JP2002062955A - Battery driven terminal device and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure a predicted working time by notifying of whether a desired work is executable with the present battery residual quantity, in the use of an electronic apparatus such as handy terminal, portable information terminal, etc., on the basis of a set using device and the ratio of using the device, and changing the set of the using device when it is not executable. SOLUTION: A CPU 2 periodically detects the output voltage of a battery 6, displays a using device input screen on the display panel of a display part 3, retains the content in a RAM 7 when the working ratio and the using device are inputted and instructed through an input part 4, determines the battery remaining quantity from the present battery voltage, calculate the predicted workable time from the battery remaining quantity and the inputted working ratio and using device, and displays the predicted workable time within the using device input screen under display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery-powered terminal device having a function of predicting a remaining battery time by designating a device to be used in a work among various built-in devices in advance and further adjusting the remaining battery time. And a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, retail stores and restaurants use a portable input device called a handy terminal.
The handy terminal is an electronic device having a function of inputting and transmitting data such as inventory of goods and customer orders. In addition, since the clerk carries and uses the handy terminal, a rechargeable battery or the like is incorporated in a power source thereof.

[0003] As described above, since the handy terminal uses a rechargeable battery as a power source, its available time is limited. However, the clerk wants to continue using the battery for a predetermined work time. If the battery runs out during this time, the work may be interrupted or the input data may be lost. The work can be continued by charging or replacing the battery, but if the charging or battery cannot be replaced immediately, the subsequent work is interrupted.

For this reason, conventionally, in order to prevent the battery from running out suddenly, for example, the remaining battery level is displayed on a monitor, and the time for charging or replacing the battery is specified. Also, those that clearly indicate when to charge or replace the battery,
Not only a handy terminal but also an electronic device such as a portable information terminal has a similar function.

[0005]

However, conventional electronic devices such as a handy terminal and a portable information terminal,
It simply has a function to clearly indicate the time of charging or battery replacement, so it can predict the available time from the remaining battery power,
It was not possible to extend the usable time by selecting the device to be used for the work (input device system or display device system).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device such as a handy terminal or a portable information terminal, and to perform a desired operation based on a set used device and a ratio of using the device at the present time. The task is to notify whether the job can be executed or not, and if the job cannot be executed, the setting of the device to be used is changed so that the estimated work time can be secured.

[0007]

The present invention has the following features to solve the above-mentioned problems. In the following description of the means, a configuration corresponding to the embodiment is exemplified by parentheses. Reference numerals and the like correspond to reference numerals in the drawings described later.

A battery-driven terminal device (for example, a handy terminal 1 in FIG. 1) according to claim 1 includes a device designating unit (for example, an input unit in FIG. 1) for designating a device to be used and a ratio of using the device. Power usage calculating means (for example, CPU2 in FIG. 1) for calculating the power usage based on the device specified by the device specifying means and the ratio of using the device, and a battery for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery Remaining amount detecting means (for example, FIG. 1
CPU2), and the estimated working time estimated from the current battery remaining amount based on the current battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting means and the power consumption calculated by the used power calculating means. An expected work time notifying means (for example, CPU 2 and display unit 3 in FIG. 1) for calculating and notifying
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 1 is configured to include the working device designating means, the power consumption calculating means, the power consumption calculating means, and the expected working time notifying means. Therefore, when the work content is determined in advance and the devices used in the work and the usage time ratio of the devices can be predicted, the setting is performed by inputting those used devices and the usage device usage time ratio. Users can be notified of the working hours under conditions,
The user can check the available work time before starting the work.

A battery-operated terminal device (for example, a handy terminal 1 in FIG. 1) according to claim 3 is a work device designating means (for example, a CPU 2 in FIG. 1) for designating a time for each work and the device used in each work. , Input unit 4)
And power consumption calculating means (for example, for calculating the total power consumption of each work based on the time for each work specified by the work device specifying means and the device used in each work)
CPU2 in FIG. 1, battery remaining amount detecting means (for example, CPU2 in FIG. 1) for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery, current battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting means, A work permission / non-permission notification unit that notifies whether or not a specified work time can be secured based on the current battery remaining amount based on the total power consumption calculated by the calculation unit (for example,
And a display unit 3) of FIG.

[0011] The invention according to claim 3 is configured to include the work device designating means, the power consumption calculating means, the battery remaining amount detecting means, and the work availability notifying means.
Therefore, if the work to be performed in advance and the respective work time are determined, by setting the work and the work time, it is possible to know whether or not the work can be performed with the current remaining battery level. Can be.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a handy terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a control system of the handy terminal 1. The handy terminal 1 includes a CPU 2, a display unit 3, an input unit 4, a laser scanner 5, a battery 6, an RA
M7, a storage device 8, a storage medium 9, a wireless communication unit 10, an infrared communication unit 11, and a transmission control unit 12. Each unit except the storage medium 9 is connected by a bus 13. Also, the backlight 14, the laser scanner 5,
A power control unit 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for controlling power supply is connected to each device of the wireless communication unit 10 and the infrared communication unit 11.

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2
An application program designated from among the system program stored in the storage device 8 and various application programs corresponding to the system is stored in the R.
The data is developed in a program storage area (not shown) in the AM 7, and data input from the input unit 4 and the laser scanner 5 is converted according to various instructions input from the input unit 4 in accordance with an application program stored in the storage device 8. Various instructions are executed, and the processing result is transmitted to the wireless communication unit 10 or the infrared communication unit 11 to the output destination specified by the input unit 4.

Further, the CPU 2 periodically detects the output voltage of the battery 6 and, in an expected operation time calculation mode (see FIG. 5) described later, displays a used device input screen (see FIG. 6) on the display panel of the display unit 3. Is displayed, and when the work ratio and the device to be used are input from the input unit 4,
The contents are stored in the RAM 7, the remaining battery capacity is obtained from the current battery voltage, the estimated workable time is calculated from the remaining battery capacity, the input work ratio and the device used, and the estimated workable time is displayed. Displayed in the used device input screen.

A RAM (Random Access Memory) 7 forms a program storage area in which various programs are expanded when a designated application program is executed, and an input which is obtained when the CPU 2 performs the above-mentioned estimated work time calculation processing. A data storage area for storing instructions, input data, processing results, and the like is formed.

The battery 6 is composed of a primary battery such as a manganese dry battery or a lithium battery, or a secondary battery such as a nickel-cadmium rechargeable battery, a lithium rechargeable battery, or a lead storage battery. To each part.

The display unit 3 includes a liquid crystal display panel 3a and the like, and displays a used device input screen (see FIG. 6) input from the CPU 2. Further, the display unit 3 is integrated with a touch panel 4b described later, and the content displayed on the display unit 3 can be seen through the touch panel 4b.

The input unit 4 includes a plurality of key switches 4a to which various input functions are assigned in advance, a touch panel 4b for inputting coordinates, and the like, and outputs various signals corresponding to various key operations and touch operations to the CPU 2. I do. Also,
The touch panel 4b for inputting coordinates is integrated with the display screen of the display unit 3, and when data is input into a used device input screen displayed on the display screen through the transparent touch panel, the input is performed. The coordinates are detected and a coordinate signal is output to the CPU 2.

The backlight 14 is attached to the display unit 3, and illuminates the display unit 3 by illuminating the display unit 3 from the back or side during input work.

The laser scanner 5 irradiates a bar code attached to a product with a built-in laser light source,
The bar code is read from the reflected light, converted into digital data, and the digital data is output to the CPU 2.

The wireless communication unit 10 converts product data, management data, and the like instructed to be output from the CPU 2 into electromagnetic waves, and performs wireless communication with the server.

When the mounting surface of the infrared communication unit 11 of the handy terminal 1 is set on an infrared communication unit (not shown) of the I / O box, the infrared communication unit 11 communicates with the server via the I / O box. Transmission and reception of product data and management data and the like are performed between them. When the mounting surface of the infrared communication section 11 of the two handy terminals is set, data can be transmitted and received between those handy terminals.

The transmission control unit 12 performs communication between the wireless communication unit 10 or the infrared communication unit 11 and the server.
The digital data processed by the PU 2 is converted into analog data such as radio or infrared, and an analog signal input via radio or infrared is demodulated into a digital signal.

The storage device 8 has a storage medium 9 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 9 is fixedly provided in the storage device 8 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 9 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, and a battery drive time estimation. The program and data processed by each control program are stored.

The program, data and the like stored in the storage medium 9 may be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line. It is also possible to provide a storage device having the above storage medium on the device side, and to use the programs and data stored in the storage medium 9 via a communication line.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the power supply control unit 20 connected to each of the laser scanner 5, the wireless communication unit 10, the infrared communication unit 11, and the backlight 14. In FIG. 3, the power control unit 20
Is composed of a switch 21 and a device controller 22. The switch 21 is configured by a MOS transistor. When the device signal input from the CPU 2 via the signal line L is valid, the switch 21 is turned on to output the power supply voltage Vcc to the device controller 22. If it is invalid, it is turned off and the supply of the power supply voltage Vcc to the device controller 22 is stopped. In the device controller 22, the switch 21 is turned ON.
When the power supply voltage Vcc is input to the connected device (the laser scanner 5, the wireless communication unit 10, the infrared communication unit 11, or the backlight 14), the connected device is turned on, and the switch 21 is turned off ( OF
F) When this is done, the power supply to the connected device is cut off and the connected device is stopped. That is, the power control unit 20 controls the supply and stop of the power supply voltage Vcc to the connected device in accordance with the selection state of the device to be used by the user in the expected work calculation process executed by the CPU 2. FIG. 4 shows a power supply control unit 30 having a configuration different from that of the power supply control unit 20. The power control unit 30 includes a variable resistor 31 that variably controls the output level of the power supply voltage Vcc. The variable resistor 31 is connected via a signal line L to C
The set resistance value R is variably controlled by the power supply voltage control signal input from the PU2, and the output level of the power supply voltage Vcc supplied to the connected device is variably controlled. This power control unit 3
When 0 is used, the output level of the power supply voltage Vcc supplied to the connected device is controlled stepwise by a power supply voltage control signal input from the CPU 2 to gradually shift the control device from the operating state to the stopped state. And more detailed power control is possible.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, the expected work time calculation processing executed by the CPU 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the expected work time calculation mode is selected by a predetermined input operation from the input unit 4, the CPU 2 starts an expected work time calculation process, and first detects the current output voltage of the battery 6 and Is calculated (step S1), the used device input data for inputting the work ratio of the work related to the expected work time calculation and the used device stored in the storage medium 9 is read and displayed on the display unit 3, and the used device is displayed. The calculated remaining battery power is displayed on the input screen.

FIG. 6A shows a specific example of the used device input screen displayed on the display unit 3 at this time. This figure 6
In the example of the used device input screen shown in FIG.
An input box for inputting the work ratio as “numerical value”% for each of the work items 1 to 4 and instructing whether or not to use each of the work devices 1 to 4 for “backlight, laser scanner, wireless communication, and infrared communication” The check frame, the total current consumption of the devices used in each of the operations 1 to 4, and the average current consumption per hour are displayed. Also, in the display screen, under the name of each used device, a current value used during operation known as its specification is displayed, and in the lower portion of the display screen, the calculated “current battery remaining amount: 250” is displayed.
mAh ". The used current value of each used device displayed under each used device name is the average of the operating current and the sleep current among the current consumed by the device in use. And is represented by the following equation (1). Average current consumption of a device = (current consumption during operation x operation rate) + [current consumption during sleep x (100-operation rate)] ... (1) The operation rate in equation (1) means that the operation is in progress. Is the time during which the device is operating, and its value has already been calculated using a statistical method. The total current consumption value of the used device, the average current consumption amount per hour, and the estimated workable time are calculated and displayed after the used device is selected. The processing will be described below.

Next, the CPU 2 confirms that the user operates the input unit 4 to input numerical values and check inputs of the work ratios of the work 1 to work 4 in the display screen shown in FIG. Waiting (step S2), the input standby state is continued until these are input by a user operation.
The expected workable time is calculated based on the numerical value of the work ratio corresponding to No. 4 and the contents of the selection check of the device to be used and the remaining battery power calculated in step S1 (step S1).
3) Display the calculated estimated workable time on the display screen (step S4).

In the example of FIG. 6, work 1 is “50%”, work 2 is “20%”, work 3 is “30%”, and work 4 is “0%”.
% "Has been entered. In this case, each work 1-4
, The work 1 has “90 mA”, the work 2 has “200 mA”, and the work 3 has “40 mA”. Each total current consumption value is displayed “20 mA” larger than the total current consumption value of the selected used device.
This is because “mA” is calculated including the current consumption value of the CPU 2 and the like that always operate. The average current consumption value per hour calculated from the devices used in each of the operations 1 to 4 is “97 mA”, and the estimated workable time is “2 hours 35
Minutes. The average current consumption value per hour is obtained by averaging the current consumption per hour in each work using the work ratio, and is represented by the following equation (2). Average current consumption value = Σ (Work ratio of each work × Total current consumption value of each work) (2) The average current consumption amount is consumption consumed by the handy terminal when performing one hour of work. Since the average value of the power is used, the estimated working time is obtained by dividing the current remaining battery level by the average current consumption. Therefore, the expected operation time is obtained by the following equation (3). Expected working time = remaining battery power / average current consumption (3)

When the expected work time is obtained, the CPU 2 displays an input screen for the user to instruct whether or not to extend the work time (step S5). If the input of the expected work time input processing is terminated and extended, the screen for notifying the change of the device to be used is displayed (step S).
6), a used device input screen is displayed, and the processing from step S2 is performed again.

As described above, the handy terminal 1 according to the present embodiment, in a case where the time to use the handy terminal 1 is known in advance, is used in the expected work time calculation processing in the work device to be used in the future work. When the work ratio is input, the current consumed by the portable information terminal 1 per hour is calculated from the value,
The expected workable time is calculated by dividing the remaining current value by this value. Next, the CPU 2 displays the expected work time and requests an input as to whether or not to extend the expected work time. If the extension is not performed, the CPU 2 terminates the expected work time calculation process and terminates the extension. If the input is made, the work device setting screen is displayed. When the work device is set, the estimated work time is calculated again.

For example, assuming that the user has to work for three hours, in the example of FIG. 6A, the expected workable time is “2 hours and 35 minutes”. Need to do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the input check corresponding to “backlight” is released and the use of the “backlight” of the device used in work 1 is released, the total current consumption of work 1 is “90 mA”.
→ 60 mA ”, and accordingly, the average current consumption decreases to“ 97 mA → 82 mA ”, and the estimated workable time increases to“ 2 hours 35 minutes → 3 hours 30 minutes ”. here,
It is confirmed that three hours of working time have been secured.

As described above, the user can set a device to be used a plurality of times in accordance with the contents of the work, so that a sufficient work time can be secured, and the work can be continuously performed within a predetermined work time. It can be carried out. Also, even if all the devices that can be deleted cannot be obtained even if the required work time cannot be secured, work time may be interrupted due to sudden battery exhaustion and data may be lost due to the expected work time. Sex can also be reduced.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 7 and 8 and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a handy terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied. First, the configuration will be described. The main configuration of the control system of the handy terminal 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as the main configuration of the control system of the handy terminal 1 shown in FIG. Description of the configuration is omitted.

The CPU 2 periodically detects the output voltage of the battery 6 and obtains the remaining battery level from the current battery voltage in the work time securing possibility prediction mode (see FIG. 7). When an input screen (see FIG. 8) for inputting a work device and a work time is displayed, and the display content is instructed by the input unit 4, the content is held in the RAM 7, and the remaining battery capacity is input. The total power consumption is calculated from the set values, and it is determined by calculation whether or not the designated work time can be secured, and the result is displayed at a predetermined display position on the display unit 3.

The storage device 8 has a storage medium 9 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 9 is fixedly provided in the storage device 8 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 9 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system, and work time. The data and the like processed by the sex prediction program and each control program are stored.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 9 may be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line. It is also possible to provide a storage device having the above storage medium on the device side, and to use the programs and data stored in the storage medium 9 via a communication line.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. First, the work time securing possibility prediction processing executed by the CPU 2 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 and the input screen display example shown in FIG. When the work time securing possibility prediction mode is selected by a predetermined input work from the input unit 4, the CPU 2 starts a work time securing possibility prediction process, detects the current output voltage of the battery 6, and determines the remaining battery power. The work time input screen data for inputting the work time and the work device related to the work time securing possibility prediction processing stored in the storage medium 9 is calculated and read (step S11), and the read work time input screen data is displayed on the display unit 3. The calculated remaining battery power is displayed in the input screen.

FIG. 8A shows a specific example of the work time input screen displayed on the display unit 3 at this time. FIG. 8A
In the example of the work time input screen shown in FIG.
An input frame for inputting the operation time as “numerical value” h for (4) and a device “CPU” for each operation (1) to (4)
Other, display, key, touch panel, laser scanner, wireless, infrared communication "check frame to indicate whether or not to use, the total current consumption of the device used in each work 1-4, and the total current consumption of all work The amount and an operation environment mark indicating whether or not the work time can be secured are displayed. In the display screen, the work contents of work 1 to work 4 are displayed on the left of the input screen, and under the device name, a current value used during operation which is generally known as the specification is displayed. The calculated “battery available current amount: 446 Ah” is displayed at the bottom of the display screen. The used current amount of each used device displayed below each used device name is obtained by the same method as the used current amount in the first embodiment, and therefore, the calculation method is omitted.
The total current amount of the used device, the total current consumption amount of all the work, and the operating environment mark are calculated and displayed after the used device is selected. The calculation and the display process are described below. State.

Next, the CPU 2 waits for the input of the numerical values of the operation times of the operations 1 to 4 on the display screen shown in FIG.
2) The input standby state is continued until an input is made, and if there is a numerical input and a check input, the numerical value of the operation time corresponding to the operations (1) to (4), the selection check of the device to be used, and the step Based on the remaining battery power calculated in S1, the total current consumption of all the work is calculated (step S13).

In the example of FIG. 8A, the operation (1) is changed
h ", work (2) is" 0.5h ", work (3) is" 2
h), the operation (4) is input as “0.5” hours, the device used in the operation (1) is “CPU and others, display, keys, touch panel, laser scanner”, and the device used in the operation 2 is “CPU and others. Display, key, touch panel, wireless ”, the device used for operation 3 is“ CPU, other, display, key, touch panel ”, and the device used for operation 4 is“ CPU, other, display,
Key, touch panel, infrared ". In this case, the total current consumption of each of the operations 1 to 4 is “180 Ah” for the operation (1) and “109 A” for the operation (2).
h, operation (3) is “118 Ah”, and operation (4) is “4
1Ah ". Each total current consumption is obtained by multiplying the total current consumption of the selected used device by the work time. In this case, the total current consumption of all the operations calculated from the devices used for the operations 1 to 4 is “446 Ah”. Further, since the total current consumption of all the works is simply the sum of the current consumptions of the respective works, the calculation formula is as follows:
Expressed as an expression.

Thereafter, the CPU 2 compares the total current consumption of all the work with the current battery remaining amount (step S14). If the current battery remaining amount is large, the operation environment mark is displayed as "OK" and the work time is input. When the process is completed and the current battery level is low, an “NG” mark is displayed to notify the change of the work device (step S15), and the input screen shown in FIG. Wait for the change.

For example, in the example of FIG. 8A, since the operating environment mark is "NG", the CPU 2 notifies the change of the device to be used and displays the input screen of FIG. 8A. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8B, in the input screen of FIG. 8A, when the setting is changed so as to cancel the use of the “touch panel” among the devices used for work (1) and work (2). , The total current consumption of the work (1) and the work (2) are “180 Ah → 168 Ah” and “109 A
h → 106 Ah ”, and accordingly, the total current consumption of all operations also decreases to“ 446 Ah → 440 Ah ”. Therefore, it is confirmed that the total current consumption of all operations is smaller than the available current of the battery, and that it is possible to perform future operations with the current remaining battery level.

As described above, in the handy terminal 1, in the work time securing possibility prediction processing, when the work time and the work device for each work content are input, it is necessary to perform future work from the values. By calculating the sum of the current consumption and comparing the calculated total current consumption of all the work with the current battery remaining amount, it is determined whether or not the current for the future work can be secured. If not available, notify user of device change,
By reducing the current consumption by changing the device,
It has made it possible to secure the current required for future work.

Therefore, the user of the handy terminal 1 adjusts the device used in the work, if the work and the work time are determined in advance, so that the time for performing the work is determined. As a result, the work can be prevented from being interrupted due to running out of the battery.

Third Embodiment FIGS. 9 to 11 are views showing a third embodiment of the handy terminal 1 to which the present invention is applied. First, the configuration will be described. The main configuration of the control system of the handy terminal 1 in the third embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS.
The configuration of the main part of the control system of the handy terminal 1 shown in FIG. 3 is the same as that of FIG.

The CPU 2 periodically detects the output voltage of the battery, calculates the current remaining amount of the battery 6 first in a predicted remaining current amount table creation mode (see FIG. 9), which will be described later. And an input screen for inputting the work time is displayed on the display panel of the display unit 3. When the work content and the work time are input from the input unit 4 according to the input screen, the input work content, work sequence and work are input. The expected remaining current value is calculated from the time and the current remaining current amount, a table showing the relationship between the value and the time every 0.25 hour is created, the table is stored in the storage medium 9, and the table setting is performed. After the processing is completed, processing corresponding to the various other specified operations is performed. Thereafter, the CPU 2 interrupts the current processing every 0.25 hours, executes the table creation mode interruption processing, first calculates the current remaining amount, and reads the table stored in the storage medium 9. RA
The processing is expanded to M7, and the current remaining current amount is compared with the corresponding expected remaining current amount. If the current remaining current amount exceeds, the interrupt process is terminated and the interrupted process is resumed, and the current remaining current amount is increased. If the difference is less than the current remaining amount and the estimated remaining current amount, the difference is subtracted from the estimated remaining current amount in the expanded table, and the table is corrected downward. If the remaining amount becomes 0 or less, the user is notified that there is not enough current to complete the work.

The storage device 8 has a storage medium 9 in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this storage medium is constituted by a magnetic or optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory. The storage medium 9 is fixedly provided in the storage device 9 or is detachably mounted. The storage medium 9 includes the system program, various application programs corresponding to the system program, and an estimated remaining current. The quantity table creation program and data processed by each control program are stored. Further, the storage medium 9 stores the names of devices used in each operation and the amount of current consumed by each device as the specification capacity of the battery 6 in each operation.

The program, data, and the like stored in the storage medium 9 may be received and stored from another device connected via a communication line. A storage device provided with the above storage medium may be provided on the side of the device, and the program and data stored in the storage medium 9 may be configured to use a communication line.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. First, the expected remaining current amount table creation processing executed by the CPU 2 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 and the expected remaining current amount table examples shown in FIGS.

When the expected remaining current amount table creation mode is selected by a predetermined input operation, the CPU 2 starts an expected remaining current amount table creation process. First, the current battery voltage is detected, and the remaining current amount is detected based on the detected battery voltage. After that, the display data stored in the storage medium 9 is read, and an input screen for inputting the work content, the work time, and the work order is displayed on the display panel 3a of the display unit 3, and the input of the user is awaited. (Step S21). When the input is made, C
The PU 2 reads the current amount of the specification device corresponding to the input work content from the storage medium 9 and calculates an estimated remaining current amount every 0.25 hours based on the input work content, work sequence, and work time, A table showing the relationship between the value and time is created and stored in the storage medium 9 (step S22).

At this time, a specific example of the table stored in the storage medium 9 is shown in FIG. The storage medium 9 is shown in FIG.
(A) stores an expected remaining current amount table 40 for each elapsed time, and the expected remaining current amount table includes a “work phase” field for setting the work content and an “elapsed time” for setting the work elapsed time. And an "estimated remaining current amount" column for setting the estimated remaining current amount of the battery 6 according to the elapsed work time. In the example of FIG. 10A, the work elapsed time is set every 0.25 hours (1/4 hour), and the contents of the work performed corresponding to the elapsed time are displayed in the work phase column as “start”, “( 1) Collect barcode data ",
“(2) Transmit barcode data using wireless”,
"(3) Input data using keys and touch panel" and "(4) Transmit data using infrared light" are stored. The work phase and the elapsed time are “work phase: start”, the elapsed time is “0.00”, the “work phase: (1) bar code data transmission” is the elapsed time “0.00 to 2.00”, and the “work” Phase: (2) Data transmission using wireless "is the elapsed time" 2.00-2.
50 "," Work phase: (3) Input data using keys and touch panel "is the elapsed time" 2.50
“4.50” and “work phase: (4) data transmission using infrared rays” correspond to the elapsed time “4.50 to 5.00”, and the work phase and progress The estimated remaining current amount calculated from the time is stored.
The expected remaining current amount is obtained by calculating the remaining current amount at the time of performing each operation specified in the operation phase column for each elapsed time, and the operation is consumed in 0.25 hours. The current consumption is obtained, and the current consumption is subtracted from the previously estimated remaining current. The current consumption for each 0.25 hour in each operation is set in advance based on the specified capacity of the battery 6 and is already stored in the storage medium 9. In the example of FIG. 10A, the specification capacity for “work phase (1): collect barcode data” for 0.25 hours is “about 23 mAh”, and “work phase (2): data is The specified capacity of 0.25 hours for "send" is "about 55 mAh", and the specified capacity for 0.25 hours of "work phase (3): input data using keys and touch panel" is "about 14 mAh", "work The period of “phase (4): data transmission using infrared rays” is “about 20 mAh” for 0.25 hours. FIG. 10B shows the relationship between the estimated remaining current amount and the elapsed time. In this figure, the estimated remaining current amount is set on the vertical axis, the elapsed time is set on the horizontal axis, and the work phase is indicated by a line perpendicular to the elapsed time axis. From this figure, it can be seen that the expected remaining current amount decreases at a constant rate for each work phase. This ratio is the specified capacity. Further, in the example of FIG. 10A, the estimated remaining amount at the end of the work is “154 mAh”, and the current remaining amount is a current amount sufficient to end a series of work. I have.

When the expected remaining current amount table is created, C
The PU 2 ends the table setting process, and starts processing of each work specified in the work phase (Step S)
23). Thereafter, the CPU 2 suspends the work currently being processed, and executes a current amount check process (FIG. 9) as an interrupt process.
(Refer to FIG. 10B). First, the current battery voltage is detected, and the remaining current amount is calculated (step S31).
The expected remaining current amount table shown in (A) is read from the storage medium 9, and the estimated remaining current amount and the current remaining amount at the elapsed time corresponding to the current elapsed time are compared (step S3).
2) If the current remaining current amount exceeds the expected remaining current amount, the interrupt processing is terminated. If the current remaining current amount is less than the expected remaining current amount, the difference between the current remaining current amount and the expected remaining current amount is calculated. Then, the estimated remaining current amount from the present time is reduced by the difference, and the expected current amount table is corrected downward (step S34).

For example, when the interruption processing for the elapsed time of 2.25 hours is started, the calculated remaining current amount becomes "206".
mAh ”, the current remaining current amount is as shown in FIG.
The estimated remaining current amount “366 mAh” at the elapsed time 2.25 hours shown in FIG.
Therefore, the CPU 2 changes the estimated remaining current amount of the elapsed time 2.25 hours to “206 mAh” in order to create a table in which the difference is corrected, and calculates the difference from the estimated remaining current amount after the elapsed time 2.25 hours. Then, the expected remaining electricity amount table after the current time is revised downward. FIG. 11 (B)
Shows the table values before correction and the table values after correction. In FIG. 11B, as in FIG. 10B, the estimated remaining current is plotted on the vertical axis, the elapsed time is plotted on the horizontal axis, and the work phase is indicated by a line perpendicular to the elapsed time axis. The amount and the estimated remaining current after the correction are indicated by a thin line and a thick line, respectively. As can be seen from this figure, the estimated remaining current after the correction is a translation of the expected remaining current before the correction in a downward direction, and this movement is the difference between the current remaining current and the expected remaining current. Is the difference.

In step S34, if the corrected value of the estimated remaining current amount becomes 0 or less, the CPU 2
A display screen is displayed on the display screen of the display unit 4 to notify that there is not enough current to complete the work (step S36).

In the example of FIG. 11A, the elapsed time is 5.00.
The estimated remaining current at time is "-4 mAh",
It is expected that the current amount will be “0 mAh” during the predetermined work. Therefore, the CPU 2 displays on the display screen a notification screen notifying that there is not enough current to complete the work, and urges the user to take action.

As described above, the handy terminal 1
Then, in the case where it is determined that some operations are to be performed continuously, in the process of creating the estimated remaining current amount table, every 0.25 hours is performed based on the determined operation sequence, operation contents, and operation time. The value of the estimated remaining current is calculated, and the estimated value is dynamically corrected by comparing the expected value with the measured value every 0.25 hours, so that the corrected expected value becomes 0 mAh or less within a predetermined time. Then, it is determined whether or not the predetermined operation can be performed based on whether or not the result is satisfied, and the result is notified to the user.

As described above, when it is determined that several tasks are to be performed in succession, the user can determine the current amount shortage in advance by setting the task sequence, the task content, and the task time in advance. By taking measures such as replacing the battery, charging the battery, and speeding up the operation, the forced interruption of the operation due to the exhaustion of the battery can be avoided.

[0061]

According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, the battery-operated terminal device has a function of calculating the estimated workable time based on the specified device and the device usage time ratio. If work to be performed is determined in advance, set the devices to be used in those work and the rate at which those devices are used per unit time, and notify the user of the workable time under these set conditions. The user can confirm the available work time before starting the work.

According to the second and sixth aspects of the present invention, when it is desired to extend the estimated workable time, the set used device is changed and deleted, thereby reducing the power consumption and reducing the expected work time. It can be extended and the required working time can be ensured.

According to the third and seventh aspects of the present invention, the battery-powered terminal device has a function of calculating the expected current consumption based on the work and the work time, so that the work to be performed in advance and the work to be performed for each work can be performed. When the work time is determined, the work and the work time can be set, and whether or not the work can be performed with the current remaining battery level can be known.

According to the fourth and eighth aspects of the present invention, when it is not possible to perform the operation due to insufficient battery power, it is possible to perform the necessary operation within the current battery power. Therefore, the power consumption can be reduced by changing the device to be used, and the necessary work time can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a handy terminal 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the input unit 4 of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a laser scanner 5, a wireless communication unit 10,
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a power control unit 20 connected to each device of the infrared communication unit 11 and the backlight 14.

FIG. 4 shows the laser scanner 5, the wireless communication unit 10,
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a power supply control unit 30 connected to each device of the infrared communication unit 11 and the backlight 14 and having a configuration different from that of the power supply control unit 20 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an estimated work time calculation process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG. 1 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a display example of a used device designation screen in a used device designation process of the expected work time calculation process of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a work time securing possibility prediction process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG. 1 in the second embodiment.

8 is a display example of a used device designation screen in a work device designation process of the work time securing possibility prediction process of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an expected remaining current amount table creation process executed by the CPU 2 of FIG. 1 in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10A is a display example of a creation table in the expected remaining current amount table creation process of FIG. 9; (B) is a transition diagram of the remaining current amount created based on the table of (A).

FIG. 11A is a display example of a creation table in the expected remaining current amount table creation processing of FIG. 9; (B) is a transition diagram of the remaining current amount created based on the table of (A).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Handy terminal 2 CPU 3 Display part 3a Liquid crystal display panel 4 Input part 4a Key switch 4b Touch panel 5 Laser scanner 6 Battery 7 RAM 8 Storage device 9 Storage medium 10 Wireless communication part 12 Transmission control part 13 Bus 20 Power control part 21 Switch 22 Device controller 30 Power control unit 31 Variable resistor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 2G016 CA00 CB12 CC01 CC04 CC06 CC27 CC28 CE08 5B011 DA06 EA04 GG06 GG13 HH01 5B019 CA05 5G003 BA01 DA02 DA17 EA05 GA01 GC05 5H030 AA00 AS11 FF41

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A battery-operating terminal device having a built-in battery and various devices driven by the battery, a device specifying means for specifying a device to be used and a ratio of using the device, and Power usage calculating means for calculating the power usage based on the specified device and the ratio of using the device; battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery; detecting by the battery remaining amount detecting means Estimated working time notification means for calculating and notifying an estimated working time expected from the current battery remaining amount based on the current battery remaining amount and the used power calculated by the used power calculating unit, A battery-driven terminal device comprising: 2. A device change instruction means for instructing to change a work content and a device designated by the work device designation means with reference to the expected work time notified by the expected work time notification means. The battery-driven terminal device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A work device designating means for designating a time for each work and the device to be used in each work in a battery-driven terminal device having a built-in battery and various devices driven by the battery. Power consumption calculation means for calculating the total power consumption of each work based on the time for each work specified by the device specification means and the device used in each work; and a remaining battery power detection means for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery. Based on the current battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting means and the total used power calculated by the used power calculating means, is it possible to secure a designated working time from the current battery remaining amount? A battery-operated terminal device, comprising: a work permission / non-permission notification unit for notifying whether or not the operation is possible. 4. A use device reduction instruction for instructing reduction of devices used in each work specified by said work device specifying means when said work availability notification means notifies that work time cannot be secured. 4. The battery-driven terminal device according to claim 3, further comprising means. 5. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for controlling a battery-powered terminal device having a built-in battery and various devices driven by the battery. A computer-executable program code for designating a ratio of using a device, and a computer-executable program code for calculating power consumption based on the designated device and the ratio of using the device And a program code executable by a computer for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery, based on the detected remaining battery level and the calculated power consumption, based on the current battery remaining level. A computer-executable program code for calculating and notifying expected work time. And a storage medium storing a program including: 6. Referring to the notified expected working time,
6. The storage medium according to claim 5, further comprising a computer-executable program code for instructing a change in the work content and the device used specified by said work device specifying means. 7. A storage medium storing a computer-executable program for controlling a battery-driven terminal device having a built-in battery and various devices driven by the battery. A computer-executable program code for designating the device to be used in each task; and calculating a total power consumption of each task based on the designated time for each task and the device used in each task. A computer-executable program code, a computer-executable program code for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery, a detected battery remaining amount at the present time, and the calculated total used power. A computer-executable program for notifying whether the specified working time can be secured from the current battery level. A storage medium storing a program including a gram code and a program. 8. A computer-executable program code for instructing a reduction in the number of devices to be used in each of the specified operations, when the notification indicates that it is impossible to secure the operation time. The storage medium according to claim 7, further comprising: