Electronic device, method for controlling electronic device, and program

Abstract

This technology enables optimal power management according to the operating state in electronic devices capable of wireless communication with external devices. [Solution] The electronic device (10) includes a communication unit (17) for wireless communication with an external device (18), a setting unit (11f, 11e) for selectively setting either a first mode (ST1, ST3) or a second mode (ST5) for performing wireless communication with at least an external device, and a control unit (13) that sets the device to a more power-saving mode than the first mode when no input operation is accepted for a first time in the first mode, and sets the device to a more power-saving mode than the second mode when no input operation is accepted for a second time longer than the first time in the second mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device, a method for controlling an electronic device, and a program for controlling an electronic device.

Background Art

[0002] In various electronic devices, when an input operation by a user cannot be received for a predetermined time or more, a process of automatically switching to a power-saving mode to reduce power consumption is performed. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, in an information processing apparatus having an auto power-off function, one power-saving mode is set according to a user's setting input from a plurality of power-saving modes having different power reduction effects step by step. In the power-saving mode, it is determined whether to execute auto power-off during processing according to the degree of influence on the own device when the processing being executed is terminated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In an electronic device capable of wireless communication with an external device, when the electronic device performs a highly independent process that can be completed by the device itself and when the electronic device performs a highly cooperative process that operates an external device as a wireless communication destination, the required operating conditions and the like are different, and there is a demand for performing fine power-saving settings according to the states of the electronic device and the external device. Existing technologies including Patent Document 1 did not sufficiently meet such demands.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to realize optimal power management according to an operating state in an electronic device capable of wireless communication with an external device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a communication unit for wirelessly communicating with an external device; a setting unit for selectively setting either a first mode or a second mode different from the first mode and which performs at least wireless communication with the external device; and a control unit that, when the first mode is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a first time, sets the device to a mode that is more power-efficient than the first mode, and when the second mode is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a second time longer than the first time, sets the device to a mode that is more power-efficient than the second mode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the above embodiment, in an electronic device capable of wireless communication with external devices, optimal power management according to the operating state can be achieved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a front view of an electronic device. [Figure 2] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of electronic devices. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the concepts of CAL mode and PC mode. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the process of connecting electronic devices and external devices via wireless communication. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the transitions between operating modes of electronic devices. [Figure 6] This figure shows power management for each operating mode of an electronic device and examples of the display on the display unit. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart for power management of electronic devices. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The electronic device 10 shown in Figure 1 can be switched between a first mode, called calculator mode (hereinafter referred to as CAL mode), in which it is used as a calculator for calculations, and a second mode, called external connection mode (hereinafter referred to as PC mode), in which it performs wireless communication with an external device to input information to the external device (the device itself is not used as a calculator).

[0010] The operation unit 11 of the electronic device 10 is the part that receives user input and is equipped with multiple physical keys. The numeric key area 11a of the operation unit 11 has a total of 11 numeric keys, from "0" to "9" and "00", as well as a decimal point key. The calculation command key area 11b of the operation unit 11 has arithmetic operation keys for selecting the type of operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division (+, -, ×, ÷)) and an equals key for selecting the completion of the operation. The memory key area 11c of the operation unit 11 has four keys for memory operation (MC, MR, M+, M-). The operation unit 11 also includes a clear key (C key) 11d, an all-clear key (AC key) 11e, a send key 11f, a PC / CAL key 11g, etc. When the electronic device 10 is used as a calculator, the clear key 11d is used to erase the most recently entered number, and the all-clear key 11e is used to erase all numbers. The Send key 11f and the PC / CAL key 11g are used as operation keys for wireless communication with the external device 18, which will be described later, and constitute a setting unit for selectively setting either the first mode, CAL mode, or the second mode, PC mode. The operation unit 11 may also include keys other than those shown in Figure 1 (for example, function keys for tax calculation, function keys for function calculation, etc.) or slide switches other than push-button keys.

[0011] The display unit 12 of the electronic device 10 is composed of display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The display unit 12 has a first display area 12a and a second display area 12b. The first display area 12a is composed of multiple 7-segment display units 12c. In the electronic device 10, 12 7-segment display units 12c are arranged in a row, and the first display area 12a has a 12-digit display capability. Each 7-segment display unit 12c has 7 segments, which are elongated bar-shaped display units, and the display of each segment can be individually switched on or off. The display content changes depending on the combination of on and off states of the 7 segments. Specifically, the 7-segment display unit 12c can display Arabic numerals from 0 to 9 and some Latin letters (alphabet). The second display area 12b is arranged with marks and icons that are specialized for displaying specific information in the electronic device 10. Specifically, the second display area 12b includes a communication indicator 12d that shows the status of communication and connection with external devices, an arithmetic operation indicator 12e that displays addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (+, -, ×, ÷), and a memory indicator 12f that displays the status of memory calculations. In Figure 1, for convenience, a form is shown in which each indicator in the second display area 12b is displayed simultaneously. However, in reality, for the arithmetic operation indicator 12e and the memory indicator 12f, only the indicator corresponding to the key operated by the user in the calculation command key area 11b or the memory key area 11c is displayed, and the communication indicator 12d displays a message corresponding to the communication status, which will be described later. Note that the second display area 12b may also include display elements (marks, icons, etc.) other than the indicators shown in Figure 1.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, the control unit 13 of the electronic device 10 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14, a memory 15, and a display driver 16 that drives and controls the display of the display unit 12. When each key on the operation unit 11 is operated, an operation signal is input to the control unit 13. The memory 15 comprises a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program for controlling the electronic device 10 is stored, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a temporary data loading area. The program stored in the ROM of the memory 15 is read and the memory 15 performs calculation processing to control each part of the electronic device 10. The display driver 16 controls the display unit 12 based on control signals sent from the CPU 14 to display in the first display area 12a and the second display area 12b.

[0013] The communication unit 17 is a wireless communication module for the electronic device 10 to communicate wirelessly with another external device 18. The external device 18 that communicates with the communication unit 17 is, for example, a personal computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, etc. The communication standard of the communication unit 17 is to exchange encryption keys with the external device 18 and perform encrypted data communication, and as an example, Bluetooth Low Energy (registered trademark) is applied. The following explanation will be based on the case where the electronic device 10 uses Bluetooth Low Energy as the communication standard, that is, the case where the communication unit 17 is a communication module for Bluetooth Low Energy. The external device 18 is equipped with a communication module that is capable of encrypted communication with the communication unit 17.

[0014] The electronic device 10 has a built-in power supply 19, and the electronic device 10 operates by power supplied from the power supply 19. The power supply 19 is a rechargeable battery (lithium-ion battery, nickel-metal hydride battery, etc.) that can be repeatedly charged and discharged, and can be charged by supplying power to the power supply 19 via the power supply terminal 19a (Figure 1). Alternatively, the electronic device 10 may be equipped with a solar panel that converts light energy into electricity, and the power generated by the solar panel may be supplied to the power supply 19.

[0015] As shown in Figure 3, in CAL mode of the electronic device 10, when a user operates the operation unit 11, the electronic device 10 functions as a calculator and performs calculations according to the user's operation, and the operation details (for example, numerical values ​​entered by operating the number keys) and calculation results are displayed on the display unit 12. As will be described later, there are two types of CAL mode: when the electronic device 10 functions as a standalone terminal that does not communicate with the external device 18 (CAL mode ST1 (unconnected) shown in Figure 5), and when the electronic device 10 can communicate with the external device 18 (CAL mode ST3 (connected) shown in Figure 5). In either case, the electronic device 10 functions as a calculator on its own.

[0016] In PC mode, the electronic device 10 does not function as an independent calculator. When a user operates the control unit 11, a signal corresponding to the operation is wirelessly transmitted from the electronic device 10 to the external device 18 via the communication unit 17, and the external device 18 processes the reception of this signal. In other words, the control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 can be used as an input device for the external device 18. The operations performed by each key on the control unit 11 in PC mode are set appropriately according to the type of operating system of the external device 18 and the application running on the external device 18. For example, if the application on the external device 18 accepts numerical input, operating each key in the numeric key area 11a of the electronic device 10 in PC mode inputs the numerical information corresponding to that key to the external device 18, allowing the electronic device 10 to be used as a numeric input device (a so-called numeric keypad device) on the external device 18. In addition, in PC mode, keys other than those in the numeric key area 11a of the control unit 11 may be used as command keys to input predetermined commands other than numbers to the external device 18. For example, the keys in the calculation command key area 11b and the memory key area 11c can be made to function as arrow keys for cursor movement or as command keys for copying and pasting strings. The operations entered via the operation unit 11 in PC mode and the processing results based on those operations are displayed on the display unit 18a of the external device 18. As described above, the PC mode of the electronic device 10 is a mode in which information is entered into at least the external device 18 without using the device itself as a calculator.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 4, communication between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 is performed with the electronic device 10 side as a peripheral device and the external device 18 side as a central device. When the power of the communication unit 17 is on and the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 are in a non-connected state, the electronic device 10 performs advertising at a predetermined cycle. Advertising is a broadcast communication that transmits data from a peripheral device to an unspecified number of partners, and is a state (a state of attempting to connect) of indicating the location of the own device to the central device and waiting for a connection. When the external device 18, which is a central device, makes a connection request to the electronic device 10 during advertising, the electronic device 10 stops advertising and switches to one-to-one communication with the external device 18.

[0018] Data communication between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 is performed by encrypting the data. In a state where one-to-one communication is performed, pairing is performed to exchange a data encryption key between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18. When the pairing is established, the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 are in a connected state where data communication is possible. In the case of the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 that have a past connection record, if bonding for saving the key exchanged in the previous pairing has been performed, when communication between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 is established, it shifts to a state where encrypted communication is possible without performing the pairing process.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the electronic device 10 generally has five operation modes from ST1 to ST5. ST0 and ST6 are states where the main power supply of the electronic device 10 is off. When an operation to turn on the main power supply is performed by the user in a state where the main power supply is off, an instruction to shift to power-on is input to the control unit 13 and the electronic device 10 is activated. The on and off of the main power supply are performed, for example, by long-pressing the all-clear key 11e or operating a power switch (not shown). The control unit 13 stores the operation mode when the main power supply of the electronic device 10 was turned off last time in the memory 15. If the previous operation mode was the CAL mode, the electronic device 10 is activated in the CAL mode when the main power supply is turned on. If the previous operation mode was the PC mode, the electronic device 10 is activated in the PC mode when the main power supply is turned on.

[0020] When the electronic device 10 is started in the CAL mode by turning on the main power supply, the CAL mode (non - connected) of ST1 is selected. In the CAL mode (non - connected) of ST1, the control unit 13 continues to operate the electronic device 10 in a non - connected state where the power of the communication unit 17 is off and does not communicate with the external device 18. That is, the electronic device 10 is operated as a stand - alone calculator. During the operation in the CAL mode (non - connected) of ST1, when the user operates the Send key 11f, the control unit 13 turns on the power of the communication unit 17 to make it enter the advertisement state and transitions to the CAL mode (AD in progress) of ST2. When a connection request from the external device 18 is received in the CAL mode (AD in progress) of ST2 and a connection (a state where encrypted data communication is possible) with the external device 18 is established, it transitions to the CAL mode (connected) of ST3.

[0021] In the CAL mode (non - connected) of ST1, when the user operates the operation unit 11 to input a numerical value into the electronic device 10 or cause the electronic device 10 to perform a calculation, the numerical value or calculation result (the value displayed in the first display area 12a of the display unit 12) input at the time of operating the Send key 11f is transmitted to the external device 18 when it enters the CAL mode (connected) of ST3. Also, in the CAL mode (connected) of ST3, when the user operates the operation unit 11 to input a numerical value into the electronic device 10 or cause the electronic device 10 to perform a calculation and then operates the Send key 11f, the numerical value or calculation result (the value displayed in the first display area 12a of the display unit 12) input at the time of operating this Send key 11f is transmitted to the external device 18. That is, in the CAL mode, by operating the Send key 11f, the numerical values input in the CAL mode and the calculation results obtained in the CAL mode can be shared between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 to which the electronic device 10 is wirelessly connected.

[0022] If a certain amount of time elapses while ST2 is in CAL mode (AD in progress), or if the all-clear key 11e is operated, the control unit 13 turns off the power to the communication unit 17 to cancel the advertisement and transitions to ST1's CAL mode (disconnected). If, while ST3 is in CAL mode (connected), communication with the external device 18 is interrupted (for example, the power to the external device 18 is turned off, or the distance between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 becomes large), the system transitions to ST2's CAL mode (AD in progress).

[0023] When ST1 is operating in CAL mode (disconnected), if the user operates the PC / CAL key 11g, the control unit 13 turns on the power to the communication unit 17, putting it into advertising mode and transitioning to the mode switching state (AD in progress) of ST4. In the mode switching state (AD in progress) of ST4, if a connection request is received from the external device 18 and a connection with the external device 18 is established (enables encrypted data communication), the system transitions to the PC mode (connected) of ST5. Also, when ST3 is operating in CAL mode (connected), if the user operates the PC / CAL key 11g, the system transitions to the PC mode (connected) of ST5. In the CAL mode (connected) of ST3, since the connection between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 has already been established, the system can transition to the PC mode (connected) of ST5 without going through advertising. In this way, it is possible to switch from CAL mode to PC mode in response to any operation by the user. In ST5's PC mode (connected), the user's operations on the control panel 11 of the electronic device 10 are input to the external device 18, allowing the electronic device 10 to be used as an input device for the external device 18. Furthermore, in ST5's PC mode (connected), if the user operates the PC / CAL key 11g, it transitions to ST3's CAL mode (connected).

[0024] If a certain amount of time elapses while ST4 is in the mode switching state (AD mode), or if the all-clear key 11e is operated, the control unit 13 turns off the power to the communication unit 17 to cancel advertising and transitions to ST1's CAL mode (disconnected). If, while ST5 is in PC mode (connected), communication with the external device 18 is interrupted (for example, the power to the external device 18 is turned off, or the distance between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 becomes large), the system transitions to ST4's mode switching state (AD mode).

[0025] When the electronic device 10 is started in PC mode by turning on the main power, the control unit 13 supplies power to the communication unit 17 to turn on the power and start advertising, putting it into the mode switching state (AD in progress) of ST4, and then connects it to the external device 18. Since the previous use of the electronic device 10 ended in PC mode, it has a history of pairing and connecting with the external device 18. Therefore, if the external device 18 is powered on and able to communicate with the electronic device 10 when the connection process on the electronic device 10 side starts, the connection between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 is immediately established, and the electronic device 10 enters the PC mode (connecting) of ST5. However, if the external device 18 is not powered on, or if the distance between the electronic device 10 and the external device 18 is too great for communication, the PC mode will not be established, and the mode switching state (AD in progress) of ST4 will continue.

[0026] When the electronic device 10 is operating in CAL mode (ST1, ST3) or PC mode (PT5), if the user performs an operation to turn off the main power supply and the control unit 13 receives a power-off instruction, the control unit 13 turns off the main power supply of the electronic device 10. The electronic device 10 also has an auto power-off function that automatically turns off the main power supply after a specific period of time. If there is no user input operation in CAL mode (ST1, ST3) or PC mode (PT5) for a specific period of time, the control unit 13 receives a power-off instruction triggered by the elapsed time and turns off the main power supply of the electronic device 10. When the main power supply is turned off in CAL mode (ST1, ST3), the power-off state of ST0 is reached, and when the main power supply is turned off in PC mode (ST5), the power-off state of ST6 is reached. The control unit 13 monitors the operating mode of the electronic device 10 when the main power supply is turned off and stores in memory 15 whether the operating mode during the previous operation was CAL mode or PC mode. In other words, when ST0 transitions to the power-off state, the memory 15 stores information that it was in CAL mode during the previous operation, and when ST6 transitions to the power-off state, the memory 15 stores information that it was in PC mode during the previous operation. Therefore, when the main power of the electronic device 10 is turned on, the control unit 13 can refer to the information stored in the memory 15 to select whether to start it in CAL mode (ST1's CAL mode (unconnected) where power is not supplied to the communication unit 17) or in PC mode.

[0027] The control unit 13, via the display driver 16, causes the display unit 12 to display information for each mode from ST1 to ST5. The user can confirm the operating mode of the electronic device 10 by looking at the display content of the display unit 12. Figure 6 shows examples of the display of the display unit 12 in each mode. In CAL mode, whether disconnected from the external device 18 (ST1), advertising (ST2), or connected to the external device 18 (ST3), the numerical values ​​and calculation results entered by the user are displayed in the first display area 12a. The display example in Figure 6 shows the operation of the "1", "2", and "3" keys in the numeric key area 11a. During advertising (ST2, ST4), the communication indicator 12d in the second display area 12b blinks. In ST2's CAL mode (during AD), numerical values ​​and calculation results are displayed in the first display area 12a as described above. However, in ST4's mode switching state (during AD), a special display using four 7-segment display units 12c (a display resembling a combination of two hyphens and two underscores) is displayed in the first display area 12a. When connected to an external device 18 (ST3, ST5), the communication indicator 12d in the second display area 12b lights up (continuously). In ST3's CAL mode (during connection), numerical values ​​and calculation results are displayed in the first display area 12a as described above. However, in ST5's PC mode (during connection), a special display using four 7-segment display units 12c (a display resembling a combination of two hyphens and the letters "PC") is displayed in the first display area 12a.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6, the control unit 13 of the electronic device 10 manages power according to the operating mode when the main power supply of the electronic device 10 is on. When the electronic device 10 is not advertising (ST1, ST3, ST5), if no user input is received for a predetermined period of time, the control unit 13 performs an auto power-off process to turn off the main power supply of the electronic device 10. The control unit 13 has a timing function that obtains time information from the time function (system time) of the operating system of the electronic device 10 or from an integrated circuit (real-time clock) that implements a time function, and measures the passage of time. The detection of elapsed time in the following description is achieved by the timing function of the control unit 13.

[0029] When the electronic device 10 is operating in CAL mode (ST1, ST3) as a calculator, the control unit 13 turns off the main power of the electronic device 10 if no user input is accepted for 6 minutes or more (no operation for 6 minutes or more), regardless of whether ST1 is in CAL mode (not connected) and ST3 is in CAL mode (connected) and connected to the external device 18. When the electronic device 10 is operating in PC mode (ST5) as an input device for the external device 18, the control unit 13 turns off the main power of the electronic device 10 if no user input is accepted for 60 minutes or more (no operation for 60 minutes or more).

[0030] When the electronic device 10 is used as a calculator in CAL mode, most of the calculations the user intends to perform are carried out by inputting into the operation unit 11. Therefore, it is assumed that the user will continuously input into each key of the operation unit 11 without much delay until the calculation is completed. Accordingly, even if the waiting time before the control unit 13 executes auto power off is set to a relatively short first time (6 minutes), there is little risk that the electronic device 10 will frequently switch to auto power off against the user's will. Also, because the auto power off state is reached after a relatively short first time (6 minutes), unnecessary power consumption can be prevented as much as possible when the user does not intend to operate the electronic device 10. In particular, in the CAL mode (connected) of ST3, where the power of the communication unit 17 is turned on, power consumption is greater than in the CAL mode (not connected) of ST1, where the power of the communication unit 17 is turned off. Therefore, controlling the auto power off in the CAL mode (connected) of ST3 after the same first time (6 minutes) as in the CAL mode (not connected) of ST1 will greatly reduce power consumption. Furthermore, the first time period only needs to satisfy the condition that it is shorter than the second time period described below, and is not limited to 6 minutes.

[0031] When the electronic device 10 is used in PC mode, the tasks performed on the external device 18 may include a wide range of activities, such as composing emails, browsing the web, enjoying multimedia like music and videos, processing images, and playing games, in addition to inputting numerical values ​​using the electronic device 10 as an input device. When using the external device 18 for such multitasking, it is assumed that the waiting time during which the user does not operate the control unit 11 of the electronic device 10 in PC mode tends to be longer than in CAL mode. Therefore, if the electronic device 10 is controlled to switch to auto power off after the same or less time as in CAL mode, input of numerical values, etc., by operating the control unit 11 will become unacceptable earlier than the user would like, requiring the electronic device 10 to be restarted or reconnected to the external device 18, which may make the electronic device 10 less convenient to use in PC mode. On the other hand, if the main power is kept on at all times without applying auto power off control in the PC mode of the electronic device 10, power consumption will increase.

[0032] In contrast, as in the electronic device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 13 controls the electronic device 10 to perform an auto power-off for a second time (60 minutes) that is longer than the first time (6 minutes) in the PC mode (connected) of the ST5. This suppresses unnecessary power consumption without compromising the user experience in PC mode. Note that the second time only needs to satisfy the condition that it is longer than the first time, and is not limited to 60 minutes. The optimal second time can be appropriately set depending on the frequency of operations that the user is expected to perform on the operation unit 11 of the electronic device 10 in PC mode, the type of application running on the external device 18, etc.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6, during advertising by the electronic device 10 (ST2, ST4), if the state in which a connection with the external device 18 cannot be established continues for more than one minute, which is the third time period, the control unit 13 turns off the power to the communication unit 17 and cancels (stops) the advertisement. By canceling the advertisement, it transitions to the CAL mode (disconnected) of ST1. Therefore, in the CAL mode of ST2 (during AD) and the mode switching state of ST4 (during AD), if a connection with the external device 18 cannot be established and the user does not input an operation to the operation unit 11, the main power of the electronic device 10 is automatically turned off after a total of seven minutes have elapsed, which includes the one minute waiting time until the advertisement is canceled and the six minutes waiting time until it transitions to auto power off in CAL mode. In this way, even during advertising, when attempting to establish a communication connection with the external device 18, if a connection with the external device 18 cannot be established, the electronic device 10 can transition to a power-saving mode under the control of the control unit 13, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption.

[0034] Figure 7 shows an example of power management processing performed by the control unit 13 in the electronic device 10. The control unit 13 starts timing when power management processing begins. First, in step S1, the control unit 13 determines whether the electronic device 10 is advertising or not. If it is not advertising (NO in step S1), the control unit 13 proceeds to step S2 and determines whether the electronic device 10 is in CAL mode or not. If the electronic device 10 is in CAL mode (YES in step S2), the control unit 13 proceeds to step S3 and determines whether a first time of 6 minutes has elapsed since the start of timing without any input operation being accepted to the operation unit 11. If 6 minutes have elapsed (YES in step S3), the control unit 13 proceeds to step S4 and turns off the main power supply of the electronic device 10. In this case, the power is turned off from CAL mode, and the control unit 13 stores in memory 15 that the operating mode during the previous operation was CAL mode.

[0035] If the electronic device 10 is not in CAL mode (NO in step S2), the process proceeds to step S5, where the control unit 13 determines whether the electronic device 10 is in PC mode. If the electronic device 10 is in PC mode (YES in step S5), the process proceeds to step S6, where the control unit 13 determines whether 60 minutes, the second period, has elapsed since the start of timing without any input operation being received by the operation unit 11. If 60 minutes have elapsed (YES in step S6), the process proceeds to step S4, where the control unit 13 turns off the main power supply of the electronic device 10. In this case, the power is turned off from PC mode, and the control unit 13 stores in memory 15 that the operating mode during the previous operation was PC mode.

[0036] If, in step S3, an input operation to the control unit 11 is received before the first time period of 6 minutes has elapsed (NO in step S3), or if, in step S6, an input operation to the control unit 11 is received before the second time period of 60 minutes has elapsed (NO in step S6), the process proceeds to step S7, the counter indicating the auto power-off process is decremented, and the process returns to the start of the power management process.

[0037] In step S5, if it is determined that the electronic device 10 is not in PC mode (NO in step S5), then none of the states from ST1 to ST5 apply, and the process returns to the start of the power management process. Normally, if it is not in CAL mode, it is in PC mode, so it may be possible to determine that the electronic device 10 is in PC mode based on the determination that it is not in CAL mode (NO in step S2). In the case of step S5, if the process of step S5 is called when some kind of error has occurred, the determination will be NO, and it functions as a safety code by doing nothing regarding auto power off. Therefore, step S5 may be omitted.

[0038] If it is determined in step S1 that advertising is in progress (YES in step S1), the process proceeds to step S8, where the control unit 13 determines whether a third period of 1 minute has elapsed since the start of timing without establishing a connection with the external device 18. If it is detected that 1 minute has elapsed (YES in step S8), the process proceeds to step S9, where the control unit 13 sets a timer for 6 minutes, which is the first period before transitioning to auto power off. Then, in step S10, it turns off the power to the communication unit 17 and switches the operating mode of the electronic device 10 to CAL mode (CAL mode (disconnected) in ST1). This results in the determination in step S2 described earlier proceeding to YES.

[0039] In step S8, if a connection with the external device 18 is established before the third time period of 1 minute has elapsed (NO in step S8), the process proceeds to step S11, the counter indicating that advertising is in progress is decremented, and the process returns to the start of the power management process.

[0040] As described above, in the electronic device 10, when the first mode (CAL mode) is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a first time (6 minutes), or when the second mode (PC mode) is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a second time (60 minutes) which is longer than the first time, the control unit 13 performs a process to switch to a power-saving mode that turns off the main power. By switching to a power-saving mode when no input operation is accepted for a predetermined period of time or longer in both the first and second modes, power consumption can be suppressed when the user is not operating the electronic device 10. Furthermore, the time it takes for the electronic device 10 to switch to a power-saving mode when no input is received differs between the first mode (CAL mode), in which the electronic device 10 functions as a calculator and consistently performs input operations, calculation processing, and display processing within the device itself, and the second mode (PC mode), in which the electronic device 10 performs processing to operate the external device 18 that it wirelessly communicates with. The second time it takes to switch to a power-saving mode in the second mode (PC mode) is set to be longer than the first time it takes to switch to a power-saving mode in the first mode (CAL mode). As a result, even if the user does not perform any input operations on the electronic device 10 for a certain period of time in the second mode (PC mode), the electronic device 10 will not switch to a power-saving mode and will maintain its connection with the external device 18, thus improving the usability of the electronic device 10 when used in the second mode (PC mode). Therefore, in an electronic device 10 that can wirelessly communicate with an external device 18, optimal power management (power-saving settings) according to the operating state can be achieved.

[0041] In particular, in a usage method like that of the electronic device 10 in this embodiment, where the device is used as a calculator in the first mode and used to input information to an external device 18 in the second mode without using the device as a calculator, making the second time it takes to transition from the second mode to the power-saving mode longer than the first time it takes to transition from the first mode to the power-saving mode results in power management that is suitable for the differences in how the electronic device 10 is used in each mode, and an excellent balance between power saving and ease of use in each mode is achieved.

[0042] In the electronic device 10, when the control unit 13 receives an instruction to switch to the second mode (PC mode) while in the first mode (CAL mode) (input operation of Send key 11f or PC / CAL key 11g), it causes the communication unit 17 to start the connection process (advertisement) with the external device 18. Then, when the connection with the external device 18 is not established and a third time (1 minute) has elapsed, the connection process (advertisement) is canceled, the device returns to the first mode (CAL mode), and the time until it switches to the power-saving mode is set to the first time (6 minutes). This makes it possible to automatically switch to the power-saving mode and reduce power consumption even if the connection process with the external device 18 is not established. Furthermore, by setting the waiting time for an input operation to switch to the power-saving mode after the connection process (advertisement) is canceled to the first time (6 minutes), it is possible to switch to the power-saving mode without waiting for the second time (60 minutes), which is longer than the first time (6 minutes), and thus reduce power consumption.

[0043] The above embodiments are provided as specific examples to facilitate understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0044] In the above embodiment, when the first mode (CAL mode) is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a first time (6 minutes), or when the second mode (PC mode) is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a second time (60 minutes) which is longer than the first time, the control unit 13 switches to a mode that is more power-efficient than the first mode (CAL mode) and the second mode (PC mode), by turning off the main power supply of the electronic device 10. By turning off the main power supply, the lowest power consumption and the best power-saving effect can be obtained. However, the process by which the control unit 13 switches to a mode that is more power-efficient than the first mode (CAL mode) and the second mode (PC mode) may be a process other than turning off the power supply of the electronic device 10.

[0045] As an example of a mode that is more power-saving than the first mode (CAL mode) and the second mode (PC mode), the control unit 13 may switch the electronic device 10 to a sleep mode. The sleep state of the electronic device 10 is a standby state in which, for example, the main power is on, and power supply to each part is temporarily stopped or minimized, except for the minimum power supply necessary to maintain the contents of the RAM that constitutes the memory 15. In sleep mode, the operation unit 11 can accept input operations (including operations other than turning on the main power), and when the operation unit 11 accepts an input operation, power supply to each part is resumed and the sleep mode is canceled. Note that the control unit 11 may be controlled so that the sleep mode is canceled only when a specific key is operated, or it may be controlled so that the sleep mode is canceled when any key on the operation unit 11 is operated.

[0046] As an example of a mode that is more power-efficient than the first mode (CAL mode) and the second mode (PC mode), the control unit 13 may switch to a display-off mode that turns off the display on the display unit 12. For example, when switching to the display-off mode, the control unit 13 stops displaying the display contents of each mode shown in Figure 6 (the display of numbers and special shapes in the first display area 12a, and the blinking or lighting of the communication indicator 12d in the second display area 12b). Both the PC mode (connected) of ST5 and the CAL mode (connected) of ST3 turn on the power of the communication unit 17 to establish wireless communication with the external device 18 and display the information shown in Figure 6 on the display unit 12. Therefore, by turning off the display on the display unit 12, it is possible to make it a more power-efficient mode than the first mode (CAL mode) and the second mode (PC mode). In addition, in the CAL mode (disconnected) of ST1, the power of the communication unit 17 is off and the information shown in Figure 6 is displayed on the display unit 12. Therefore, by turning off the display on the display unit 12 in a power-efficient mode, power consumption can be further reduced.

[0047] Although the electronic device 10 in the above embodiment functions as a calculator in the first mode, the electronic devices to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to calculators. For example, a wristwatch-type wearable device is known that can switch between a first mode in which the device performs processing such as timing and life log management when it receives an input operation, and a second mode in which it performs some operation on the external device (such as playing or stopping music) by wirelessly communicating with an external device such as a smartphone. The present invention can also be applied to such types of electronic devices, and power management suitable for the first mode and the second mode can be achieved.

[0048] Although the electronic device 10 in the above embodiment is equipped with a plurality of physical keys on the operation unit 11, the means for receiving input operations provided by the electronic device are not limited to such physical keys, and may also be a software keyboard or the like that which performs input operations by touching a touch panel. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 10: Electronic equipment, 11f: Send key (setting unit), 11g: PC / CAL key (setting unit), 13: Control unit, 17: Communication unit, 18: External devices

Claims

1. A communication unit for wireless communication with external devices, A setting unit that selectively sets either a first mode or a second mode that is different from the first mode and performs at least wireless communication with the external device, A control unit that, when the first mode is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a first time, sets the device to a mode that is more power-efficient than the first mode, and when the second mode is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a second time longer than the first time, sets the device to a mode that is more power-efficient than the second mode, Electronic devices equipped with them.

2. The control unit, When an instruction to transition to the second mode is received during the first mode, the communication unit is instructed to start the connection process with the external device. The electronic device according to claim 1, which returns to the first mode when a third time has elapsed since the start of the connection process without establishing a connection with the external device.

3. The first mode described above is a mode in which the device is used as a calculator, The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a mode in which information is input to at least the external device without using the device itself as a calculator.

4. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit turns off the power to the device, puts the device into sleep mode, or turns off the display of the display unit of the device.

5. A communication unit for wireless communication with external devices, A setting unit that selectively sets either a first mode or a second mode that is different from the first mode and performs at least wireless communication with the external device, A control method for electronic equipment comprising a control unit, The control unit, When the first mode is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a first time, the device is switched to a mode that is more power-efficient than the first mode. When the second mode is set, if no input operation is received by the device for a second time longer than the first time, the device is switched to a mode that is more power-efficient than the second mode. A method for controlling electronic devices.

6. A communication unit for wireless communication with external devices, A program for controlling an electronic device comprising: a setting unit that selectively sets either a first mode or a second mode different from the first mode, which performs at least wireless communication with an external device, When the first mode is set and no input operation is accepted to the device for a first time, a process is performed to switch the device to a mode that is more power-efficient than the first mode. When the second mode is set, if no input operation is received from the device for a second time longer than the first time, the device is put into a mode that is more power-efficient than the second mode. A program that causes the control unit of the electronic device to execute.

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