Electronic device, control method, program, and system

Abstract

To appropriately control a fan in consideration of vibration caused by a factor other than the operation of the fan.SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes a vibration detection means for detecting the vibration of the electronic apparatus, and a control means for controlling the operation of a fan for cooling the inside of the electronic apparatus, and the control means controls the operation of the fan based on a difference between a first vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan does not operate and a second vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan operates.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for controlling the operation of a fan that cools an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] As electronic devices such as digital cameras become more sophisticated, they generate more heat. Therefore, if the temperature of the electronic device exceeds a threshold temperature, its operation is restricted and it cannot resume operation until the temperature drops below the threshold. For this reason, a cooling device such as a fan is required to prevent the temperature of the electronic device from rising too high and to shorten the time it takes for the temperature to drop. In this case, when the fan is turned on, the fan vibrations can cause image shaking and noise to be mixed into the audio. Therefore, when recording or recording audio, it is necessary to control the fan operation while taking the fan vibrations into account.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a method for determining an abnormality in a fan mounted on an electronic device when the vibration of the fan remains greater than a predetermined threshold for a long period of time. Patent Document 2 describes a method for detecting the vibration of a hard disk drive and fan mounted on an electronic device and controlling the rotation speed of the fan according to the vibration detection results. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-221429 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-48653 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, the vibration threshold used to determine a fan abnormality is a fixed value, so if vibrations caused by factors other than fan operation continue for a long period of time, the fan will be determined to be abnormal even if the fan vibrations are smaller than the threshold. If the electronic device is a digital camera, for example, vibrations will occur due to hand shake by the photographer or an image stabilization mechanism that optically corrects subject blur by moving the image sensor in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. For this reason, if the vibration threshold used to determine a fan abnormality is a fixed value and the fan operation is controlled, as in Patent Document 1, the fan operation will be controlled by vibrations other than the fan vibrations, even if the fan vibrations are smaller than the threshold and no abnormality is determined.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 requires at least two sensors to detect vibrations of the hard disk drive and the fan. If the electronic device is a digital camera or the like, it is equipped with a sensor that detects camera vibrations, which is necessary for image stabilization, but adding a sensor that detects fan vibrations in addition to the sensor for image stabilization, as in Patent Document 2, would require additional costs and adjustment of the sensor output, etc.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to realize a technique for appropriately controlling a fan by taking into consideration vibrations caused by factors other than the operation of the fan. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the electronic device of the present invention has a vibration detection means for detecting vibrations of the electronic device and a control means for controlling the operation of a fan that cools the inside of the electronic device, and the control means controls the operation of the fan based on the difference between a first vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is not operating and a second vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is operating. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately control the fan while taking into consideration vibrations caused by factors other than the operation of the fan. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of an electronic device to which a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of an electronic device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an internal configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic device equipped with a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the electronic device and the cooling device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the cooling device of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of a cooling device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0012] <System configuration> The system configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of the system of this embodiment.

[0014] The system 1 of this embodiment includes an electronic device 2 and an accessory device 3.

[0015] The electronic device 2 is an imaging device capable of capturing still images and videos, and in this embodiment is a digital camera with an interchangeable lens. Figure 1 shows an example of the electronic device of this embodiment, which is a camera body 2 with the lens unit removed.

[0016] The accessory device 3 is detachable from the camera body 2. In this embodiment, the accessory device 3 is a cooling device that lowers the temperature inside the electronic device 2 and is also a heat dissipation module that is a battery device that supplies power to the electronic device 2. Note that in this embodiment, a configuration is described in which the accessory device 3 is configured separately from the electronic device 2 and is mechanically and electrically connected to the electronic device 2, but the accessory device 3 may also be configured to be built into the electronic device 2.

[0017] In this embodiment, an example is described in which the electronic device 2 is applied to a digital camera with interchangeable lenses (single-lens reflex or mirrorless type), but this is not the only example, and the electronic device 2 may also be, for example, a digital camera with an integrated lens, a digital video camera, a smartphone, a tablet computer, or any other device to which an accessory device 3 can be attached.

[0018] <Digital camera and heat dissipation module configuration> Next, the configurations and functions of the camera body 2 and heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view (a) and a rear perspective view (b) illustrating the appearance of a camera body with a lens unit removed and a heat dissipation module that can be attached to the camera body.

[0020] In the following description, the subject side of the camera body 2 is referred to as the front side, the photographer side of the camera body 2 as the rear side, the left side when viewed from the rear side of the camera body 2 as the left side, the right side as the right side, the upper side as the upper side, and the lower side as the lower side. In the following description, only the main components of the camera body 2 and heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment will be described.

[0021] First, the configuration of the camera body 2 of this embodiment will be described.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the camera body 2 is provided with a mount 210 in the center of the front side to which an interchangeable lens unit (not shown) can be attached or detached. Inside the mount 210 is a communication terminal 211 that enables the camera body 2 to communicate with the lens unit. The top surface of the camera body 2 is provided with a shutter button 230 for issuing shooting instructions, a main electronic dial 231 for changing various setting values, a video button 232 for starting and stopping video shooting (recording), a shooting mode selector switch 233 for switching between still image shooting mode and video shooting mode, a power switch 234 for turning the power of the camera body 2 on and off, a top display unit 235 that displays various setting values ​​of the camera body 2, an accessory shoe 236 for attaching an accessory device such as an external microphone to the camera body 2, and an audio input unit 237 for acquiring audio around the camera body 2 during shooting. The left surface of the camera body 2 is provided with a connector (not shown) for connecting an external device such as an external microphone to the camera body 2, a protective cover 260 for protecting the connector, and an air outlet 261. Exhaust port 261 is an outlet through which air taken in from intake port 310 is discharged through heat dissipation module 3 and camera body 2. On the right side of camera body 2, there is a grip section 25 which enables the photographer to hold camera body 2. Grip section 25 is shaped to easily be held with the photographer's right hand, spanning from the front side to the rear side of camera body 2, and is provided with front rubber 250 on the front side and rear rubber 251 on the rear side to prevent the hand from slipping.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the camera body 2 is provided with a rear display unit 220 in the center of the rear side that displays captured images and various information. The top side of the camera body 2 is provided with an eyepiece finder 221, which is an electronic viewfinder. The right side of the camera body 2 is provided with various operating components, such as a sub electronic dial 222 and a rear electronic dial 223, which, like the main electronic dial 231, are used to change various setting values, a SET button 224 for confirming selected items, and a multi-controller 225. The multi-controller 225 can be operated by pressing the key top or by tilting the key top, and is primarily used to move the selection frame and navigate and select various setting menus. The right side of the camera body 2 is also provided with a card cover 252 for protecting a card slot (not shown) that stores a recording card. This card cover 252 is located in the grip of the grip unit 25 that the photographer holds.

[0024] Next, the configuration of the heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment will be described.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the heat dissipation module 3 has an air intake 310 at the center of the front side. The air intake 310 serves as an entrance for taking in ambient air into a fan 40 (see FIG. 5) arranged inside the heat dissipation module 3. At the center of the top surface of the heat dissipation module 3 is a screw dial 311, which is an operating member for rotating a male screw member (not shown) for fixing the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3. On the left side of the heat dissipation module 3 are a connector (not shown) for connecting the camera body 2 to an external device via the heat dissipation module 3, and a protective cover 360 for protecting the connector.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the heat dissipation module 3 has a battery cover 320 that straddles the left and right sides of the rear side. The battery cover 320 has a battery cover knob 321 in the center, and the battery cover 320 is opened and closed by lifting and rotating the battery cover knob 321. The battery cover 320 also opens by the biasing force of a spring, with a battery cover shaft 322 as the rotation axis. A fan lamp 323 is provided on the left side of the battery cover shaft 322. The fan lamp 323 lights up when the fan rotates and goes out when the fan does not rotate, allowing the photographer to understand the operating status of the fan. The underside of the heat dissipation module 3 has a female thread member 340 for fixing the system 1 (the heat dissipation module 3 attached to the camera body 2) to a tripod or the like, and a video boss hole 341 that engages with a video boss provided on a video camera tripod to prevent rotational misalignment of the system 1.

[0027] Next, the configuration of the lower and rear sides of the camera body 2 and the configuration of the upper and rear sides of the heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0028] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the camera body 2. Fig. 2(a) illustrates a state in which the battery cover 242 of the camera body 2 is attached, and Fig. 2(b) illustrates a state in which the battery cover 242 of the camera body 2 is removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the heat dissipation module 3. Fig. 3(a) illustrates a state in which the battery cover 320 of the heat dissipation module 3 is closed as viewed from the top, and Fig. 3(b) illustrates a state in which the battery cover 320 of the heat dissipation module 3 is open as viewed from the back.

[0029] 2, the underside of the camera body 2 is provided with a camera female screw member 240, a positioning hole 241, a battery cover 242, a receptacle connector 243, a battery chamber 244, and a battery lock lever 245. The camera female screw member 240 is used to secure the camera body 2 to a tripod or the like when used alone, but in this embodiment it is used to secure the heat dissipation module 3. The positioning hole 241 is used to align the relative positions of the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 by engaging with a positioning pin 331 (see FIG. 3) of the heat dissipation module 3. The battery cover 242 is attached when the camera body 2 is used alone, but is removed when the heat dissipation module 3 is attached.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2( b), when the battery cover 242 is removed, a receptacle connector 243, a battery chamber 244, a battery 246, and a battery lock lever 245 are exposed on the underside of the camera body 2. The camera body 2 is electrically connected to various accessories, including the heat dissipation module 3, via the receptacle connector 243. When the heat dissipation module 3 is attached to the camera body 2, the receptacle plug connector 243 is communicatively connected to the plug connector 333 of the heat dissipation module 3, and data is exchanged between the receptacle connector 243 and the heat dissipation module 3. The battery chamber 244 houses the battery 246, and the battery lock lever 245 holds the battery 246 in place, preventing it from falling out, even when the battery cover 242 is not closed. When the battery 246 is inserted into the battery chamber 244, the terminals of the battery 246 connect to battery contacts inside the battery chamber 244, allowing power to be supplied from the battery 246 to the camera body 2.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the top surface of the heat dissipation module 3 is provided with a male screw member 330, a positioning pin 331, a tower portion 332, a plug connector 333, and an air outlet 334. The male screw member 330 rotates in conjunction with the operation of the screw dial 311, and screws into the camera's female screw member 240, thereby fixing the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3. The positioning pin 331 engages with a positioning hole 241 in the camera body 2, thereby adjusting the relative positions of the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3. When attaching the heat dissipation module 3 to the camera body 2, the tower portion 332 is inserted into the battery chamber 244 from which the battery cover 242 has been removed, and covers the battery chamber 244 in place of the battery cover 242. Furthermore, when tower section 332 is inserted into battery chamber 244, the power terminal at the tip of tower section 332 is connected to the battery contacts inside battery chamber 244, and power is supplied to camera body 2 from a battery (not shown) housed in heat dissipation module 3 in place of battery 246. Heat dissipation module 3 is electrically connected to camera body 2 via plug connector 333. When heat dissipation module 3 is attached to camera body 2, plug connector 333 is communicably connected to receptacle connector 243 of camera body 2, and exchanges data with camera body 2. Air outlet 334 serves as an outlet for sending air exhausted from the fan from heat dissipation module 3 to ventilation port 247 of camera body 2.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3(b), when the battery cover 320 is open, the rear side of the heat dissipation module 3 has a battery compartment 324 and a battery lock lever 325 on each side. The battery compartment 324 can accommodate up to two batteries. The battery compartment 324 accommodates at least a battery (not shown) for driving the fan of the heat dissipation module 3, but also supplies power from the heat dissipation module 3 to the camera body 2, which is expected to improve the operating time of the camera body 2. For user convenience, it is desirable that the battery accommodated in the heat dissipation module 3 be the same type as the battery 246 used to drive the camera body 2.

[0033] Next, the internal configuration of the camera body 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0034] Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the internal configuration of the camera body 2. Figure 4(a) is an exploded view of the top cover of the camera body 2, Figure 4(b) is a perspective view of the camera body 2 with the rear cover removed, and Figure 4(c) is an exploded perspective view of the rear cover and side cover.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the camera body 2 includes a vibration detection unit 238 located at the center of its top interior. This vibration detection unit detects vibrations of the camera body 2 for purposes such as controlling the image stabilization mechanism. The image stabilization mechanism optically corrects subject blur by moving an image sensor in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis using an electromagnetic actuator such as a voice coil. In FIG. 4(a), a gyro sensor is shown as an example of the vibration detection unit 238. The gyro sensor vibrates an oscillator within the sensor and detects the rotational angular velocity from modulation of the vibration due to Coriolis force. When the camera body 2 is used alone, or when the heat dissipation module 3 is attached to the camera body 2 but the fan of the heat dissipation module 3 is not rotating, the gyro sensor receives vibrations primarily due to the photographer's hand shake. On the other hand, when the heat dissipation module 3 is attached to the electronic device 2 and the fan of the heat dissipation module 3 is operating, the gyro sensor receives vibrations from the fan in addition to vibrations due to the photographer's hand shake. Therefore, when controlling fan operation based on fan vibration, it is necessary to prevent fan operation from being controlled by vibrations caused by the photographer's hand movement, even though the influence of the fan vibration is small. Specifically, it is necessary to extract fan vibration from vibration detection results that combine vibrations caused by the photographer's hand movement and fan vibration, and control fan operation based solely on the fan vibration. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fan rotation speed is controlled based on the difference between the vibration detection results when the fan is not rotating and the vibration detection results when the fan is rotating, thereby extracting and controlling only the fan vibration. The fan control process will be described later with reference to FIG. 8. While this embodiment illustrates a gyro sensor as the vibration detection unit 238, this is not limiting and any other sensor capable of detecting vibration, such as an acceleration sensor, may also be used. The camera body 2 also includes an audio input unit 237 on the left side of the interior top surface that picks up sound around the camera body 2 during shooting. When the camera body 2 is used alone, or when the camera body 2 is used with the heat dissipation module 3 attached, if the fan of the heat dissipation module 3 is not rotating, the vibrations input to the audio input unit 237 are mainly those caused by the photographer's hand movement and the vibrations caused by the image stabilization mechanism.On the other hand, when the fan of the heat dissipation module 3 attached to the camera body 2 rotates, the vibration of the fan is input to the audio input unit 237 in addition to the vibration caused by the photographer's hand shake and the vibration caused by the image stabilization mechanism. Furthermore, when the fan rotation speed is high, the fan vibration increases, and noise caused by the fan vibration is picked up. Note that in this embodiment, the audio input unit 237 is a microphone built into the camera body 2, but even if an external microphone that is detachable from the camera body 2 is used, there is a possibility that the vibration caused by the fan will be transmitted and picked up by the microphone. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fan rotation speed is controlled based only on the fan vibration, thereby reducing the noise caused by the fan vibration from being picked up by the audio input unit 237.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the camera body 2 includes a main board 226 on the rear side. The main board 226 is equipped with power supply circuit components (not shown) for supplying power to various components of the camera body 2, including the heat dissipation module 3, and IC (Integrated Circuit) chips 227 and 228, such as a CPU for control processing and a GPU for image processing. The main board 226 also includes a ROM (not shown) for storing programs for control processing and image processing, a RAM (not shown) for temporarily storing data required for control processing and image processing, a memory card slot 229, and a connector (not shown). For simplicity, some of the components and harnesses mounted on the board are not shown in FIG. 4(b). The IC chips 227 and 228 are the main heat source for the main board 226. High-resolution and high-frame-rate video capture consumes a lot of power to perform image processing and generates a lot of heat. For this reason, the IC chips 227, 228 are arranged facing the camera duct 27 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) on the rear side of the camera body 2. Heat generated by the IC chips 227, 228 is transferred to a heat dissipation metal plate 270 (see FIG. 4(c)) provided on the rear cover portion via a heat transfer member 280 (see FIG. 4(c)), such as a thermally conductive sheet, and is dissipated by air sent from the heat dissipation module 3. A RAM (not shown) mounted on the main board 226 temporarily stores the vibration detection result by the vibration detection unit 238 when the fan of the heat dissipation module 3 is not rotating even when the heat dissipation module 3 is attached to the camera body 2.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4( c), the camera body 2 includes a camera duct 27 extending from the rear cover 22 to the side cover 26. The camera duct 27 includes a vent 247 at the lower center of the rear cover 22 and an exhaust port 261 at the side cover 26. The vent 247 is an inlet through which air sent from the air outlet 334 of the heat dissipation module 3 is taken into the camera duct 27. The camera duct 27 is composed of the rear cover 22, the side cover 26, a heat dissipation metal plate 270 made of aluminum or other material with good thermal conductivity, and a rear seal member 271 such as poron or double-sided tape. The heat dissipation metal plate 270 is fixed to the rear cover 22 via the rear seal member 271, and the side cover 26 is fixed to the rear cover 22 via the exhaust port seal member 262, thereby forming an air flow path that connects the vent 247 to the exhaust port 261. A heat transfer member 280 such as a thermally conductive sheet is attached to the heat dissipation metal plate 270. In this embodiment, the heat transfer member 280 is attached using a buffer member 281, double-sided tape, or the like so as to come into contact with the IC chips 227 and 228, which are the main heat sources, and transfers the heat generated by the IC chips 227 and 228 to the heat dissipation metal plate 270.

[0038] Next, the internal configuration of the heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0039] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the heat dissipation module 3. For simplicity, some mounted components on the board, harnesses, fastening members, etc. are not shown in Fig. 5.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 5, the heat dissipation module 3 is composed of a front cover 31 on the front side, a rear cover 32 on the rear side, a top cover 33 on the top side, and a main body 37 as an internal structure. The front cover 31 includes an air intake 310, an air intake seal 312, and a screw dial base 313. The rear cover 32 includes the battery cover 320 and a fan lamp 323. The top cover 33 includes a tower 332, an air outlet 334, and an air outlet seal 336. The main body 37 includes a main body case 370, a main body case seal 371, a main body cover 372, a main body cover seal 373, a fan 40, a fan cover 400, a screw dial 311, a male screw member 330, a top plate 335, a positioning pin 331, and an accessory board 337. The main body case 370 includes a battery chamber 324 that can accommodate up to two batteries and a fan housing section 374 with an open top. The fan storage compartment 374 houses the fan 40 and fan cover 400, and the fan 40 is disposed at an angle so that the fan exhaust port 402 faces the air outlet 334. In this embodiment, the fan 40 is a centrifugal fan that takes in air through the fan inlet 401 located in the direction of the blade rotation axis and expels air through the fan exhaust port 402 located in the radial direction of the blade rotation. However, an axial fan that takes in and expels air in the direction of the blade rotation axis may also be used. In this embodiment, the fan 40 is disposed at an angle so that the fan exhaust port 402 faces the air outlet 334. However, the fan cover 400 may be disposed horizontally or vertically. The fan cover 400 is formed of an elastic material such as silicone rubber and reduces the transmission of vibrations from the fan 40 to the structural components of the heat dissipation module 3. The accessory board 337 is equipped with a fan control unit 338 that controls the rotation speed of the fan 40. The fan control unit 338 is configured as an IC chip including a CPU, memory, etc. In this embodiment, the fan control unit 338 is disposed on the accessory board 337 of the heat dissipation module 3, but it may also be disposed on the main board 226 of the camera body 2.The front cover unit 31 is fixed to the main body case 370 via an air intake port seal member 312, the main body cover 372 is fixed to the main body case 370 via a main body cover seal member 373, and the top cover unit 33 is fixed to the main body case 370 and the main body cover 372 via a main body case seal member 371, thereby forming an air flow path that communicates from the air intake port 310 to the air outlet 334. In addition, an air outlet seal member 336 that prevents air leakage from the camera body 2 and is provided around the air outlet 334 forms an air flow path that communicates from the air intake port 310 of the heat dissipation module 3 to the air outlet 261 of the camera body 2. Furthermore, by fixing each component without any gaps via these seal members, air leakage from the air flow path into the interior of the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 and the intrusion of water, dust, etc. are prevented.

[0041] Next, the flow path configuration of the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0042] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the camera body 2, on which the heat dissipation module 3 is mounted, cut vertically along the optical axis. For simplicity, various mounted components including the circuit board, harnesses, fastening members, etc. are not shown in FIG.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6 , when the fan 40 rotates, ambient air is drawn in through the air intake 310, and the drawn-in air is drawn into the fan 40 through the fan air intake 401 of the fan 40, which is installed at an angle. Then, as the blades of the fan 40 rotate, the air is discharged from the fan exhaust 402 in the radial direction of the blade rotation. The discharged air flows upward along the wall of the heat dissipation module 3 and is discharged from the air outlet 334. The air discharged from the air outlet 334 enters the camera duct 27 through the ventilation opening 247 of the camera body 2 and is discharged from the aforementioned air exhaust 261. In this case, the air passing through the camera duct 27 comes into contact with the heat dissipation metal plate 270, thereby dissipating heat from the heat dissipation metal plate 270, and then dissipates heat from the IC chips 227, 228 via the heat transfer member 280.

[0044] Next, the control configuration of the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the control configuration of the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 of this embodiment.

[0046] The camera body 2 has a system control unit 701 , a ROM 702 , a RAM 703 , an imaging unit 704 , an image processing unit 705 , a power control unit 706 , a connection unit 707 , an audio input unit 237 , and a vibration detection unit 238 .

[0047] The system control unit 701 includes a processor (CPU) that performs control processing of the camera body 2 to which the heat dissipation module 3 is attached.

[0048] The ROM 702 stores the programs executed by the CPU. The RAM 703 temporarily stores constants, variables, etc. for executing the programs. The system control unit 701 controls each component of the camera body 2 by loading the programs stored in the ROM 702 into the RAM 703 and executing them.

[0049] The imaging unit 704 has an image sensor, such as a CCD or CMOS, that converts the subject image formed by the lens unit into an electric signal, and an A / D converter that converts the analog video signal output from the image sensor into a digital signal. Under the control of the system control unit 701, the imaging unit 704 converts the subject image light formed by the lens unit into an electric signal using the image sensor, performs noise reduction processing, etc., and outputs video data consisting of a digital signal.

[0050] The image processing unit 705 includes a processor (GPU) that performs image processing, and performs resizing processes such as pixel interpolation and reduction, and color conversion processes on the video data captured by the imaging unit 704. The image processing unit 705 also compresses and encodes the processed still image data in a format such as JPEG, and encodes the video data in a video compression format such as MP4 to generate a video file, which is then recorded on a recording medium, etc. The system control unit 701 performs predetermined calculations using the captured video data, and performs AF (autofocus) processing and AE (autoexposure) processing by controlling the focus lens, aperture, and shutter of the lens unit based on the calculation results.

[0051] In this embodiment, the system control unit 701 and the image processing unit 705 are configured as hardware such as IC chips 227 and 228 .

[0052] The power supply control unit 706 controls the power supply unit 711 of the heat dissipation module 3 to control the power supply to each component of the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 .

[0053] The connection unit 707 includes an interface that is mechanically and electrically connected to the connection unit 712 of the heat dissipation module 3. The connection unit 707 includes a communication terminal (e.g., a receptacle connector 243) for communicatively connecting to the heat dissipation module 3, and a power supply terminal for exchanging power with the heat dissipation module 3.

[0054] The audio input unit 237 is built into the camera body 2, or is connected to the camera body 2 via an audio terminal of the camera body 2. The audio input unit 237 converts an analog audio signal generated by collecting audio around the camera body 2 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the system control unit 701.

[0055] The vibration detection unit 238 detects vibrations of the camera body 2. The system control unit 701 determines the amount of drive of the fan 40 of the heat dissipation module 3 based on the vibration detection result of the vibration detection unit 238, and controls the rotation speed of the fan 40 based on the amount of drive.

[0056] The heat dissipation module 3 includes a power supply unit 711, a connection unit 712, a fan control unit 338, and a fan 40.

[0057] The power supply unit 711 is a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, or a rechargeable secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, a NiMH battery, or a Li-ion battery. In this embodiment, the power supply unit 711 is a battery 246 housed in the battery chamber 244 of the camera body 2.

[0058] The connection unit 712 includes an interface that is mechanically and electrically connected to the connection unit 707 of the camera body 2. The connection unit 712 includes a communication terminal (e.g., plug connector 333) for communicatively connecting to the camera body 2, and a power terminal for exchanging power with the camera body 2.

[0059] The fan control unit 338 controls the rotation speed of the fan 40 based on the drive amount of the fan 40 received from the system control unit 701 .

[0060] Next, the control process for the fan 40 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0061] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for the rotation speed of the fan 40 of the heat dissipation module 3 according to the first embodiment.

[0062] The processing in Fig. 8 is realized by the system control unit 701 loading a program stored in the ROM 702 into the RAM 703 and executing it. The processing in Fig. 8 is started when the power to the camera body 2 is turned on, is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle, and ends when the power to the camera body 2 is turned off.

[0063] Step S1 is a process when the fan 40 does not rotate, and step S2 is a process when the fan 40 rotates. When the camera body 2 is powered on with the heat dissipation module 3 attached to the camera body 2, the process proceeds to step S1.

[0064] In step S11, the system control unit 701 acquires a first vibration detection result for a predetermined time period obtained by the vibration detection unit 238 when the fan 40 is not rotating. In step S12, the system control unit 701 stores the first vibration detection result acquired in step S11 in the RAM 703, and proceeds to step S2.

[0065] In step S21, the system control unit 701 starts rotating the fan 40. In step S22, the system control unit 701 acquires a second vibration detection result for a predetermined time period obtained by the vibration detection unit 238 when the fan 40 is rotating. In step S23, the system control unit 701 compares the second vibration detection result acquired in step S22 with the first vibration detection result acquired in step S12. If the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is smaller than a predetermined threshold (NO), the system control unit 701 determines that the audio input unit 237 is unlikely to pick up noise caused by the vibration of the fan 40, and returns to step S22. If the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is larger than the predetermined threshold (YES), the system control unit 701 determines that the audio input unit 237 is likely to pick up noise caused by the vibration of the fan 40, and proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the system control unit 701 determines whether the duration of the state in which the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than the predetermined threshold is longer than a predetermined time. If the duration of the state in which the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than the predetermined threshold is not longer than the predetermined time (NO), the system control unit 701 determines that the second vibration detection result by the vibration detection unit 238 is increased due to temporary vibrations caused by hand shake or the like other than vibration of the fan 40, and returns to step S22. If the duration of the state in which the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than the predetermined threshold is longer than the predetermined time (YES), the system control unit 701 determines that there is a high possibility that the audio input unit 237 will pick up noise caused by vibration of the fan 40, and controls the rotation speed of the fan 40.

[0066] According to the first embodiment, a first vibration detection result when the fan 40 is not rotating and a second vibration detection result when the fan 40 is rotating are used to determine whether or not to control the operation of the fan 40. This allows the vibration caused by the rotation of the fan 40 to be extracted from vibrations caused by the photographer's hand shake and vibrations caused by the image stabilization mechanism, which occur even when the fan 40 is not rotating, and the rotation speed can be controlled based only on the vibration of the fan 40. Furthermore, by determining whether or not the difference between the second vibration detection result when the fan 40 is rotating and the first vibration detection result when the fan 40 is not rotating exceeds a predetermined threshold value for a predetermined period of time, it is possible to prevent the rotation speed of the fan 40 from being controlled by vibrations other than those of the fan 40, even if the vibration of the fan 40 itself is small.

[0067] [Second embodiment] Next, the control process for the fan 40 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0068] In the second embodiment, frequency analysis is performed on the vibration detection result of the vibration detection unit 238, and the rotation speed of the fan 40 is controlled based on the frequency analysis result.

[0069] The configurations of the electronic device 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

[0070] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a control process for the rotation speed of the fan 40 of the heat dissipation module 3 according to the second embodiment.

[0071] Step S3 is a process performed when the fan 40 is not rotating, and step S4 is a process performed when the fan 40 is rotating. In the second embodiment, frequency analysis is performed to extract the rotational frequency component of the fan 40 from the vibration detection results by the vibration detection unit 238, enabling more accurate determination. It is known that the vibration characteristic of the fan 40 is that the excitation force tends to be large at the frequency corresponding to the primary rotation period of the fan 40. Therefore, when the fan 40 is rotated, vibration of the rotational frequency component is expected to be large. Therefore, by extracting the rotational frequency component of the fan 40 from the vibration detection results by the vibration detection unit 238, it is possible to extract with higher accuracy the vibration of the fan 40 that is likely to cause noise to intrude into the audio input unit 237. In addition, in this embodiment, the fan 40 has multiple operating modes, and an initial rotation speed of the fan 40 is set for each operating mode. Therefore, the rotational frequency of the fan 40 can be determined in advance, and the rotational frequency for each operating mode is stored in advance in the ROM 702, etc.

[0072] In FIG. 9, when the camera body 2 is powered on with the heat dissipation module 3 attached to the camera body 2, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0073] In step S31, the system control unit 701 acquires a first vibration detection result for a predetermined time period obtained by the vibration detection unit 238 when the fan 40 is not rotating. In step S32, the system control unit 701 performs frequency analysis on the first vibration detection result acquired in step S31 to extract the rotation frequency component of the fan 40. In step S33, the system control unit 701 saves the first frequency analysis result of step S32 in the RAM 703 and proceeds to step S4.

[0074] In step S41, the system control unit 701 starts rotation of the fan 40. In step S42, the system control unit 701 acquires second vibration detection results for a predetermined time period obtained by the vibration detection unit 238 when the fan 40 is rotating. In step S43, the system control unit 701 performs frequency analysis on the second vibration detection results acquired in step S42 to extract rotation frequency components of the fan 40, stores the second frequency analysis results in RAM 703, and proceeds to step S44.

[0075] In step S44, the system control unit 701 compares the second frequency analysis result acquired in step S43 with the first frequency analysis result acquired in step S33. If the result of the determination in step S44 is that the difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is not greater than a predetermined threshold (NO), the system control unit 701 determines that the audio input unit 237 is unlikely to pick up noise caused by vibration of the fan 40, and returns to step S42. If the result of the determination in step S44 is that the difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is greater than a predetermined threshold (YES), the system control unit 701 determines that the audio input unit 237 is likely to pick up noise caused by vibration of the fan 40, and controls the rotation speed of the fan 40.

[0076] According to the second embodiment, a first frequency analysis result for a first vibration detection result when the fan 40 is not rotating and a second frequency analysis result for a second vibration detection result when the fan 40 is rotating are used in a determination to control the operation of the fan 40. This makes it possible to detect only vibrations of rotational frequency components that have a large vibratory force among the vibrations of the fan 40 and have a large impact on the collection of noise caused by the vibration of the fan 40 by the audio input unit 237, and thus makes it possible to control the rotation speed of the fan 40 with higher accuracy.

[0077] 8 and 9, steps S1 and S3, which are processes performed when the fan 40 is not rotating, are performed during the period from when the camera body 2 is powered on until the fan 40 starts rotating. However, they may be performed during a period when the fan 40 is not rotating. For example, they may be performed during still image capture, which is not affected by the audio input unit 237 picking up noise caused by the vibration of the fan 40, during a period when the fan 40 is stopped without being set to start rotating, or during a period when the fan 40 is temporarily stopped at the start of video capture. In controlling the rotation speed of the fan 40, it is desirable to stop the fan 40 or reduce the rotation speed of the fan 40 to reduce the vibration of the fan 40. However, if reducing the rotation speed of the fan 40 causes resonance between the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3, which increases the vibration of the camera body 2, the rotation speed of the fan 40 may be increased. In order to reduce noise caused by the vibration of the fan 40 being picked up by the audio input unit 237, in addition to controlling the rotation speed of the fan 40, audio processing may be performed on the audio data output from the audio input unit 237. For example, among the audio data picked up during shooting, processing may be performed to lower the volume level of the rotation frequency by a certain amount, cut it by a certain amount, average the volume levels of the front and rear frequencies, or remove the audio data of the rotation frequency. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a gyro sensor capable of detecting vibrations around three axes (front-rear, left-right, and up-down) is exemplified as the vibration detection unit 238. However, it is not necessary to obtain vibration detection results around all axes; vibration detection results around at least one axis may be obtained. This reduces the processing load for controlling the rotation speed of the fan 40 in this embodiment.

[0078] As described above, according to each of the above-described embodiments, the vibration detection result or frequency analysis result when the fan 40 is not rotating and the vibration detection result or frequency analysis result when the fan 40 is rotating are used to determine whether to control the operation of the fan 40. This makes it possible to extract the vibration of the fan 40 from vibrations caused by the photographer's hand shake or vibrations caused by the image stabilization mechanism, which occur even when the fan 40 is not rotating, and to control the rotation speed based only on the vibration of the fan 40.

[0079] Furthermore, the vibration of the fan 40 is prevented from being transmitted to the audio input unit 237, thereby reducing the amount of noise caused by the vibration of the fan 40 picked up by the audio input unit 237. Furthermore, because the vibration of the fan 40 is detected based on the vibration detection result of the vibration detection unit 238 provided in the camera body 2, there is no need to add a sensor for detecting the vibration of the fan 40, and implementation is possible even if the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 are separate. Note that, although the above-mentioned embodiments have been described with reference to examples in which the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 are separate, the heat dissipation module 3 may be built into the camera body 2, and the camera body 2 and the heat dissipation module 3 may be configured as an integrated unit.

[0080] [Other embodiments] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0081] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention.

[0082] The disclosure of this specification includes the following electronic devices, control methods, programs, and systems. [Item 1] An electronic device, a vibration detection means for detecting vibration of the electronic device; a control unit for controlling the operation of a fan that cools the inside of the electronic device, the control means controls the operation of the fan based on a difference between a first vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is not operating and a second vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is operating. [Item 2] a storage means for storing the first vibration detection result and the second vibration detection result; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the rotation speed of the fan when a difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than a predetermined threshold value. [Item 3] a voice input means for collecting sounds around the electronic device; The electronic device described in item 2 is characterized in that the control means determines that there is a high possibility that the audio input means will pick up noise caused by vibration of the fan when the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than the predetermined threshold. [Item 4] The electronic device described in item 3 is characterized in that the control means controls the rotation speed of the fan when the duration of the state in which the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than the predetermined threshold is longer than a predetermined time. [Item 5] 5. The electronic device according to item 4, wherein the control means stops the fan or reduces the rotation speed of the fan so as to reduce vibration of the fan. [Item 6] 5. The electronic device according to item 4, wherein the control means increases the rotation speed of the fan when reducing the rotation speed of the fan increases vibration of the electronic device. [Item 7] 7. The electronic device described in item 5 or 6, characterized in that the control means, in addition to controlling the rotation speed of the fan, performs audio processing on the audio data input to the audio input means and reduces the volume level of the rotation frequency of the fan. [Item 8] the electronic device is an imaging device, 8. The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein an external device detachable from the imaging device includes the fan. [Item 9] the electronic device is an imaging device, 8. The electronic device according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the imaging device is provided with the fan. [Item 10] The electronic device described in item 8 or 9, characterized in that the fan does not operate during the period from when the imaging device is turned on until the fan starts rotating, during still image capture, while the fan rotation is not set and the fan is stopped, or while the fan is temporarily stopped at the start of video capture. [Item 11] a storage means for storing the first vibration detection result and the second vibration detection result; the control means stores in the storage means a first frequency analysis result obtained by performing a frequency analysis on the first vibration detection result to extract a rotation frequency component of the fan, and a second frequency analysis result obtained by performing the frequency analysis on the second vibration detection result; 2. The electronic device according to item 1, wherein the rotation speed of the fan is controlled when the difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is greater than a predetermined threshold value. [Item 12] a voice input means for collecting sounds around the electronic device; The electronic device described in item 11, characterized in that the control means determines that there is a high possibility that the audio input means will pick up noise caused by vibration of the fan when the difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is greater than the predetermined threshold. [Item 13] Item 13. The electronic device described in item 12, wherein the control means controls the rotation speed of the fan when the difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is greater than the predetermined threshold value. [Item 14] Item 14. The electronic device according to item 13, wherein the control means stops the fan or reduces the rotation speed of the fan so as to reduce vibration of the fan. [Item 15] Item 14. The electronic device described in item 13, wherein the control means increases the rotation speed of the fan when reducing the rotation speed of the fan increases vibration of the electronic device. [Item 16] The electronic device described in item 14 or 15, characterized in that the control means, in addition to controlling the rotation speed of the fan, performs audio processing on the audio data input to the audio input means and reduces the volume level of the rotation frequency of the fan. [Item 17] the electronic device is an imaging device, 17. The electronic device according to any one of items 11 to 16, wherein an external device detachable from the imaging device includes the fan. [Item 18] the electronic device is an imaging device, 17. The electronic device according to any one of items 11 to 16, wherein the imaging device comprises the fan. [Item 19] The electronic device described in item 18, characterized in that the fan does not operate during the period from when the imaging device is turned on until the fan starts rotating, during still image capture, while the fan rotation is not set and the fan is stopped, or while the fan is temporarily stopped when video recording begins. [Item 20] A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising: detecting vibration of the electronic device; and controlling the operation of a fan that cools the inside of the electronic device, A control method characterized in that in the controlling step, the operation of the fan is controlled based on the difference between a first vibration detection result when the fan is not operating and a second vibration detection result when the fan is operating. [Item 21] A program for causing a computer to function as an electronic device described in any one of items 1 to 19. [Item 22] A system including an electronic device and an external device detachable from the electronic device, the external device has a fan that cools the inside of the electronic device, The electronic device includes a vibration detection unit that detects vibration of the electronic device; a control unit that controls the operation of the fan when the external device is attached to the electronic device, The control means controls the operation of the fan based on the difference between a first vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is not operating and a second vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is operating. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 2... camera body, 3... heat dissipation module, 40... fan, 238... vibration detection unit, 701... system control unit

Claims

1. An electronic device, a vibration detection means for detecting vibration of the electronic device; a control unit for controlling the operation of a fan that cools the inside of the electronic device, the control means controls the operation of the fan based on a difference between a first vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is not operating and a second vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is operating.

2. a storage means for storing the first vibration detection result and the second vibration detection result; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the rotation speed of the fan when a difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

3. a voice input means for collecting sounds around the electronic device; 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the control means determines that the audio input means is likely to pick up noise caused by vibration of the fan when a difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

4. 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the control means controls the rotation speed of the fan when the duration of a state in which the difference between the second vibration detection result and the first vibration detection result is greater than the predetermined threshold is longer than a predetermined time.

5. 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the control means stops the fan or reduces the rotation speed of the fan so as to reduce vibration of the fan.

6. 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the control means increases the rotation speed of the fan when reducing the rotation speed of the fan increases vibration of the electronic device.

7. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the control means, in addition to controlling the rotation speed of the fan, performs audio processing on the audio data input to the audio input means, thereby reducing the volume level of the rotation frequency of the fan.

8. the electronic device is an imaging device, The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the fan is provided in an external device that is detachable from the imaging device.

9. the electronic device is an imaging device, The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging device includes the fan.

10. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the fan does not operate during the period from when the imaging device is turned on until the fan starts rotating, during still image capture, while the fan is stopped without being set to rotate, or while the fan is temporarily stopped when video capture begins.

11. a storage means for storing the first vibration detection result and the second vibration detection result; the control means stores in the storage means a first frequency analysis result obtained by performing a frequency analysis on the first vibration detection result to extract a rotation frequency component of the fan, and a second frequency analysis result obtained by performing the frequency analysis on the second vibration detection result; 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed of the fan is controlled when a difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

12. a voice input means for collecting sounds around the electronic device; 12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the control means determines that the audio input means is likely to pick up noise caused by vibration of the fan when a difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

13. 13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the control means controls the rotation speed of the fan when a difference between the second frequency analysis result and the first frequency analysis result is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

14. 14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the control means stops the fan or reduces the rotation speed of the fan so as to reduce vibration of the fan.

15. 14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit increases the rotation speed of the fan when reducing the rotation speed of the fan increases vibration of the electronic device.

16. 15. The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the control means, in addition to controlling the rotation speed of the fan, performs audio processing on the audio data input to the audio input means, thereby reducing the volume level of the rotation frequency of the fan.

17. the electronic device is an imaging device, The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the fan is provided in an external device that is detachable from the imaging device.

18. the electronic device is an imaging device, The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the imaging device comprises the fan.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, characterized in that the fan does not operate during the period from when the imaging device is turned on until the fan starts rotating, during still image capture, while the fan is stopped without being set to rotate, or while the fan is temporarily stopped when video capture begins.

20. A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising: detecting vibration of the electronic device; and controlling the operation of a fan that cools the inside of the electronic device, A control method characterized in that, in the controlling step, the operation of the fan is controlled based on the difference between a first vibration detection result when the fan is not operating and a second vibration detection result when the fan is operating.

21. A program for causing a computer to function as the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

22. A system including an electronic device and an external device detachable from the electronic device, the external device has a fan that cools the inside of the electronic device, The electronic device includes a vibration detection unit that detects vibration of the electronic device; a control unit that controls the operation of the fan when the external device is attached to the electronic device, The control means controls the operation of the fan based on the difference between a first vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is not operating and a second vibration detection result by the vibration detection means when the fan is operating.

Images