Camera Wireless Module State Switching for Battery and Response Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communication apparatuses for image pickup devices, such as digital cameras, face challenges in balancing operability and battery consumption when wirelessly connected to external devices like smartphones, often requiring lengthy connection establishment times and incurring high power usage due to frequent state changes between power-saving and operating modes.
Innovation Solution
The communication apparatus employs a method to determine the type of connection destination and selectively shift between power-saving and operating states based on the device type and connection requirements, allowing for quicker operation responses while minimizing power consumption by maintaining the power-saving state for continuous connections and shifting to the operating state only when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the communication apparatus shifts to the operating state whenever a request packet is received, then the response speed is improved, but the battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the response behavior based on the type of connection destination. When a smartphone (continuous connection type) sends a request, the apparatus maintains power-saving state. When a remote controller (non-continuous connection type) sends a request, the apparatus shifts to operating state. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying different quality rules to different scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the power state flexible and adaptive rather than fixed. The apparatus dynamically transitions between power-saving and operating states based on real-time conditions (type of connection destination and connection establishment status). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize both response speed and battery consumption according to actual operational needs.
2Reliability
If the wireless connection establishment process is completed before transmitting operation commands, then the connection reliability is improved, but the operational response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing the power state in advance based on the type of connection destination before the actual operation command is transmitted. For non-continuous connection types, the apparatus shifts to operating state upon receiving the connection request, preparing the system in advance for immediate operation. This preliminary preparation reduces operational response time while maintaining connection reliability through subsequent connection establishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the connection and operation process into distinct phases with different power state requirements. The connection establishment phase and the operation execution phase are separated, allowing the apparatus to optimize power state for each phase independently. This segmentation enables the system to maintain power-saving state during connection establishment with continuous connection types while ensuring rapid response for non-continuous connection types.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication apparatus capable of achieving both of improvement in operability and suppression of battery consumption. A camera as the communication apparatus wirelessly communicates with one of a plurality of external devices including a remote controller and a smartphone. The state of the camera is switched between an operating state and a power-saving state in which power consumption is smaller than in the operating state. In the power-saving state, when a connection request is received from the remote controller as a device for non-continuous connection, a process for establishing a connection with the remote controller is started, and the camera is shifted to the operating state. In the power-saving state, when a connection request is received from the smartphone as a device for continuous connection, a process for establishing a connection with the smartphone is started, and the camera is not shifted to the operating state.