JP2000123884A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To anticipate accurate charging time by providing a battery capacity detecting means of a secondary battery and a charging current detecting means, providing a battery pack having a charging current detected by the charging current detecting means and residual charging time data corresponding to capacity of the battery capacity detecting means, and determining residual charging time. SOLUTION: Electronic equipment is desirably provided with a battery capacity detecting means of a secondary battery and a charging current receiving means for receiving a charging current from a device main body or an expander, and is provided with charging current data received by the charging current receiving means of a battery pack and residual charging time data corresponding to capacity of the battery capacity detecting means to determine residual charging time. The battery pack is desirably provided with a means for transmitting residual charging time information determined by a residual charging time calculating means to the device main body or the expander, the device main body or the expander is provided with a charging current detecting means, and is provided with a means for transmitting the charging current to the battery pack to transmit predetermined plural fixed charging current values to the battery pack.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to a method for predicting charging time in an electronic device in which a battery pack is detachably attached to an electronic device main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body) or an extension device. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a secondary battery (lithium ion battery) used in a portable computer or the like is a constant voltage / constant current power supply having a constant voltage / constant current characteristic as shown in FIG. ) Charged by. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, when the battery voltage is equal to or lower than the constant voltage value (C) of the power supply, the secondary battery charged by the power supply has a constant current value (A) of the power supply. When the battery voltage reaches the voltage value (C) of the constant voltage of the power supply, the current of the current value (A ′) of the constant current of the power supply flows, and thereafter, the charging current gradually decreases, and the point B When it reaches, it is fully charged.

On the other hand, in order to predict the time until the secondary battery is fully charged, a calculation of (full charged capacity−current capacity) ÷ charge current is performed.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, in order to calculate (capacity of full charge−current capacity) ÷ charge current, it takes 160 minutes to fully charge the battery. Even if the battery has a charge capacity of 2700 mAh, it takes 90 minutes to charge the battery with a current capacity of 0 mAh and a charge current (constant current value) of 1.8 A. Naturally, the charge state is checked after 90 minutes. Is not fully charged.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device capable of accurately predicting a charging time.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a battery pack having a built-in main unit or an expander and a secondary battery, which is detachably attached to the main unit or the expander. The electronic device includes a battery capacity detecting unit that detects a capacity of the secondary battery, a charging current detecting unit that detects a charging current, and a charging current detected by the charging current detecting unit. It is characterized by including remaining charge time data corresponding to the capacity of the battery capacity detection means, and determining the remaining charge time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising a battery pack having a built-in main unit or an expander and a secondary battery and detachably attached to the main unit or the expander, detecting a capacity of the secondary battery. And a charging current receiving means for receiving a charging current from the apparatus main body or the expander, and charging current data received by the charging current receiving means of the battery pack and the battery capacity detecting means. The remaining charge time data corresponding to the above capacity is provided, and the remaining charge time is obtained.

[0008]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described. 1, 2 and 3 show the configuration of an embodiment using a notebook computer.
The personal computer 1 has a display device 10, a keyboard input device 9, a hard disk drive 11, a floppy disk drive 12, a detachable battery pack 20 (hereinafter referred to as a battery), and an electric circuit (not shown) to be described later.

The extender 2 includes a CD-ROM drive 13, a detachable battery pack 21 (hereinafter referred to as a battery), an electric circuit (not shown), and the like. The detachable batteries 20 and 21 are batteries in which eight lithium ion battery cells are connected in series two by two and four are connected in series. The voltage is 16.4 V and the capacity is 2700 mAh.
It is. 22 and 23 are detachable AC adapters,
AC100V is converted into DC20V and supplied to the main unit 1 or the expansion unit 2.

The dilator 2 has a fixed claw 5 on the right side of the upper surface thereof, and a movable claw 6 linked to a separation lever (open / close lever) 8 on the left side. The connector 4 is arranged between the two movable claws 6 so as to be finely movable. 7 is a protruding pin,
It is arranged on both sides of the connector 4. On the back surface of the main body shown in FIG. 3, a locking hole 14 for locking with the fixed claw 5, a locking hole 15 for locking with the movable claw 6, and an engagement hole 16 for engaging with the protruding pin 7.
Is provided. Reference numeral 3 denotes a connector of the main body connected to the connector 4 of the expander.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a method of combining the main body 1 and the dilator 2. FIG. With the release lever 8 opened outward and the movable claw 6 tilted outward, the locking hole 14 on the right side of the main body is hooked on the fixed claw 5 of the dilator, and then the left side of the main body is lowered to connect the connector. . Thereafter, when the separating lever 8 is closed, the movable claw 6 is locked in the locking hole 15 and the combination is completed. Separation is performed by the reverse operation of the above description.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a power supply circuit built in the main body 1 and the expander 2 and the battery pack 2.
2 shows a block diagram of the internal electrical circuits 0 and 21. FIG. Reference numeral 60 denotes a power supply circuit built in the main body 1, and 100 denotes a power supply circuit built in the expander 2.

Reference numerals 30 and 140 denote 10-bit A / D converters 31 and 141, and ROMs 33 and 143 for storing programs and data for estimating charging time, respectively.
And a RAM 32, 142 for temporarily storing data for processing a program.

38 and 148 are connected two by two in parallel,
This is a total of eight lithium-ion battery cells (hereinafter referred to as battery cells) in which four are connected in series. 42,
Reference numeral 152 denotes a resistor for measuring the charge or discharge current of the battery cells 38 and 148.
02Ω. 34 and 144 are the resistors 42 and 152
This is an inverting amplifier that amplifies the voltage at the point. In this embodiment,
The amplification is about 62.5 times. 35 and 145 are resistors 4
This is a non-inverting amplifier for amplifying the voltage at point a of 2, 152. In this embodiment, the amplification degree is about 62.5 times. 3
Reference numerals 9, 40, 149, and 150 denote thermistors whose resistance values change depending on the temperature of the battery cells. 41, 151
Is a pull-up resistor for connecting the thermistors 40 and 150 to the power supply, and the voltage divided by the thermistors 40 and 150 and the pull-up resistors 41 and 151 is A / D converters 31 and 1
At 41, the data is converted into a digital value that can be handled by the CPUs 30 and 140, read as temperature data, and used when communicating battery state information and calculating battery capacity.

Reference numerals 36, 37, 146, and 147 denote voltage dividing resistors for measuring the voltages of the battery cells 38 and 148.
The divided voltage is supplied to the A / D converters 31 and 141 by the CPU 3.
0 and 140 are converted into readable digital values, read as voltage data, and used when communicating battery state information. Reference numerals 48 and 158 denote LEDs for displaying the capacities of the batteries 20 and 21.
The LEDs 48 and 158 are turned on, and all five LEDs 48 and 158 are turned on at a capacity of 80 to 100%.

When the buttons 46 and 156 are pressed once with a button switch for starting the display of the remaining amount, the LEDs 48 and 158 are turned on for about 3 seconds and then turned off. 43 and 153 are CP
It is a constant voltage circuit that supplies a voltage of 5 V to U30 and U140, and is made up of battery cells 38 and 148. Even when the battery packs 20 and 21 are left in a state where they are detached from the main body 1 and the dilator 2, the battery cells 38 and 14
As long as there is a capacity of 8, the CPUs 30 and 140 can operate.

Reference numeral 89 denotes a + terminal for supplying the positive voltage of the battery 20 to the power supply circuit 60; 90, a thermistor terminal for connecting the thermistor 39 to the power supply circuit 60;
Is a negative terminal for supplying a negative voltage to the power supply circuit 60. 6
Reference numerals 1 and 62 denote a data terminal of a data signal and a clock terminal of a clock signal for performing bidirectional communication between the power supply circuit 60 and the battery pack 20 with battery state information to be described later from the battery pack 20 and a command from the power supply circuit 60. It is.

Reference numeral 119 denotes a + terminal for supplying the positive voltage of the battery 21 to the power supply circuit 100, 120 denotes a thermistor terminal for connecting the thermistor 149 to the power supply circuit 100, and 121 denotes a negative voltage of the battery 21 for the power supply circuit 100. 100
-Terminal. 131 and 132 are battery status information from the battery pack 21 and the power supply circuit 1 described later.
00 from the power supply circuit 100 and the battery pack 21
A data terminal of a data signal and a clock terminal of a clock signal for bidirectional communication between the data signal and the clock signal.

Reference numerals 44, 63, 154 and 133 denote open collector drivers for transmitting data signals.
Reference numerals 45, 64, 155, and 134 denote open collector drivers for transmitting clock signals.

Data terminals 61 and 131 and clock terminal 6
The communication protocol and electrical characteristics of the two-way communication by 2, 132 may be a general two-wire serial communication protocol, but in the present embodiment, a Philips I ² C bus is used. The data to be communicated includes battery capacity, battery voltage, battery temperature, CPUs 30 and 14
0 is the battery charge / discharge current detected by the current detection resistors 42 and 152, and the CPUs 30 and 140 are the current detection resistors 42
The remaining charge time (hereinafter referred to as the remaining charge time) in the battery charge current detected in step 152
The remaining charge time corresponding to the estimated remaining charge time required for the charge currents 30 and 140 and the remaining charge time for the charge current requested by the CPUs 71 and 101 (hereinafter referred to as the estimated remaining charge time).

Reference numerals 3 and 4 denote the connectors described above.
22, 93 and 123, 94 and 124, 95 and 125, 9
6 and 126, 97 and 127, 98 and 128 are a pair of terminals arranged inside the connectors 3 and 4. 92 and 12
Reference numeral 2 denotes power terminals for supplying power from the power supply circuit 60 to the power supply circuit 100 and from the power supply circuit 100 to the power supply circuit 60. Reference numerals 93 and 123 denote power supply terminals from the power supply circuit 100 to the power supply circuit 60 to the power supply circuit 100 from the AC adapter 23. A terminal 93 with an extender AC that indicates whether or not there is power supply.
Indicates high level when the main unit and extender are separated,
Indicates a low level when the extender has an AC adapter.
Reference numerals 94 and 124 denote terminals with a main body AC that notify the power supply circuit 60 from the power supply circuit 60 whether power is supplied from the adapter 22 to the power supply circuit 100.
Reference numeral 24 indicates a high level when the main unit has no AC adapter or the main unit and the expander are separated, and indicates a low level when the main unit has an AC adapter.

Reference numerals 95 and 125 denote main body battery full charge terminals for notifying the battery pack 20 from the power supply circuit 60 to the power supply circuit 100 whether or not the main body battery pack 20 is not fully charged. Alternatively, a high level is indicated when the main unit and the expander are separated, and a low level is indicated when the main unit battery pack 20 is fully charged. 96 and 126 are the power supply circuit 10
0 is a connection terminal of an expander for detecting whether or not the main unit 1 and the expander 2 are connected. The connection terminal 96 of the expander indicates a high level when the main unit 1 and the expander 2 are separated from each other. Indicates a low level when is combined. 97 and 1
Reference numeral 27 denotes a main body connection terminal for detecting whether or not the power supply circuit 60 is connected to the power supply circuit 100;
Reference numeral 27 indicates a high level when the main body 1 and the expander 2 are separated, and indicates a low level when the main body 1 and the expander 2 are combined. 98 and 128 are ground terminals.

Reference numeral 71 denotes a one-chip CPU having a built-in A / D converter 72, which stores the integrated value of the capacity of the battery pack 20, the value of the battery voltage and the value of the battery temperature, and controls charging and discharging. Reference numeral 101 denotes a one-chip CPU having an A / D converter 102 built therein.
The integrated value of the battery capacity, the value of the battery voltage and the value of the battery temperature are stored, and charging and discharging are controlled. 99 is an extender AC
A pull-up resistor connecting the terminal 93 and the power supply.
Reference numeral 16 denotes a pull-up resistor for connecting the power supply terminal 124 to the power supply, and 117 denotes a main battery full charge terminal 125.
And 88, a pull-up resistor connecting the extender connection terminal 96 and the power source.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a pull-up resistor that connects the main body connection terminal 127 to a power supply.

Reference numeral 129 denotes a transistor for inverting a signal from the CPU 101 and transmitting the inverted signal to the terminal 123 having an expander AC.
A transistor for transmitting the signal to the terminal 94 is provided.
A transistor that inverts the signal from the PU 71 and transmits the inverted signal to the main battery full charge terminal 95. Reference numeral 82 denotes a pull-up resistor for connecting the thermistor terminal 90 to the power supply. The voltage divided by the thermistor 39 and the pull-up resistor 82 is represented by A.
By reading in the / D converter 72, the temperature of the battery pack 20 is detected, and it is determined whether or not the battery pack 20 is connected to the main body 1.

When the value read by the A / D converter 72 is 5 V, the battery pack 20 is not connected to the main body 1 and
Any other value indicates the temperature of the battery pack 20. 1
Reference numeral 12 denotes a pull-up resistor for connecting the thermistor terminal 120 to the power supply, and the thermistor 149 and the pull-up resistor 11
2 is read by the A / D converter 102 to detect the temperature of the battery pack 21 and
It is determined whether or not 1 is connected to the extender 2. A /
When the value read by the D converter 102 is 5 V, the battery pack 21 is not connected to the expander 2, and when the value is another value, it indicates the temperature of the battery pack 21.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a DC input for connecting an AC adapter. Reference numerals 78 and 79 denote voltage dividing resistors for dividing the voltage of the AC adapter 22. The CPU 71 converts the divided voltage into an A / D signal.
By measuring through the converter 72, the presence or absence of the AC adapter 22 is determined. In the case of 0V, there is no AC adapter, and other than that, there is. When the CPU 71 determines that the AC adapter 22 is present by the above-described method, it outputs a high level to the transistor 86. 106 is the AC adapter 2
3 and a voltage dividing resistor 108 for dividing the voltage of the AC adapter 23.
01 measures the divided voltage through the A / D converter 102 to determine the presence or absence of the AC adapter 23. In the case of 0V, it indicates that there is no AC adapter, and that there is otherwise. When the CPU 101 determines that the AC adapter 23 is present by the above-described method, it outputs a high level to the transistor 129.

Reference numeral 84 denotes a charging current detection resistor, which is 0.02Ω in this embodiment. CPU 71 is an A / D converter 72
Then, the charging current is detected by measuring the voltage at point d of the detection resistor 84. Reference numeral 114 denotes a charging current detection resistor, which is 0.02Ω in this embodiment. The CPU 101 detects the charging current by measuring the voltage at the point d of the detection resistor 114 with the A / D converter 102.

Reference numeral 75 denotes a power supply circuit for supplying 5 V power to the CPU 71 and other circuits; 77, a diode for supplying power from the AC adapter 22 to the power supply circuit 75; A diode for supplying power from the When the power supply circuit 75 has the AC adapter 22 due to the above-described voltage relationship,
Then, power is supplied, and when there is no AC adapter 22, power is supplied from the battery pack 20.

Reference numeral 105 denotes the CPU 101 and other circuits.
V is a power supply circuit that supplies power, 107 is a diode that supplies power from the battery pack 21 to the power supply circuit 105, and 113 is a diode that supplies power from the battery pack 21 to the power supply circuit 105. The power supply circuit 105 has an AC adapter 23
When there is, power is supplied from it, and when there is no AC adapter 23, power is supplied from the battery pack 21.

Reference numeral 73 designates 20 V from the AC adapter.
A constant voltage / constant current circuit that converts the current to 4 V, 1.8 A, or 0.5 A. The constant current circuit is used for charging the battery pack 20, and the output current is switched by the CPU 71. Reference numeral 74 denotes a switch circuit for turning on / off charging. 103 is 16.4V, 1.8A or 0.5V from 20V from the AC adapter.
This is a constant voltage / constant current circuit that converts the current into A, charges the battery pack 21, and the output current is switched by the CPU 101. Reference numeral 104 denotes a switch circuit that turns charging on and off. Reference numeral 85 denotes a switch circuit for transmitting the power of the main unit 1 to the expander 2 or the power of the expander 2 to the main unit 1.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a switch circuit for transmitting the power of the main unit 1 to the expander 2 or transmitting the power of the expander 2 to the main unit 1.

Next, a method for calculating the battery capacity by the battery packs 20 and 21 will be described. CPU 30, 140
Stores the initial capacities of the battery cells 38, 148, that is, the maximum capacities in the ROMs 33, 143 of the CPUs 30, 140 in advance, and the current detecting resistors 42, 15 at predetermined time intervals.
The charge capacity or the discharge capacity is obtained from the voltage of 2, and the capacity is added or subtracted. Specifically, a resistor 42 of 0.02Ω,
The change in the current of ± 3.9 mA to 4 A flowing through 152
It is converted to a voltage change of ± 4.9-80 mV (voltage at point a). Next, it is amplified 62.5 times by the inverting amplifiers 34 and 154 or the non-inverting amplifiers 35 and 155,
Ｖ5.0 V (voltage of b or c).

The A / D converter 31 used in this embodiment,
141 has the ability to resolve the range of 0 to 5 V in 10 bits, so that it is possible to detect 4.5 mV per 1 bit. This 4.9 mV voltage is applied to the resistors 42 and 152
Is equivalent to 3.9 mA,
Since the minimum 1 bit (LSB) of the A / D converter 2 includes an error, the minimum detected current is 2 bits, that is, 7.
When the current is set to 8 mA and the CPUs 30 and 140 detect a current of 8 mA or more, the battery packs 20 and 21 recognize that the battery packs 20 and 21 are in a charged or discharged state. For example, the voltage at the point a of the current detection resistors 42 and 152 is
The signals are amplified by the non-inverting amplifiers 35 and 145, and converted by the A / D converters 31 and 141.

Here, assuming that the value of the inverting amplifiers 34 and 154 is b and the value of the non-inverting amplifiers 35 and 145 is c, b
If> 0, it is considered that charging is in progress, and if c> 0, it is considered that discharging is in progress. If charging is in progress, the values of the A / D converters 31 and 141 at point b are used. , The charge current or the discharge current is calculated from the following equation 1, and CP
U30 and 140 are obtained as digital values.

Charge or discharge current = [(voltage of b or c) / resistance value R] × efficiency (1) Here, the charge and discharge efficiency is a value corresponding to the battery temperature in advance inside the CPU 30 or 140. Are stored in the ROMs 33 and 143, and are read out each time the calculation is performed. CPU 30,
140 obtains the charge or discharge current, and calculates the charge or discharge capacity from Equation 2 below. Charge or discharge capacity = (charge or discharge current) × sampling time (2) Here, the sampling time is predetermined and is 1 mS in the present embodiment. Then, the CPUs 30 and 140 store the initial capacities of the battery cells 38 and 148 in advance in the ROMs 33 and 14.
3, and the charge or discharge capacity for each sampling time is obtained, and the capacity is sequentially increased or decreased.
Find the capacities of 0 and 21. When the CPU 30 and 140 determine that the current obtained from the voltage at the point a of the current detection resistors 42 and 152 is being charged, the CPUs 30 and 140 operate as many LEDs as the number corresponding to the battery capacity.
48, 158 are lit while charging is considered.

Next, the A / D converters 31 and 1 each having a current of 8 mA or less are used.
A method of integrating the battery capacity in the case of a small current that cannot be detected in 41 will be described.

In this embodiment, the A / D converters 31, 1
The operation states of the main unit 1 and the expander 2 that consume current that cannot be detected by 41 include an OFF state, the current consumption is 1 mA, and are stored in advance in the ROMs 33 and 143 of the CPUs 30 and 140. When the main unit 1 and the extension unit 2 are turned off, the CPUs 71 and 101 of the power supply circuits 60 and 100 set the data signal to the high level via the drivers 63 and 133, and set the clock signal to the high level via the drivers 64 and 134. .

CPUs 30 and 140 are A / D converters 31,
141, no charge / discharge of current is detected (current <8
mA), the states of the data terminals 61 and 131 and the clock terminals 62 and 132 are checked.
It is attached to the main body 1 and the dilator 2, and detects that it is in the off state. When the main body 1 and the extension device 2 are in the off state, the current value per unit time of 1 mA is subtracted from the battery capacity.

Next, the aforementioned constant voltage / constant current circuits 73, 10
FIG. 9 shows an example of the circuit diagram of FIG. In the constant voltage constant current circuits 73 and 103, 231 and 232 are transistors, 233 is a constant current diode, and 23
8, 240 are resistors; 239 is an FET transistor; 234 is a shunt regulator;
5, 236 are voltage-dividing resistors for generating a reference voltage of the shunt regulator 234, and 237 is a resistor.

Next, the operation of the constant voltage constant current circuits 73 and 103 will be described. When the output V _O increases, the voltage divided by the voltage dividing resistors 235 and 236 also increases, and the reference voltage of the shunt regulator 234 increases. Accordingly, the current Ik flowing into the shunt regulator 234 increases. Since the sum of the currents flowing into the shunt regulator 234 and the transistors 231 and 232 is fixed by the constant current diode 233, the current I
When k increases, the base current Ib of the transistor 231
Decreases, and the output V _O decreases. Output V _O
Decreases, the reverse of the above description occurs, and the constant voltage is maintained.

When the load current connected to the output increases, the voltage drop of the resistor 237 increases. Accordingly, the base-emitter voltage Vbe of the transistor 232 is
Increases, and the collector current Ic increases. When the collector current Ic increases, the transistor 23
1 decreases the base current Ib, and the load current decreases. When the load current decreases, a phenomenon opposite to that described above occurs, and the constant current is maintained.

When the FET 239 is turned on by a current switching signal supplied from the CPU 71 or 101, the collector current Ic of the transistor 232 increases. As described above, when the collector current Ic increases, the base current Ib of the transistor 231 decreases, and the load current decreases.

Next, the user connects the battery pack 20 to the main body 1 to charge it. Procedures corresponding to various patterns will be described. FIG. 7 shows a charge control flow executed by the CPU 71. When charge control is started, CP
U71 determines that the extender is connected if the level is low in the state of the connection terminal 96 of the extender, and determines that it is not connected if the level is high (step S1). Step S1
Is determined to be disconnected, the main body 1
Is connected is determined by the above-described method (step S
2).

If it is determined in step S2 that there is no battery 20, it is determined whether the AC adapter 22 is connected to the main body 1 by the above-described method (step S3). If it is determined in step S3 that the AC adapter 22 is not connected to the main body 1, the process returns to the confirmation of connection of the battery 20 (step S2). If connected, the high level is output to the transistor 86 (step S3). (Process with AC adapter) (step S4), and returns to the connection confirmation of the battery 20 again.

If it is determined in step S2 that the battery 20 is present, it is determined whether the AC adapter 22 is connected to the main body 1 by the above-described method (step S5).
When it is determined that the AC adapter 22 is not connected to the main body 1, if the level of the connection terminal 96 of the expander is low, it is determined that the expander is connected. The connection is determined (step S6). In step S6, when it is determined that the battery is not connected, the process returns to the connection confirmation of the battery 20 again. When it is determined that the battery is connected, whether or not the AC adapter 23 is connected to the expander 2 is determined. The judgment is made based on the level of 93 (step S7).

If it is determined in step S7 that the AC adapter 23 is not connected to the expansion device 2, the switch circuit 85 is turned on (step S8), and the battery 20 is turned on again.
Returning to the connection confirmation step (step S2), if the connection is established, the switch circuit 85 is turned on (step S9). In step 5, the AC adapter 2
2 is determined to be connected, the transistor 86
(Step S10).

Next, it is checked whether the state of the full charge flag set in a register (not shown) in the CPU 71 is full charge or not (step S11). Step S1
If the battery is not fully charged at 1, charging of the main body side battery 20 is started by turning on the switch circuit 74 (step S12). The CPU 71 checks the charging current by measuring the voltage of the current detection resistor 84 by the A / D converter 72, and determines that the battery is fully charged when the charging current becomes 100 mA or less (step S13). When a full charge is detected, the CPU 7
A full charge flag is set in a register (not shown) in the internal circuit 1 and a high level is output to the transistor 87 (step S14).

If it is determined in step S1 that the main unit 1 and the extender 2 are in a connected state, first, the main unit battery 20
It is determined whether or not there is (step S15). If there is no battery 20, it is determined whether there is a main body AC adapter 22 (step S22). A in step S22
If the C adapter 22 is present, a high level is output to the transistor 86 (processing with AC adapter) (step S23). If there is no AC adapter 22 in step 22, and if step S23 ends, the process returns to step S15.

If it is determined in step S15 that there is a battery 20, it is determined whether there is a main body AC adapter 22 (step S16). If the AC adapter 22 is present, a high level is output to the transistor 86 (the process with the AC adapter) (step S17). And CPU
Reference numeral 71 denotes a state of a terminal 93 having an expander AC.
It is determined whether there is a C adapter 23 (step S1).
8). If there is an AC adapter, the process proceeds to step S11. If not, the switch circuit 85 is turned on (step S19) and the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S16, the main body AC adapter 22
When there is no, the CPU 71
It is determined based on the state of the extender AC presence terminal 93 (step S20). When there is no extender AC adapter 23, the process returns to step S15, and when there is, the switch circuit 85 is turned on (step S21).

Next, the operation of the CPU 101 of the extender will be described. FIG. 8 shows a charging flow executed by the CPU 101. When the charge control is started, the CPU 101H
A, it is determined whether or not the main body 1 and the extension device 2 are in a connected state in the state of the main body connection terminal 127 (step S31). If not, it is determined whether or not the extender-side battery 21 is in the connected state (step S32). If the battery 21 is not in the connected state, it is determined whether or not the extender AC adapter 23 is in the connected state (step S33). If the AC adapter 23 is not in the connected state, the process returns to step S32,
If the connection state is established, a high level is output to the transistor 129 (the process with the AC adapter) (step S3).
4) Return to step S32.

If the battery 21 is not connected in step S32, it is determined whether or not the extender AC adapter 23 is connected (step S33). AC adapter 23
If is not in the connected state, the flow returns to step S32, and if it is in the connected state, a high level is output to the transistor 129 (processing with an AC adapter) (step S34).
It returns to step S32.

If there is an extender battery 21 in step S32, it is determined whether or not there is an extender AC adapter 23 (step S35). Extender AC adapter 23
If there is, a high level is output to the transistor 129 (the process with the AC adapter) (step S36).
Then, the CPU 101 turns on the switch circuit 104 to start charging the battery 21 (step S37).
The CPU 101 determines whether or not the main body 1 is connected to the expander 2 in the state of the main body connection terminal 127 (step S3).
8) If connected, step S44 described later
If it is not connected, the process proceeds to the next step (step S39).

Next, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the battery 21 is fully charged by the A / D converter 102.
14 is detected by measuring the voltage, and the charging current is 100 mA.
Full charge is detected when the following conditions are satisfied (step S3)
9). When full charge is detected, a full charge flag is set in a register (not shown) inside CPU 101 (full charge process) (step S40).

In step S35, the expander AC adapter 2
When the CPU 101 determines that the main unit 1 is not connected, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the main unit 1 is connected to the expander 2 in the state of the main unit connection terminal 127 (step S41). If so, the process proceeds to the next step (step S42). And the main body side AC
It is determined whether there is an adapter 22 (step S4).
2) If not, the process returns to step S32, and if there is an AC adapter 22, the switch circuit 115 is turned on (step S43).

If it is determined in step S38 that the main body 1 is connected, it is determined whether or not the main body AC adapter 22 is present (step S44). If there is, the flow chart ends, and if not, the switch circuit 115 is turned on (step S45) and the processing ends.

The above-described steps S43, S40,
After step S55 and step S60 described below are completed,
Alternatively, when it is determined in step S56 described later that the main body AC adapter is present, it is checked whether the state of the full charge flag set in a register (not shown) in the CPU 101 is full charge or not (step S46). If the battery is fully charged, the flow chart ends. If the battery is not fully charged, the charging of the dilator battery 21 is switched by the switch circuit 10.
4 is turned on (step S47). CP
U101 is a current detection resistor 1 by the A / D converter 102.
The charging current is checked by measuring the voltage of 14 and the charging current is 1
If the current is less than 00 mA, it is determined that the battery is fully charged (step S).
48). When full charge is detected, a full charge flag is set in a register (not shown) inside the CPU 101 (step S49).

When the main unit 1 and the expansion unit 2 are in the connected state in step S31, it is first determined whether or not the expansion unit battery 21 is present (step S50). If there is no battery 21, it is determined whether or not there is an extender AC adapter 23 (step S51). If the AC adapter 23 is present, a high level is output to the transistor 129 (the process with the AC adapter) (step S52). When there is no AC adapter 22 in step S51 and when step S5
Upon completion of Step 2, the process returns to Step S50. Step S5
If it is determined that the battery 21 is present at 0, it is determined whether or not the extender AC adapter 23 is present (step S5).
3).

If the AC adapter 23 is present, a high level is output to the transistor 129 (process with AC adapter) (step S54). Then, the CPU 101 sets the main battery 2 in the state of the main battery full charge terminal 125.
It is determined whether 0 is in a fully charged state (step S55).
If the battery is fully charged, the process proceeds to step S46. If the battery is not fully charged, the CPU 101 determines whether or not the main body has the AC adapter 22 with the main body AC present terminal 124 (step S56). If the AC adapter 22 is present, the process proceeds to step S46. If not, the switch circuit 115 is turned on (step S57) and the process returns to step S50.

In step S53, the expansion unit AC adapter 2
3 does not exist, the CPU 101
2 is determined based on the state of the terminal 124 having the main body AC (step S58). When there is no main body AC adapter, the process returns to step S50.
01 is the state of the main battery full charge terminal 125 and determines whether the main battery 20 is fully charged (step S5).
9). If not fully charged, the process returns to step S50,
If the battery is fully charged, the switch circuit 115 is turned on (step S60), and the process proceeds to step.

Next, a method by which the CPUs 30 and 140 calculate the remaining charge time will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 shows that the aforementioned constant voltage / constant current circuits 73 and 103
7 is a graph showing the battery capacity and the remaining charge time when the battery packs 20 and 21 are charged with the output current set to 1.8 A by U71 and 101, and the remaining charge time changes depending on the temperature.

FIG. 11 is a table showing the above-mentioned graph as a calculation formula. FIG. 12 is a conversion table of the charging time with respect to the battery capacity by calculating the above formula. FIG. 13 shows that the above-described constant voltage / constant current circuits 73 and 103 are replaced by CPUs 71 and 101.
Sets the output current to 0.5 A,
7 is a graph showing the battery capacity and the remaining charge time when 0 and 21 are charged, and the remaining charge time changes depending on the temperature. FIG. 14 is a table in which the above-described graph is calculated. FIG. 15 is a conversion table of the charging time with respect to the battery capacity by calculating the above formula.

The calculation formulas shown in FIGS.
3, when the battery temperature measured by the thermistors 40 and 150 is less than 10 ° C., the calculation formula at 0 ° C. is used. When the battery temperature is 10 ° C. or more and less than 30 °, 20 ° is used. When the battery temperature is 30 ° C. or higher, a calculation formula of 40 ° C. may be used. However, in order to increase the processing speed of the CPU, in this embodiment,
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 15, a conversion table of the charging time with respect to the battery capacity is prepared in advance, and the data is stored as ROM data in the ROMs 33 and 143. The CPUs 30 and 140 obtain the battery capacity by the above-described method, and Find the remaining charge time. For example, if the battery capacity is 10
%, The battery temperature is 20 ° C., and the charging current is 1.8 mA, the battery is fully charged in 150 minutes from FIG.

Further, a first charging control routine will be described with reference to a flowchart of a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by the CPUs 30 and 140 in FIG. 16 and a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by the CPUs 71 and 101 in FIG.
A method of calculating the charging time according to the embodiment will be described.

First, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 16, the CPUs 30 and 140 perform the capacity integration calculation by the above-described method to obtain the battery capacity (step S13).
1). Next, the CPUs 30 and 140 are connected to the thermistors 40 and 1.
The temperatures of the battery cells 38 and 148 are obtained from the terminal voltage of the terminal 50 (step S132). The CPUs 30 and 140
It is determined whether or not the average current measurement is one minute or more (step S133). If it is within one minute, the process is terminated. If it is one minute or more, the current flowing through the battery cells 38, 148 is detected by the current detection resistors 42, 152. The average charging current for one minute is obtained by measuring the voltage of the first voltage (step S134).

If the average charging current is 8 mA or less, the process ends. If the average charging current is 8 to 550 mA, the process proceeds to step S135.
If it is 0.55 A or more, the process proceeds to step S136. Further, when the average charging current is 8 to 550 mA, it is determined whether or not the current (past current) detected in step S133 has exceeded 0.55 A from the start of charging (step S135). And when it has become 0.55A or more, it progresses to step S136,
If it does not exceed 0.55 A, the process proceeds to step S137. Then, in step S136, FIG.
The remaining charge time corresponding to the capacity is obtained from the ROM data of No. 2 and in step S137, the remaining charge time corresponding to the capacity is obtained from the ROM data of FIG. Next, CPU3
0 and 140 transmit the remaining charging time data and end (step S138).

Next, the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17 will be described. The CPUs 71 and 101 charge according to the charging method described above, but wait when the charging condition is not satisfied.
That is, the process waits until charging starts (step S141). When the charging is started, the CPU waits for the remaining charging time data transmitted from the CPUs 30 and 140, and receives the data when the transmission is confirmed (step S142). Next, the CPUs 71 and 101 display the remaining charging time on the display device 10, and the process ends.

Further, the CPUs 30 and 140 shown in FIG.
The charge time calculation control method according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of the remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by the CPU and the flowchart of the remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by the CPUs 71 and 101 shown in FIG. explain.

First, referring to FIG.
In steps S151 and S140, the batteries 0 and 140 perform the capacity integration calculation by the above-described method to calculate the battery capacity. Next, CP
U30 and 140 determine the temperatures of the battery cells 38 and 148 from the terminal voltages of the thermistors 40 and 150 (step S152). The CPUs 30 and 140 are the CPUs 71 and 10
It is determined whether or not the transmission data from No. 1 has been received (step S153). If the transmission data has not been received, the process ends. If it has been received, the process proceeds to step S154. It is determined whether the received charging current is 1.8 A or 0.5 (step S154),
If it is 1.8A, the process proceeds to step S155, and if it is 0.5A, the process proceeds to step S156. In this embodiment,
The constant current characteristics of the constant voltage constant current circuits 73 and 103 are 1.8 A
And 0.5 A, the charging current data transmitted and received between the CPUs 71 and 30 and the CPUs 101 and 140 is set to 1.8 A and 0.5 A. Depending on the characteristics of the voltage constant current circuit, a plurality of arbitrary values may be prepared.

In step S155, the RO shown in FIG.
The estimated remaining charge time corresponding to the capacity is obtained from the M data,
In step S156, a predicted remaining charging time corresponding to the capacity is obtained from the ROM data shown in FIG. Next, CP
U30 and 140 transmit the estimated remaining charging time data (step S157), and terminate.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 19, the CPUs 71 and 101 transfer the charge current value data 1.8A or 0.5A to be charged from now on to the CP if necessary.
U30 and 140 are transmitted (step S161). After the transmission, it has the estimated remaining time charging data returned from the CPUs 30 and 140, and receives it when confirming the response (step S162). Next, the CPUs 71 and 101 display the remaining charging time on the display device 10 (step S163),
finish.

Further, the CPUs 30 and 140 shown in FIG.
Referring to the flowchart of the remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by the CPU and the flowchart of the remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by the CPUs 71 and 101 shown in FIG. 21, the charge time calculation control method of the third embodiment is described. Will be described. Referring first to FIG. 20, CPUs 30 and 140
Performs the capacity integration calculation by the method described above (step S1).
71), find the battery capacity. Next, CPU 30, 1
A step 40 obtains the temperatures of the battery cells 38 and 148 from the terminal voltages of the thermistors 40 and 150 (step S17).
2). The CPUs 30 and 140 determine whether transmission data from the CPUs 71 and 101 has been received (step S1).
73) If the transmission data has not been received, the process ends. If the transmission data has been received, the process proceeds to step S174.

In step S174, it is determined whether the received charging current data exceeds 0.55A or less (step S174).
Proceeding to 75, if exceeding 0.55 A, step S17
Proceed to 6. In step S175, it is determined whether or not the received charging current data is 0.55A or less continuously from the start of charging current reception.
Proceed to 77, and if it has reached 0.55A or more, proceed to step S176.

In step S176, the RO shown in FIG.
The remaining time corresponding to the capacity is obtained from the M data, and in step S177, the remaining charging time corresponding to the capacity is obtained from the ROM data shown in FIG. Next, the remaining charge time data is transmitted to the CPUs 71 and 101 (step S17).
8), end.

Next, referring to FIG. 21, the CPU 71
101 determines whether or not to start charging, and if charging is not started because the charging condition is not satisfied, the process waits (step S18).
1) When the charging is started, the battery cells 38, 148
Is measured by measuring the voltages of the current detection resistors 84 and 114, and the average charging current for one minute is measured (step S182). If the average current value is less than 3.9 mA in less than one minute, , If it is over 1 minute,
The average charging current is transmitted (step S183). Then, after transmission, it has remaining charge time data returned from the CPUs 30 and 140, and receives it when the reply is confirmed (step S184). Next, the CPUs 71 and 101 display the remaining charging time on the display device 10 (step S18).
5), end.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With the electronic device in which the battery pack is detachably attached to the electronic device body or the extender, an electronic device capable of accurately predicting the charging time can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a main body and an expander according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining a method of uniting the main body and the dilator.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the back surface of the main body.

FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining a method of uniting the main body and the dilator.

FIG. 5 is a side view for explaining a method of uniting the main body and the dilator.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a power supply circuit inside a main body, a power supply circuit inside an expander, and a circuit inside a battery pack.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of control performed by a main body CPU.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of control performed by an extender CPU.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a constant voltage / constant current circuit.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between battery capacity and remaining charge time when a battery pack is charged with a current of 1.8 A, using temperature as a parameter.

FIG. 11 is a table in which the graph of FIG. 10 is calculated.

FIG. 12 is a conversion table of the calculation formula of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the battery capacity and the remaining charge time when the battery pack is charged with a current of 0.5 A, using temperature as a parameter.

FIG. 14 is a table in which the graph in FIG. 13 is calculated.

FIG. 15 is a conversion table of the calculation formula in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by respective CPUs of the main body side battery pack and the expander side battery pack.

FIG. 17 shows the C of each of the main body and the dilator.
5 is a flowchart of a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by a PU.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by each CPU of the main body side battery pack and the expander side battery pack.

FIG. 19 shows C and D of the body and dilator, respectively.
5 is a flowchart of a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by a PU.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by each CPU of the main body side battery pack and the expander side battery pack.

FIG. 21 shows the C of each of the main body and the dilator.
5 is a flowchart of a remaining charge time calculation control routine executed by a PU.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing constant voltage / constant current characteristics of a conventional constant voltage / constant current circuit.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing charging current characteristics of a secondary battery charged by a conventional constant voltage / constant current circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Extender 3 Main body connector 4 Extender connector 5 Fixed claw 6 Movable claw 7 Engagement pin 8 Separation lever 9 Keyboard 10 Display device 14 Main body bottom claw locking hole 15 Main body bottom claw locking hole 16 Pin engagement Hole 20 (Body) Battery pack 21 (Extension device) Battery pack 22 AC adapter 23 AC adapter 30, 140 CPU of battery pack 31, 141 A / D converter 32, 142 RAM 33, 143 ROM 34, 144 Inverting amplifier 35, 145 Non-inverting amplifier 36, 37, 146, 147 Voltage dividing resistor 38, 148 Battery cell 39, 40, 149, 150 Thermistor 41, 65, 66, 82, 88, 99, 112, 11
6, 117, 118, 135, 136, 151 Pull-up resistor 42, 84, 114, 152 Current detection resistor 43, 153 Constant voltage circuit 44, 45, 133, 134 Driver 46, 156 Switch 47, 157 Resistor 48, 158 LED 60 Body power supply circuit 61, 131 Data terminal 62, 132 Clock terminal 71 Body CPU 72, 102 A / D converter 73, 103 DC / DC converter 74, 85, 104, 115 Switch circuit 75, 105 Power supply circuit 76, 106 DC input 77, 83, 107, 113 Diode 78, 79, 108, 109 Dividing resistor 86, 87, 129 Transistor 89, 119 + terminal 90, 120 Thermistor terminal 91, 121-terminal 92, 122 Power terminal 93, 123 Expansion Device AC terminal 94, 24 main AC has terminals 95,125 body battery fully charged terminals 96,126 dilator has terminals 97,127 body has terminals 98,128 ground terminal 100 dilator supply circuit 101 dilator CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A battery capacity detecting device for detecting the capacity of a secondary battery in an electronic apparatus including a battery pack which has a built-in device body or an extender and a secondary battery and is detachably attached to the device body or the extender. Means, and a charging current detecting means for detecting a charging current, and the battery pack comprises charging current detected by the charging current detecting means and remaining charge time data corresponding to the capacity of the battery capacity detecting means. An electronic device characterized by determining a remaining charging time. 2. A battery capacity detecting device for detecting the capacity of a secondary battery in an electronic apparatus comprising a battery pack having a built-in device body or an extender and a secondary battery and detachably attached to the device body or the extender. Means and a charging current receiving means for receiving a charging current from the device main body or the expander, and the charging current data received by the charging current receiving means of the battery pack and the capacity of the battery capacity detecting means. An electronic device comprising a corresponding remaining charge time data and obtaining a remaining charge time. 3. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit for transmitting the remaining charging time information obtained by the remaining charging time calculating unit to the apparatus main body or the extender. Electronic device as described. 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said apparatus main body or said expander includes charging current detecting means for detecting a charging current, and transmitting means for transmitting said charging current to a battery pack. Electronic device as described. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus main body or the dilator has a plurality of predetermined fixed charging current values and transmission means for transmitting the charging current values to the battery pack. Item 3. The electronic device according to Item 2.