JP2000166106A - Battery-powered electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display that the remaining capacity of a battery becomes a fixed value or smaller together with the operating state of battery-powered electronic equipment without causing misunderstanding by using a dot matrix display means. SOLUTION: In a portable CD player which is powered by a battery 12, a system control section 26A makes a dot matrix display section 23 display characters 'EMPTY' when a CD 14 is unloaded, the characters indicating the total playing time when the CD 14 is loaded, but stopped, or the characters indicating the played time of a track being reproduced when the CD 14 is reproduced by giving a display command to a display control section 24A. In this case, however, the characters are displayed in a noninverted mode when a monitoring section 25 for monitoring the remaining capacity of the battery 12 does not detect that the remaining capacity decreases to a fixed value or smaller. When the monitoring section 25 detects that the remaining capacity decreases to the fixed value or smaller, the characters are made to be displayed in an inverted mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery-powered electronic device, and more particularly, to a battery-powered electronic device capable of displaying that the remaining battery power has decreased below a certain level.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A battery (dry cell or rechargeable battery) is used as an operating power supply.
In a battery-powered electronic device that uses a battery, a warning display is displayed when the remaining battery power drops below a certain level to encourage the user to replace or charge the battery, in order to avoid a situation in which the user cannot use the battery when it is desired because the battery is exhausted. is there.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a portable CD (compact disk) player as an example of a battery-powered electronic device. Reference numeral 10 denotes a main body of a portable CD player, and an operation power supply + V _B is supplied from a battery 12 loaded in a battery storage unit 11. In the portable CD player main body 10, reference numeral 13 denotes a disk reproducing unit, which reads TOC (Table Of Contents) information from the lead-in of the CD 14 loaded by the user under the control of the system control unit described later.
The music information and subcode information recorded in the program area are read, a digital music signal is demodulated from the music information, and the digital music signal is D / A converted and output to an earphone (not shown) through the earphone code 30. The signal is demodulated and output to the system control unit.

[0005] Reference numeral 15 denotes a disk loading detection unit which outputs a disk loading detection signal when the CD 14 is loaded in the disk reproduction unit 13, and 16 denotes a PLAY key and a STOP key.
A key input unit 17 having a key has a segment display (see reference numeral 18 in FIG. 8) and a display driver (not shown). This is a segment display section for displaying predetermined information such as the remaining amount, and has a battery remaining amount display segment (see reference numerals 20 and 21 in FIG. 8). Reference numeral 22 denotes a dot matrix display (see reference numeral 23 in FIG. 8) and a display driver (not shown).
Is a dot matrix display section for lighting and extinguishing dots in accordance with the control described above to display predetermined information indicating the operation state of the portable CD player.

A battery remaining amount monitoring unit 25 monitors the voltage of the battery 12 by comparing it with a predetermined reference value to check whether the battery remaining amount is reduced below a certain level. Emits. Reference numeral 26 denotes a microcomputer control system control unit, which controls the disk reproducing unit 13 to start or stop reproduction in accordance with the loading and unloading of the CD 14 by the user and the key operation of the key input unit 16. Further, the system control unit 26 gives predetermined display character data to the display control unit 24 to display the operation state of the set.
The display control unit 19 is provided with display mode data (continuous lighting mode, blinking mode) for the battery remaining amount display segment in order to display whether or not the battery level is below a certain level.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main process in the control operation of the system control unit 26, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an interrupt process for displaying the remaining battery level in the control operation of the system control unit 26. . Initially, assuming that the CD 14 is unloaded, FIGS.
The control operation of the system control unit 26 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the system control unit 26
Is output to display control unit 24 to indicate that is not loaded. The display control unit 24 controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display the characters "EMPTY" in black on a white background (step S10 in FIG. 6).

When the user loads the CD 14 into the disc reproducing unit 13 and a disc loading detection signal is output from the disc loading detecting unit 15, the system control unit 26 determines that the disc is loaded and controls the disc reproducing unit 13. The TOC information recorded in the lead-in is read, and the TOC information is input and stored in the built-in memory (steps S11 and S12). Then, display character data indicating the total playing time in the TOC information is output to the display control unit 24. The display control unit 24 controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display characters indicating the total playing time in black on a white background (step S13; see FIG. 8A).
The user knows the total playing time from the display, and also knows that the display is stopped because the display does not change.

When the user presses the PLAY key of the key input unit 16, the system control unit 26 controls the disk reproducing unit 13 to start reproduction from the beginning of the first track (steps S14 and S15). During playback, the system control unit 26 receives the Q channel of the subcode from the disc playback unit 13 and outputs display character data indicating the elapsed playing time of the track being played back to the display control unit 24. The display control unit 24 controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display characters indicating the elapsed playing time in black on a white background (step S16; see FIG. 8 (2)). The user knows the playing elapsed time of the track being played from the display, and also knows that the track is being played from the progress of the playing elapsed time. When the STOP key is pressed or when the reproduction has progressed to the end of the last track, the system control unit 26 controls the disk reproduction unit 13 to stop the reproduction operation (YES in step S17, S19, or YES in step S18). , S19).

In parallel with the above-described main processing, the system control unit 26 constantly and periodically executes the interrupt processing shown in FIG. 7 to display the remaining battery power. That is, the output of the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 25 is checked, and if the warning signal is not output, the continuous lighting mode is displayed as the display mode data for the battery remaining amount display segment by the display control unit 1.
9 is output. When the continuous lighting mode is instructed, the display control section 19 controls the segment display section 17 to continuously light the battery remaining amount display segments 20 and 21 to notify the user that the battery remaining amount is sufficient (FIG. 7). NO in step S20 of step S20, and reference numerals 20 and 2 in FIG.
1). Unlike this, the remaining battery level monitoring unit 2
Check the output of 5 and if a warning signal is output,
The flashing mode is output to the display control unit 19 as display mode data for the remaining battery level display segment. When the flashing mode is instructed, the display control section 19 controls the segment display section 17 to display the remaining battery level display segment 20,
21 is blinked to notify the user that the remaining battery level is low (YES in step S20 in FIG. 7, S22).
The display states indicated by reference numerals 20 and 21 in FIG. 8A and the display states indicated by reference numerals 20 and 21 in FIG.

[0010]

By the way, when it is desired to enable remote control operation with a portable CD player, the key input section 16, segment display section 17 and dot matrix display section 22, and display control sections 19 and 24 are provided as hand-held operation devices. It is sufficient to store the hand-held operation device in the middle of the earphone cord 30, but the segment display unit 17 and the display control unit 19 are usually omitted to reduce the size of the hand-held operation device. There is a problem that the display of is impossible.

As a countermeasure against this, when the remaining battery power is reduced below a certain level, a portable C
D player operating state ("E" when no disc is loaded)
MPTY ", the total playing time when stopped, and the elapsed playing time during playback), the display contents are switched for a certain period of time to indicate that the battery level has dropped below a certain level. It is possible to do. However, according to this method, it is not possible to always inform the user of the operating state, and after displaying that the remaining battery power has decreased below a certain level for a certain period of time, returning to the original operating state display is not possible for the user. There is a drawback that it may give a misunderstanding that the remaining battery level is still above a certain level. In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the present invention also uses a dot matrix display means to reduce the remaining battery power to a certain value or less together with the operation state of the device, and to display a battery-powered type that can be displayed without misunderstanding. Its purpose is to provide electronic equipment.

[0012]

In the battery-powered electronic device according to the first aspect of the present invention, display control means for displaying predetermined information indicating the operation state of the electronic device powered by a battery on the dot matrix display means. In a battery-powered electronic device including: a battery remaining amount monitoring unit that monitors the remaining amount of the battery, the display control unit detects that the battery remaining amount has decreased to a certain level or less by the battery remaining amount monitoring unit. While it is not, predetermined information indicating the operation state of the electronic device is displayed on the dot matrix display means in the non-inverting mode, and while the battery remaining amount monitoring means detects that the battery remaining amount has decreased below a certain level. Is characterized in that predetermined information indicating the operation state of the electronic device is displayed on the dot matrix display means in the inversion mode. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the predetermined information indicating the operation state of the electronic device is displayed in the dot matrix display means in the non-inversion mode or the inversion mode regardless of whether or not the remaining battery level has decreased below a certain level. Is displayed, the user can always check the operation state. Then, when the remaining battery level decreases below a certain level, the operation state is continuously displayed in the inversion mode, so that the user can correctly recognize that the remaining battery level has decreased.

[0013]

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a mobile phone C according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the D player, and the same components as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 10A denotes a main body of a portable CD player, to which operation power is supplied from a battery 12 loaded in a battery storage unit 11. In the portable CD player main body 10A, a disc reproducing unit 13 reads TOC information from a lead-in of a CD 14 loaded by a user or sub-records music information recorded in a program area under the control of a system control unit described later. It reads the code information, demodulates the digital music signal from the music information, further D / A converts it, outputs it to an earphone (not shown) through the remote control code 40, the hand-operated device 50, and the earphone code 30, or demodulates the subcode And output it to the system control unit. Reference numeral 15 denotes a disk loading detection unit that outputs a disk loading detection signal when the disk playback unit 13 is loaded with the CD 14.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a hand controller, which is connected to the portable CD player main body 10A by a remote control code 40. 16 of the hand-held operation devices 50 are a PLAY key and an STO.
A key input unit 22 having a P key has a dot matrix display (see reference numeral 23 in FIGS. 3 and 4) and a display driver (not shown), and turns on the dots (here, under the control of the display control unit 24A). This is a dot matrix display section that performs predetermined information display indicating the operation state of the portable CD player by turning off (black display) and turning off (here, white display).

Reference numeral 25 denotes a battery remaining amount monitoring unit for comparing the voltage of the battery 12 with a predetermined reference value and monitoring whether the battery remaining amount is reduced below a certain level. Emits. Reference numeral 26A denotes a system control unit having a microcomputer, which controls the disk reproducing unit 13 according to a user's loading and unloading of the CD 14 and a key operation on the key input unit 16 to start and stop reproduction. Also, the system control unit 26A displays predetermined display character data for displaying the operating state of the set, and display mode data (non-reversal mode,
Or the display control unit 24A together with the inversion mode). The set manual states that when the dot matrix display is non-inverted, the battery level is normal, and when inverted, the battery level is reduced below a certain level. It is described.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows the system controller 26.
A flowchart showing the control operation of A, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on the dot matrix display section 22 when the remaining battery level is not below a certain level, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example on a display unit 22. It is assumed that the CD 14 is not loaded at first.

The system control unit 26A first checks the output of the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 25, and if no warning signal is output, displays the character data of "EMPTY" for indicating that the CD 14 is not loaded. , And outputs a display command including non-inverted display mode data to the display control unit 24A of the hand-held operation device 50. Upon receiving the display command, the display control unit 24A operates the dot matrix display unit 22.
A is controlled to display the character "EMPTY" in black on a white background (NO in step S30 in FIG. 2, S31; FIG. 3).
(See (1)). As a result, the user knows that the CD 14 is not loaded and that the battery level is sufficient.

If the output of the battery level monitor 25 is checked and a warning signal is output, the display character data of "EMPTY" for indicating that the CD 14 is not loaded, and the display of the inverted character are displayed. The display command including the mode data is output to the display control unit 24A of the hand controller 50. Upon receiving the display command, the display control unit 24A controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display the characters “EMPTY” in black and white inverted (YES in step S30 in FIG. 2, S3
2. FIG. 4 (1)). This allows the user to use CD14
Is not loaded and the remaining battery power is low.

Thereafter, when the user loads the CD 14 into the disc reproducing unit 13 and a disc loading detection signal is output from the disc loading detecting unit 15, the system control unit 26A determines that the disc is loaded, and the disc reproducing unit 13 To read the TOC information recorded in the lead-in, input the TOC information and store it in the built-in memory (steps S33, S34). Then, the output of the battery remaining amount monitoring unit 25 is checked, and if the warning signal is not output, a display command including the display character data indicating the total playing time in the TOC information and the non-inverted display mode data is displayed. Output to the control unit 24A. Upon receiving the display command, the display control unit 24A controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display characters indicating the total playing time in black on a white background (NO in step S35, S36; FIG. 3).
(See (2)). The user knows the total playing time from the display,
Since the display does not change, it can be seen that it is in the stopped state,
Also, it can be seen that the remaining battery power is sufficient.

If the output of the battery level monitoring unit 25 is checked and a warning signal is output, a display including the display character data indicating the total playing time in the TOC information and the display mode data of inversion is displayed. The command is output to the display control unit 24A. Display control unit 2 receiving this display command
4A controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display characters indicating the total playing time in white on a black background (step S4).
YES at 35, S37. FIG. 4 (2)). The user knows the total playing time from the display, knows that the display is in a stopped state since the display does not change, and also knows that the remaining battery level is low.

The user operates the key input unit 16 of the hand controller 50.
Is pressed, the system control unit 26
A controls the disk reproducing unit 13 to start reproduction from the beginning of the first track (steps S38 and S39).
During playback, the system control unit 26A checks the output of the battery level monitoring unit 25. If no warning signal is output, the system control unit 26A plays the track being played back based on the Q channel of the subcode input from the disc playback unit 13. A display command including display character data indicating the elapsed time and non-reversed display mode data is output to the display control unit 24A. Upon receiving this display command, the display control unit 24A controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display characters indicating the elapsed playing time in black on a white background (NO in step S40, S41; see FIG. 3 (3)). From the display, the user can know the performance elapsed time of the track being reproduced and also know that the remaining battery power is sufficient.

If the output of the battery level monitoring unit 25 is checked and a warning signal is output, a display command including display character data indicating the performance elapsed time and inverted display mode data is displayed and controlled. Output to the unit 24A. Upon receiving the display command, the display control unit 24A controls the dot matrix display unit 22 to display characters indicating the elapsed playing time in black and white inverted (YES in step S40, S4
2. FIG. 4 (3)). The user knows the elapsed playing time of the track being reproduced from the display, and also knows that the remaining battery level is low. When the reproduction proceeds to the end of the last track or when the STOP key of the hand controller 50 is pressed, the system control unit 26A controls the disk reproduction unit 13 to stop the reproduction operation (YE in step S43).
S, S45 or YES in step S44, S4
5).

According to this embodiment, regardless of whether or not the remaining battery power has decreased to a certain level or less, the dot matrix display 23 displays the predetermined information indicating the operating state of the portable CD player (CD 14 is non-operating). "EMPTY" when loading,
Total playing time when CD 14 is loaded and stopped, CD
14 is displayed, the user can always check the operation state. Then, when the remaining battery level decreases below a certain level, the operation state is continuously displayed in the inversion mode on the dot matrix display 23, so that the user can correctly recognize that the remaining battery level has decreased. .

In the above embodiment, the portable CD
The player has been described as an example, but a portable cassette tape recorder, a portable MD (mini-disc) player, a portable D
The present invention can be applied to various battery-powered electronic devices such as a VD (digital video disc) player.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the dot matrix display means displays the predetermined information indicating the operation state of the electronic device regardless of whether or not the battery level has decreased below a certain level. The user can always check the operation state. Then, when the remaining battery level decreases below a certain level, the operation state is continuously displayed in the inversion mode, so that the user can correctly recognize that the remaining battery level has decreased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable CD player according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of a system control unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a dot matrix display when the remaining battery level is sufficient.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a dot matrix display when the remaining battery level is low.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional portable CD player.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a main process of a control operation of a system control unit in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an interrupt process of a control operation of a system control unit in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a segment display section and a dot matrix display section in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

10A Portable CD player body 12 Battery 13 Disk playback unit 14 CD 15 Disk loading detection unit 16 Key input unit 22 Dot matrix display unit 24A Display control unit 25 Battery remaining amount monitoring unit 26A System control unit 50 Hand operation unit 16 Key input unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Momose 1-14-6 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside the Kenwood Corporation (72) Inventor Seitas 1-14-6 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Kenwood F term (reference) 2G016 CA00 CB12 CC06 CC26 CE08 CE31 5G003 BA01 CC02 DA02 EA05 GC05

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display device comprising: a display control unit for displaying predetermined information indicating an operation state of an electronic device powered by a battery on a dot matrix display unit; and a battery remaining amount monitoring unit for monitoring a remaining amount of a battery. In the battery-powered electronic device, the display control means outputs predetermined information indicating the operation state of the electronic device to the non-inversion mode while the battery remaining amount monitoring means does not detect that the battery remaining amount has decreased below a certain level. In the dot matrix display means, while the remaining battery level monitoring means detects that the remaining battery level has decreased below a certain level, predetermined information indicating the operation state of the electronic device is displayed in the inverted mode in the dot matrix display mode. A battery-powered electronic device, characterized in that the electronic device is configured to be displayed on a means.