Electronic apparatus, electronic apparatus system, and operation mode switching method

An electronic apparatus system which comprises an electronic apparatus which can operate by electric power supplied from a cell unit that can produce electricity by chemical reaction,

• the electronic apparatus comprising:
• a switching unit which can switch an operation mode between a first operation mode that makes an operation with a first power consumption amount, and a second operation mode that makes an operation with a second power consumption amount lower than the first power consumption amount;
• and
• a notification unit configured to send a signal indicating that the operation mode is switched to the cell unit,
• the cell unit comprising:
• a response unit which is responsive to the signal from the notification unit to send back information based on the signal to the electronic apparatus, and the electronic apparatus further comprising:
• a control unit configured to switch the operation mode on the basis of the information received from the cell unit.

An electronic apparatus system which includes a cell unit comprising a fuel cell that can produce electricity by chemical reaction, and an electronic apparatus which can operate by electric power supplied from the cell unit,

• the electronic apparatus comprising:
• a switching unit which can switch an operation mode between a first operation mode that makes an operation with a first power consumption amount, and a second operation mode that makes an operation with a second power consumption amount lower than the first power consumption amount;
• a notification unit configured to send a signal indicating that the operation mode is switched to the cell unit;
• and
• a control unit configured to switch the operation mode on the basis of a signal sent back from the cell unit in response to the signal of the notification unit, and
• the cell unit comprising:
• a reception unit configured to receive the signal from the notification unit;
• a comparison unit configured to compare a power consumption amount upon operating the electronic apparatus in the operation mode after switching with output electric power that can be output from the cell unit on the basis of the signal received by the reception means;
• and
• a response unit configured to send a signal based on a comparison result of the comparison unit to the electronic apparatus.

An operation mode switching method for an electronic apparatus system which includes a cell unit that can produce electricity by chemical reaction, and an electronic apparatus which has a switching unit which can switch an operation mode between a first operation mode that makes an operation with a first power consumption amount, and a second operation mode that makes an operation with a second power consumption amount lower than the first power consumption amount, and can operate by electric power supplied from the cell unit, comprising:

• sending a signal indicating the operation mode is switched to the cell unit, by the electronic apparatus;
• comparing a power consumption amount upon operating the electronic apparatus in the operation mode after switching with output electric power that can be output from the cell unit on the basis of the signal from the electronic apparatus, and sending a signal based on the comparison result to the electronic apparatus, by the cell unit;
• and
• switching the operation mode on the basis of the signal sent back from the cell unit, by the electronic apparatus.