JP2002247250A - Facsimile machine and method for controlling charge into secondary battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To excellently keep the charge state of a secondary battery while preventing the loss of memory contents and inconvenience in a maintenance work. SOLUTION: A system is provided with the secondary battery 34 for supplying power to a memory 14 in place of a main power source 30 when power supply is interrupted from the main power source to the memory 14, a memory power source circuit 32 for changing-over and performing normal charge and trickle charge in the secondary battery 34, an operating/display part for setting a date to perform normal charge and a main control part 12 for permitting the memory power source circuit 32 to normally perform trickle charge and to perform normal charge on the set date. A user pre-sets the date for requiring rapid charge to the secondary battery 34 before and after a holiday, etc., so that rapid charge is surely performed at the point of time. Then the charge state is excellently kept in the secondary battery 34 while preventing inconvenience such as the loss of the contents of the memory 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus and a method for controlling charging of a secondary battery.
A memory for storing image data, a secondary battery for supplying power to the memory instead of the main power supply when the power supply from the main power supply to the memory is stopped, and a normal charge or quick charge for the secondary battery. A facsimile apparatus having a charging unit that switches and executes one of them and trickle charging,
And a method for controlling charging of a secondary battery in the facsimile apparatus.

Note that trickle charging is a method of constantly charging the battery with a weak or intermittent constant current to compensate for self-discharge in order to keep the secondary battery fully charged at all times. There is no problem of overcharging,
It does not affect the life of the secondary battery.

[0003] Normal charging generally includes a predetermined charging current (for example, C for only a predetermined time (about 14 to 16 hours)).
(A current of C / 10 (mA) for a battery of (mAH) capacity)
The rapid charging is a method of charging in a short time with a larger current than the normal charging.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has a built-in memory for storing image data obtained by reading a transmission original and received image data. However, at the time of a power failure or when the main power supply of the facsimile apparatus is turned off. In general, a secondary battery that supplies power to the memory instead of the main power supply is also built in so that the image data stored in the memory is not lost when the power is turned off.

[0005] Since the secondary battery has a characteristic of self-discharge, if the secondary battery is not properly charged, the battery voltage may decrease, and the secondary battery may not function as a backup power supply. Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-355485
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-163873 proposes a technique in which, in a facsimile apparatus that backs up a memory with a secondary battery, when the battery voltage of the secondary battery drops below a predetermined value, an abnormality is notified to a user by a display unit or sound.

[0006]

However, according to the invention described in the above-mentioned publication, since the decrease in the battery voltage of the secondary battery is detected or the user is notified of an abnormality, the user is not in the vicinity of the facsimile machine. And 2 at night
It is not possible to eliminate the inconvenience associated with the decrease in the battery voltage of the secondary battery.

When the main power supply must be turned off for maintenance work of the facsimile apparatus when the battery voltage of the secondary battery is low, a backup function using the secondary battery is required until the maintenance work is completed. Cannot be maintained, and the contents of the memory may be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can maintain the charged state of a secondary battery in a good condition while preventing loss of memory contents and inconvenience in maintenance work. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus and a method for controlling charging of a secondary battery.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a memory for storing image data; a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus;
When the supply of power from the main power supply to the memory is stopped, a secondary battery that supplies power to the memory instead of the main power supply, and either normal charging or quick charging is performed on the secondary battery. A charging unit that switches and executes one of trickle charging, a setting unit for setting a date and time at which one of normal charging and quick charging is performed by the charging unit, and a trickle charging is normally performed on the charging unit. And charging control means for causing the charging means to perform either normal charging or rapid charging at the date and time set by the setting means.

Further, in the method of controlling charging of a secondary battery according to the present invention, a memory for storing image data, a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus, and a power supply from the main power supply to the memory are provided. A rechargeable battery that supplies power to the memory in place of the main power supply when the power supply is stopped; and a charging unit that switches and executes one of normal charging and quick charging and trickle charging for the rechargeable battery. And a charging control method for the secondary battery in the facsimile apparatus having the following, and usually causes the charging means to perform trickle charging, and performs either normal charging or rapid charging on the charging means at a preset date and time. It is characterized by being executed.

In the facsimile apparatus and the method for controlling the charging of the secondary battery according to the present invention, the means for solving the problems are substantially the same, so that the facsimile apparatus according to the invention will be described below.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, when the supply of power from the main power supply to the memory storing the image data is stopped (for example, during maintenance work of the facsimile apparatus or on a holiday), the secondary battery is mainly used. By supplying power to the memory instead of the power supply, loss of image data stored in the memory is prevented.

Since the secondary battery self-discharges, the charge control means normally causes the charging means to perform trickle charge, and charges the secondary battery with a weak current sufficient to compensate for the self-discharge. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in battery voltage due to self-discharge of the secondary battery.

However, when the main power supply must be turned off for maintenance work of the facsimile apparatus when the battery voltage of the secondary battery is low, for example, on the morning of a Monday after a holiday, trickle charging is used. Since it takes a long time to perform sufficient charging, it is necessary to execute either normal charging or quick charging.

[0015] Therefore, the user sets in advance the date and time at which one of normal charging and rapid charging is to be executed by the charging means by the setting means. Then, at the set date and time, the charging control means causes the charging means to execute either normal charging or quick charging. As the date and time to be executed, a specific point in time (for example, 8:30 am on January 20) may be set, or only hour and minute (for example, 8:00 am 30 minutes).

Thus, the user can set the date and time to a desired date and time.
Either normal charging or rapid charging of the next battery can be executed. Using this, the user can
By setting in advance the date and time when the secondary battery needs to be rapidly charged before and after a holiday, etc., rapid charging at the time can be reliably performed. In this way, the charging state of the secondary battery can be maintained satisfactorily.

When the present invention is viewed from a different angle, it can be described as an invention relating to an apparatus and a method having the following configuration.

A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a memory for storing image data; a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus; and a main power supply for stopping power supply from the main power supply to the memory. A secondary battery for supplying power to the memory in place of the above, charging means for switching between the normal charging and quick charging and trickle charging for the secondary battery, and stopping the main power supply. And control means for causing the charging means to execute one of normal charging and rapid charging, and stopping the main power supply after the executed charging is completed.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling charging of a secondary battery, comprising: a memory for storing image data; a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus; and a power supply from the main power supply to the memory. A rechargeable battery that supplies power to the memory in place of the main power supply when the power supply is stopped; and a charging unit that switches and executes one of normal charging and quick charging and trickle charging for the rechargeable battery. A charging control method for a secondary battery in a facsimile apparatus having the following. When a stop of a main power supply is instructed, the charging unit executes one of normal charging and rapid charging, and the executed charging is performed. The main power supply is stopped after completing the operation.

In the charging control method for the facsimile apparatus or the secondary battery according to the invention, when the stop of the main power is instructed, the control means executes one of the normal charging and the quick charging to the charging means. The main power supply is stopped after the executed charging is completed.

Thus, when the stop of the main power supply is instructed, either the normal charging or the quick charging of the secondary battery can be executed without fail, and the secondary battery can be quickly fully charged. While the main power supply is stopped (for example, during a holiday or during maintenance work), it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of losing the contents of the memory or delaying the start of maintenance work, and to maintain a good charge state of the secondary battery.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The facsimile apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main control section 12 for controlling the operation of each section of the apparatus, a line / communication control section 16 including a modem and a network control unit (NCU) for transmitting and receiving data to and from the outside. An image input unit 22 for digitally reading a document to be transmitted and inputting the image data;
A memory 14 for storing image data input from the MFP and image data received from the outside via the line / communication control unit 16, and an image for printing received image data and printing a transmission status report and communication history information It comprises a printing unit 20, an operation / display unit 24 for instructing operations such as facsimile transmission start and displaying the status of transmission / reception processing, and a timer 18, which are connected to each other via a system bus 26. Have been.

The facsimile apparatus 10 has a main power supply 30, a power switch 28, and a secondary battery 3 functioning as a backup power supply for the memory 14 as a power supply system.
4 and a charge control memory power supply circuit 32 that supplies power to the memory 14 and charges the secondary battery 34. An on / off signal from the power switch 28 is input to the main control unit 12, and the main control unit 12 controls on / off of the main power supply 30 according to the signal.

As shown in FIG. 2, the charge control memory power supply circuit 32 includes a current control circuit 32A for performing trickle charge on the secondary battery 34, a current control circuit 32B for performing normal charge on the secondary battery 34, One of the current control circuits 32A and 32B and the main power supply 30 are controlled by the main control unit 12.
A switch 32C for electrically connecting the power supply and the connected circuit, a diode 32D provided on a power supply path from the main power supply 30 to the memory 14, and a switch from the secondary battery 34 to the memory 14. And a diode 32 </ b> E provided on the power supply path.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the operation / display unit 2
4, a display unit 24G for displaying operation instructions, operation status, and the like.
And a numeric keypad 24E for setting a charging start time and the like.
And a start button 24F for instructing setting of facsimile transmission start, charging start time, and the like.

FIG. 3A shows an example in which a screen for setting the normal charging start date and time is displayed on the display unit 24G. The setting screen includes a setting column 24A for setting the month and a setting for setting the day. Column 24B, setting column 24C for setting time,
A setting field 24D for setting the minute is provided. The operator can set the desired normal charging start date and time by operating the start button 24F after setting the desired normal charging start date and time in the respective setting fields using the numeric keypad 24E. The set information is stored in the memory 14.

As shown in FIG. 3B, by setting the normal charging start date and time in a state where the setting columns 24A and 24B are left blank on the normal charging start date and time setting screen, the same time every day is obtained. In the example of (b), it is possible to set a content that normal charging starts at 8:30 every day.

Next, as an operation of the first embodiment, a process for controlling charging of the secondary battery 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power switch 28 is turned on, the control routine of FIG. FIG.
In step 102, the current control circuit 32A and the main power supply 30 are electrically connected by the switch 32C, and the secondary battery 34 is trickle-charged by operating the current control circuit 32A. Then, the process waits for input of a start time (step 104).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), when the operator inputs a start time from the operation / display unit 24, an affirmative determination is made in step 104, and the process proceeds to step 106 to wait for the start time. Of course, also during this time, the secondary battery 3
The trickle charge for No. 4 is continued.

When the start time comes, step 1
In step 08, the switch 32C is switched to disconnect the electrical connection between the main power supply 30 and the current control circuit 32A, and electrically connect the main power supply 30 and the current control circuit 32B.
By operating the current control circuit 32B in this state, 2
The next battery 34 is switched to perform normal charging.
Then, in the next step 110, the timer 18 is started, and the normal charging is continued until a predetermined charging time of the normal charging elapses (step 112).

After the predetermined charging time has elapsed, the result of the determination in step 112 is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 114, in which the switch 32C is switched to disconnect the electrical connection between the main power supply 30 and the current control circuit 32B. 30 and the current control circuit 32A are electrically connected. By operating the current control circuit 32A in this state, the secondary battery 34 is switched to perform trickle charging. Thereafter, the process returns to step 104, and trickle charging is continued until a start time is input.

By the processing shown in FIG.
Trickle charging of the next battery 34 is performed, and when the set start time is reached, switching to normal charging is performed, and normal charging can be executed for a predetermined charging time.

Thus, according to the first embodiment, by setting in advance the date and time when the secondary battery needs to be rapidly charged before and after a holiday, the user can quickly set the date and time. Since charging can be reliably performed, the state of charge of the secondary battery can be favorably maintained while preventing inconvenience such as loss of memory contents.

In the above description, the embodiment in which the charging is switched to the normal charging at the set start time has been described. However, the embodiment in which the charging is switched to the rapid charging at the set start time is also effective. Hereinafter, as a modified example of the first embodiment, an embodiment in which switching to quick charging is performed at the start time will be outlined.

When quick charging is performed, the quick charging is generally terminated when the battery voltage of the secondary battery 34 to be charged has become equal to or higher than a predetermined value. For this reason, in the configuration of the facsimile apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 5, a battery voltage detecting unit 36 for detecting the battery voltage of the secondary battery 34
Are provided, and the current control circuit 32B shown in FIG. Battery voltage detector 36 outputs the detection result to main controller 12.

The charging control process for the secondary battery 34 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 4, except that steps 110 and 112 of FIG. 4 are controlled as shown in FIG. You.

That is, after the switching to the quick charge and the start of the quick charge in step 108 of FIG. 4, the battery voltage of the secondary battery 34 is detected by the battery voltage detecting section 36, and the detected data is subjected to main control. The unit 12 takes in (Step 122) and determines whether or not the detected battery voltage has become equal to or higher than a predetermined value (Step 124). Steps 122 and 124 are repeated while the battery voltage is lower than the predetermined value. During this time, the rapid charge of the secondary battery 34 is continued by the current control circuit 32B.

When the battery voltage of the secondary battery 34 becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined value as a result of the quick charge by the current control circuit 32B, an affirmative determination is made in step 124 and the quick charge is terminated. Thereafter, switching to trickle charging is performed in step 114 of FIG.

In this manner, an embodiment in which the charging is switched to the quick charging at the set start time is realized. Even in this case, the user can set the date and time at which the secondary battery needs to be rapidly charged before and after a holiday or the like in advance, so that the rapid charging at the time can be reliably performed. The charged state of the secondary battery can be favorably maintained while preventing inconvenience such as loss of contents.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment, when the stop of the main power supply 30 is instructed, normal charging of the secondary battery 34 is executed, and after the normal charging is completed, the main power supply 30 is stopped. An embodiment will be described.

The configurations of the facsimile apparatus 10 and the charge control memory power supply circuit 32 in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

Next, as an operation of the second embodiment, a process related to charging control of the secondary battery 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

When the power switch 28 is turned on, the control routine of FIG. FIG.
In step 132, the current control circuit 32A and the main power supply 30 are electrically connected by the switch 32C, and the secondary battery 34 is trickle-charged by operating the current control circuit 32A.

Then, the operation waits for the operation of turning off the power switch 28 (step 134). Of course, trickle charging of the secondary battery 34 is continued during this time.

Thereafter, when the operator performs an operation of turning off the power switch 28, an affirmative determination is made in step 134, the process proceeds to step 136, and the switch 32C is switched to disconnect the electrical connection between the main power supply 30 and the current control circuit 32A. When the main power supply 30 and the current control circuit 32B are electrically connected and the current control circuit 32B is operated, the secondary battery 3 is turned off.
4 to perform normal charging. And
In the next step 138, the timer 18 is started, and normal charging is continued until a predetermined charging time for normal charging has elapsed (step 140).

After the predetermined charging time has elapsed, an affirmative determination is made in step 140 and the routine proceeds to step 142, where the main power supply 30 is turned off, and the process is terminated.

By the processing of FIG. 8, the power switch 28 is turned off (that is, the main power supply 30 is turned off).
When the main battery 30 is turned off, the secondary battery 34 must be normally charged before the main power supply 30 is turned off.
Can be fully charged quickly, so that the main power supply 30
Of the secondary battery 34 while preventing inconveniences such as losing the contents of the memory 14 during the suspension of the operation (for example, during a holiday or during maintenance work of the facsimile machine 10) or delaying the start of maintenance work after full charge. A good state can be maintained.

In the second embodiment, when the power switch 28 is turned off, an embodiment in which the charging is switched to the rapid charging instead of the normal charging is also effective. In this case, the facsimile apparatus 10 has the configuration shown in FIG. 5 described above, and the current control circuit 32B shown in FIG. The flow of the charging control process for the secondary battery 34 is substantially the same as that of FIG.
8 and 140, these steps 138,
Instead of 140, steps 122 and 12 in FIG.
4 is executed.

Also in this case, when the power switch 28 is turned off, rapid charging of the secondary battery 34 is always performed before the main power supply 30 is turned off, and the secondary battery 34 is quickly charged to a full state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as losing the contents of the memory 14 while the main power supply 30 is stopped (for example, during a holiday or during maintenance work of the facsimile machine 10) or delaying the start of maintenance work after a full charge. While
The state of charge of the secondary battery 34 can be favorably maintained.

The present invention is not applied only to a normal facsimile apparatus having only a facsimile transmission / reception function, but is applicable to any apparatus having a function of storing image data, for example, a multifunction machine having a facsimile function.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to home appliances, other electric appliances, and the like.

[0053]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By preliminarily setting the date and time when the secondary battery needs to be rapidly charged before and after a holiday, the user can surely perform the rapid charging at that point in time. , The state of charge of the secondary battery can be maintained satisfactorily. In addition, when the stop of the main power is instructed, either the normal charge or the quick charge of the secondary battery is always executed and the secondary battery can be quickly fully charged, so that the stop of the main power is performed. While preventing inconveniences such as memory contents being lost during maintenance (for example, during a holiday or during maintenance work) or the start of maintenance work being delayed,
The state of charge of the secondary battery can be favorably maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to first and second embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of a charge control memory power supply circuit and a secondary battery according to the first and second embodiments.

3A is a diagram illustrating a state in which a normal charging start time is set from an operation / display unit, and FIG. 3B illustrates a setting example in which normal charging is set to start at a constant time every day; FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a charge control process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a modified example of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a charge control memory power supply circuit and a secondary battery according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing related to full charge detection in a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a charge control process according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Facsimile machine, 12 ... Main control part, 14 ... Memory, 18 ... Timer, 24 ... Operation / display part, 24A, 24
B, 24C, 24D: setting column, 24E: numeric keypad, 24
F ... Start button, 28 ... Power switch, 30 ... Main power supply, 32 ... Charge control memory power supply circuit, 32A, 32B ...
Current control circuit, 32C switch, 34 secondary battery, 3
6… Battery voltage detector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Shohei Ikegami 3-7-1, Funai, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Prefecture Inside the Iwatsuki Office of Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Kazuya Edogawa 3-7-1, Funai, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama No. 1 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office (72) Inventor Hideki Kasai 3-7-1, Fuwa, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office F-term (reference) 5B011 DA06 GG04 GG10 GG14 JB01 5C062 AA02 AB49 AC21 5G003 AA01 BA01 CA12 DA05 DA13 EA08 GC05 5H030 AA04 AS11 BB01 FF44

Claims (4)

[Claims] A memory for storing image data; a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus; and power supply to the memory instead of the main power supply when supply of power from the main power supply to the memory is stopped. And charging means for switching and performing either normal charging or rapid charging and trickle charging on the secondary battery, and charging either one of normal charging or rapid charging Setting means for setting a date and time to be executed by the means, and usually causing the charging means to execute trickle charging, and performing one of normal charging and quick charging on the charging means at the date and time set by the setting means A facsimile apparatus comprising: 2. A memory for storing image data, a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus, and a power supply to the memory instead of the main power supply when supply of power from the main power supply to the memory is stopped. A charging unit that switches and executes one of normal charging and quick charging and trickle charging for the secondary battery; and A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to cause a charging unit to perform one of normal charging and rapid charging, and to stop a main power supply after completion of the performed charging. 3. A memory for storing image data, a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus, and a power supply to the memory instead of the main power supply when supply of power from the main power supply to the memory is stopped. Charge control method for a facsimile apparatus, comprising: a secondary battery that supplies a battery and a charging unit that switches between one of normal charging and rapid charging and trickle charging to execute the secondary battery. And charging control to the secondary battery, wherein the charging unit normally performs trickle charging, and causes the charging unit to perform either normal charging or rapid charging at a preset date and time. Method. 4. A memory for storing image data, a main power supply for supplying power to the entire apparatus, and power supply to the memory instead of the main power supply when the supply of power from the main power supply to the memory is stopped. Charge control method for a facsimile apparatus, comprising: a secondary battery that supplies a battery and a charging unit that switches between one of normal charging and rapid charging and trickle charging to execute the secondary battery. Wherein when the stop of the main power is instructed, the charging means executes one of normal charging and quick charging, and the main power is stopped after the executed charging is completed. A method for controlling charging of a secondary battery.