Abstract:
A recording apparatus includes a detector detecting a voltage of a battery. A first sensing processor senses a recording operation. A recorder executes a recording process according to the recording operation. A second sensing processor senses a predetermined operation other than the recording operation. A processor executes a predetermined process according to the predetermined operation. A first controller executes the predetermined process when the predetermined operation is sensed during a time a power fed from the power feeding device is being received. A second controller prohibits the recording process if the voltage of the battery is smaller than a predetermined threshold value when the recording operation is sensed during a time the power fed from the power feeding device is being received, and executes the recording process if the voltage of the battery is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value when the recording operation is sensed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-284582, which was filed on Dec. 27, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly, relates to a recording apparatus which is provided with a power receiving portion for receiving a power fed from a power feeding device and which operates based on a power fed from the power feeding device or a power supplied from a battery. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    One example of this type of apparatus includes an information apparatus fed with a power from a USB, in which it is determined whether or not a battery is in an over-discharge state, and when it is determined that a current state is the over-discharge state, the battery is charged via a connected power source having a small power capacity, and after a main body is charged up to a voltage level enabling the main body to activate with the battery, the main body is activated with the battery. 
         [0006]    However, in the above-described apparatus, it is not assumed that a recording process, etc., are executed in the main body apparatus based on the power supplied from an external power source. Naturally, there is not provided a countermeasure in any way against a situation where it is not possible any more to continue the recording process when the battery charge is insufficient due to a stop of the power supply from the external power source during the execution of the recording process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the present invention, a recording apparatus which is provided with a power receiving portion for receiving a power fed from a power feeding device and which operates based on the power supplied from a battery or the power feeding device, said apparatus comprises: a detector which detects a voltage of the battery; a first sensing processor which senses a recording operation; a recorder which executes a recording process according to the recording operation; a second sensing processor which senses a predetermined operation other than the recording operation; a processor which executes a predetermined process according to the predetermined operation; a first controller which executes the predetermined process when the predetermined operation is sensed by the second sensing processor during a time that a power fed from the power feeding device is being received; and a second controller which prohibits the recording process if the voltage of the battery is smaller than a predetermined threshold value when the recording operation is sensed by the first detector during a time that the power fed from the power feeding device is being received, and executes the recording process if the voltage of the battery is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value when the recording operation is sensed by the first sensing processor. 
         [0008]    According to the present invention, a recording apparatus which is provided with a power receiving portion for receiving a power fed from a power feeding device and which operates based on the power supplied from a battery or the power feeding device, said apparatus comprises: a first voltage detector which detects a fed voltage when an apparatus main body is fed with a power from a power feeding device; a second voltage detector which detects a voltage of the battery, a controller which controls the first voltage detector and the second voltage detector, wherein the controller controls so that detection of the voltage fed by the first voltage detector and detection of the voltage of the battery in the second voltage detector are executed when the apparatus main body is receiving the power fed from the power feeding device. 
         [0009]    According to the present invention, a recording apparatus which is provided with a power receiving portion for receiving a power fed from a power feeding device and which operates based on the power supplied from a battery or the power feeding device, said apparatus causing a processor of a recording device to execute: a detecting step of detecting a voltage of the battery; 
         [0010]    a first sensing step of sensing a recording operation; a recording step of executing a recording process according to the recording operation; a second sensing step of sensing a predetermined operation other than the recording operation; 
         [0011]    a step of executing a predetermined process according to the predetermined operation; a first controlling step of executing the predetermined process when the predetermined operation is sensed by the second sensing step during a time that a power fed from the power feeding device is being received; and a second controlling step of prohibiting the recording process if the voltage of the battery is smaller than a predetermined threshold value when the recording operation is sensed by the first detecting step during a time that the power fed from the power feeding device is being received, and executing the recording process if the voltage of the battery is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value when the recording operation is sensed by the first sensing step. 
         [0012]    The above described characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing one portion of a basic configuration of a circuit of a digital movie camera  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a relationship between an internal voltage and an output voltage of a USB mobile power source  32  according to this embodiment, and a time period; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing one example of a procedure controlled by the digital movie camera  1  according to this embodiment; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing another example of a procedure controlled by the digital movie camera  1  according to this embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Hereinafter, as one embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention, a mode in which a digital movie camera  1  is implemented is specifically described with reference to drawings. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of the digital movie camera  1  of this embodiment. A lens unit  12  includes a lens group including an optical lens and an aperture, and is connected to an internal circuit unit  14  including a CMOS imager unit and a signal processing circuit. One frame of an optical image of a primary subject is taken into the internal circuit unit  14  through the lens unit  12 . The lens unit  12 , the internal circuit unit  14 , and an SDRAM  8  are connected to a CPU  16 . 
         [0019]    Inside the internal circuit unit  14 , various processes are performed on the taken optical image of the primary subject, and the resultant image is converted in one frame of a digital image signal in Y, U, and V formats. The converted digital image signal is stored in the SDRAM  18 . Such a process in which the optical image of the primary subject is subjected to the various processes after which it is stored in the SDRAM  18  is defined as an imaging process. 
         [0020]    It is possible to output the digital image signal stored in the SDRAM  18 , by control of the CPU  16 , to an LCD  20 . The LCD  20  includes an LCD driver not shown, and the LCD driver converts the Y, U, and V signals into an RGB signal, and is capable of causing the LCD  20  to display an image based on the digital image signal. Thus, the process that lasts up to the digital image signal stored in the SDRAM  18  being displayed, as the image, on the LCD  20  is defined as a displaying process. 
         [0021]    Moreover, as a result of the imaging process and the displaying process being sequentially repeated, a live view image is displayed on the LCD  20 . It is noted that in this embodiment, a mode in which the LCD  20  is adopted as the monitor is described, however, a display device such as an organic EL may be adopted. 
         [0022]    An operation portion  22  includes a menu operation portion  22   a,  a release operation portion  22   b,  and a mode-selection operation portion  22   c,  and may include a cursor key, etc. 
         [0023]    When the menu operation portion  22   a  is operated, a menu screen is displayed on the LCD  20 . A user selects a desired item, from among a plurality of items displayed on the menu screen. A desired value is set to the selected desired item. For example, as the desired item, when an “image size” is selected, a plurality of options of an aspect ratio (4:3, 16:9, etc.,) and an image size (4 M, 3 M, etc.) are displayed on the LCD  20 , and when the user selects the desired value, the value is set to the image size. 
         [0024]    When the mode-selection operation portion  22   c  is operated by a user, it is possible to select any one of a still-image photographing mode, a moving-image photographing mode, and a reproduction mode, which are some of a plurality of modes provided in the digital movie camera  1 . 
         [0025]    When the still-image photographing mode is selected as a result of the mode-selection operation portion  22   c  being operated, the live view image is displayed on the LCD  20 . When the release operation portion  22   b  is operated by the user in a state where the live view image is being displayed on the LCD  20 , the above-described imaging process is executed once, based on a resolution for a still image photograph. 
         [0026]    The CPU  16  is connected to a memory card interface  24 , and a memory card  26  is connected to the memory card interface  24 . Depending on an operation on the release operation portion  22   b,  the memory card interface  24  is controlled so that a still image file is opened on the memory card  26  and a still-image temporary file for storing management information for creating the still image file is created on the memory card  26 . The digital image signal stored in the SDRAM  18  is subjected to a compression process in a JPEG format, by the CPU  16 , and the resultant signal is stored, as one frame of still-image compressed data, on the SDRAM  18 . 
         [0027]    Then, the CPU  16  stores the one frame of still-image compressed data into the still image file, and when the still image file is closed by using the management information stored in the still-image temporary file, the still image file is created on the memory card  26 . 
         [0028]    When the moving-image photographing mode is selected by the mode-selection operation portion  22   c,  the live view image is displayed on the LCD  20 . 
         [0029]    When the release operation portion  22   b  is operated by the user in a state where the live view image is being displayed on the LCD  20  thereby to instruct to start photographing a moving image, the above-described imaging process is sequentially executed, based on a resolution for photographing a moving image. Depending on the operation on the release operation portion  22 , the CPU  16  controls the memory card interface  24  so that a moving image file is opened on the memory card  26  and a moving-image temporary file is created on the memory card  26 . The moving-image temporary file stores therein write information of the compressed moving image data, synchronization information between the compressed moving image data and compressed audio data, when there is compressed audio data, and information such as a date, which are management information for creating the moving image file. The plurality of digital image signals stored in the SDRAM  18  are subjected to a compression process in the MPEG4 format by the CPU  16 , and the compressed moving image data is again stored in the SDRAM  18 . Then, the compressed moving image data is sequentially stored into the moving image file of the memory card  26 . 
         [0030]    Until it is instructed to end the moving image photograph, the above-described process is repeated. Examples of the instruction to end the moving image photograph include the release operation portion  22   b  being operated, or an end instruction by the CPU  16  itself due to an insufficient remaining amount of a battery  34 . When the instruction to end the moving image photograph is applied, the CPU  16  executes a moving-image photograph ending process on the moving image file by using the management information for creating the moving image file stored in the moving-image temporary file, in order to end the moving image photograph. Specifically, the compressed moving image data and the compressed audio data are made to synchronize each other upon reproduction, a recording time of the moving image file is recorded, and header information is updated. When the moving-image photograph ending process is executed, the moving image file is recorded normally in the memory card  26 , and this allows the CPU  16  to recognize the moving image file upon reproduction. 
         [0031]    When the reproduction mode is selected by the mode-selection operation portion  22   c,  and a desired still image file or moving image file is selected, the CPU  16  controls the memory card interface  24  so that the still image file or the moving image file is reproduced from the memory card  26 . A reproducing process includes a process in which the selected file is decompressed and the processed image is displayed as an image on the LCD  20 . 
         [0032]    It is noted that the digital movie camera  1  is provided with a power-source control circuit  28 . The power-source control circuit  28  is connected, via a USB terminal  30  that functions also as an external power-source terminal, to a USB mobile power source  32 . Furthermore, the power-source control circuit  28  is connected to the battery  34 . The power-source control circuit  28  is provided with a switch SW 1 , and the switch SW 1  is switched between the USB mobile power source  32  and the battery  34 , as a target to which a power is supplied, during the operation of the digital movie camera  1 . 
         [0033]    When the digital movie camera  1  is connected to the USB mobile power source  32 , the digital movie camera  1  is operated by using the power supplied from the USB mobile power source  32 , while charging the battery  34  by using the power supplied from the USB mobile power source  32 . When the digital movie camera  1  is not connected to the USB mobile power source  32  or not fed with the power from the USB mobile power source  32 , the digital movie camera  1  is operated by the power supplied from the battery  34 . 
         [0034]    It is noted that when the battery  34  is fully charged, or when the power from the USB mobile power source  32  stops, the connection between the USB mobile power source  32  and the battery  34  is released. 
         [0035]    The CPU  16  is also connected to the power-source control circuit  28  and the battery  34 , and is configured to be capable of detecting the voltage in the power supplied from the USB mobile power source  32  and the voltage corresponding to the remaining amount of the battery  34 . 
         [0036]    It is noted that although in this embodiment, the USB mobile power source  32  is adopted as the target to which the power from the digital movie camera  1  is supplied, the power may be supplied by connecting a USB AC adaptor to the USB terminal  30 . In this case, when this embodiment is applied to an accident in which the connection of the AC adaptor is suddenly released, it is possible to prevent an error from occurring in the recording process. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2(A)  shows a characteristic of an output voltage to the digital movie camera  1  of the USB mobile power source  32 , and  FIG. 2(B)  shows a characteristic of an internal voltage of the USB mobile power source  32 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 2(A) , the output voltage of the USB mobile power source  32  is such that, if the power is continuously supplied to the digital movie camera  1 , then the output voltage reaches 0 at a time point t 1 , resulting in a sudden stop of power feeding. This occurs because, as shown in  FIG. 2(B) , if the power is continuously supplied to the digital movie camera  1 , then the internal voltage of the USB mobile power source  32  falls below a prescribed voltage for outputting 5V at the time point t 1 . However, although the CPU  16  is capable of detecting the output voltage of the USB mobile power source  32 , the CPU  16  is not capable of detecting the internal voltage of the USB mobile power source  32 , and therefore, it is necessary to introduce a measures against a case where the power is suddenly not fed any more. 
         [0039]    Accordingly, when the connection between the digital movie camera  1  and the USB mobile power source  32  is released, or when the power is suddenly not fed any more to the digital movie camera  1 , and as a result, a power-feeding source is switched so that the power is fed from the battery  34  to the digital movie camera  1 , if the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, then there occurs an error that it is not possible to continue the operation of the digital movie camera  1 . A specific case is as follows: when connection of the USB mobile power source  32  is released during the moving image photograph, or when the power is suddenly not fed any more, and the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, the power for operating the digital movie camera  1  is insufficient, probably resulting in a case where the moving image file on the memory card  26  is lost. That is, the moving-image photograph ending process is not performed normally, and as a result, the CPU  16  may not be able to recognize the moving image file. 
         [0040]    Therefore, in the digital movie camera  1  of this embodiment, the CPU  16  executes the following control in order to avoid the above-described situation.
   (1) In a case where the power is supplied from the USB mobile power source  32  and the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, an operation other than the moving image photograph (a reproduction, a menu setting, etc.) is allowed to operate.   (2) In a case where the power is supplied from the USB mobile power source  32  and the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient if a moving-image photograph starting operation is performed by the release operation portion  22   b  being operated, a message, an icon, or a symbol indicating that the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient is displayed on the LCD  20 , and the moving image photograph is not performed.   (3) In a case where the power is supplied from the USB mobile power source  32  and the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, the moving image photograph is enabled at a time point when the voltage of the battery  34  exceeds a threshold value.   (4) In a case where the remaining amount of the battery  34  is decreased during the moving image photograph, the moving-image photograph ending process is performed even if the USB mobile power source  32  is connected.   
 
         [0045]    In the preceding (4), it is noted that a reason why the remaining amount of the battery  34  is decreased during the moving image photograph may be that, as a result of an optical lens moving or an operation such as a still image photograph being frequently performed, a power consumption becomes higher than the power supplied from the USB mobile power source  32 , resulting in a decrease in remaining amount of the battery  34 . 
         [0046]    Subsequently, by using flowcharts shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , a procedure executed by the CPU  16 , including the above-described control operations (1) to (4), is described. These processes are realized as a result of the CPU  16  executing a program stored in a flash memory not shown. 
         [0047]    When a power source is turned on, in a step S 1 , it is determined whether or not the power is externally fed. When YES is determined in the step S 1 , that is, when the power is fed from USB mobile power source  32 , the process proceeds to a step S 2  so as to raise a power supply source flag (Batt_EXT&lt;−1). Next, the process proceeds to a step S 3  so as to determine whether or not the battery  34  is installed. When YES is determined in the step S 3 , the process proceeds to a step S 5 , and when NO is determined, the process proceeds to a step S 4 . In the step S 4 , the battery flag is lowered (BAT&lt;−0), and the process proceeds to a step S 25 . 
         [0048]    In the step S 5 , it is determined whether or not the battery  34  is fully charged. That is, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the battery  34  satisfies a predetermined value. When YES is determined, the process proceeds to a step S 7  so as to raise a battery flag (BAT&lt;−1). When NO is determined in the step S 5 , the process proceeds to a step S 9  so as to cause the battery  34  to start charging. Subsequently, the process proceeds to a step S 11  so as to determine whether or not the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient. That is, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the battery  34  falls below a threshold value. 
         [0049]    In the step S 11 , when it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, the process proceeds to a step S 13  so as to lower the battery flag (BAT&lt;−0). On the other hand, in the step S 11 , when it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery  34  is not insufficient, the process proceeds to a step S 15  so as to raise the battery flag (BAT&lt;−1). 
         [0050]    After the processes in the steps S 13  and S 15 , the process proceeds to a step S 17  to determine whether or not the battery  34  completes charging, that is, to determine whether not the voltage of the battery  34  satisfies the predetermined value, and when YES is determined, the process proceeds to a step S 19  so as to control the power-source control circuit  28  so that charging the battery  34  is stopped. 
         [0051]    Then, when No is determined in the step S 17 , and after the process in the step S 7 , the process proceeds to the step S 25 . 
         [0052]    When NO is determined in the step S 1 , that is, when the power is not fed from the USB mobile power source  32 , the process proceeds to a step S 21  so as to lower the power supply source flag (Batt_EXT &lt;−0). Examples of a case where it is determined that the power is not fed externally include a case where, in this embodiment, the power is not fed from the USB mobile power source  32 , that is, a case where the USB mobile power source  32  and the digital movie camera  1  are not connected, or a case where the power supplied from the USB mobile power source  32  is stopped. 
         [0053]    Subsequently, the process proceeds to a step S 23  to determine whether or not the reaming amount of the batter  34  is insufficient. When YES is determined, the present procedure is ended. 
         [0054]    When NO is determined in the step S 23 , the process proceeds to the step S 25  in which an operation key scanning process is performed to determine whether or not the operation portion  22  is operated. When NO is determined in the step S 25 , that is, it is determined that the operation portion  22  is not operated, the process returns to the step S 1 . When YES is determined in the step S 25 , that is, when it is determined that the operation portion  22  is operated, the process proceeds to a step S 27  so as to determine the operation mode. 
         [0055]    Herein, when the moving-image photographing mode is selected by the mode-selection operation portion  22   c,  the moving-image photographing mode is determined in the step S 27 , and the process proceeds to a step S 29 . On the other hand, when the still-image photograph mode or the reproduction mode is selected by the mode-selection operation portion  22   c  or when the menu operation portion  22   a  is operated, the process proceeds to a step S 31  so as to execute a process corresponding to the selected mode, and then, the process returns to the step S 1 . Herein, the description for the process for the selected mode will be omitted. 
         [0056]    In the step S 29 , it is determined whether or not an instruction to start the moving image photograph is applied, based on the release operation portion  22   b  being operated. When NO is determined, the process proceeds to a step S 41 , and when YES is determined, the process proceeds to a step S 33 . In the step S 33 , it is determined whether or not the supply source flag is lowered (Batt_EXT =0?). When YES is determined in the step S 33 , or when the power is not fed from the USB mobile power source  32 , the process proceeds to a step S 37  so as to start the moving image photograph. This is because when the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient in the step S 23 , the present procedure has been ended, and thus, when the process has entered the step S 37 , it is possible to perform the moving image photograph because the remaining amount of the battery  34  is not insufficient. 
         [0057]    When NO is determined in the step S 33 , that is, when the power is fed from the USB mobile power source  32 , the process proceeds to a step S 35  so as to determine whether or not the battery flag is lowered (BAT=0?). When NO is determined in this step, that is, when the remaining amount of the battery  34  is large, the process proceeds to the step S 37  so as to start the moving image photograph, and then, the process proceeds to the step S 41 . 
         [0058]    When YES is determined in the step S 35 , that is, when the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, the process proceeds to a step S 39  so as to warn the user by, for example, displaying on the LCD  20 , a message, an icon, or an symbol indicating that the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, and then, the process proceeds to the step S 41 . 
         [0059]    In this way, when the power is fed from the USB mobile power source  32 , and when the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, a warning about the remaining amount of the battery  34  is issued and the moving image photograph is not started. 
         [0060]    In the step S 41 , it is determined whether or not the current situation is a situation where the moving image is being photographed. When NO is determined in the step S 41 , the process returns to the step S 1 , and when YES is determined, the process proceeds to a step S 43 . In the step S 43 , it is determined whether or not the supply source flag is lowered (Batt_EXT =0?). When YES is determined in the step S 43 , that is, when the power is not fed from the USB mobile power source  32 , the process proceeds to a step S 45  so as to determine whether or not the battery flag is lowered (BAT=0?). 
         [0061]    When YES is determined in the step S 45 , that is, when the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, the process proceeds to a step S 47  so as to end the moving image photograph, and then, the process returns to the step S 1 . 
         [0062]    When YES is determined in the step S 43 , and when NO is determined in the step S 45 , the process proceeds to a step S 49  so as to determine whether or not an operation for ending the moving image photograph is performed based on the release operation portion  22   b  being operated. When NO is determined in the step S 49 , the process returns to the step S 1 , and when YES is determined, the process proceeds to a step S 51  so as to end the moving image photograph, and then, the process returns to the step S 1 . 
         [0063]    Thus, the moving image photograph is ended if there is a possibility that even when the USB mobile power source  32  is connected, the remaining amount of the battery  34  is decreased during the moving image photograph so that the power insufficient state may ensue. 
         [0064]    As described above, the digital movie camera  1  according to this embodiment operates by using the power supplied from the USB mobile power source  32 . 
         [0065]    In a case where the operation for the moving image photograph is performed in a state where the USB mobile power source  32  is connected, if the remaining amount of the battery  34  is insufficient, a message indicating an insufficient remaining amount of the battery  34  is displayed on the LCD  20 , rather than executing the moving image photograph. Therefore, when the power is supplied only from the battery  34  to the digital movie camera  1  as a result of a sudden connection release of the USB mobile power source  32  or a sudden stop of power supplied from the USB mobile power source  32 , it is possible to avoid a deletion of a moving-image photograph file that could occur as a result of the digital movie camera  1  not being able to operate due to an insufficient remaining amount of the battery  34 . 
         [0066]    Furthermore, the start of the moving image photograph is accepted at a time point when the charge level of the battery  34  is sufficient, and thus, it is possible for the user to photograph without worries. 
         [0067]    Moreover, there is a case where when the remaining amount of the battery  34  is decreased during the photograph, the power is supplied only from the battery  34  to the digital movie camera  1  as a result of a sudden connection cancellation of the USB mobile power source  32  or a sudden stop of power from the USB mobile power source  32 , even if the power is supplied from the USB mobile power source  32 . In this case, if the moving-image photograph ending process is performed, it is still possible to avoid a deletion of a moving-image photograph file that could occur as a result of the digital movie camera  1  not being able to operate due to an insufficient remaining amount of the battery  34 . 
         [0068]    It is noted that in this embodiment, the above-described control operation (4) is performed in the CPU  16 ; however, when the remaining amount of the battery  34  is decreased during the moving image photograph, it may be possible to issue a warning, for example, indicating the remaining amount of the battery  34  to the user, even when the USB mobile power source  32  is connected, rather than performing the moving-image photograph ending process. 
         [0069]    Moreover, in this embodiment, in the step S 39 , the notification is issued, which displays a message or a symbol on the LCD  20 , for example, in order to warn the user of the insufficiency of the remaining amount of the battery  34 ; however, a speaker may be provided so as to notify with voice. 
         [0070]    Furthermore, in this embodiment, as a result of execution of a program stored in the flash memory not shown in the digital movie camera  1 , the above-described procedure is executed; however, the above-described procedure may be executed by executing a program downloaded from outside. 
         [0071]    Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.