the operation is not performed). To). If the voltage value of the battery 29 is between the camera limit voltage and the audio limit voltage, the operation of the photographing function in this apparatus is prohibited, and only the operation of the audio reproduction function is permitted.

As described above, in the normal mode, the operation of both the photographing function and the audio reproduction function of the present apparatus is controlled as described above according to the voltage value of the battery 29, so that the remaining amount of the battery is reduced. This is a voltage mode that is used effectively. Next, the shooting priority mode will be described. In the shooting priority mode, as shown in FIG. 2B, the voltage value of the battery 29 and three voltage values of “camera limit voltage”, “first audio limit voltage”, and “second audio limit voltage” are set. The magnitude is determined. Here, the camera limit voltage is shown in FIG.
This is the same as that shown in FIG. 2A, and the second audio limit voltage is the same as the audio limit voltage in FIG.

The first audio limit voltage is a lower limit voltage value at which the apparatus can perform a photographing operation for a predetermined number of images set in advance by the battery 29 under the condition that the audio reproducing function is not used. It is. This first audio limit voltage is also set in advance. In the example of this apparatus shown in FIG. 2B, the set values are 3.5 volts for the camera limit voltage, 4.0 volts for the first audio limit voltage, and 3.0 volts for the second audio limit voltage. It is shown that it was a bolt.

In the photographing priority mode, as a result of the above-described determination, if the voltage value of the battery 29 is higher than any of the camera limit voltage and the first and second audio limit voltages, the photographing function of this apparatus and The operation of both functions of the audio reproduction function is permitted. If the voltage value of the battery 29 is lower than the camera limit voltage and the first and second audio limit voltages, the operation of both the photographing function and the audio playback function of the apparatus is prohibited. I do.

If the voltage value of the battery 29 is between the first audio limit voltage and the camera limit voltage, the operation of the audio reproduction function in the present apparatus is prohibited.
Only the operation of the shooting function is allowed. Thereafter, the photographing operation of the predetermined number of images described above is performed, and when the voltage value of the battery 29 decreases to a value between both the camera limit voltage and the second audio limit voltage, the photographing by the present apparatus is performed. The operation of the function is prohibited, and only the operation of the audio reproduction function is permitted.

As described above, in the photographing priority mode, the operation of both the photographing function and the audio reproducing function in the present apparatus is controlled in accordance with the voltage value of the battery 29 as described above, whereby the audio reproducing function is performed. This voltage mode realizes effective use of the remaining amount of the battery while avoiding a state in which the photographing function becomes completely unusable due to excessive use.

The setting of the voltage mode is instructed by the user of the present apparatus by operating the voltage mode setting switching button, and the sub CPU 27 detects the state of the switch of the SW section 28 corresponding to the setting switching button. .
The sub CPU 27 executes a built-in firmware to perform a battery voltage monitoring process according to the setting of the voltage mode, and performs the above-described control based on the voltage value of the battery 29 notified from the voltage detection unit 31 to the main CPU 25.
Is performed.

The battery voltage monitoring process performed by sub CPU 27 will be described below. FIG. 3 shows the sub CPU 2 when the voltage mode setting is set to the normal mode.
7 is a flowchart showing the contents of a battery voltage monitoring process executed in Step 7. The flowchart shown in the figure is started after the initialization processing performed by the sub CPU 27 when the power-on instruction operation is performed on the SW unit 28 by the user of the present apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the monochrome LCD display unit 32. The display shown in the figure is displayed on the monochrome LCD display unit 32 as a result of the initialization processing performed by the sub CPU 27.
The audio reproduction function operable display 51 is a display of a picture of a musical note indicating whether or not the operation of the audio function is permitted in the apparatus. When the operation is permitted, a picture of the musical note is displayed. If the operation is prohibited, this display is deleted.

The photographing function operable display 52 is a display of a picture of a camera indicating whether or not the operation of the photographing function is permitted in the apparatus. When the operation is permitted, the picture of the camera is displayed. When the operation is prohibited, this display is deleted. The shooting image quality display 53 displays the current setting status of the image quality (such as the number of pixels and the degree of image quality when image data is compressed) of the image data recorded in the SSFDC 20 by the shooting operation.

The display 54 of the number of recordable images is
SSFD attached to this device with the image quality indicated by 3.
The remaining number of images that can be recorded in the unrecorded recording area remaining at C20 is displayed. The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is such that the display as shown in FIG.
The process is started in a state in which the operation is performed on the display unit 32, that is, a state in which the operations of both the photographing function and the audio reproducing function in the apparatus are permitted.

In S101 of FIG. 3, the voltage value of the battery 29 detected by the voltage detector 31 is obtained. In S102, it is determined whether or not the voltage value acquired in the previous step is equal to or less than a preset audio limit voltage,
If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S106, and if No, S is performed.
Go to 103.

In S103, it is determined whether or not the voltage value acquired in S101 is equal to or lower than a preset camera limit voltage. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S104. On the other hand, if this determination result is No, that is, if the voltage value of the battery 29 is larger than either of the camera limit voltage and the audio limit voltage, the operation of both the photographing function and the audio reproduction function of the present apparatus is performed. Is continued as it is, and the process returns to S101 to repeat the above-described processing.

The processing of S104 and S105 is performed by the battery 29
Is carried out when the voltage value is between the camera limit voltage and the audio limit voltage. S10
In 4, the operation of the photographing function of the apparatus is prohibited by the main CPU.
25 is notified. Upon receiving this notification, the main CPU 25 performs control to prohibit the operation of the photographing function in this apparatus.

In S105, the photographing function operable display 52 currently displayed on the monochrome LCD display section 32 is erased. After this processing, the process returns to S101 and the above-described processing is repeated. Steps S106 and S107 are processing performed when the voltage value of the battery 29 is smaller than any of the camera limit voltage and the audio limit voltage.

In step S106, the main CPU 25 is notified that the operation of the audio reproducing function of the apparatus is prohibited. Upon receiving this notification, the main CPU 25 performs control to prohibit the operation of the audio reproduction function in this apparatus. In S107, the audio playback function operable display 51 currently displayed on the monochrome LCD display unit 32 is displayed.
Is erased. After this process, the battery voltage monitoring process ends, and for example, a process of turning off power supply to each component of the present apparatus is executed thereafter.

Next, FIG. 5 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of the battery voltage monitoring process executed by the sub CPU 27 when the voltage mode setting is set to the photographing priority mode. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 also shows the state after the initialization process performed by the sub CPU 27 when the power-on instruction operation is performed on the SW unit 28 by the user of the present apparatus. LC
The process is started in a state in which the D display unit 32 is operated, that is, a state in which the operations of both the photographing function and the audio reproducing function in the apparatus are permitted.

First, in S201, the voltage value of the battery 29 detected by the voltage detector 31 is obtained. In S202, it is determined whether or not the voltage value obtained in the previous step is equal to or lower than a preset second audio limit voltage. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S212, and if No, the process proceeds to S203.

In S203, it is determined whether or not the voltage value acquired in S201 is equal to or less than a preset camera limit voltage. If the determination result is Yes, the process proceeds to S208, and if No, the process proceeds to S204. In S204, S20
It is determined whether or not the voltage value acquired in step 1 is equal to or less than a preset first camera limit voltage.
If es, the process proceeds to S205. On the other hand, if this determination result is N
o, that is, if the voltage value of the battery 29 is higher than any of the camera limit voltage and the first and second audio limit voltages, the operation of both the photographing function and the audio playback function in this device is not possible. The state in which both are permitted is continued as it is, and the process returns to S201 to repeat the above-described processing.

The processing from S205 to S207 is as follows.
This processing is performed when the voltage value of the battery 29 is between the first audio limit voltage and the camera limit voltage. In S205, the main CPU 25 is notified that the operation of the audio reproduction function in this apparatus is prohibited. Main CP
In U25, upon receiving this notification, control is performed to prohibit the operation of the audio reproduction function in this apparatus.

In step S206, the audio playback function operable display 51 currently displayed on the monochrome LCD display section 32 is displayed.
Is erased. In S207, the display of the number of remaining images is additionally displayed on the monochrome LCD display unit 32, and thereafter, the process returns to S201 and the above-described processing is repeated.

Black-and-white LC with additional indication of extra shooting number
FIG. 6 shows a display example of the D display unit 32. In the display example of FIG. 11, the shooting remaining number display 55 indicates that the current remaining amount of the battery 29 has room for shooting operations for five more images. In this embodiment, the surplus number of the photographing operation is set to a fixed number which is set in advance. However, the number may be set arbitrarily by the user of the apparatus. At this time, the value of the first audio limit voltage that changes according to the number of sheets may be set by referring to, for example, a table prepared in advance.

Returning to the description of FIG. S208 to S211
Is a process performed when the voltage value of the battery 29 is a value between both the camera limit voltage and the second audio limit voltage. In S208, the main CPU 25 is notified that the operation of the photographing function in this apparatus is prohibited. The main CPU 25 receives this notification,
Control for prohibiting the operation of the photographing function in the present apparatus is performed.

At S209, the photographing function operable display 52 currently displayed on the monochrome LCD display section 32 is erased. In S210, the main CPU 25 is notified of the permission of the operation of the audio reproduction function in this apparatus. Main CPU
In 25, by receiving this notification, control for canceling the prohibition of the operation of the audio reproduction function in the present apparatus is performed.

In step S211, the audio playback function operable display 51, which has been deleted from the display on the monochrome LCD display unit 32, is displayed again. Thereafter, the flow returns to step S201 to repeat the above-described processing. S212 and S213 correspond to the battery 2
This is a process performed when the voltage value of No. 9 is smaller than any of the camera limit voltage and the first and second audio limit voltages.

At S212, the main CPU 25 is notified that the operation of the audio reproduction function in the present apparatus is prohibited. Upon receiving this notification, the main CPU 25 performs control to prohibit the operation of the audio reproduction function in this apparatus. In S213, the audio playback function operable display 51 currently displayed on the monochrome LCD display unit 32 is displayed.
Is erased. After this process, the battery voltage monitoring process ends, and for example, a process of turning off power supply to each component of the present apparatus is executed thereafter.

The processing up to this point is the battery voltage monitoring processing, and this processing is performed by the sub CPU 27, based on the remaining capacity of the battery 29 for the operation of both the photographing function and the audio reproduction function in the apparatus. Appropriate control is performed.

[0065]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides
In an electronic camera having both a shooting function and an audio playback function, when it is determined that the remaining battery level is lower than a predetermined first amount, the operation of the audio playback function that has been permitted until then is prohibited, and the remaining battery level is reduced. When it is determined that the predetermined amount is smaller than the second amount smaller than the first amount, the operation of controlling the operation of the photographing function is prohibited.

By doing so, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the operation of the photographing function cannot be performed at all because the energy held in the battery is consumed by excessive use of the sound reproducing function. Alternatively, the present invention, in an electronic camera having both a shooting function and a sound reproduction function, when it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is less than a predetermined first amount, the operation of the shooting function that has been permitted until then is prohibited, When it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined second amount that is smaller than the first amount, the operation of controlling the operation of the sound reproduction function is prohibited.

Thus, even after the remaining amount of the battery is reduced so that the photographing function can no longer be operated, the sound reproducing function can be operated as long as the operation is determined to be operable. , The remaining battery power can be used effectively. As described above, according to any of the configurations of the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery-driven electronic camera having an audio playback function with appropriate operation control according to the remaining battery level.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a voltage mode in the digital camera in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of a battery voltage monitoring process executed by a sub CPU when a voltage mode setting is set to a normal mode.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example of a monochrome LCD display unit (part 1).
It is.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a battery voltage monitoring process performed by a sub CPU when a voltage mode setting is set to a shooting priority mode;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a display example of a monochrome LCD display unit (part 2).
It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 optical lens 12 CCD 13 imaging processing unit 14 A / D 15 image processing unit 16 LCD driver 17 LCD display unit 18 JPEG processing unit 19 SDRAM 20 SSFDC 21 audio data decompression processing unit 22 D / A 23 audio amplifier 24 speaker 25 main CPU 26 Flash memory 27 Sub CPU 28 SW unit 29 Battery 30 Power supply unit 31 Voltage detection unit 32 Monochrome LCD display unit 40 Bus 51 Audio playback function operable display 52 Shooting function operable display 53 Shooting image quality setting display 54 Number of shootable images 55 Shooting Extra number display

Claims (5)

[Claims] A photographing means for photographing a subject image and recording image data indicating an image obtained by the photographing; reading audio data recorded on a recording medium; Audio reproducing means for performing reproduction; battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of a battery which is a power source for operating the photographing means and the audio reproducing means; and a predetermined first amount of the battery remaining amount First determining means for determining whether or not the battery level is below the threshold, and when the first determining means determines that the remaining amount of the battery is lower than the first amount, the sound reproducing means which is permitted First prohibition instructing means for giving an instruction to prohibit the operation of the above, and a second determination for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined second amount smaller than the first amount. Means, and the remaining amount of the battery When the second determination means determines that the value is less than the second amount, a second prohibition instructing means for giving an instruction to prohibit the operation of the photographing means that has been permitted, Electronic camera. 2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the first amount is a remaining amount of the battery capable of causing the photographing unit to photograph a predetermined number of images and record image data of the images. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the amount is a minimum remaining amount of a battery capable of operating the photographing unit. 3. 3. A third determining means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined third amount smaller than the second amount; When the second determination means determines that the remaining amount is less than the second amount, and when the third determination means determines that the remaining amount of the battery is not less than the third amount, 3. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a permission unit configured to release an instruction to prohibit the operation of the sound reproduction unit by the prohibition instruction unit and issue an instruction to permit the operation. 4. A photographing means for photographing a subject image and recording image data representing an image obtained by the photographing, reading out audio data recorded on a recording medium, and outputting an audio signal represented by the audio data. Audio reproducing means for performing reproduction; battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of a battery which is a power source for operating the photographing means and the audio reproducing means; and a predetermined first amount of the battery remaining amount A first determination unit that determines whether or not the photographing unit is lower than the first amount, when the first determination unit determines that the remaining amount of the battery is less than the first amount, First prohibition instructing means for instructing operation prohibition, and second determining means for determining whether or not the remaining amount of the battery is lower than a predetermined second amount smaller than the first amount. And the remaining battery power is before A second prohibition instructing means for instructing to prohibit the operation of the sound reproducing means, when the second judging means judges that the amount is less than the second amount, Electronic camera. 5. A photographing means for photographing a subject image and recording image data representing an image obtained by the photographing, reading out audio data recorded on a recording medium, and outputting an audio signal represented by the audio data. Voice reproducing means for performing reproduction; determining whether or not the photographing means can be operated with the remaining amount of a battery which is a power supply for operating the photographing means and the audio reproducing means; and the remaining amount of the battery To determine whether or not the sound reproducing means can be operated, and to prohibit the instruction to prohibit the operation of the photographing means or the sound reproducing means according to the result of each of the determinations. An electronic camera, comprising: indicating means;