JP2009151489A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor automatically switching between AC drive and battery drive according to the time, and extending a battery life by reducing battery charging frequency. <P>SOLUTION: When an AC adapter 23 is available(No in step 1-2), whether charging of a battery 22 is permitted or not is examined referring to a charge permission period information from a CMOS memory 18a (step 1-3). When charging of the battery 22 is permitted (Yes in step 1-3), the remaining capacity of the battery 22 is compared with charge start capacity acquired from the CMOS memory 18a. When the remaining capacity of the battery 22 is less than the charge start capacity (Yes in step 1-4), the battery 22 is charged with power supplied from the AC adapter 23 connected to a computer 1 (step 1-5). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to charge control for an information processing apparatus having a function of switching between AC driving and battery driving according to time settings.

  In general, a portable information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer (PC) is configured to be driven by either an AC commercial power source or a battery built in the information processing apparatus. When the user removes the AC adapter, the battery is used as the drive power source. On the other hand, when the AC adapter is connected to the information processing apparatus, the power supply source to the information processing apparatus is switched to the AC adapter power supply, and the battery is also charged by the AC adapter power supply.

According to Patent Document 1, when using a PC in the office during the day when the amount of power used is large, it is driven by switching from the battery instead of the AC adapter power supply. Discloses an electronic device that charges a battery at night when the battery is set at a low price. It is possible to automatically switch between AC drive power supply and battery drive according to the time, to make effective use of power, and to set the battery to a fully charged state by the time zone when the electronic device is actually used It becomes possible.
JP 2000-29576 A

  However, in the above method, since charging is always performed when the battery is not fully charged, charging is performed every time even when the capacity discharged during the battery discharging period is small. It will increase more than necessary, causing a shortened battery life.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of automatically switching between AC drive power supply and battery drive according to time and extending the battery life by reducing the number of times the battery is charged. .

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a battery, and is an information processing apparatus that can be driven by an external power supply that can be connected to the battery or the information processing apparatus body. Means for holding first time information for designating a time zone in which the battery is used as a driving power source of the information processing apparatus, and the battery in the time zone designated by the first time information. Is used as a drive power supply and the drive power supply used between the external power supply and the battery is switched based on the first time information so that the charging operation of the battery by the external power supply is stopped Means for holding second time information for designating a time zone in which charging operation of the battery by the external power supply is permitted; Means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, and charging control means for performing charging using the external power source when the remaining amount of the battery is less than a predetermined threshold in the time zone specified by the second time information And.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus capable of automatically switching between AC drive power supply and battery drive according to time and extending the battery life by reducing the number of times the battery is charged.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a notebook computer will be described as an example of the information processing apparatus. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The computer 1 includes a housing 2, and a display unit 3 is rotatably attached to the housing 2 via a hinge portion 4. The display unit 3 is rotatable between an open position where the upper surface 2a of the housing 2 is opened and a closed position where the upper surface 2a of the housing 2 is covered. A display device including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 5 is incorporated in the display unit 3.

  A circuit board on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted is accommodated in the housing 2. On the upper surface 2a of the housing 2, a touch pad 6 and a keyboard 7 for performing an input operation by a user are attached. A circuit board (to be described later) on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted is accommodated in the housing 2. A power switch 8 for turning on / off the computer 1 is also provided on the upper surface 2 a of the housing 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer according to the embodiment of the present invention. The computer 1 includes a CPU 10, a north bridge 11, a main memory (RAM) 12, a graphics controller 13, a VRAM 14, a south bridge 15, a hard disk drive (HDD) 16, a BIOS-ROM 17, an RTC 18, an embedded controller / keyboard controller IC (EC). / KBC) 20, LCD 5, touch pad 5, keyboard 6, power switch 7, and the like.

  The CPU 10 is a processor that controls the operation of each component of the computer 1. The CPU 10 executes an operating system and various application programs / utility programs loaded from the HDD 16 to the main memory (RAM) 12. The main memory (RAM) 12 is also used for storing various data buffers. The CPU 10 also executes a basic input / output system (BIOS) stored in the BIOS-ROM 17. The BIOS is a program for hardware control.

  The north bridge 11 is a bridge device that connects the local bus of the CPU 10 and the south bridge 15. The north bridge 11 also has a function of executing communication with the graphics controller 13 via a PCI Express bus or the like. Further, the north bridge 11 also includes a memory controller that controls the main memory (RAM) 12.

  The graphics controller 13 is a display controller that controls the LCD 5 used as a display monitor of the computer 10. The graphics controller 13 sends a video signal corresponding to display data written in the video memory (VRAM) 14 by the OS or an application program to the LCD 5.

  The south bridge 15 is connected to a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus and an LPC (Low Pin Count) bus, respectively. An HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 16 stores an OS, various application programs / utility programs, and data files.

  An RTC 18 is built in the south bridge 15. An RTC (Real Time Clock) 18 is a clock module that measures the date and time, and is operated by a battery dedicated to the RTC 18 even while the computer 1 is powered off. Further, a CMOS memory 18a is provided inside the RTC 18, and holds various environment setting information of the computer 1 as will be described later. In the CMOS memory 18a, information such as which mode # 1 or mode # 2 is used is held as setting information related to the charge / discharge mode of the battery 22. Since the RTC 18 can be operated by a dedicated battery, charging control can be performed with reference to the battery charging / discharging mode even while the computer 1 is powered off.

  The embedded controller / keyboard controller (EC / KBC) 20 is a one-chip microcomputer in which an embedded controller for power management and a keyboard controller for controlling the touch pad 6 and the keyboard 7 are integrated. The EC / KBC 20 performs a process of powering on / off the computer 1 in response to an operation of the power switch 8 by the user in cooperation with the power controller 21. The power supply controller 21 supplies power to each component in the computer 1 using power from the battery 22 built in the computer 1 or power supplied from the outside via the AC adapter 23.

  The EC / KBC 20 and the power supply controller 21 are maintained in an operating state even when the computer 1 is powered off, and have a timekeeping function and a charge / discharge control function. The EC / KBC 20 is provided with a counter 20a for realizing a timekeeping function. The counter 20a is used to calculate the time when the computer 1 is shut down and the time when charging should be started during power-off. it can. The EC / KBC 20 notifies the power controller 21 of the calculated time, and tells the time when charging of the battery 22 is started.

  Battery information such as a low battery detection voltage and remaining capacity is stored in the EEPROM 22a of the battery 22. The battery information is read by the EC / KBC 20 via the power controller 21 and used for charging control of the battery 22 and power management of the computer 1.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing setting information related to the charge / discharge mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, mode # 1 is a mode for controlling charging / discharging of the battery 22 in accordance with environment setting information set in advance by the user. The environment setting information includes charging permission period information, AC adapter use prohibition period information, charging start capacity information, and charging current information.

  The charging permission period information indicates the charging start time of the battery 22 by the power supply from the AC adapter 23. The AC adapter use prohibition period information indicates a time period during which the computer 1 is used as a drive power source by discharging the charged battery 22 without using the AC adapter 23. The charge start capacity information indicates not only the AC adapter use prohibition period but also the remaining battery level that serves as a reference for starting charging of the battery 22 when the AC adapter 23 is connected to the computer 1. In other words, even when the AC adapter 23 is connected to the computer 1 during the time period indicated by the charging permission period information, if the remaining amount of the battery 22 is greater than a predetermined amount, the battery 22 is charged. Is not done.

  In mode # 1, the drive power source is switched and the charging start timing of the battery 22 is controlled based on the charging permission period information, the AC adapter use prohibition period information, and the charging start capacity information. That is, when the computer 1 is set to the mode # 1, the battery 22 is charged in a time zone such as at night designated by the charge permission period information, and designated by the AC adapter use prohibition period information. For example, the computer 1 operates using the battery 22 as a driving power source during the daytime.

  In order to avoid this problem, if the control shown in this embodiment is performed and a large number of computers are charged at night, the current that can be supplied to the breaker may be exceeded and the breaker may be dropped. The upper limit of the current flowing in the charging circuit for charging the battery may be determined. In other words, the current of 1.0A is allowed to flow during normal use in the daytime, but the upper limit value of the current that flows when the computer is charged at night is set to 0.5A so as not to exceed the current that can be supplied by the breaker. It can be prevented from falling. The upper limit value of the current flowing through the charging circuit at this time may be stored in the CMOS memory 18a as charging current information and used for controlling the computer 1.

  On the other hand, mode # 2 is a mode in which the drive power source is switched according to whether or not the AC adapter 23 is connected. When the AC adapter 23 is connected to the computer 1, the power source from the AC adapter 23 is used as the drive power source. The battery 22 is charged as it is used. When the AC adapter 23 is removed, the battery 22 is used as a drive power source. The user can set whether to operate the computer 1 in mode # 1 or mode # 2 through a BIOS setup screen or an environment setting utility program.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a utility program screen according to the embodiment of the present invention. Various environment setting information such as charging permission period information, charging start capacity information, AC adapter use prohibition period information, and charging start current information can be set by the user through a utility program screen as shown in FIG.

  The user can select whether to perform charge / discharge control, that is, whether to operate the computer 1 in mode # 1 or mode # 2, depending on the time zone and the remaining battery level. In the screen shown in FIG. 5, by selecting “Yes” for “Control charging / discharging according to time zone and remaining battery level”, the computer 1 can be operated in mode # 1.

  The user can set the charging permission period and the AC adapter use prohibition period by selecting a start time and an end time from a drop-down menu list as shown in FIG. 4, for example. In FIG. 4, charging is permitted from 21:00 to 8:00 the next day, and from 8:00 to 21:00, the AC adapter 23 is not used, and the charged battery 22 is discharged to serve as a drive power source. An example of using is shown. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the charging start capacity is set to 20% or less. When the AC adapter 23 is not connected to the computer 1 and not in the AC adapter use prohibition period, the remaining capacity of the battery 22 is shown. Is reduced to 20% or less, the battery 22 is charged.

  The user changes the charging start capacity information through the environment setting utility program, so that, for example, when the remaining capacity of the battery 22 is 20% or less, charging is started, the remaining capacity of the battery 22 is 10% or less. It can be changed to start charging after becoming.

  For example, when the user uses the computer 1 in the daytime and consumes less power than usual, and the remaining capacity of the battery 22 is sufficient, the computer 1 is not subjected to special problems on the next day without being charged at night. It can be used without freedom. By determining whether or not to charge the battery 22 with reference to the remaining capacity of the battery 22, charging is performed as compared with a case where control is performed such that charging is always performed at night and the battery is operated as a driving power source during the day. The number of times of performing can be reduced. By performing such control, the number of times of charging / discharging can be reduced and the life of the battery 22 can be extended.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a charging operation in mode # 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, it is checked whether or not the AC adapter 23 is connected to the computer 1 (step 1-1). For example, whether or not the AC adapter 23 is connected can be checked by checking the voltage input to the external power supply input terminal portion into which the AC adapter 23 is inserted.

  When the AC adapter 23 is connected (Yes in step 1-1), the AC adapter use prohibition period information is referred to from the CMOS memory 18a in the RTC 18 to check whether it is the AC adapter use prohibition period (step 1-). 2).

  When the AC adapter 23 is not connected (No in step 1-1), if it is in the AC adapter use prohibition period (Yes in step 1-2), the battery 22 cannot be charged by the AC adapter. Do not perform any processing.

  When the AC adapter 23 can be used instead of the ACAC adapter use prohibition period (No in step 1-2), is the charge permission period for the battery 22 with reference to the charge permission period information from the CMOS memory 18a? It is checked whether or not (step 1-3).

  When it is a charge permission period and the battery 22 can be charged (Yes in step 1-3), the remaining battery capacity is compared with the charge start capacity acquired from the CMOS memory 18a, and the current battery is It is checked whether or not the remaining amount of 22 is less than the charge start capacity (step 1-4). As a result of the comparison, when the remaining amount of the battery 22 is less than the charge start capacity (Yes in step 1-4), the battery 22 is charged by the power supplied from the AC adapter 23 connected to the computer 1. (Step 1-5).

  Even when the AC adapter 23 is connected (Yes in Step 1-1) and not in the AC adapter use prohibition period (No in Step 1-2), when it is not in the charge permission period (No in Step 1-3), When the remaining amount of the battery 22 is equal to or greater than the charge start capacity (No in step 1-4), the battery 22 is not charged and no special processing is performed.

  By performing such control, it is possible to determine whether to charge the battery 22 based on not only the time zone but also the remaining capacity of the battery 22. Therefore, the number of times of charging can be reduced and the life of the battery 22 can be extended, compared with the case of performing control in which charging is always performed at night and the battery is operated as a driving power source in the daytime.

  As described above, in this embodiment, an information processing apparatus that can automatically switch between AC drive power supply and battery drive according to time and can extend battery life by reducing the number of times the battery is charged. Can be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it does not depart from the gist of the present invention, and various modifications are possible.

1 is an external perspective view showing an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the computer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows typically the setting information regarding the charging / discharging mode which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows typically the screen of the utility program which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the charge operation in mode # 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer, 3 ... Display unit, 5 ... Touch pad, 6 ... Keyboard, 7 ... Operation button, 8 ... Power switch, 10 ... CPU, 11 ... North bridge, 12 ... Main memory, 13 ... Graphics controller, 15 ... South Bridge, 16 ... HDD, 17 ... BIOS-ROM, 18 ... RTC, 18a ... CMOS memory, 20 ... EC / KBC, 20a ... Counter, 21 ... Power controller, 22 ... Battery, 22a ... EEPROM, 23 ... AC adapter

Claims (5)

In an information processing apparatus that includes a battery and can be driven by an external power source that can be connected to the battery or the information processing apparatus main body,
Means for prohibiting the use of the external power supply as a drive power supply and holding first time information for designating a time zone in which the battery is used as a drive power supply of the information processing apparatus;
Based on the first time information, the external power source is used so that the battery is used as a drive power source and charging operation of the battery by the external power source is stopped in a time zone specified by the first time information. Means for switching drive power used between a power source and the battery;
Means for holding second time information for designating a time zone in which the charging operation of the battery by the external power supply is permitted;
Means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery;
Charge control means for performing charge using the external power source when the remaining amount of the battery is less than a predetermined threshold in a time zone specified by the second time information. Processing equipment.   The charging control unit is configured not to perform charging using the external power source when the remaining amount of the battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold during a time period specified by the second time information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a setting unit configured to set the first time information, the second time information, and the threshold value.   A first mode in which charge control is performed using the second time information; and a second mode in which charge control is performed without using the first time information and the second time information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3.   3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for holding charging current information for determining an upper limit of a current during charging when charging is performed in a time zone specified by the second time information.

Images