JP2010087970A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which automatically switches plural batteries according to a remaining amount of the battery and does not change a photographing function during the use of the photographing function. <P>SOLUTION: When a consecutive shooting mode of a digital camera 1 is enabled, imaging is continuously carried out at a speed according to a battery currently used, while a release button is depressed. A user can set a battery to be used out of a built-in battery 23 and an external battery 24. To supply power to the digital camera 1, the battery specified by the user is used, basically. However, when a remaining amount rate of the battery in use becomes lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the battery to be used is automatically switched by a control circuit 16. The control circuit 16 acquires the remaining amount rate and changes the battery only when no consecutive shooting function is used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera using a plurality of batteries.

  A current camera is equipped with various shooting functions such as a continuous shooting function having a predetermined continuous shooting speed and a moving image shooting function having a predetermined continuous shooting time limit. A camera is known in which these photographing functions are changed in accordance with predetermined conditions. In such a camera, for example, in the continuous shooting function, the continuous shooting speed is switched depending on the type of battery, the state of the subject, the surrounding environment, and the like. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a camera that automatically switches the continuous shooting speed according to the movement of a subject.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-3110

  In cameras that change shooting functions according to the type of battery used, if the battery to be used is automatically switched according to the remaining battery level, battery switching occurs while using the shooting function. In some cases, the photographing function changes unintended by the user.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a camera having a photographing function that differs depending on the type of battery being used, and the remaining amount of the battery supplying power to the camera satisfies a predetermined condition. Battery switching means for switching to the battery, function providing means for executing a predetermined photographing function, and whether the battery switching means has been switched during the period during which the predetermined photographing function is being executed. Regardless of whether or not, the camera comprises control means for continuously executing the predetermined photographing function.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a change in photographing function unintended by the user.

-First embodiment-
A digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An external battery having a larger capacity than the internal battery can be connected to the digital camera of this embodiment. When the remaining capacity rate of the battery in use falls below a predetermined threshold, the battery to be used is switched to the other.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital camera according to this embodiment. The digital camera 1 includes an input device 13, a focus adjustment device 14, an image sensor 15, a control circuit 16, a DRAM 17, a flash memory 18, a liquid crystal monitor 20, a memory card interface (I / F) 21, and a built-in battery 23.

  The imaging element 15 is configured by a CCD or CMOS image sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to pixels. The imaging element 15 captures a subject image formed on the imaging surface and outputs a photoelectric conversion signal (image signal) corresponding to the brightness of the subject image. R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color filters are provided on the imaging surface of the imaging element 15 so as to correspond to the pixel positions, respectively. Since the image pickup device 15 picks up a subject image through the color filter, the image signal output from each image pickup device has RGB color system color information.

  The image signal output from the image sensor 15 is input to the control circuit 16. The control circuit 16 performs various image processing on the image signal to generate image data. Then, the control circuit 16 compresses the generated image data by a predetermined method such as JPEG, and records it on the recording medium 22 in a format such as EXIF. The control circuit 16 is composed of, for example, a RISC and controls each circuit shown in FIG.

  The focus adjustment device 14 performs a known focus evaluation value calculation based on the imaging signal output from the imaging element 15, and outputs the calculation result to the control circuit 16. Based on the calculation result, the control circuit 16 moves the photographing lens 10 to a position where the focus evaluation value is maximized.

  The DRAM 17 is used to temporarily store data during or after image processing, image compression processing, and display image data creation processing. The display image data is generated by the control circuit 16 based on the image data generated by the control circuit 16 based on the output from the image sensor 15 or the image data recorded on the recording medium 22. The generated display image data is stored in the DRAM 17 by the control circuit 16. The flash memory 18 is a non-volatile memory in which various processing programs for the control circuit 16 to perform operations are stored, for example.

  The LCD drive circuit 19 drives the liquid crystal monitor 20 based on a command from the control circuit 16, and the liquid crystal monitor 20 displays an image. The liquid crystal monitor 20 displays various setting menu screens of the digital camera. The input device 13 includes various operation buttons such as a release button and a playback button, and outputs an operation signal of each operation button by the user to the control circuit 16. The built-in battery 23 supplies power necessary for operation to each member of the digital camera 1. The control circuit 16 can acquire the remaining capacity rate from the built-in battery 23.

  The auxiliary battery pack 2 shown in FIG. 1 can be connected to the digital camera 1. The auxiliary battery pack 2 includes an external battery 24. When the auxiliary battery pack 2 is connected to the digital camera 1, power can be supplied from the external battery 24 to each member of the digital camera 1. In addition, the control circuit 16 can acquire the remaining capacity rate of the external battery 24.

  The internal battery 23 and the external battery 24 operate exclusively. That is, power is supplied to each member of the digital camera 1 by either the built-in battery 23 or the external battery 24, and power is not simultaneously supplied from these two batteries. The user can set which battery to use in the digital camera 1. The control circuit 16 determines which battery receives power supply based on the setting by the user and the remaining capacity ratio acquired from these two batteries.

  Next, the continuous shooting function of the digital camera 1 will be described. The digital camera 1 has a continuous shooting mode, and the user can determine whether to enable the continuous shooting mode by operating the input device 13. When the continuous shooting mode is disabled, every time the release button is pressed, the imaging process by the digital camera 1 is executed only once. When the continuous shooting mode is enabled, the imaging process is continuously executed while the release button is pressed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the continuous shooting speed for each battery that the digital camera 1 can use. The built-in battery 23 has a capacity of 1500 mAh and the maximum continuous shooting speed is 6 sheets per second. That is, if the continuous shooting mode is enabled while the digital camera 1 is operating with power supplied from the built-in battery 23, imaging is performed up to six times per second while the release button is pressed. When the shutter speed of the digital camera 1 is slow due to setting or the like, the continuous shooting speed may be lower than the maximum continuous shooting speed.

  On the other hand, the external battery 24 has a capacity of 2500 milliamps larger than the built-in battery 23. Accordingly, the maximum continuous shooting speed is 8 sheets per second, which is faster than the built-in battery 23. That is, by setting the user to receive power from the external battery 24, the user can perform continuous shooting at a higher speed than when the internal battery 23 is used.

  Next, battery switching by the control circuit 16 will be described. As described above, the user can set which of the internal battery 23 and the external battery 24 is used. For the power supply to the digital camera 1, a battery designated by the user is basically used. However, when the remaining capacity ratio of the battery in use becomes a predetermined threshold value or less, the control circuit 16 automatically switches the battery to be used.

  Switching of the battery by the control circuit 16 is not performed while using the continuous shooting function. This is because if the battery is switched during continuous shooting, a change in the maximum continuous shooting speed unintended by the user occurs. The control circuit 16 obtains the remaining capacity rate and switches the battery only when the continuous shooting function is not used.

  In this embodiment, the user can arbitrarily set the threshold value of the remaining capacity rate at which the battery is switched. When the setting by the user is not performed, the threshold value of the remaining capacity rate at which the battery is switched is 10%.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital camera 1 from power on to power off. This flowchart shows the operation from the time when the digital camera 1 is turned off to the time when the power is turned on and then turned off again. First, in step S10, it is determined whether or not a power button included in the input device 13 has been pressed. The process of step S10 is repeated until the power button is pressed, and when the power button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, the digital camera 1 is turned on. In step S12, it is determined whether or not a battery switching threshold is set by the user. When the threshold value is set by the user, an affirmative determination is made in step S12, and the process proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the threshold value set by the user is read and used as the battery switching threshold value. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S12, the process proceeds to step S14, and a predetermined threshold value (10%) is read from the flash memory 18.

  In step S15, a main process described later is executed. The main processing includes continuous shooting processing and battery switching processing. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the power button has been pressed. If the power button is not pressed, a negative determination is made in step S16, and the process returns to step S15. On the other hand, if a positive determination is made in step S16, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the digital camera 1 is turned off and the process ends.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the main process executed in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S21, it is determined whether or not the release button has been pressed. If the release button is pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S21, and the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S21, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S22, continuous shooting processing is started. Thereafter, the imaging process is repeated at the fastest possible speed. In step S23, it is determined whether or not the release button has been released. If the release button has not been pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S23, and the process proceeds to step S24. While the release button is pressed, the imaging process and the process of step S23 are repeated.

  In step S24, the continuous shooting process ends. In step S25, the remaining capacity rate of the currently used battery is acquired. In step S26, it is determined whether or not the remaining capacity rate acquired in step S25 is less than or equal to a battery switching threshold value. If the remaining capacity rate is equal to or less than the threshold value, an affirmative determination is made in step S26, and the process proceeds to step S27. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S26, the main process ends.

  In step S27, the continuous shooting speed is changed to a speed corresponding to the switching destination battery. That is, if the battery currently used is the built-in battery 23, the continuous shooting speed is changed to 8 per second, and if the external battery 24 is currently used, the continuous shooting speed is changed to 6 per second. In step S28, the battery that supplies power to each member of the digital camera 1 is switched to a battery that is different from the battery currently in use. When the battery switching is completed, the main process is terminated.

According to the digital camera according to the first embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The control circuit 16 that automatically selects the battery to be used from the built-in battery 23 and the external battery 24 according to the remaining capacity rate, and the maximum continuous shooting in the continuous shooting function according to which battery is used. Change the speed. However, the change in the maximum continuous shooting speed does not occur by suppressing the battery switching while using the continuous shooting function. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the change of the battery from causing an unintended change for the user.

(2) The threshold value for determining whether or not to switch the battery can be arbitrarily set by the user. As a result, the user can determine how to use the internal battery 23 and the external battery 24.

  In the first embodiment described above, the battery is not switched at all while the continuous shooting function is used. In the second embodiment described in detail below, switching is performed only when switching from the internal battery 23 to the external battery 24 even when the continuous shooting function is in use.

-Second embodiment-
The digital camera according to the second embodiment executes a process different from the main process shown in FIG. 4 only when the built-in battery 23 is used. In this process, the battery is switched according to the remaining capacity rate even when the continuous shooting function is in use. However, the continuous shooting speed is not changed.

  The external battery 24 has a larger capacity than the built-in battery 23 and can perform continuous shooting at a higher speed than the built-in battery 23. Although the continuous shooting speed similar to that of the external battery 24 cannot be realized using the built-in battery 23, the continuous shooting speed is intentionally delayed using the external battery 24, and the continuous shooting speed similar to that of the internal battery 23 is realized. It is possible. Therefore, in the digital camera according to the present embodiment, when switching from the built-in battery 23 to the external battery 24 is performed during the continuous shooting function, the continuous shooting speed is adjusted to the built-in battery 23 so that the original external battery 24 The continuous shooting speed is slower than the maximum continuous shooting speed provided. As a result, the continuous shooting speed unintended by the user does not change.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing main processing called by the digital camera when the built-in battery 23 is used. The digital camera according to the second embodiment is not the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 from step S14 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. Hereinafter, the main processing when the built-in battery 23 is used will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the release button has been pressed. If the release button is pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S31, and the process proceeds to step S32. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S31, the process proceeds to step S37.

  In step S32, continuous shooting processing is started. Thereafter, the imaging process is repeated at the fastest possible speed. In step S33, the remaining capacity rate of the built-in battery 23 currently used is acquired. In step S34, it is determined whether or not the remaining capacity rate of the built-in battery 23 acquired in step S33 is equal to or less than a battery switching threshold value. If the remaining capacity rate is less than or equal to the battery switching threshold, an affirmative determination is made in step S34, and the process proceeds to step S35. In step S35, the battery to be used is switched from the internal battery 23 to the external battery 24, and the process proceeds to step S36. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S34, the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S36, it is determined whether or not the release button has been released. If the release button has not been pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S36, and the process proceeds to step S37. If the release button is being pressed, the process returns to step S33. While performing the processing from step S33 to step S36, the digital camera 1 continues to execute the imaging process at the fastest possible speed.

  In step S37, the continuous shooting process ends. In step S38, the remaining capacity rate of the built-in battery 23 is acquired. In step S39, it is determined whether or not the remaining capacity rate acquired in step S38 is equal to or less than a battery switching threshold value. If the remaining capacity rate is equal to or less than the threshold value, an affirmative determination is made in step S39, and the process proceeds to step S40. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S39, the main process ends.

  In step S40, the continuous shooting speed is changed to a speed corresponding to the external battery 24. That is, the continuous shooting speed is changed to 6 frames per second. In step S <b> 41, the external battery 24 is set to supply power to each member of the digital camera 1. If power is already supplied by the external battery 24, nothing is done. When the battery switching is completed, the main process is terminated.

According to the digital camera according to the second embodiment described above, the following functions and effects can be obtained in addition to the functions and effects obtained by the digital camera according to the first embodiment.
(1) When the built-in battery 23 is used and the continuous shooting function is used, the control circuit 16 does not change the maximum continuous shooting speed even when switching to the external battery 24 is performed. Thereby, the consumption of the internal battery 23 can be suppressed and the change in the maximum continuous shooting speed can be suppressed.

  In the first embodiment described above, the battery is not switched when the continuous shooting function is used. In the third embodiment described in detail below, battery switching is controlled not for the continuous shooting function but for the moving image shooting function.

--Third embodiment--
The digital camera in the third embodiment has a moving image shooting function. When the user enables moving image shooting using the input device 13 and then presses the release button, shooting of the moving image is started. Thereafter, the moving image shooting is continued until the release button is pressed again or the continuous shooting time of the moving image reaches a predetermined time limit. The captured moving image is recorded on the recording medium 22.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the time limit for moving image shooting for each battery that can be used by the digital camera according to the present embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the digital camera 1 in this embodiment is supplied with power from either the built-in battery 23 or the external battery 24. When the built-in battery 23 is supplying power, the digital camera 1 can shoot a video for up to 3 minutes. On the other hand, when the external battery 24 supplies power, the operation shooting time is 5 minutes at the longest.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the main processing executed in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 in the third embodiment. First, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the release button has been pressed. If the release button is pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S51, and the process proceeds to step S52. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S51, the process proceeds to step S54.

  In step S52, the moving image shooting process is started. Thereafter, the moving image shooting process is continuously performed until the moving image shooting process is completed. In step S53, it is determined whether or not the shooting time of the movie currently being shot has reached the movie shooting time limit. If the shooting time has reached the time limit, an affirmative determination is made in step S53, and the process proceeds to step S55. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S53, the process proceeds to step S54. In step S54, it is determined whether the release button has been pressed again after step S51. If the release button has not been pressed, an affirmative determination is made in step S54, and the process proceeds to step S55. While the release button is pressed, the moving image shooting process is continuously executed.

  In step S55, the moving image shooting process ends. In step S56, the remaining capacity rate of the currently used battery is acquired. In step S57, it is determined whether or not the remaining capacity rate acquired in step S56 is less than or equal to a battery switching threshold value. If the remaining capacity rate is less than or equal to the threshold value, an affirmative determination is made in step S57, and the process proceeds to step S58. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S57, the main process ends.

  In step S58, the time limit for moving image shooting is changed to the time limit corresponding to the switching destination battery. That is, if the battery currently used is the built-in battery 23, the time limit is changed to 5 minutes, and if the external battery 24 is currently used, the time limit is changed to 3 minutes. In step S59, the battery that supplies power to each member of the digital camera 1 is switched to a battery different from the battery currently in use. When the battery switching is completed, the main process is terminated.

According to the digital camera according to the third embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained in addition to the operational effects obtained with the digital camera according to the first embodiment.
(1) The control circuit 16 does not switch the battery when moving image shooting is performed, and does not change the time limit for continuous shooting of moving images. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the change of the battery from causing an unintended change for the user with respect to the moving image shooting function.

The following modifications are also within the scope of the present invention, and one or a plurality of modifications can be combined with the above-described embodiment.
(1) In order to determine whether to switch the battery to be used, parameters other than the remaining capacity rate may be used. For example, the remaining capacity of the battery may be used.

(2) The battery used when starting up the digital camera 1 may be determined based on factors other than the setting by the user. For example, the internal battery 23 may always be used for activation, or which battery to use may be determined based on the remaining battery capacity.

  As long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other forms conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also included in the scope of the present invention. .

It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the digital camera by 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the continuous shooting speed for every battery which the digital camera 1 can utilize. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation from power-on to power-off of the digital camera 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main process executed in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating main processing called by a digital camera when the built-in battery is used in the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the time limit of video recording for every battery which can use the digital camera in 3rd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing main processing executed in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 in the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera 2 Auxiliary Battery Pack 16 Control Circuit 23 Built-in Battery 24 External Battery

Claims (7)

A camera having a different shooting function depending on the type of battery used,
Battery switching means for switching to another battery when the remaining amount of the battery supplying power to the camera satisfies a predetermined condition;
A function providing means for executing a predetermined photographing function;
Control means for continuously executing the predetermined photographing function regardless of whether or not the battery switching is performed by the battery switching means during the period in which the predetermined photographing function is being executed. Features a camera. The camera of claim 1,
The type of battery used indicates one of a camera built-in battery and a plurality of types of external batteries,
The camera includes the presence / absence of a continuous shooting mode, a continuous shooting speed in the continuous shooting mode, and a continuous shooting time during moving image shooting. The camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The control means prevents the predetermined photographing function from being changed to another photographing function by suppressing the battery switching by the battery switching means during the period when the predetermined photographing function is being executed. camera. In the electronic camera as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The camera is characterized in that the control means does not change to a more restrictive photographing function during the period in which the predetermined photographing function is being executed. The camera according to claim 4, wherein
The predetermined shooting function is a continuous shooting function;
The camera characterized in that the change to the more restrictive shooting function is a change that reduces a continuous shooting speed. The camera according to claim 4, wherein
The predetermined shooting function is a video shooting function;
The camera that is characterized in that the change to the more restrictive shooting function is a change that shortens a continuous shooting time. In the electronic camera as described in any one of Claims 1-6,
The camera is characterized in that the battery switching by the battery switching means is performed based on an arbitrary condition set by the user.

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