Information processing apparatus and method for operating same

Abstract

When the power supply is turned on, the value of a mode flag first is set to 0, the mode flag is evaluated, and processing of the record mode is executed. In the record mode, charging processing of the strobe is performed for a specified interval of time, and the strobe can be reliably caused to flash. Charging processing of the strobe is not performed while processing of reproduction (play) mode or another mode is being performed, and battery consumption is controlled.

1 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 an input device for inputting an image;   a memory for storing the image input by the input device;   a power supply that supplies electric power to the input device;   an indicator that indicates power supply to the input device;   a mode switch that switches between a first mode to store in the memory the image input by the input device, and a second mode to reproduce the image stored in the memory;   a strobe drive circuit having a condenser which is operated to iteratively charge the condenser by a charge operation while power supply is indicated by the indicator and in the first mode, the strobe drive circuit being configured such that the charge operation is executed again after a predetermined time while still in the first mode even when the charge operation is executed in the first mode; and   a controller that controls the input device, the mode switch and the strobe drive circuit,   wherein when the mode is changed from the first mode to the second mode, the controller stops the operation to iteratively charge the condenser of the strobe drive circuit even though power supply is indicated.   
     
     
         2 . An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 an input device for inputting an image;   a memory for storing the image input by the input device;   a power supply that supplies electric power to the input device;   an indicator that indicates power supply to the input device;   a mode switch that switches between an image recording mode to store in the memory the image input by the input device, and another mode which does not operate the input device;   a strobe drive circuit having a condenser; and   a controller that controls the input device, the power supply, the mode switch and the strobe drive circuit, wherein the controller operates the strobe drive circuit to:   (a) actuate the strobe drive circuit to iteratively charge the condenser by a charge operation when in the image recording mode by the mode switch, such that the charge operation is executed again after a predetermined time while still in the image recording mode even when the charge operation is executed in the image recording mode,   (b) stop operation of the strobe drive circuit to iteratively charge the condenser when the mode is changed to the another mode from the image recording mode, and   (c) resume operation of the strobe drive circuit when the mode is returned to the image recording mode from the another mode.   
     
     
         3 . An information processing apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the another mode is an image reproducing mode. 
     
     
         4 . An information processing apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the another mode is a sound recording mode. 
     
     
         5 . A method for operating an information processing apparatus having a mode switch that switches between a first mode that stores information, and a second mode that reproduces information, the method comprising the steps of:
 inputting an image using an input device;   storing the input image in a memory;   supplying electric power to the input device;   indicating power supply to the input device;   detecting when the mode switch is changed between the first mode to the second mode;   iteratively charging a condenser of a strobe drive circuit which is operated to charge the condenser by a charge operation while power supply is indicated and while in the first mode, such that the charge operation is executed again after a predetermined time while still in the first mode even when the charge operation is executed in the first mode; and   automatically stopping operation of the charging of the condenser of the strobe drive circuit when the mode is switched from the first mode to the second mode by the mode switch even though power supply is indicated.   
     
     
         6 . A method for operating an information processing apparatus having a mode switch that switches between an image recording mode that stores information and another mode which does not operate an input device, the method comprising the steps of:
 inputting an image using the input device;   storing the input image in a memory;   supplying electric power to the input device;   indicating power supply to the input device;   actuating a strobe drive circuit having a condenser to iteratively charge the condenser by a charge operation when the mode switch is in the image recording mode, such that the charge operation is executed again after a predetermined time while still in the image recording mode even when the charge operation is executed in the image recording mode;   stopping operation of the strobe drive circuit to charge the condenser when the mode switch is changed to the another mode from the image recording mode; and   resuming the operation of the strobe drive circuit when the mode switch is returned to the image recording mode from the another mode.   
     
     
         7 . An information processing apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the charge operation detects at specified time intervals whether the charge voltage of the condenser is at a predetermined value. 
     
     
         8 . An information processing apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the charge operation detects at specified time intervals whether the charge voltage of the condenser is at a predetermined value. 
     
     
         9 . An information processing apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the charge operation detects at specified time intervals whether the charge voltage of the condenser is at a predetermined value. 
     
     
         10 . An information processing apparatus as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the charge operation detects at specified time intervals whether the charge voltage of the condenser is at a predetermined value.