Digital camera

A digital camera is provided that includes a camera body and a monitor device. The camera body includes an imaging module, an image stabilization module, a first connector half and a first wireless communication module. The monitor device is detachable from the camera body and includes a monitor, a second connector half complemental to the first connector half and a second wireless communication module complemental to the first wireless communication module. An operation of the image stabilization module is suspended when monitor device is detached from the camera body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital camera with a detachable monitor.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, digital cameras are provided with a monitor that is used to display a captured image or a through-the-lens image (a live preview image). In certain such cameras, a monitor is configured to be rotatable with respect to the camera body via a rotating mechanism, such as a hinge. Further, a digital camera with a monitor being made detachable from the camera body is also provided in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-261697.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the other hand, recent digital cameras often include functions that consume large amounts of energy, such as a shake reduction system or an image stabilization system, etc. Of course it is preferable to suspend large energy consuming functions, such as the shake reduction system, when their use is not required.

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide effective power saving features to a monitor-detachable digital camera configured with an image stabilization system.

According to the present invention, a digital camera is provided that includes a camera body and a monitor device. The camera body includes an imaging module, an image stabilization module, a first connector half and a first wireless communication module. The monitor device is detachable from the camera body and includes a monitor, a second connector half complemental to the first connector half, and a second wireless communication module complemental to the first wireless communication module. An operation of the image stabilization module is suspended when the monitor device is detached from the camera body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1is a block diagram schematically illustrating the general structure of a digital camera to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The digital camera10includes a camera body11and a monitor device12. The monitor device is configured to be detachable from the camera body11. When the monitor device12is attached to the camera body11, the camera body11and the monitor device12are electrically connected to each other via a connector13, which is composed of a pair of connector halves13A and13B. Namely, image data (i.e., data of a through-the-lens image or still image) and control signals are transmitted/received between the camera body11and the monitor device12via the connector13. On the other hand, when the monitor device12is detached from the camera body11, the above-mentioned data and signals are transmitted/received through wireless communications by wireless communication modules14and15provided on each side of the camera body11and monitor device12. Note that the wireless communications may include wireless light communications or the like, while wireless radio communications may be preferable.

In the camera body11, an image sensor19captures an object image through a lens system16, an aperture17and a shutter18. The image captured by the image sensor19is fed to a digital signal processor (DSP)20where predetermined image processing is performed. Further, the image data is temporarily stored in memory21and also fed to a digital signal processor (DSP)22of the monitor device via the connector13or the wireless communication modules14and15. The image data received by the digital signal processor (DSP)22is stored in memory23of the monitor device12. At the same time, the received image may also be displayed on an LCD or monitor24of the monitor device12. Note that the image stored in the memory21can also be recorded onto an external recording medium25, such as a memory card or the like, if desired.

Further, the camera body11of the present embodiment is configured with an anti-shake mechanism, which is driven by an anti-shake driver26, to provide shake reduction or image stabilization functionality. In the example ofFIG. 1, a sensor-shift type is chosen as the anti-shake mechanism, however, a lens-based type or any other type of image stabilization system or module may also be applied.

In the present embodiment, the optical system including the lens system16, aperture17, shutter18and so on, is controlled by a lens driver27. Further, the anti-shake driver26and the lens driver27are controlled by the digital signal processor20. Manipulation switch groups28and29provided on each of the camera body11and the monitor device12are connected to the digital signal processors (DSPs)20and22, respectively. Each of the digital signal processors (DSPs)20and22performs various types of processes based on the manipulation of switches in the manipulation switch groups28and29. Note that instead of or in addition to the manipulation switch group29, a touchscreen may be applied to the LCD24.

With reference toFIG. 2, a power-saving operation carried out by the digital camera10of the present embodiment will be explained.

While the monitor device12is detached from the camera body11, the digital camera10of the present embodiment is very likely fixed to a tripod or positioned on a table or other flat service. Therefore, in such a situation the shake-reduction or image-stabilization function or module may preferably be automatically suspended or turned off to save electrical power.

On the other hand, when the monitor device12is attached to the camera body11, it may be preferable to suspend or turn off either or both of the wireless communication modules14and15to conserve electric power since wireless communications are normally not required in either the camera body11or monitor device12in such situations. However, the wireless communication module14of the camera body11may carry out wireless communications with a device other than the monitor device12, therefore in the present embodiment only the wireless communication module15of the monitor device12is automatically turned off when the monitor device12is attached to the camera body11. Note that in the present embodiment, the wireless communication module14of the camera body11in this situation can be either turned on or off in accordance with a user's selection.

The power saving operation described inFIG. 2is repeatedly carried out by the digital signal processor20of the camera body11at a predetermined time interval. In Step S100, whether or not the shake reduction or image stabilization function mode is preset to the ON-state is determined. Note that the shake reduction function mode can be optionally set by a user by manipulating an operational member (not shown), such that the shake reduction function mode can be set to either of the ON-state or the OFF-state. When it is determined that the shake reduction function mode is set to the OFF-state, the status of the shake reduction function is altered from the ON-state to the OFF-state or maintained in the OFF-state if the OFF-state has already been selected, thereby disabling the shake reduction function. Namely, the electric power supply to the anti-shake driver26or the shake reduction module is suspended and the power-saving operation processes terminate.

On the other hand, when it is determined in Step S100that the shake reduction or image stabilization function mode is set to the ON-state, whether or not the monitor device (LCD unit)12is attached to the camera body11is determined in Step S102. The method for detecting the attachment of the monitor device12to the camera body11will be detailed later with reference toFIG. 3. When attachment of the monitor device12has not been detected in Step S102, wireless data transmission via the wireless communication modules14and15is activated in Step S107and the shake reduction function is disabled in Step S108, as described above, such that the electric power supplied to the anti-shake driver or the shake reduction module is suspended. Thus, the shake reduction operation controlled by the anti-shake driver is forcibly terminated along with the power saving operation. Note that any operations of manipulation switch group28of the camera body11may also be disabled at the same time while enabling operations of the manipulation switch group29of the monitor device12, which has been detached from the camera body11. For example, when the attachment of the monitor device12is not detected, a flag representing the prohibition of inputs from the manipulation switch group28to the digital signal processor (DSP)20may be raised in the DSP20.

On the other hand, when it is determined in Step S102that the monitor device12is attached to the camera body11, either the ON-state of the shake-reduction or image-stabilization function is maintained or the status is altered from the OFF-state to the ON-state so that the shake-reduction or image-stabilization function is enabled in Step S104. Namely, the electric power supplied to the anti-shake driver26is either maintained or started. Further, the wireless communication module15of the monitor device (LCD unit)12is either altered from the ON-state to the OFF-state or maintained in the OFF-state, and in turn, this power saving operation terminates.

With reference toFIG. 3, structures for detecting the attachment of the monitor device12in the present embodiment will be explained. In the present embodiment, the attachment of the monitor device12is detected through the terminal connection in the connector13.

FIG. 3schematically shows the connection of terminals in the connector13, which is used for detection of the attachment status of the monitor device12. Although there are a number of terminals provided in the connector13, only three of them are described inFIG. 3in this example. InFIG. 3, the connector half13B of the monitor device12is connected to the connector half13A of the camera body11.

A terminal of the connector half13B that is used to detect the attachment of the monitor device12to the camera body11is connected to the ground while the voltage of the complementary terminal of the connector half13A of the camera body11is pulled up via a pull-up resistor R connected to a terminal of the digital signal processor (DSP)20that is assigned to the above detection. Namely, when the monitor device12is detached from the camera body11and the connector halves13A and13B are disconnected, the voltage of the detection terminal of the digital signal processor (DSP)20is kept high. On the other hand, when the monitor device12is attached to the camera body11and the connector halves13A and13B are connected, the detection terminal of the digital signal processor (DSP)20is connected to the ground and the voltage level of the detection terminal is changed to low. Namely, the digital signal processor (DSP)20determines the attachment status of the monitor device12by determining whether the voltage of the detection terminal is high or low.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electrical power consumption of a monitor-detachable digital camera provided with a shake reduction system or an image stabilization system is reduced by suspending the shake reduction operation when the monitor device is detached form the camera body. And by suspending the power supply to a wireless communication module when the monitor device is attached to the camera body, electrical power consumption is further reduced.

Note that the digital camera in this embodiment may include either a digital still camera or a digital video camera.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, obviously many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in this art without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-227619 (filed on Oct. 7, 2010), which is expressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.