Mobile device and wireless communication apparatus

Abstract

A mobile device is equipped with a transmitting function to transmit data. When a power switch is turned off during data transmission, a transition is made to a transmission-during-power-off mode that continues data transmission. The transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode is performed when an inquiry is made on a screen as to whether transmission will be performed and “continue” is subsequently selected. In this mode, even when the mobile device with the power switch being turned off is carried around, data transmission is continued and data is recorded into a storage section of a home personal computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an exterior view of a digital camera that is an embodiment of a mobile device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by a CPU 110 and a power control section 190 under transmission-during-power-off mode;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen that is displayed when a user attempts to configure any of four different transition settings of steps S306, S307, S308 and S309 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram describing a switchover state of a screen displayed on a display screen in the event that the operation during power-off is set to “verify (transmit)” as shown in FIG. 4, a transmitting mode is then selected via an operation, and data transmission is being performed;

FIG. 6 is a diagram describing a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram describing the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of completion notification processing under the transmission-during-power-off mode, performed by the CPU 110;

FIG. 9 is a diagram describing processing of a state transition notification section configured by the CPU 110, the power control section 190, an OSD 1051, an LCD control section 105 and an LCD 120;

FIG. 10 is a diagram describing details of the processing of step S315 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a diagram describing transmission processing during power saving mode, performed by a wireless control section Tx2 provided at a transmitting section Tx during power-off;

FIG. 12 is a diagram describing transmission processing during power saving mode, performed by the wireless control section Tx2 provided at the transmitting section Tx during power-off;

FIG. 13 is a diagram describing a digital camera provided with an antenna drive section;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an external view of the digital camera provided with the antenna drive section shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement for adjusting the directivity of the antenna that differs from the configuration shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing yet another modification;

FIG. 17 is a diagram describing a function for restricting communication functions, provided at a wireless control section TxD2;

FIG. 18 is a diagram describing another function for restricting communication functions, provided at the wireless control section TxD2;

FIG. 19 is a diagram describing yet another function for restricting functions, provided at the wireless control section;

FIG. 20 is a diagram describing a local geography of a location visited with a digital camera according to the present invention to take images;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image taking processing performed by the CPU and the power control section inside the digital camera and a procedure of data transmission under the transmitting mode when taking images at the location shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a digital camera equipped with a lens unit 2a that is provided with an image taking optical system and an image pickup device, and which generates image data, and a main body unit 2b, to which the lens unit 2a is detachably mounted, that receives image data from the lens unit 2a to perform image processing;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electrical system when a lens unit 1a is mounted onto a camera main body 1b;

FIG. 24 is a diagram describing a configuration of multiple contact points provided at both mount sections of the head-side and the main body-side;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a planer representation of both contact points for describing the rotational operation;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a screen in a case in which a camera main body is provided with the same function as that shown in FIG. 4 and a setup menu is displayed on a display screen provided on the camera main body;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view (seen from the front) showing an image pickup apparatus and a wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view (seen from the rear) showing the image pickup apparatus and the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a configuration diagram of the image pickup apparatus and the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a power-on/off control processing of a wireless communication apparatus;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of wireless communication connection processing of the wireless communication apparatus;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of charge control processing of the wireless communication apparatus;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of image size conversion processing of the wireless communication apparatus;

FIG. 34 is a setting screen for image size conversion displayed on a display of an image pickup apparatus;

FIG. 35 shows a memory space configuration of the wireless communication apparatus (when not full);

FIG. 36 shows a memory space configuration of the wireless communication apparatus (when full); and

FIG. 37 shows a memory space configuration of the wireless communication apparatus (during overwriting).

Claims

1. A mobile device having a transmitting section that transmits data, the device comprising: a power operating section that performs power-on/off operations; anda power supply control section that supplies power to each section of the mobile device, including the transmitting section, which are activated when power is supplied, in response to a power-on operation by the power operating section, and cuts off supply of power to each section in response to a power-off operation by the power operating section,wherein when data is being transmitted by the transmitting section, the power supply control section causes the transmitting section to continue data transmission by continuously supplying power even when a power-off operation is received from the power operating section, and cuts off the power supply to the transmitting section upon completion of data transmission by the transmitting section.

2. A mobile device having a transmitting section that transmits data, the device comprising: a power operating section that performs power-on/off operations; anda power supply control section that supplies power to each section of the mobile device, including the transmitting section, which are activated when power is supplied, in response to a power-on operation by the power operating section, and cuts off supply of power to each section in response to a power-off operation by the power operating section,wherein the transmitting section commences data transmission in response to a power-off operation of the power operating section, andthe power supply control section causes the transmitting section to perform data transmission by supplying power thereto when receiving a power-off operation from the power operating section, and cuts off the power supply to the transmitting section upon completion of data transmission by the transmitting section.

3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply control section cuts off power supply to each section including the transmitting section in the event that data transmission is not performed by the transmitting section when a power-off operation by the power operating section is received.

4. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply control section maintains a cut-off state of power to the transmitting section in the event that no unsent data exists when a power-off operation by the power operating section is received.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a state transition notification section that notifies a user of a transition to a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

6. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising a state transition notification section that notifies a user of a transition to a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

7. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission completion notification section that notifies a user of a completion of data transmission in a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

8. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising a transmission completion notification section that notifies a user of a completion of data transmission in a transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation by the power operating section.

9. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission result notification section that detects, in response to a power-on operation of the power operating section, whether data transmission was performed by the transmitting section after the previous power-off operation of the power operating section, detects whether the data transmission is completed or not when the data transmission was performed, and notifies a user of a transmission result.

10. The mobile device according to claim 2, comprising a transmission result notification section that detects, in response to a power-on operation of the power operating section, whether data transmission was performed by the transmitting section after the previous power-off operation of the power operating section, detects whether the data transmission is completed or not when the data transmission was performed, and notifies a user of a transmission result.

11. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting section transmits data via wireless.

12. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting section transmits data via wireless.

13. The mobile device according to claim 11, further comprising a power saving control section that performs power saving while maintaining receiver sensitivity in the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the power-saving control section performs power saving by spreading a transmission and reception interval of probe signals used for searching communication destinations.

15. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the power-saving control section performs power saving by limiting frequencies used for communication.

16. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting section comprises a wireless communication antenna that is movable between a first position having a small volume of projection from a chassis of the mobile device and a second position having a large volume of projection from the chassis of the mobile device, and the mobile device comprises an antenna drive section that moves the antenna to the first position in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

17. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting section comprises an antenna having a fixed antenna primary radiating element and a movable antenna secondary element that controls at least a directivity of communication by the antenna primary radiating element, and the mobile device comprises an antenna drive section that moves the antenna secondary element so that the directivity of the communication by the antenna primary radiating element spreads in a direction that approximates omni-directivity, in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

18. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the transmitting section comprises a movable antenna that is movable between a first position having a small volume of projection from a chassis of the mobile device and a second position having a large volume of projection from the chassis of the mobile device and functions as an antenna at the second position, and a fixed antenna that is fixed to the chassis of the mobile device and is either built into the chassis or has a volume of projection from the chassis that is less than the volume of projection of the first antenna at the second position, and the mobile device comprises an antenna drive section that moves the movable antenna to the first position in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

19. The mobile device according to claim 11, further comprising a communication function limiting section that limits a communication function of the transmitting section, wherein the communication function limiting section lifts limitations on the communication function of the transmitting section in response to a transition to the transmission-during-power-off mode in which the transmitting section performs data transmission after a power-off operation of the power operating section.

20. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a device having a function of a digital camera that generates image data of a subject image in response to image taking operations.

21. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the mobile device is a device having a function of a digital camera that generates image data of a subject image in response to image taking operations.

22. The mobile device according to claim 20, wherein the transmitting section transmits all unsent image data in data transmission.

23. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising a lens unit having an image taking optical system and an image pickup device to generate image data, and a main body unit, to which the lens unit is detachably mounted, that receives image data from the lens unit to perform image processing.

24. The mobile device according to claim 2, further comprising a lens unit having an image taking optical system and an image pickup device to generate image data, and a main body unit, to which the lens unit is detachably mounted, that receives image data from the lens unit to perform image processing.

25. The mobile device according to claim 23, wherein the power operating section interprets a detachment of the lens unit from the main body unit as a power-off operation.

26. The mobile device according to claim 25, wherein the transmitting section suspends data transmission in response to a mounting of the lens unit when performing data transmission in a state in which the lens unit is detached from the main body unit.

27. A wireless communication apparatus provided with a mode selection switch that allows an image pickup apparatus that is a mobile device to select any of a plurality of operating modes, an image pickup apparatus-side battery and a power switch, the wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on the image pickup apparatus, and the wireless communication apparatus comprising: a wireless communication processing section that performs transmission and reception processing of image data with an external device;a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power;an operating mode determination section that determines what operating mode is selected by the mode selection switch; anda first power control section that suspends power supply from the wireless communication apparatus-side battery to the wireless communication processing section according to an operating mode determined by the operating mode determination section.

28. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising: an attachment/detachment determination section that determines attachment to or detachment from the image pickup apparatus;a switchover state determination section that determines whether the power switch is turned on or off;a wireless communication state detection section that detects whether wireless communication is being executed; anda second power control section that, when either detachment from the image pickup apparatus is detected by the attachment/detachment determination section or the power switch is detected to be turned off by the switchover state determination section, maintains power supply to the wireless communication processing section as long as execution of wireless communication is being detected by the wireless communication state detection section, and suspends power supply when the execution of wireless communication is no longer detected.

29. A wireless communication apparatus provided with a mode selection switch that allows an image pickup apparatus that is a mobile device to select any of a plurality of operating modes, an image pickup apparatus-side battery and a power switch, the wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on the image pickup apparatus, and the wireless communication apparatus comprising: an attachment/detachment determination section that determines attachment to or detachment from the image pickup apparatus;an operating mode determination section that determines what operating mode is selected by the mode selection switch;a wireless communication processing section that performs transmission and reception processing of image data to an external device;a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power;a switchover state determination section that determines whether the power switch is turned on or off;a first remaining battery level monitoring section that monitors a remaining battery level of the image pickup apparatus-side battery;a second remaining battery level monitoring section that monitors a remaining battery level of the wireless communication apparatus-side battery; anda charging control section that executes charging from the image pickup apparatus-side battery to the wireless communication apparatus-side battery either when the power switch is detected to be turned off by the switchover state determination section, in the event that mounting to the image pickup apparatus is detected by the attachment/detachment determination section, a remaining battery level exceeding a predetermined level is detected by the first remaining battery level monitoring section and the second remaining battery level monitoring section detects that the wireless communication apparatus-side battery is not fully charged, or when the power switch is detected to be turned on by the switchover state determination section and a selection of an operating mode other than an image taking mode that performs image taking is detected by the operating mode determination section.

30. A wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on an image retaining apparatus that retains image data and serves as a mobile device, the wireless communication apparatus comprising: an inter-apparatus communication section that, in a mounted state to the image retaining apparatus, receives image data from the image retaining apparatus;an image data storage section that stores image data received from the inter-apparatus communication section;an image size conversion section that converts image size of image data stored in the image data storage section; anda wireless communication section that performs wireless transmission of image data converted by the image size conversion section to an external device.

31. A wireless communication apparatus detachably mounted when necessary on an image pickup apparatus that retains image data and serves as a mobile device, the wireless communication apparatus comprising: an inter-apparatus communication section that, in a mounted state to the image pickup apparatus, receives image data from the image pickup apparatus;an operation type selection section that selects whether an operation will be performed as a memory operation that stores image data or as a wireless communication operation that transmits image data to an external device;an image data storage section that stores image data received by the inter-apparatus communication section;a memory management section that prohibits overwriting of image data on the image data storage section when a memory operation is selected by the operation type selection section and allows overwriting of image data on the image data storage section when a wireless communication operation is selected by the operation type selection section; anda wireless communication section that performs wireless transmission of image data stored in the image data storage section to an external device when a wireless communication operation is selected by the operation type selection section.

32. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

33. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

34. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power, wherein the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

35. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a wireless communication apparatus-side battery that supplies power, wherein the wireless communication section is provided with a function to perform wireless communication when separated from the image pickup apparatus.

36. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.

37. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.

38. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.

39. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the image pickup apparatus by an interface based on the IEEE 1394 standard or an interface based on the USB standard.