JP2003298733A - Portable telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong the operable time of a keyless communicating section 20 as long as possible in a portable telephone K. <P>SOLUTION: When a decision is made that the residual capacity of a main battery 40 is lower than a predetermined level, the battery for supplying power to the keyless communicating section 20 is switched from the main battery 40 to a sub-battery 50. Even if the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is decreased, the keyless communicating section 20 is supplied power from the sub-battery 50 and can sustain operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a mobile phone which communicates with a base station of a mobile phone network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in addition to the original telephone function, a portable telephone has a security function (additional function) for preventing vehicle theft such as a keyless entry system. Is proposed.

It is desired that such a security function should fulfill its function even when the remaining capacity of the built-in battery becomes small. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a sub-battery dedicated to the security function in addition to the main battery for the telephone function.

However, in order to prolong the operable time of the security function, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the sub-battery as the operable time becomes longer. Along with this, it becomes necessary to mount a sub-battery having a large outer dimension, which causes a problem that the outer dimension of the mobile phone becomes large.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone capable of prolonging the operating time of an additional function as much as possible while suppressing an increase in the size of a battery.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first and second batteries (40, 50) and a power supply from the first battery in the invention described in claim 1. The main communication unit (1 that communicates with the base station of the mobile telephone network)
0) and an additional communication unit (20) that is supplied with power from one of the first and second batteries and communicates for additional functions other than communication with the base station, and the first battery. When the remaining capacity is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the first battery is set as one battery for supplying power to the additional communication unit, and when the remaining capacity of the first battery is lower than the predetermined level, the first battery is set to the first battery. From the second battery to the second battery switching means (SW1, 220, 2
40) and are included.

Thus, when the remaining capacity of the first battery is equal to or higher than the predetermined level, the additional communication unit is supplied with power from the first battery, and when the remaining capacity of the first battery becomes less than the predetermined level, the additional communication is performed. Part is not the first battery,
Power is supplied from the second battery. Therefore, the first and second
It is possible to extend the operating time of the additional function as much as possible while suppressing the increase in the size of the battery.

Here, specifically, as in the invention described in claim 2, the battery switching means connects one of the first and second batteries to the additional communication unit and the other one. A change-over switch means (SW2) for disconnecting between the battery and the additional communication section, and connecting the first battery as one battery to the additional communication section when the remaining capacity of the first battery is above a predetermined level, and A first changeover switch control means (220) for controlling the changeover switch means for cutting off the connection between the second battery as the other battery and the additional communication section, and the remaining capacity of the first battery is less than a predetermined level. At this time, the second battery is connected to the additional communication unit as one battery, and the switching switch is connected to shut off the connection between the first battery as the other battery and the additional communication unit. It may be configured to have the second change-over switch control means and (240) for controlling the switch means.

In a third aspect of the invention, the second battery is a rechargeable secondary battery, and one of connection and disconnection is provided between the first battery and the second battery. By performing the charging switch means (SW1) for charging the second battery by the first battery and stopping the charging thereof, and when the remaining capacity of the first battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, First charging switch control means (210) for controlling the charging switch means so as to connect the first battery and the second battery in order to charge the second battery by the second battery, It is characterized by having.

As described above, since the second battery is charged from the first battery, it is possible to prolong the time during which power can be supplied to the additional communication unit by the second battery. Further, if only the charging circuit for the first battery is provided, it is not necessary to provide the charging circuit only for the additional communication unit.

Here, as in the invention described in claim 4,
When the remaining capacity of the first battery is below a predetermined level, the first
Second charge switch control means (230) for controlling the charge switch means so as to disconnect between the first battery and the second battery in order to stop charging of the second battery by the other battery. It is preferable to configure so that

According to the invention of claim 5, the first and second aspects are provided.
Battery (40, 50) of the main communication unit (1) that is fed from the first battery and communicates with the base station of the mobile phone network.
0), and an additional communication unit (20) that is supplied with power from one of the first and second batteries and communicates for additional functions other than communication with the base station, and first and second Power supply limiting means (D1) which is disposed between the batteries and limits the power supply from the second battery to the first battery.
When the first generated voltage at the positive terminal of the first battery is greater than the second generated voltage at the positive terminal of the second battery, the first battery is added as one battery through the power supply limiting means. When the communication unit is powered and the first generated voltage is smaller than the second generated voltage, the second battery serves as one battery to power the additional communication unit.

Thus, when the remaining capacity of the first battery is equal to or higher than the predetermined level, the additional communication unit is supplied with power from the first battery through the power supply limiting means, while the remaining capacity of the first battery is lower than the predetermined level. Then, the power supply limiting unit restricts the power supply from the second battery to the first battery, and the additional communication unit is not the first battery but the second battery.
Powered by the battery. Therefore, it is possible to extend the operable time of the additional function as much as possible while suppressing an increase in the size of the battery substantially as in the first aspect of the invention.

Here, as in the invention described in claim 6,
As the power supply limiting means, it is preferable to apply a diode for limiting the power supply from the second battery to the first battery.

Here, as in the invention described in claim 7,
The second battery is a rechargeable secondary battery, and the first generated voltage at the positive terminal of the first battery is higher than the second generated voltage at the positive terminal of the second battery. At this time, the second battery may be charged from the additional communication unit through the power supply limiting unit.

As a result, the second battery is charged from the first battery as in the third aspect of the invention, so that the time during which the second battery can supply power to the additional communication unit can be extended. . Further, if only the charging circuit for the first battery is provided, it is not necessary to provide the charging circuit only for the additional communication unit.

Incidentally, the reference numerals in the parentheses of the above-mentioned means are examples showing the correspondence with the concrete means described in the embodiments described later.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an in-vehicle wireless communication system to which a mobile phone K of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electric circuit configuration of an in-vehicle wireless communication system.

The in-vehicle wireless communication system has a mobile phone K and an in-vehicle wireless communication device S. The in-vehicle wireless communication device S receives a remote control signal transmitted from the mobile phone K and controls the door lock device D based on the remote control signal. As a result, the user can lock or unlock the vehicle door using the mobile phone K via the door lock device D.

By locking or unlocking the vehicle door with the mobile phone K, the key cylinder into which the mechanical key is inserted can be deleted from the door, and a security function for preventing the theft of the vehicle can be achieved.

The mobile phone K has a main communication section 10, a main antenna 11, a voice processing section 12, a key operation section 13, a keyless communication section 20, a power control section 30, and a main battery 4.
0, the sub battery 50, and the control unit 60.

The main communication unit 10 receives a downlink communication signal from the base station 100 of the mobile communication network via the main antenna 11 and outputs a demodulated signal. The main communication unit 10 modulates the transmission signal and transmits the upstream communication signal to the base station 100 of the mobile communication network via the main antenna 11. As the communication method of the main communication unit 10, the CDMA or PDC method is used.

The voice processing unit 12 performs analog-to-digital conversion on the transmission signal from the microphone and converts the transmission signal into the main communication unit 10.
In addition to outputting the received signal to the speaker, the demodulated signal from the main communication unit 10 is digital-analog converted. Further, the key operation unit 13 has keys to which various functions such as call, mail, lock and unlock of the vehicle door are assigned.

The keyless communication section 20 includes an antenna and transmits a remote control signal for locking or unlocking the vehicle door from the antenna to the in-vehicle wireless communication device S. In this keyless communication unit 20,
As a wireless system, for example, a Bluetooth system is adopted.

The power supply control unit 30 has relay switches SW1 and SW2 for switching the battery that supplies power to the keyless communication unit 20. The relay switch SW1 is connected to the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 and the sub battery 50.
The positive electrode terminal (+) of the main battery 40 and the positive electrode terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 are connected or disconnected.

The relay switch SW2 connects the positive terminal (+) of one of the main battery 40 and the sub battery 50 to the keyless communication section 20 and the power supply terminal, while the positive terminal (+) of the other battery and the keyless terminal. The communication unit 20 is disconnected from the power supply terminal.

The main battery 40 is a rechargeable secondary battery, and includes a main communication unit 10 and a voice processing unit 1.
2. Power is supplied to the control unit 60, the keyless communication unit 20, and the like. The sub-battery 50 is a rechargeable secondary battery, and the control unit 60 that supplies power to the keyless communication unit 20 has a microcomputer and a memory. The microcomputer is the main communication unit 1
0 through the wireless communication between the base station 100 and wireless communication between the keyless communication unit 20 and the in-vehicle wireless communication device S based on an unlock operation (or a lock operation) on the key operation unit 13. Then, a process is executed to perform remote control of unlocking and locking the vehicle door. further,
As will be described later, the microcomputer executes a power supply switching process for switching the battery that supplies power to the keyless communication unit 20.

The memory is composed of a ROM and a RAM. The ROM is a flash ROM, which stores computer programs and data associated with the processing of the microcomputer. Also, RAM is D
It is composed of RAM and SRAM, and stores data associated with the processing of the microcomputer.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The microcomputer executes the computer program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. This computer program is repeatedly executed every predetermined time.

First, based on the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40, it is determined whether or not the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is above a predetermined level (step 200). When the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage level, the main battery 4
It is determined that the remaining capacity of 0 is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. Along with this, the relay switch SW1 is turned on to connect the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 and the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 (step 210).

Thus, when the generated voltage at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 is higher than the generated voltage at the positive terminal (+) of the sub battery 50, the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40. Current flows into the positive electrode terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 from the relay switch SW1. Therefore, the sub battery 50 is the main battery 4
It will be charged from 0.

Next, the relay switch SW2 is used to connect the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 and the keyless communication section 2 to each other.
While 0 is connected to the power supply terminal, the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 is disconnected from the keyless communication unit 20 and the power supply terminal (step 220). As a result, the keyless communication unit 20 is supplied with power from the main battery 40 via the relay switch SW2.

In step 200, when the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 is less than the predetermined voltage level, it is determined that the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is less than the predetermined level. Along with this, the relay switch SW1 is turned off to disconnect between the positive electrode terminal (+) of the main battery 40 and the positive electrode terminal (+) of the sub battery 50 (step 230). As a result, charging from the main battery 40 to the sub battery 50 is stopped, and at the same time, from the sub battery 50 to the main battery 4
It is possible to prevent current from flowing into 0. Furthermore, power is prevented from being supplied from the sub battery 50 to the main communication unit 10, the voice processing unit 12, and the control unit 60.

Next, the relay switch SW2 is used to operate the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 and the keyless communication section 20.
And the power supply terminal are connected, while the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40, the keyless communication unit 20, and the power supply terminal are disconnected (step 240). As a result, the keyless communication unit 20 is supplied with power from the sub battery 50 via the relay switch SW2.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
When it is determined that the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is equal to or higher than the predetermined level, the keyless communication unit 20 is supplied with power from the main battery 40, and when it is determined that the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is lower than the predetermined level, The keyless communication unit 20 is powered by the sub battery 50. Therefore, even if the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is low, if the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is at a level at which the control section 60 can maintain the operating state, the keyless communication section 20 is supplied with power from the sub-battery 50. Operation can be continued. Therefore, the main battery 4
0, it is possible to extend the operable time of the keyless communication unit 20 as long as possible while suppressing an increase in the size of the sub battery 50.

When it is determined that the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is above a predetermined level, the sub battery 5
Since 0 is supplied with power from the main battery 40, the time during which power can be supplied to the keyless communication unit 20 by the sub battery 50 can be extended. Further, since the sub-battery 50 is charged from the main battery 40 as described above, a charging circuit for charging the sub-battery 50 from the outside can be provided only by providing a charging circuit for charging the main battery 40 from the outside. No need to provide.

When it is determined that the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is less than the predetermined level, the relay switch SW1 is turned off, and the sub battery 50 supplies a current to the main battery 40, the sound processing unit 12, and the control unit 60. Is prevented from flowing in, the time during which power can be supplied from the sub-battery 50 to the keyless communication unit 20 can be further extended.

In the first embodiment described above, the example in which the relay switch is applied as the charge switch means has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a switch element such as a transistor may be applied.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, an example in which a relay switch is applied as the changeover switch means has been described, but the invention is not limited to this, and a switch element such as a transistor may be applied.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
Power control unit 30 using relay switches SW1 and SW2
However, in the second embodiment, the power supply control unit 30A is configured using the diode D1. The configuration in this case is shown in FIG.

The power supply controller 30A includes a diode D1 and limiting resistance elements R1 and R2.
The anode terminal of is connected to the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40, and is also connected to the power supply terminals of both the voice processing unit 12 and the control unit 60. The cathode terminal of the diode D1 is connected to the power supply terminal of the keyless communication unit 20, and the limiting resistance element R
It is connected to the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 via 1. The limiting resistance element R2 limits the current flowing from the external charger into the main battery 40 when the main battery 40 is charged from the external charger.

In the present embodiment configured as described above,
Current flows from the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 to the power supply terminals of both the control unit 60 and the voice processing unit 12, so that power is supplied from the main battery 40 to both the control unit 60 and the voice processing unit 12.

Here, when the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 is larger than the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50, the main battery 40
A current flows from the positive terminal (+) of the above to the power supply terminal of the keyless communication unit 20 through the diode D1. As a result, the keyless communication unit 20 is powered by the main battery 40.

At the same time, the limiting resistance element R is passed from the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 through the diode D1.
A current flows into the positive electrode terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 via 1. Therefore, the sub battery 50 is charged from the main battery 40.

Next, when the generated voltage at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 becomes smaller than the generated voltage at the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50, the diode D1 is transferred from the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40. No current will flow into the power supply terminal of the keyless communication unit 20 through the.

Along with this, the keyless communication section 2 is connected from the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50 through the limiting resistance element R1.
A current flows into the 0 power supply terminal. As a result, the keyless communication unit 20 is powered by the sub battery 40. Here, the diode D1 is the sub battery 5
The current from the positive electrode terminal (+) of 0 through the limiting resistance element R2 to the positive electrode terminal (+) of the main battery 40, the main communication unit 10, and the voice processing unit 12 is restricted.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
When the generated voltage at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 becomes smaller than the generated voltage at the positive terminal (+) of the sub-battery 50, the battery that supplies power to the keyless communication unit 20 is transferred from the main battery 40 to the sub-battery 50. Switch to. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, even if the remaining capacity of the main battery 40 is low, the keyless communication unit 20
Is powered by the sub-battery 50 and can continue to operate.

When the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 is larger than the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the sub battery 50, the sub battery 5
0 is charged from the main battery 40 as described above. Therefore, the keyless communication unit 2 using the sub battery 50
The time during which power can be supplied to 0 can be extended, and similarly to the first embodiment, only by providing a charging circuit for externally charging the main battery 40, a charging circuit for externally charging the sub battery 50 is provided. No need.

Further, when the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the main battery 40 becomes smaller than the voltage generated at the positive terminal (+) of the sub battery 50, the diode D
Since power is prevented from being supplied from the sub battery 50 to the main battery 40 by means of 1, the operable time of the keyless communication unit 20 can be further extended, as in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, an example in which a diode is applied as the power supply limiting means has been described.
Not limited to this, various semiconductor elements may be applied.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the security function is applied as the additional function has been described.
Not limited to this, any function other than the telephone function may be applied.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, as a security function, the keyless communication unit 20 and the in-vehicle wireless communication device S are wirelessly communicated with each other based on a lock operation (or an unlock operation) to the key operation unit 13. The example of applying the function to prevent vehicle theft by performing remote control of door unlocking and locking (that is, functioning as a portable device of the keyless entry system) has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. May be.

That is, without performing a lock operation (or an unlock operation) on the key operation unit 13, a wireless communication is performed between the in-vehicle wireless device (keyless communication unit 20) and the in-vehicle wireless communication device S, and the vehicle door is opened. The function of the key-free system as a portable device for unlocking and locking may be applied. Further, as a security function, a function of storing an ID code of an individual used for identification and approval of electronic money in a built-in memory in the mobile phone D to prevent the ID code from leaking to the outside may be applied. .

The following is a description of the correspondence relationship between the above-described embodiment and the configurations within the scope of the claims. The main battery 40 corresponds to the first battery, the sub-battery 50 corresponds to the second battery, and keyless communication is performed. The section 20 corresponds to the additional communication section, the step 220 corresponds to the first changeover switch control means, the relay switch SW2 corresponds to the changeover switch means, and the step 240 corresponds to the second changeover switch control means. The switch SW1 corresponds to the charging switch means, step 210 corresponds to the charging switch control means, and step 230 corresponds to the second charging switch control means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an in-vehicle wireless communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of a microcomputer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic electric circuit configuration of a second embodiment according to the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

K ... Mobile phone, 20 ... Keyless communication part, 40 ... Main battery, 50 ... Sub battery.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04B 7/26 V

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first and a second battery (40, 50).
A main communication unit (10) that is supplied with power from the first battery and communicates with a base station of a mobile phone network; and is supplied with power from one of the first and second batteries, As an additional communication unit (20) that communicates for an additional function other than communication with a base station, and as the one battery for supplying power to the additional communication unit when the remaining capacity of the first battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. Battery switching means (SW1, 220) for setting the first battery and switching the one battery from the first battery to the second battery when the remaining capacity of the first battery is less than a predetermined level. 240)
And a mobile phone. 2. The battery switching means connects the one battery of the first and second batteries to the additional communication unit and disconnects the other battery from the additional communication unit. A switch means (SW2), connecting the first battery as the one battery to the additional communication unit when the remaining capacity of the first battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, and the second battery as the other battery. A second changeover switch control means (220) for controlling the changeover switch means to disconnect between the second battery and the additional communication unit; and when the remaining capacity of the first battery is below a predetermined level, A second battery is connected to the additional communication unit as the one battery, and the first battery and the additional communication unit are the other batteries. And a second changeover switch control means (240) for controlling the changeover switch means so as to cut off the connection between the mobile phone and the mobile phone according to claim 1. 3. The second battery is a rechargeable secondary battery, and by connecting or disconnecting between the first battery and the second battery, Charge switch means (SW1) for performing one of charging the second battery and stopping the charging by the first battery; and when the remaining capacity of the first battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined level,
A first charge switch for controlling the charge switch means so as to connect between the first battery and the second battery in order to charge the second battery by the first battery. A mobile phone according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a control means (210). 4. The first battery and the second battery for stopping the charging of the second battery by the first battery when the remaining capacity of the first battery is less than a predetermined level. The mobile phone according to claim 3, further comprising a second charge switch control means (230) for controlling the charge switch means so as to disconnect the battery from the battery. 5. First and second batteries (40, 50)
A main communication unit (10) that is supplied with power from the first battery and communicates with a base station of a mobile phone network; and is supplied with power from one of the first and second batteries, An additional communication unit (20) that communicates for an additional function other than communication with a base station, and is disposed between the first and second batteries, and from the second battery to the first battery. When the first generated voltage at the positive electrode terminal of the first battery is greater than the second generated voltage at the positive electrode terminal of the second battery, When the first battery supplies the additional communication unit as the one battery through the power supply limiting unit and the first generated voltage is smaller than the second generated voltage, the second battery is As one battery A mobile phone characterized in that the additional communication section is supplied with power. 6. The mobile phone according to claim 5, wherein the power supply limiting means is a diode for restricting power supply from the second battery to the first battery. 7. The second battery is a rechargeable secondary battery, wherein a first generated voltage of a positive electrode terminal of the first battery is a secondary battery of a positive electrode terminal of the second battery. The mobile phone according to claim 4, wherein the second battery is configured to be charged from the additional communication unit through the power supply limiting unit when the generated voltage is higher than the generated voltage of 2.