Image capture apparatus and control method

An image capture apparatus includes a charge control unit that stops charging a battery with power supplied from a power supply apparatus, a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage of the battery in a state where the charging of the battery is stopped, and a determining unit that determines whether the image capture apparatus is operable based on the detected voltage of the battery.

BACKGROUND

Field

Aspects of the disclosure generally relate to an image capture apparatus that charges a battery and a method for controlling the image capture apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

In a case where a circuit consuming large power is operated in an image capture apparatus that is operated by power from a battery, the image capture apparatus may run out of power while the circuit is operating and become inoperable during the operation thereof. To solve such an issue, a method in which a voltage drop that can occur in a case where the circuit is operated is estimated and the operation is regulated in advance has been proposed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-90735 discusses a method in which, before such a circuit consuming large power is operated, a battery voltage under no load and the battery voltage under load are acquired and voltage drop that can occur in a case where a predetermined operation is performed is estimated.

In the method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-90735, however, when the battery is connected to a battery charger, a charging voltage for charging the battery is added to the battery voltage, thus an accurate battery voltage is difficult to obtain. An electronic device cannot estimate a voltage drop that can occur in the case where the predetermined operation is performed with the current remaining amount of the battery, and the battery charger is suddenly disconnected, thereby causing interruption of the power supply. As a result, the electronic device stops the operation in a case where the image capture apparatus is inoperable only by power supplied from the battery.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the embodiments, an image capture apparatus and a method of controlling the image capture apparatus are improved.

According to an aspect of the embodiments, it is possible to reduce occurrence of a case where operation of the image capture apparatus is interrupted in the middle of the operation.

According to an aspect of the embodiments, an image capture apparatus includes a charge control unit that stops charging a battery with power supplied from a power supply apparatus, a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage of the battery in a state where the charging of the battery is stopped, and a determining unit that determines whether the image capture apparatus is operable based on the detected voltage of the battery.

According to an aspect of the embodiments, there is provided a method that includes stopping charging a battery from a power supply apparatus, detecting a voltage of the battery in a state where the charging of the battery is stopped, and determining whether an image capture apparatus is operable based on the detected voltage of the battery.

According to an aspect of the embodiments, there is provided a non-transitory storage medium that stores a program causing a computer to execute a method. The method includes stopping charging a battery from a power supply apparatus, detecting a voltage of the battery in a state where the charging of the battery is stopped, and determining whether an image capture apparatus is operable based on the detected voltage of the battery.

Further aspects of the embodiments will become apparent from the following embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, aspects of the disclosure are not limited to the following embodiments.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an example of components of an image capture apparatus100according to a first exemplary embodiment. The image capture apparatus100is an apparatus that acts as a digital camera or a digital video camera. The image capture apparatus100can be a smartphone, a tablet, a camera for industrial or medical use, and the like.

A system control unit101controls each of the components of the image capture apparatus100. A battery102is detachable from the image capture apparatus100, and supplies power to the components of the image capture apparatus100via a power source control unit103. The image capture apparatus100is operated by power supplied from the battery102. A power supply apparatus104is connectable to the image capture apparatus100and supplies power to the image capture apparatus100. A charging and power supply control unit105detects an apparatus connected to the image capture apparatus100. The charging and power supply control unit105also performs, based on power supplied from the power supply apparatus104, charging of the battery102, supplying power to the power source control unit103, or both.

In a case where a power button106is pressed when the power is not supplied to components of the image capture apparatus100, the power source control unit103performs control to start power supply to the components of the image capture apparatus100, and the system control unit101performs a start-up process of the image capture apparatus100. In a case where the power button106is pressed when the power is supplied to components of the image capture apparatus100, the power source control unit103performs control to stop the power supply to the components of the image capture apparatus100, and the system control unit101performs a shutdown process of the image capture apparatus100.

A voltage detecting unit108detects a voltage of the battery102. The power source control unit103monitors the voltage of the battery102detected by the voltage detecting unit108. When the voltage detecting unit108detects that the voltage of the battery102becomes less than or equal to a predetermined voltage, the power source control unit103instructs the system control unit101to perform the shutdown process. In response thereto, the system control unit101performs the shutdown process of the image capture apparatus100.

A dummy load unit107connects a dummy load to the battery102, thereby serving as a constant-current load circuit for the battery102. In a case where a circuit consuming a large current is operated in the image capture apparatus100, it is necessary to avoid the operation of the circuit from becoming unstable due to shortage of the power in the middle of the operation. Therefore, the dummy load unit107connects, to the battery102, the dummy load of the constant-current load circuit previously set to a predetermined value. The voltage detecting unit108detects voltage drop of the battery102caused by the dummy load. The system control unit101estimates, by the equation below, a value of the voltage drop in the case where the circuit consuming a large current is operated, from the value of the voltage drop caused by the dummy load and a load test coefficient:
(voltage drop)=(voltage drop caused by dummy load)×(load test coefficient)

The load test coefficient is determined based on how many times larger the power consumed in a case where the circuit consuming a large current is operated is than the power consumed by the dummy load. The load test coefficient is provided for each operation pattern in which large power is consumed and is stored in an internal memory122.

A shutter109includes an aperture function. A shutter driving unit110drives the shutter109. A zoom lens111can change an angle of field and magnification. A lens driving unit112drives the zoom lens111. The shutter driving unit110and the lens driving unit112are operated by power supplied from the power source control unit103. A light emission unit113is a supplemental light source used during image capturing, and includes a light amount control function. A light emission control unit114controls light to be emitted from the light emission unit113. The light emission unit113and the light emission control unit114are operated by power supplied from the power source control unit103.

An image capture unit115includes an image sensor116, and converts an optical image into an electric signal. An image processing unit117performs an analog signal process, such as a pixel interpolation process and a color conversion process, on a signal output from the image capture unit115. The image processing unit117also performs a predetermined calculation process on the signal output from the image capture unit115. The system control unit101performs, based on a result of the calculation process, an exposure control, a ranging control, a light emission control, an autofocusing (AF) process, an automatic exposure (AE) process, and an electronic flash preliminary emission (pre-flash) process. A timing signal generating unit118generates signals to operate the image capture unit115and the image processing unit117.

The image processing unit117converts the signal generated by the image capture unit115from an analog signal into a digital signal to generate still image data or moving image data. The system control unit101stores, in an external memory119, the still image data or the moving image data generated by the image processing unit117. The external memory119includes a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images or a moving image and sound for a predetermined time. The external memory119is detachable from the image capture apparatus100. The system control unit101superimposes predetermined information on the still image data or the moving image data stored by the external memory119as necessary, and supplies resultant data to a display unit120. The display unit120includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an organic electroluminescence (EL) panel, and displays the still image data or the moving image data supplied from the system control unit101.

A request from a user (e.g., request to image still image or moving image) is input from a user interface (UI) unit121to the system control unit101. The request to capture a still image or a moving image is input from the UI unit121to the system control unit101. In a case where the request to image a still image is input to the system control unit101, the image processing unit117converts the signal generated by the image capture unit115from an analog signal into a digital signal to generate still image data. The system control unit101stores the still image data in the external memory119and supplies the still image data to the display unit120.

In a case where the request to image a moving image is input to the system control unit101, the image processing unit117converts the signal generated by the image capture unit115from an analog signal into a digital signal, thereby generating moving image data. The system control unit101stores the moving image data in the external memory119or supplies the moving image data to the display unit120.

The internal memory122stores a constant, a variable, a program, etc. for operation of the system control unit101, and also stores a table123. The table123indicates a correspondence relationship between operating modes and load test coefficients, power consumptions, or necessary battery capacities.

FIG. 2is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed by the image capture apparatus100according to the first exemplary embodiment. When the image capture apparatus100transitions from the current operating mode to a predetermined operating mode while the battery102is charged, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102, detects the voltage of the battery102, performs a load test in the predetermined operating mode, and determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode.

In step S200, the battery102is connected to the image capture apparatus100. When the power button106is pressed, the power source control unit103supplies the power to components of the image capture apparatus100. The system control unit101then performs the start-up process of the image capture apparatus100.

In step S201, the image capture apparatus100starts up in an image capture mode (e.g., a still image capture mode).

In step S202, the charging and power supply control unit105waits until a power supply apparatus104that can perform charging is connected to the image capture apparatus100(NO in step S202). In a case where the power supply apparatus104is connected to the image capture apparatus100(YES in step S202), the power supply apparatus104can supply power to the image capture apparatus100, and the process proceeds to step S203.

In step S203, the charging and power supply control unit105starts charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply apparatus104, and supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to the power source control unit103. The power source control unit103then starts supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to the components of the image capture apparatus100.

In step S204, the system control unit101waits until a transition request for transitioning from the current operating mode to a predetermined operating mode is input from the UI unit121(NO in step S204). In a case where the transition request for transitioning to the predetermined operating mode is input from the UI unit121(YES in step S204), the process proceeds to step S205.

In step S205, the system control unit101performs a load test.

FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating the load test. In step S301, the charging and power supply control unit105stops charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply apparatus104.

In step S302, the charging and power supply control unit105does not supply a charging voltage to the battery102, and the dummy load unit107does not connect the constant-current load circuit to the battery102. The battery102is put into a state where the charging from the power supply apparatus104is stopped and the load circuit is not connected. In this state of the battery102, the voltage detecting unit108detects an unloaded voltage of the battery102.

In step S303, the dummy load unit107connects the constant-current load circuit to the battery102. The battery102is put into a state where the charging from the power supply apparatus104is stopped and the load circuit is connected.

In step S304, the voltage detecting unit108detects a loaded voltage of the battery102in the foregoing state of the battery102.

In step S305, the dummy load unit107disconnects the load circuit from the battery102.

In step S306, the charging and power supply control unit105resumes charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply apparatus104.

In step S307, the system control unit101acquires the unloaded voltage detected in step S302and the loaded voltage detected in step S304. The system control unit101then reads the load test coefficient corresponding to the predetermined operating mode from the table123stored in the internal memory122as illustrated inFIG. 4. The system control unit101then subtracts the loaded voltage from the unloaded voltage as illustrated by the equation below to obtain the value of “(voltage drop caused by dummy load)”. The system control unit101then multiplies the obtained value of “(voltage drop caused by dummy load)” by the load test coefficient as illustrated by the equation below to obtain an estimated voltage drop in the predetermined operating mode:
(estimated voltage drop)={(unloaded voltage)−(loaded voltage)}×(load test
coefficient)=(voltage drop caused by dummy load)×(load test coefficient)

As described above, the system control unit101multiplies a difference between the unloaded voltage and the loaded voltage by the load test coefficient to obtain a result of the multiplication as the estimated voltage drop.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the table123. The table123indicates a correspondence relationship between operating modes and load test coefficients. For example, items of the load test include a still image capture process, a read process of the image sensor116, a lens driving process, a light emission process of the light emission unit113, a display process of the display unit120, a moving image capture process, and a communication process.

Returning to the flowchart ofFIG. 3, in step S308, the system control unit101subtracts the estimated voltage drop obtained in step S307from the unloaded voltage detected in step S302based on the equation below, thereby obtaining an estimated battery voltage of the battery102in the predetermined operating mode:
(estimated battery voltage)=(unloaded voltage)−(estimated voltage drop)

As described above, the system control unit101acquires the difference between the unloaded voltage and the estimated voltage drop as the estimated battery voltage.

Returning to the flowchart ofFIG. 2, in step S206, the system control unit101functions as a determining unit and determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode, based on the estimated battery voltage obtained in step S308. For example, the system control unit101compares the estimated battery voltage obtained in step S308with an operable voltage (threshold) stored in the internal memory122. In a case where the estimated battery voltage is greater than the operable voltage (YES in step S206), the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode, and the process proceeds to step S208. In a case where the estimated battery voltage is less than or equal to the operable voltage (NO in step S206), the image capture apparatus100is not operable in the predetermined operating mode, and the process proceeds to step S207.

In step S208, the system control unit101transitions from the current operating mode to the predetermined operating mode based on the transition request input in step S204.

In step S207, the system control unit101does not transition to the predetermined operating mode, but rather notifies that the transition from the current operating mode to the predetermined operating mode cannot be performed. For example, the system control unit101displays, on the display unit120, a message indicating that the transition of the operating mode cannot be performed.

In the first exemplary embodiment, when the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102, detects the voltage of the battery102, and performs the load test in the predetermined operating mode, thereby determining whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode. Since the image capture apparatus100detects the voltage of the battery102while the charging of the battery102is stopped, it is possible to accurately detect the voltage, and thus improve estimation accuracy of the voltage of the battery102in the predetermined operating mode.

FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed by an image capture apparatus100according to a second exemplary embodiment. The flowchart ofFIG. 5is the same as the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 2except step S501added in the flowchart ofFIG. 2. Differences between the second exemplary embodiment and the first exemplary embodiment are described below. When the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode, the image capture apparatus100compares power consumption in the current operating mode with power consumption in the predetermined operating mode. Only in the case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is greater than the power consumption in the current operating mode, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102, detects the voltage of the battery102, performs the load test in the predetermined operating mode, and, as a result, determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode.

The image capture apparatus100performs the processes in step S200to S204in a manner similar to the first exemplary embodiment. In step S204, in the case where the transition request for transitioning to the predetermined operating mode is input (YES in step S204), the process proceeds to step S501.

In step S501, the system control unit101refers to the table123stored in the internal memory122and acquires the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode and the power consumption in the current operating mode. The table123illustrated inFIG. 4indicates the correspondence relationship between the operating modes and the load test coefficients. The table123illustrated inFIG. 6indicates the correspondence relationship between the operating modes and the power consumptions.

In a case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is greater than the power consumption in the current operating mode (YES in step S501), the process proceeds to step S205, and the system control unit101performs the processes in steps S205to S208in a manner similar to the first exemplary embodiment. For example, in a case where the image capture apparatus100transitions from a still image capture mode to a moving image capture mode, the power consumption in the moving image capture mode is greater than the power consumption in the still image capture mode as illustrated inFIG. 6, and thus the process proceeds to step S205.

In a case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is less than or equal to the power consumption in the current operating mode (NO in step S501), the system control unit101does not perform the load test in step S205, and the process proceeds to step S208. For example, in a case where the image capture apparatus100transitions from the still image capture mode to a reproduction mode, the power consumption in the reproduction mode is less than or equal to the power consumption in the still image capture mode as illustrated inFIG. 6. The system control unit101, thus, does not perform the load test in step S205, and the process proceeds to step S208. In step S208, the system control unit101transitions to the predetermined operating mode based on the transition request input in step S204.

In the second exemplary embodiment, when the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode, the image capture apparatus100compares the power consumption in the current operating mode with the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode. Only in the case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is greater than the power consumption in the current operating mode, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102, detects the voltage of the battery102, performs the load test in the predetermined operating mode, and, as a result, determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode.

While the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode at start-up of the image capture mode in the first and second exemplary embodiments, the image capture apparatus100can transition to the predetermined operating mode at start-up of another operating mode other than the image capture mode. Whereas the image capture apparatus100calculates the estimated battery voltage of the battery102in the predetermined operating mode by the calculation method inFIG. 3, other calculation methods can also be used.

FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed by an image capture apparatus100according to a third exemplary embodiment. Aspects of the third exemplary embodiment that differ from those of the first exemplary embodiment are described below. When the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode, the image capture apparatus100determines whether the operation is continuable even if supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to components of the image capture apparatus100stops. In a case where the operation is continuable, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102and supplying power to the components of the image capture apparatus100, detects the voltage of the battery102, performs load test to the predetermined operating mode, and, as a result, determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode.

In step S701, the battery102is connected to the image capture apparatus100, and the charging and power supply control unit105waits until the power supply apparatus104that can perform charging is connected to the image capture apparatus100(NO in step S701). In a case where the power supply apparatus104is connected to the image capture apparatus100(YES in step S701), the power supply apparatus104can supply power to the image capture apparatus100, and the process proceeds to step S702.

In step S702, the voltage detecting unit108detects the voltage of the battery102.

In step S703, the charging and power supply control unit105starts charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply and supplying power to the power source control unit103from the power supply apparatus104. The power source control unit103then starts supplying power to components of the image capture apparatus100from the power supply apparatus104.

In step S704, the system control unit101performs a start-up process of the image capture apparatus100.

In step S705, the image capture apparatus100is started up in the reproduction mode.

In step S706, the charging and power supply control unit105detects a charging current [mA] of the battery102. The system control unit101acquires the charging current [mA] detected by the charging and power supply control unit105.

FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating the table123indicating a correspondence relationship between operating modes and necessary battery capacities [mAh]. As described above, the table123illustrated inFIG. 4indicates the correspondence relationship between the operating modes and the load test coefficients inFIG. 4. In step S707, the system control unit101refers to the table123ofFIG. 8and acquires a battery capacity [mAh] necessary for operating in the current operating mode.

In step S708, the system control unit101calculates a charging time necessary to charge the battery102until the capacity thereof reaches the level necessary for operating in the current operating mode, based on the charging current value [mA] acquired in step S706and the necessary battery capacity [mAh] acquired in step S707.

In step S709, the system control unit101waits until the transition request from the current operating mode to the predetermined operating mode is input from the UI unit121(NO in step S709). In a case where the transition request for transitioning to the predetermined operating mode is input from the UI unit121(YES in step S709), the process proceeds to step S710.

In step S710, the system control unit101determines whether the charging time of the battery102exceeds the necessary charging time calculated in step S708. For example, the system control unit101compares the charging time of the battery102with the necessary charging time calculated in step S708. In a case where the charging time of the battery102is greater than or equal to the necessary charging time, the charging time of the battery102exceeds the necessary charging time (YES in step S710). The process then proceeds to step S711. In a case where the charging time of the battery102is less than the necessary charging time, the charging time of the battery102does not exceed the necessary charging time (NO in step S710). The process then proceeds to step S713.

In step S711, the system control unit101performs a load test illustrated inFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a flowchart illustrating the load test.FIG. 9differs fromFIG. 3in that steps S901and S906are provided inFIG. 9in place of steps S301and S306ofFIG. 3, respectively. Aspects of the processes inFIG. 9that differ from those of the processes inFIG. 3are described below.

In step S901, the charging and power supply control unit105stops charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply apparatus104, and supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to the components of the image capture apparatus100.

In step S302, the voltage detecting unit108detects the unloaded voltage of the battery102in a state where charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply apparatus104and supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to the components of the image capture apparatus100are stopped and the load circuit is not connected to the battery102.

In step S304, the voltage detecting unit108detects the loaded voltage of the battery102in a state where charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply apparatus104and supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to the components of the image capture apparatus100are stopped and the load circuit is connected to the battery102.

In step S906, the charging and power supply control unit105resumes charging the battery102with power supplied from the power supply apparatus104, and supplying power to the components of the image capture apparatus100from the power supply apparatus104.

Returning to the flowchart ofFIG. 7, in step S712, the system control unit101determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode, based on the estimated battery voltage obtained in step S308ofFIG. 9. For example, the system control unit101compares the estimated battery voltage obtained in step S308ofFIG. 9with the operable voltage (threshold) stored in the internal memory122. In a case where the estimated battery voltage is greater than the operable voltage (YES in step S712), the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode. The process then proceeds to step S714. In a case where the estimated battery voltage is less than or equal to the operable voltage (NO in step S712), the image capture apparatus100is not operable in the predetermined operating mode. The process then proceeds to step S713.

In step S714, the system control unit101transitions from the current operating mode to the predetermined operating mode based on the transition request in step S709.

In step S713, the system control unit101does not transition to the predetermined operating mode and notifies that the transition from the current operating mode to the predetermined operating mode cannot be performed. For example, the system control unit101displays, on the display unit120, that the transition of the operating mode cannot be performed.

In the third exemplary embodiment, when the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode, the image capture apparatus100determines whether the operation is continuable even if supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to components of the image capture apparatus100stops. In a case where the operation is continuable, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102and supplying power to the components of the image capture apparatus100, detects the voltage of the battery102, performs the load test in the predetermined operating mode, and determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode. Since the image capture apparatus100detects the voltage of the battery102in a state where charging the battery102and supplying power to the components of the image capture apparatus100are stopped, it is possible to accurately detect the voltage and to improve estimation accuracy of the voltage of the battery102in the predetermined operating mode.

FIG. 10is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation performed by the image capture apparatus100according to a fourth exemplary embodiment. The flowchart ofFIG. 10is the same as the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 7except step S1001is added in the flowchart ofFIG. 7. Aspects of the fourth exemplary embodiment that differ from those of the third exemplary embodiment are described below. When the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode, the image capture apparatus100determines whether the operation is continuable even if supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to components of the image capture apparatus100stops. In a case where the operation is continuable, the image capture apparatus100compares the power consumption in the current operating mode with the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode. Only in the case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is greater than the power consumption in the current operating mode, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102and supplying power to the components of the image capture apparatus100, detects the voltage of the battery102, and performs the load test in the predetermined operating mode. The image capture apparatus100then determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode.

The image capture apparatus100performs the processes in steps S701to S710in a similar manner to the third exemplary embodiment. In step S710, in the case where the charging time of the battery102exceeds the necessary charging time (YES in step S710), the process proceeds to step S1001.

In step S1001, the system control unit101refers to the table123ofFIG. 6and acquires the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode and the power consumption in the current operating mode. The tables123illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 6indicate the correspondence relationship between the operating modes and the load test coefficients and the correspondence relationship between the operating modes and the power consumptions, respectively. As previously described, the table123illustrated inFIG. 8indicates the correspondence relationship between the operating modes and the necessary battery capacities.

In the case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is greater than the power consumption in the current operating mode (YES in step S1001), the process proceeds to step S711, and the system control unit101performs the processes in steps S711to S714in a similar manner to the third exemplary embodiment. For example, in a case where the image capture apparatus100transitions from the reproduction mode to the still image capture mode, the process proceeds to step S711since the power consumption in the still image capture mode is greater than the power consumption in the reproduction mode as illustrated inFIG. 6.

In a case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is less than or equal to the power consumption in the current operating mode (NO in step S1001), the system control unit101does not perform the load test in step S711, and the process proceeds to step S714. In step S714, the system control unit101transitions to the predetermined operating mode based on the transition request in step S709.

In the fourth exemplary embodiment, when the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode, the image capture apparatus100determines whether the operation is continuable even if supplying power from the power supply apparatus104to components of the image capture apparatus100stops. In the case where the operation is continuable, the image capture apparatus100compares the power consumption in the current operating mode with the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode. Only in the case where the power consumption in the predetermined operating mode is greater than the power consumption in the current operating mode, the image capture apparatus100stops charging the battery102and supplying power to the components of the image capture apparatus100, detects the voltage of the battery102, and performs the load test in the predetermined operating mode. The image capture apparatus100then determines whether the image capture apparatus100is operable in the predetermined operating mode.

While the image capture apparatus100transitions to the predetermined operating mode at start-up of the reproduction mode in the third and fourth exemplary embodiments, the image capture apparatus100can transition to the predetermined operating mode at start-up of another operating mode instead of the reproduction mode. The image capture apparatus100calculates the estimated battery voltage of the battery102in the predetermined operating mode by the calculation method illustrated inFIG. 9. Other calculation methods, however, can also be used.

At least one of various functions, processes, and methods described in the first to fourth exemplary embodiments is achievable by a program. In a fifth exemplary embodiment described below, the program to achieve the at least one of various functions, processes, and methods described in the first to fourth exemplary embodiments is referred to as a “program X”. Further, in the fifth exemplary embodiment, a computer that executes the program X is referred to as “computer Y”. A personal computer, a microcomputer, a central processing unit (CPU), etc. are examples of the computer Y.

The at least one of various functions, processes, and methods described in the first to fourth exemplary embodiments is achievable by causing the computer Y to execute the program X. In this case, the program X is supplied to the computer Y via a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium in the fifth exemplary embodiment includes at least one of a hard disk drive, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, a magnetooptical storage device, a memory card, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), etc. Further, the computer-readable storage medium in the fifth exemplary embodiment is a non-transitory storage medium.

While aspects of the disclosure are described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the aspects of the disclosure are not limited to the exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent structures.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-220072, filed Nov. 15, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.