JP2000217269A - Dc coupler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and precisely provide a DC coupler which can switch a DC output function and a charging function. SOLUTION: A DC coupler 1 is connected directly to a load device 16 and is also constituted as a separate body from an input coupler 14. It has a DC output function of supplying the load device with the input from the input coupler 14 and charging function for charging a mounted secondary battery 15. The load device 16 and the secondary battery 15 can be mounted at the same time, and this DC coupler has a detection means 9, which detects the conditions of the load device 16, and has means 11 and 12 which switch the output function, according to the detection results. It is possible to quickly shift from DC output condition to charge condition by switching the output means, according to the conditions of the load device 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a DC coupler used for a load device such as an imaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional DC coupler, a function of charging a secondary battery (hereinafter, referred to as charging), a function of supplying power from a secondary battery to a load device (hereinafter, referred to as driving a secondary battery), and an input function are described. It has a function of supplying power to a connected load device using power supplied from the adapter as a power source (hereinafter, referred to as DC output).

A conventional DC coupler system having a charging function generally performs either a DC output function using an input from an input adapter as shown in an example in FIG. 14, or a charging function of the input adapter. Is performed.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, when switching between the DC output function and the charging function, the load device or the secondary battery must be removed from the DC coupler and replaced with a desired state. For this reason, the transition from the driving state of the load device to the charging state of the secondary battery is troublesome, and it has not been possible to perform the operation promptly. In recent years, the size of load devices has been reduced, and accordingly, demands for reduction in size of secondary batteries have been increasing. However, there has been a problem that a small secondary battery has a short usage time.

[0005] In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a DC coupler capable of easily and accurately switching a DC output function, a charging function, and a secondary battery driving function.

[0006]

A DC coupler according to the present invention is directly connected to a load device and is formed separately from an input adapter, and has a DC output function for supplying an input from the input adapter to the load device. In a DC coupler having a charging function of charging a secondary battery to be mounted, a load device and a secondary battery can be mounted at the same time, and a detection unit for detecting a state of the load device is provided. It is characterized by having switching means for switching the output function.

In the DC coupler of the present invention, the means for detecting the state of the load device is a switch provided between the load device and the load device.

In the DC coupler according to the present invention, the means for detecting the state of the load device is a signal output from the load device.

Further, in the DC coupler of the present invention, a plurality of removable secondary batteries can be mounted, and each secondary battery is charged sequentially or in parallel.

In the DC coupler of the present invention, when there is no input from the input adapter or when the input is interrupted,
Power is supplied from the secondary battery to the load device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the DC coupler has a structure capable of simultaneously performing a DC output state and a state in which a secondary battery is mounted, and switches an output function according to a state of a load device. It is possible to promptly shift from the DC output state to the charging state. For example, D
A detection resistor for detecting a current flowing to the load device in the C coupler, a voltage comparator for detecting a voltage generated at both ends of the resistor, and a switching means for switching according to an output of the voltage comparator are provided. Surplus power in driving the load device with respect to the input power can be used for charging the secondary battery.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing a switch for detecting the state of the load device in the DC coupler, the output function is automatically switched according to the state of the load device. For example, a detection switch for detecting the presence or absence of a load device is provided in the DC coupler. DC output is performed when the switch detects the load device, and output switching to charging is performed when the load device is not mounted. Can be.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a communication means for communicating the state of the load device from the load device to the DC coupler is provided, and the output function is detected by detecting a signal output from the load device. Is automatically switched according to the state of. For example, a communication means is provided between the DC coupler and the load device, and the charging current is stopped or reduced by a state transmission signal (serial signal or HI / LOW signal, etc.) output from the load device when the load device has a high load. Thus, control can be performed to increase the charging current when the load device is lightly loaded or disconnected.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of secondary batteries can be charged continuously or simultaneously by adopting a structure in which a plurality of removable secondary batteries can be mounted on the DC coupler. . For example, a plurality of secondary batteries can be mounted on a DC coupler, and sequential charging or parallel charging can be performed as in a normal charging device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the DC coupler is provided with a means for supplying power to the load device,
There is no input from the input adapter (including cases where the input is interrupted)
In this case, power is automatically or continuously taken out from a plurality of secondary batteries, and the secondary batteries are driven. For example, a DC coupler can be equipped with a plurality of rechargeable batteries, and a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of an input from an input adapter is provided. As a result of this detection, when there is no input from the input adapter or when the input is interrupted, the secondary battery can be driven for the load device.

[0016]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a drawing that best illustrates the features of the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a DC coupler, and 2 denotes a regulator (REG.) For performing DC voltage conversion (charging voltage and DC output voltage).
A), 3 is a regulator (REG.B) for setting a reference voltage for comparison, 4 and 5 are resistors for setting a reference voltage for comparison, 6 is a voltage comparator (A), 7 is A resistor (detection means) for detecting a load current of a load device to be described later, 8 is a control unit for controlling DC output and charging, 9 is a resistor for detecting charging current, and 10 is a control for controlling constant voltage and constant current. Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote switches (switches) for turning ON / OFF charging, 13 a resistor for suppressing charging current, 14 an input adapter, 15 a secondary battery, and 16 a load device.

In this embodiment, as a typical example of the load device 16, the present invention is applied to an imaging device such as a video camera as shown in FIG. The present invention is not limited to the video camera, but can be applied to any other electronic device.

When there is a DC input, the DC coupler 1 basically operates to output a DC to a camcorder. When DC is input from the input adapter 14, the regulator 2 converts the DC input voltage and supplies the voltage to the load device 16. Thereafter, the load current flowing through the load device 16 is measured by the resistor 7, and the regulator 3 and the resistor 4,
The voltage comparator 6 makes a comparison with the reference voltage set at 5. In accordance with the comparison result, the control unit 8 controls the switch
And 12 are controlled. The charging current is detected by a resistor 9 and controlled by a control unit 10.

In the above case, the switches 11 and 12 for turning ON / OFF the charging use symbols representing general transistors, but switch control using FETs, electromagnetic relays or the like is also possible.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a charging operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. Vr1 is a voltage generated across the resistor 7, Vref1 is a reference voltage, and Vref2 is a reference voltage. As shown in FIG. 3, when the video camera is in the REC state (recording state), Vr1 exceeds Vref1.
The charging is in a sleep state. When the video camera is in the PLAY state (playback), Vr1 is between Vref1 and Vref2, the switch 12 is turned on, and the charging current is supplied to the secondary battery 15 through the resistor 13. In this case, charging is controlled with a low charging current.

When the video camera is in the STOP state or not mounted, Vr1 is lower than Vref2, the switch 11 is turned on, and the secondary battery 15 is turned off.
Is supplied with a charging current. In this case, charging is controlled by rapid charging.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. At step S1, the secondary battery 15 is mounted on the DC coupler 1, the video camera is mounted at step S2, and the input adapter 14 is mounted at step S3. It starts in step S4.

In step S5, the switches 11 and 12 are turned off. In step S6, it is detected whether the secondary battery 15 is fully charged. If the battery is fully charged, charging is suspended in step S7. If the secondary battery 15 is not fully charged in step S6, Vr1 and Vref1 are determined in step S8.
And if Vr1 is greater than Vref1, the process shifts to step S17 to suspend charging.

If Vr1 is smaller than Vref1 in step S8, the process proceeds to step S9, where Vr1 and Vref2 are set.
And if Vr1 is greater than Vref2, the process proceeds to step S12.

The switch 12 is turned on in step S12, and charging is performed with a low charging current in step S13. Charging is continued until charging completion detection is performed in step S14. When the charging completion is detected in step S14, a charging completion display is performed in step S15, and the switches 11 and 12 are turned off in step S16, and charging ends.

If Vr1 is smaller than Vref2 in step S9, the process proceeds to step S10. Step S1
At 0, the switch 11 is turned on, and rapid charging is started at step S11. Charging is continued until charging completion detection is performed in step S14. When charging completion is detected in step S14, charging completion is displayed in step S15, and switches 11 and 12 are displayed in step S16.
Is turned off, and charging ends.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a resistor is provided in the DC coupler 1 as a means for detecting a load current, and detection is performed using the resistor. It is also possible to provide the input adapter 14 with a means for detecting the total current consumption obtained by adding the load current and the charging current, and to control the charging by managing the total current consumption.

In this case, a method in which the total consumption current detected by the input adapter 14 is fed back to the DC coupler 1 in an analog manner, or a method in which a communication microcomputer is provided in the input adapter 14 and communication is performed by serial data is preferable. .

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which best represents the feature of the embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 5, the basic configuration (from the DC coupler 1 to the load device 16) is common to the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 1). In the second embodiment, the DC coupler 1 is provided with the detection switch 21 of the load device 16, and the DC coupler 1 detects the protrusion 22 of the load device 16 and performs charging control.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Step S10
1, the secondary battery 15 is attached to the DC coupler 1, and in step S102, the input adapter 14 is attached, and in step S10
Start with 3.

If the attachment of the video camera is detected in step S104, the same control as in the first embodiment is performed in step S109.

If no video camera is detected in step S104, it is determined in step S105 whether the secondary battery 15 is fully charged. If not fully charged, step S1
At 06, rapid charging is started. Then, step S107
Continue charging until charging is completed. When the completion of the charging is detected, the completion of the charging is displayed in step S108, and the charging is ended.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which best represents the feature of the embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 7, the basic configuration (from the DC coupler 1 to the load device 16) is common to the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 1). In the third embodiment, a communication unit 23 from the load device 16 is provided in the DC coupler 1. The state of the load device 16 is output from the mode microcomputer 25 built in the load device 16,
The DC coupler 1 is connected via the communication unit 24 on the load device 16 side.
Is configured to be communicated to the output / charge control unit 8.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Step S20
At 1, the secondary battery 15 is mounted on the DC coupler 1, the video camera is mounted at step S202, and the input adapter 14 is mounted at step S203. It starts in step S204.

If the rechargeable battery 15 is not fully charged in step S205, the process proceeds to step S206, where step S206 is performed.
When the mode signal is transmitted from the mode microcomputer 25 of the video camera, the communication means 24 on the video camera side
The status signal of the video camera is transmitted to the output / charge control unit 8 via the communication unit 23 on the coupler 1 side.

If the state of the video camera is the REC state, the flow shifts to step S211 to enter a charging suspension state.
If the video camera is in the PLAY state, low-rate charging is started in step S207.

If the state of the video camera is the STOP state in step S206, rapid charging is started in step S208. Thereafter, the charging control is continued until the completion of the charging is detected in step S209. When charging is completed in step S209, a charging completion display is performed in step S210, and charging is completed.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which best represents the feature of the embodiment of FIG. In FIG. 9, the basic configuration (from the DC coupler 1 to the mode microcomputer 25)
) Are common to the case of the third embodiment (FIG. 7).
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, two secondary batteries (A) 26 and two secondary batteries (B) are connected to the DC coupler 1.
27 can be attached. In order to charge these secondary batteries 26 and 27, charging switches 28 and 29 and a resistor 30 for suppressing a charging current are built in similarly to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Step S3
01, the video camera is mounted on the DC coupler 1, and in step S302, the input adapter 14 is mounted, and in step S3
Start at 03.

In step S304, communication control between the DC coupler 1 and the video camera described in the third embodiment is performed. Thereafter, the secondary battery 26 is detected in step S305, and if the secondary battery 26 is not mounted, the process proceeds to step S310.

In step S310, the secondary battery 27 is detected. If the secondary battery 27 is mounted, the process proceeds to step S311. If the secondary battery 27 is not fully charged, charging of the secondary battery 27 is started in step S312.
Thereafter, the charging control is continued until the completion of the charging is detected in step S313. When charging is completed in step S313, a charging completion display is performed in step S314,
End charging.

If it is determined in step S305 that the secondary battery 26 is mounted, the process proceeds to step S306. If the secondary battery 26 is not fully charged, the flow proceeds to step S307.
6 is started to be charged. Thereafter, the charging control is continued until the completion of the charging is detected in S308. When charging is completed in step S308, a charge completion display is performed in step S309, and charging is completed.

As a method of communication means between the DC coupler 1 and the load device 16 of the fourth embodiment, serial communication, infrared communication, HI / LOW communication, analog communication, and the like are preferable. Further, in the fourth embodiment, the operation flow in which charging is performed sequentially is performed, but parallel charging is also possible.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 12 is a diagram that best illustrates the features of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
The basic configuration (from the DC coupler 1 to the resistor 30) is the same as that of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 9). In the figure, 31 is a discharge switch from the secondary battery 26 to the load device 16, 32 is a discharge switch from the secondary battery 27 to the load device 16, and 33 is a comparison between the battery voltages of the secondary battery 26 and the secondary battery 27. The comparator (B).

In FIG. 12, the presence or absence of a DC input is detected by the output of the regulator 2, but there is also a method of detecting the output of the regulator 3. Alternatively, input adapter 1
It is also possible to detect that the input adapter 14 is attached by using the jack or switch of the input unit 4.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Step S4
01, the secondary battery 26 is attached to the DC coupler 1, and in step S402, the secondary battery 27 is attached, and in step S403
At step S404, the video camera is mounted on the DC coupler 1, and at step S404, the input adapter 14 is mounted. It starts in step S405.

In step S406, D is applied to DC coupler 1.
C input is detected, and if there is a DC input, step S40
In step 7, communication control between the DC coupler 1 and the video camera described in the fourth embodiment is performed, and the mode of the video camera is detected. According to the result, in step S408, the fourth
The same charge control as in the embodiment is performed. Step S40
If no DC input is detected in step 6, the process proceeds to step S409.

In step S409, the battery voltages of the secondary battery 26 and the secondary battery 27 are compared. If the battery voltages are equal, the process proceeds to step S413, where both the switch 31 and the switch 32 are turned on. If the battery voltages of the secondary battery 26 and the secondary battery 27 are different in step S409, the process proceeds to step S410. If the voltage of the secondary battery 26 is high, only the switch 31 is turned on in step S411, and the secondary battery is turned on. If 27 is higher, only switch 32 is turned on in step S410.

In FIG. 13, as a general method of driving a secondary battery, an operation of discharging from one of the secondary batteries having a high battery voltage and performing parallel discharge from the time when the potential becomes the same as that of the other secondary battery is performed. An example of the flow has been described. As another method of driving a secondary battery, discharging is performed from the secondary battery with a lower battery voltage, and when the secondary battery that has started discharging earlier becomes empty,
A method of switching to another secondary battery may be used. An advantage of this method is that the display of an empty secondary battery using the power of another secondary battery can be used to replace the empty secondary battery, and the secondary battery can be replaced without interruption. It becomes possible to drive the next battery.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, this type of DC coupler has a structure capable of mounting a rechargeable battery in a mounted state of a load device, and further includes means for detecting the state of the load device. Thus, the state can be automatically shifted to the charging state of the secondary battery or the DC output state. Further, by adopting a structure in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries can be mounted, the plurality of rechargeable batteries to be mounted can be charged. It enables long-time operation using a secondary battery.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of application to a video camera as a load device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a charging operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an application example to a video camera as a load device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an application example of a conventional DC coupler.

[Description of Signs] 1 DC coupler 2, 3 Regulator 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 30 Resistor 6, 33 Voltage comparator 8 Output / charge control unit 10 Constant voltage / constant current control unit 11, 12, 28 , 29 Charge ON / OFF switch 14 Input adapter 15, 26, 27 Secondary battery 16 Video camera 17 Voltage across resistor without load device 18 Voltage across resistor in PLAY state 19 Voltage across resistor in REC state Reference Signs List 20 Voltage between both ends of load device in STOP state 21 Video camera detection switch of DC coupler 22 Projection of video camera 23 Communication means of DC coupler 24 Communication means of video camera 25 Mode microcomputer of video camera 31, 32 Discharge ON / OFF switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Akira Fukushima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Nishikawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon F term in the company (reference) 5G003 AA01 BA01 BA02 CA03 CC07 DA04 DA18 GA01 GC05 5H006 AA04 CA01 CA12 DA02 DA04 DB07 DC05 5H740 AA06 AA08 BA11 BB01 BB07 MM11

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A DC output function that is directly connected to a load device and is configured separately from an input adapter, supplies DC power to an input from the input adapter to the load device, and charges a secondary battery to be mounted. A DC coupler having a function, capable of simultaneously mounting a load device and a secondary battery, having a detecting device for detecting a state of the load device, and having a switching device for switching an output function according to the detection result. A DC coupler characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The DC coupler according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the state of the load device is a switch installed between the load device and the load device. 3. The DC coupler according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the state of the load device is a signal output from the load device. 4. The DC coupler according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of removable secondary batteries can be mounted, and each secondary battery is charged sequentially or in parallel. . 5. The D according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied from the secondary battery to the load device when there is no input from the input adapter or when the input is interrupted.
C coupler.