Electronic apparatus and control method therefor

Abstract

An electronic apparatus and a control method are provided that are capable of reducing power consumption. The electronic apparatus having a normal mode in which first electric power is consumed and a power-saving mode in which second electric power lower than the first electric power is consumed includes a first sensor and a second sensor whose power consumption is lower than that of the first sensor. In the power-saving mode, supply of power to the first sensor is restricted, the second sensor is set to the power-saving mode, a trigger for restoring the power-saving mode to the normal mode is detected by using the second sensor set to the power-saving mode, and the power-saving mode is restored to the normal mode based on the detected trigger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
       circuitry configured to:
 set an operating state of a specific sensor to a first operating state or a second operating state, wherein power supplied to the specific sensor in the second operating state is higher than power supplied to the specific sensor in the first operating state; 
 control an energy source to supply, to a motion sensor, enough power to cause the motion sensor to send a motion signal while the specific sensor is in the first operating state, wherein the motion sensor has a consumption current lower than that of the specific sensor; 
 receive the motion signal from the motion sensor; and 
 change the operating state of the specific sensor from the first operating state to the second operating state based on the received motion signal. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the specific sensor is at least one of an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, a gyro sensor, or a touch sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the specific sensor includes the optical sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the optical sensor is configured to acquire an image of a surrounding view of the apparatus.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the motion sensor is at least one of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, an infrared sensor, a pressure sensor, a GPS sensor, or a rotary encoder.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the motion sensor includes at least one of the gyro sensor, the acceleration sensor, or the rotary encoder.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 determine whether the motion signal is lower than a predetermined value; 
 determine whether the apparatus is in a still condition based on the determination that the motion signal is lower than the predetermined value; and 
 change the operating state of the optical sensor from the second operating state to the first operating state based on the still condition. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether the apparatus is moved by a user based on the acquired image.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the circuitry is configured to determine whether a specific object is in the acquired image.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the circuitry is configured to determine how a surrounding view is based on the acquired image and location data.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the apparatus is an autonomous travel system for an automobile,   wherein the autonomous travel system includes the circuitry, the optical sensor, the motion sensor, and the power source, and   wherein the circuitry is configured to perform autonomous traveling based on the acquired image.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the apparatus is a mobile device,   wherein the specific sensor includes at least one of the optical sensor or the touch sensor, and   wherein the motion sensor includes at least one of the gyro sensor or the acceleration sensor.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 determine whether the mobile device is operated based on the motion signal; and 
 change the operating state of the specific sensor from the first operating state to the second operating state based on the determination that the mobile device is operated. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the circuitry is configured to:
 determine whether the motion signal is equal to or more than a predetermined value; 
 determine whether the mobile device is in a moving condition based on the determination that the motion signal is equal to or more than the predetermined value; and 
 change the operating state of the specific sensor from the first operating state to the second operating state based on the moving condition. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 the specific sensor connected to the circuitry;   the motion sensor connected to the circuitry; and   the power source configured to supply power to the circuitry, the specific sensor, and the motion sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising
 an indicator configured to indicate the operating state of the specific sensor with a light.   
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 an image sensor;   a specific sensor configured to detect an object motion;   an energy source configured to supply power to the image sensor and the specific sensor; and   circuitry configured to:
 set an operating state of the image sensor to a first operating state or a second operating state, wherein power supplied to the image sensor in the second operating state is higher than power supplied to the image sensor in the first operating state; and 
 change the operating state of the image sensor from the first operating state to the second operating state based on the detected object motion. 
   
     
     
         18 . A power-saving control method, comprising:
 setting an operating state of a specific sensor to a first operating state,   controlling power supplied to the specific sensor in the first operating state to become lower than power supplied to the specific sensor in a second operating state;   controlling an energy source to supply, to a motion sensor, enough power to cause the motion sensor to send a motion signal while the specific sensor is in the first operating state, wherein the motion sensor has a consumption current lower than that of the specific sensor; and   changing the operating state of the specific sensor from the first operating state to the second operating state based on the received motion signal.