JP2006221466A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of maximally performing processing requiring high current consumption in execution and of prolonging an operation time. <P>SOLUTION: In response to a detection result by a detection means 2, a control means 4 controls a processing execution means 3 in either of first and second control modes. In the first control mode, the control means 4 makes the processing execution means 3 execute predetermined first processing requiring current consumption of a predetermined first current value i1 or less in execution. In the second control mode, the control means 4 makes the processing execution means 3 operate predetermined second processing in which current consumption in execution becomes a second current value i2 (i2<i1) lower than the predetermined first current value i1. The control means 4 changes the control mode from the first control mode to the second control mode when a battery residual quantity Z1 in the first control mode is not more than a predetermined threshold value Zth (Z1≤Zth). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that operates with electric power supplied from a battery.

  As a first conventional technique, there is an alarm device that is installed on a door plate that opens and closes an opening formed on an outer wall of a building and issues an alarm when an intruder who tries to enter the building approaches the opening. Such an alarm device can intimidate the intruder audibly and visually, for example by generating an alarm sound and a warning light when the intruder approaches the opening, thereby achieving a crime prevention effect. .

  The second prior art is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This conventional technique is a technique for switching a CPU clock and an operation mode according to a use state of a user in a portable notebook personal computer or the like capable of battery operation, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption.

  The third prior art is disclosed in Patent Document 2. In this battery-powered information processing device, the state of input from the keyboard is constantly monitored in a battery-driven information processing device, and when there is no input for a predetermined time or longer, the power of devices not used in the device is sequentially stopped. This is a technique for reducing power consumption.

JP-A-11-327706 JP 2002-91638 A

  In the first prior art, it is desired to achieve the highest possible crime prevention effect even if the current consumption during the processing for generating the alarm sound and the alarm light is increased. In this prior art, it is desired to increase the operation time in consideration of the case where the user is absent for a long period of time. That is, it is desired to maintain a high crime prevention effect as much as possible and to lengthen the operation time.

  The second and third conventional technologies are technologies that reduce wasteful power consumption. Therefore, when these conventional technologies are applied to the first conventional technology, it is possible to lengthen the operation time. Although it can, it cannot maintain the high crime prevention effect as much as possible.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of executing a process that consumes a large amount of current during execution of the process as much as possible and extending an operation time.

The present invention is an information processing apparatus that operates by power supplied from a battery,
Process execution means for executing one or more processes;
A first control mode for causing the process execution means to execute a predetermined first process in which the current consumption during the process execution is equal to or less than a predetermined first current value; and the current consumption during the process execution is greater than the predetermined first current value. Control means for controlling the process execution means in either one of the second control mode for causing the process execution means to execute a predetermined second process that is less than or equal to the small second current value;
And a remaining amount monitoring means for monitoring the remaining amount of the battery that supplies power,
The control means changes the control mode from the first control mode to the second control mode when the battery remaining amount monitored by the remaining amount monitoring means in the first control mode is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. It is a processing device.

The present invention further includes control mode selection means for selecting one of the first and second control modes,
The control means responds to a selection result by the control mode selection means, a first operation mode for changing the control mode, and a second operation for changing the control mode based on the battery remaining amount monitored by the remaining amount monitoring means. It has the aspect.

  In the present invention, the control means causes the process execution means to execute a plurality of processes in parallel as the predetermined first process in the first control mode, and causes the process execution means to execute the predetermined first process in the second control mode. The plurality of processes are executed while being shifted in time as two processes.

  The present invention is further characterized by further comprising a notification means for notifying the control mode of the control means.

The present invention further includes detection means for detecting an abnormality,
The process execution means executes an alarm process for notifying that an abnormality has been detected as the one or more processes,
The control means controls the process execution means in response to the detection result by the detection means.

  According to the present invention, the electric power necessary for the operation is supplied from the battery. The process execution means executes one or a plurality of processes. The control means controls the process execution means in one of the first and second control modes.

  In the first control mode, the control means causes the process execution means to execute a predetermined first process in which the current consumption during the process execution is equal to or less than a predetermined first current value. In the second control mode, the control means causes the process execution means to execute a predetermined second process in which the current consumption during the process execution is equal to or less than the second current value smaller than the predetermined first current value.

  As described above, in the second control mode, current consumption during processing execution is smaller than that in the first control mode. Therefore, when the control means changes the control mode from the first control mode to the second control mode, the operation time can be extended as compared with the case where the control means maintains the control mode in the first control mode.

  The remaining battery level of the battery supplying power is monitored by the remaining capacity monitoring means. The control unit changes the control mode from the first control mode to the second control mode when the remaining battery level monitored by the remaining amount monitoring unit in the first control mode is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, by appropriately setting the predetermined threshold value, the predetermined first process can be executed as much as possible and the operation time can be extended.

  According to the invention, the control means has first and second operation modes. In the first operation mode, the control means changes the control mode based on the selection result by the control mode selection means. At this time, the user can select the control mode of the control means. In the second operation mode, the control unit changes the control mode based on the remaining battery level monitored by the remaining amount monitoring unit. At this time, the troublesome operation for changing the control mode of the control means can be eliminated. Convenience can be improved by making these first and second operation modes switchable.

  According to the invention, in the first control mode, the control means causes the process execution means to execute a plurality of processes in parallel as the predetermined first process. On the other hand, in the second control mode, the control unit causes the process execution unit to execute the plurality of processes as the second process determined in advance with a time shift. Therefore, without reducing the number of processes and without reducing the current consumption of each process, the current consumption during the process execution in the second control mode is smaller than the current consumption during the process execution in the first control mode. can do.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the notifying unit notifies the control mode of the control unit, it is possible to prevent the user from making a mistake in the change in the process due to the change in the control mode and the change in the process due to the failure.

  According to the invention, the detecting means detects an abnormality. The process execution means executes an alarm process for notifying that an abnormality has been detected as the one or more processes. The control means controls the process execution means in response to the detection result by the detection means. As described above, the control unit changes the control mode from the first control mode to the second control mode when the remaining battery level monitored by the remaining amount monitoring unit in the first control mode is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold. Accordingly, by appropriately setting the predetermined threshold value, the predetermined first process can be executed as much as possible and the operation time can be extended. Such an information processing apparatus of the present invention can be suitably used as an alarm device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an alarm device 1 which is an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Alarm device 1 of the present embodiment is used for crime prevention. The alarm device 1 detects an abnormality and notifies that the abnormality has been detected. The alarm device 1 is installed on a door plate that opens and closes an opening formed on the outer wall of a building, and when an intruder trying to enter the building approaches the opening, the intruder is intimidated, thereby achieving a crime prevention effect. can do.

  The alarm device 1 operates with electric power supplied from a battery. The battery that supplies power to the alarm device 1 may be a primary battery or a secondary battery. The battery is, for example, an alkaline battery. This embodiment will be described on the assumption that a battery of a type designated in advance is used as the battery, and that the battery is not used until the supply of power to the alarm device 1 is started.

  The alarm device 1 includes a detection unit 2 that detects an abnormality, a process execution unit 3 that executes one or a plurality of processes (3 in the present embodiment), a control unit 4 that controls the process execution unit 3, and power. And remaining amount monitoring means 5 for monitoring the remaining amount of the battery to be supplied.

  The detection means 2 is an infrared sensor, for example, and detects infrared rays emitted from the human body. The infrared sensor is realized by a pyroelectric sensor, for example. The detection means 2 detects an abnormality by detecting infrared rays emitted from the human body.

The process execution means 3 executes an alarm process for notifying that the detection means 2 has detected an abnormality as the one or more processes. The process execution means 3 includes a sound output control unit 7 for executing an alarm sound generation process for generating an alarm sound from the speaker 6, and a light emitting diode (Light Emitting).
In order to transmit alarm information by MSK (Minimum Shift Keying) communication to an external communication device via an antenna 10 and an LED control unit 9 that executes alarm light generation processing for generating alarm light from a diode (abbreviated as LED) 8. And an MSK control unit 11 for executing the alarm information transmission process.

  In the present embodiment, the alarm process includes an alarm sound generation process, an alarm light generation process, and an alarm information transmission process. The external communication device is a facsimile machine 12 described later. For communication between the alarm device 1 and the external communication device, other wireless communication may be used instead of the MSK communication.

  The control unit 4 controls the process execution unit 3 in response to the detection result by the detection unit 2. The control unit 4 controls the process execution unit 3 in one of the first and second control modes. In the first control mode, the control unit 4 causes the process execution unit 3 to execute a predetermined first process in which the current consumption during the process execution is equal to or less than the predetermined first current value i1. In the second control mode, the control means 4 performs a predetermined second process in which the current consumption during the process is less than or equal to the second current value i2 (i2 <i1) smaller than the predetermined first current value i1. The means 3 is made to execute.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the alarm system 16. The alarm system 16 includes the alarm device 1 of the present embodiment and the facsimile machine 12. In this alarm system 16, the alarm device 1 detects an abnormality in the vicinity of the opening 18 formed in the outer wall 17 of the building, for example, and notifies that the abnormality has been detected.

  The opening 18 forms an entrance / exit. A fitting is provided in the opening 18. The joinery is configured to include a joinery frame 19 connected over four laps and a door plate 20 held by the joinery frame 19. The door plate 20 is provided in the opening 18 so as to be angularly displaceable, and opens and closes the opening 18.

  The alarm device 1 is installed on the door plate 20. The facsimile machine 12 is installed at a location away from the alarm device 1. In the present embodiment, the alarm device 1 is installed on the upper part of the door plate 20, and the facsimile machine 12 is installed inside the building with respect to the outer wall 17. The alarm device 1 and the facsimile device 12 can perform wireless communication, and more specifically, can perform MSK communication.

  The alarm device 1 visually alerts the intruder by generating an alarm sound by generating an alarm sound when an intruder trying to enter the building approaches the opening 18 and generating an alarm light. Intimidating. The alarm device 1 transmits alarm information to the facsimile device 12 when an intruder approaches the opening 18.

  The alarm device 1 includes a detection body 21 and an alarm device body 22. In the present embodiment, in the state where the door 20 closes the opening 18, the detection body 21 is present outside the building with respect to the door 20, and the alarm device body 22 is present inside the building with respect to the door 20. The body 21 and the alarm device body 22 are installed on the door plate 20. The detection body 21 has detection means 2. The alarm device body 22 includes a remaining amount monitoring unit 5, a control unit 4, and a process execution unit 3. A battery for supplying power is provided in the alarm device body 22.

  The facsimile machine 12 is connected to a communication line of a public telephone exchange network, for example, and has a telephone function and a facsimile function. The facsimile apparatus 12 includes a display unit 23 that displays an image and a sounding unit 24 that generates a sound, receives alarm information transmitted from the alarm device 1, displays an alarm image on the display unit 23, and The unit 24 generates an alarm sound. Further, the facsimile machine 12 has a communication unit for communicating with other communication devices via the communication line, receives the alarm information transmitted from the alarm device 1, and transmits the alarm information to a specific communication device by the communication unit. The alarm information can be transmitted.

Hereinafter, an example of how to determine the remaining battery level will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the first control mode of the control means 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the second control mode of the control means 4. 3 and 4, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates the current value of current consumption.

  In the first control mode, the control unit 4 causes the process execution unit 3 to execute the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 in parallel. That is, the control unit 4 causes the process execution unit 3 to execute the processes 31 to 33 in parallel. At this time, the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 correspond to the predetermined first process.

  In the second control mode, the control unit 4 causes the process execution unit 3 to execute the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 while shifting in time. That is, the control unit 4 causes the process execution unit 3 to execute the processes 31 to 33 serially. At this time, the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 correspond to the predetermined second process.

  In the second control mode, the processes 31 to 33 do not have to overlap in time, and therefore the processes 31 to 33 may be executed continuously, or the processes 31 to 33 have a predetermined time interval. It may be executed with a gap.

  Thus, in the first control mode, the processes 31 to 33 are executed in parallel, and in the second control mode, the processes 31 to 33 are executed while being shifted in time. Therefore, the current consumption during the process execution in the second control mode is compared with the current consumption during the process execution in the first control mode without reducing the number of processes and without reducing the current consumption of the processes 31 to 33. Can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, in order to facilitate understanding, the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 will be described as having the same processing time T. In the first control mode, the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 are started at the same time and are ended at the same time after the processing time T. In the second control mode, the alarm information transmission process 33 is started first, and after the processing time T, the alarm information transmission process 33 is ended. Next, the alarm sound generation process 31 is started, and after the processing time T, the alarm sound generation process 31 is ended. Thereafter, the warning light generation process 32 is started, and after the processing time T, the warning light generation process 32 is ended.

  In the first control mode, the alarm information transmission process 33 is executed simultaneously with other processes. In the second control mode, the alarm information transmission process 33 is first executed among the processes 31 to 33. Therefore, in both the first and second control modes, the presence of an intruder can be notified to a user near the facsimile machine 12 as soon as possible.

In the present embodiment, in order to facilitate understanding, in the first and second control modes, the alarm sound generation processing 31 has the same current consumption current value, and the alarm light generation processing 32 also uses the current consumption current. It is assumed that the values are the same, and the alarm information transmission process 33 is also assumed to have the same current value.
Table 1 shows a reference example of current consumption of each of the processes 31 to 33.

In this embodiment, the current value of the current consumption of the alarm sound generation process 31 is set to B, the current value of the current consumption of the alarm light generation process 32 is set to L, and the current value of the current consumption of the alarm information transmission process 33 is set. Is M, the processing time of each of the processes 31 to 33 is T, the number of times of processing execution in the first control mode is n1, and the number of times of processing execution in the second control mode is n2, the process execution in the first control mode The consumption current amount Y1 is expressed as in equation (1), and the consumption current amount Y2 due to the execution of processing in the second control mode is expressed as in equation (2).
Y1 = (B + L + M) × T × n1 (1)
Y2 = (B + L + M) × T × n2 (2)

When the current value of the consumption current in the standby state is W, the consumption current amount Yw in the standby state after time t since the start of the power supply by the battery is expressed as shown in Equation (3). The current consumption in the standby state is a current consumption necessary for detecting an abnormality by the detection means 2.
Yw = W * {t- (T * n1 + 3 * T * n2)} (3)

The total current consumption Y after the time t since the start of power supply by the battery is expressed as shown in Expression (4).
Y = Y1 + Y2 + Yw (4)

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the current value of the discharge current and the duration of the battery in the constant current continuous discharge of the battery. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates the current value of the discharge current in logarithm, and the vertical axis indicates the battery duration in logarithm.

  Battery capacity is the product of the current value of the discharge current and the duration of the battery. According to FIG. 5, when the current value is 1000 mA, the duration is 0.1 h, so the battery capacity is 100 mAh. When the current value is 100 mA, the duration is 12 h, so the battery capacity is 1200 mAh. When the current is 10 mA, the duration is 200 h, so the battery capacity is 2000 mAh. Thus, the battery capacity increases as the current value of the discharge current decreases.

In view of such characteristics of the battery, in this embodiment, the battery capacity of the battery when the discharge current is the first current value i1 is X1, and the battery capacity when the discharge current is the second current value i2 is X1. When the battery capacity is X2, the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode is expressed as Equation (5), and the remaining battery level Z2 in the second control mode is expressed as Equation (6). . In the present embodiment, the first current value i1 is the sum of the current values B, L, and M of the current consumption of each process 31 to 33 (i1 = B + L + M), and the second current value i2 is the process 31 to 31. It is the highest current value B among the current values B, L, and M of the current consumption of 33 (i2 = B).
Z1 = X1-Y (5)
Z2 = X2-Y (6)

  The remaining amount monitoring means 5 stores in advance the battery capacity X1 of the battery when the discharge current is the first current value i1. The remaining amount monitoring means 5 includes a current value B of current consumption of the alarm sound generation process 31, a current value L of current consumption of the alarm light generation process 32, a current value M of current consumption of the alarm information transmission process 33, The current value W of the consumption current in the standby state is stored in advance. Further, the remaining amount monitoring means 5 stores the processing time T of each process 31-33.

  When the supply of power by the battery is started, the remaining amount monitoring unit 5 starts a time measuring operation, and thereby measures a time t from when the supply of power by the battery is started. The remaining amount monitoring means 5 counts the number n1 of processing executions in the first control mode after the supply of power by the battery is started.

The remaining amount monitoring unit 5 monitors the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode when the control unit 4 is in the first control mode. The battery remaining amount Z1 in the first control mode is obtained based on the equations (1) to (5) when the processing execution count n2 in the second control mode is zero. That is, the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode is obtained based on Expression (7).
Z1 = X1-{(B + L + M) * T * n1 + W * (t-T * n1)} (7)

  This formula (7) is an example of a formula for obtaining the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode. The remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode varies depending on the self-discharge of the battery and the temperature environment. In consideration of this point, it is preferable to process and use equation (7) by multiplying a necessary coefficient or providing a margin based on actual machine evaluation at the product level.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the mode change related process related to the control mode change in the control means 4. The control means 4 stores in advance a predetermined threshold value Zth used for mode change related processing. The predetermined threshold value Zth is selected to be, for example, about 60% of the battery capacity X1 of the battery when the discharge current is the first current value i1.

  When the supply of power by the battery is started, in step s0, the control unit 4 sets the control mode to the first control mode, starts the mode change related process, and proceeds to step s1. In step s1, the control means 4 determines whether or not the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value Zth (Z1 ≦ Zth). The battery remaining amount Z1 in the first control mode is monitored by the remaining amount monitoring means 5.

  When the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode exceeds the predetermined threshold value Zth (Z1> Zth), the control unit 4 repeats step s1. When the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value Zth (Z1 ≦ Zth), the process proceeds to step s2.

  In step s2, the control means 4 changes the control mode from the first control mode to the second control mode, and proceeds to step s3. In step s3, the control means 4 ends the mode change related process.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing an example of changes in the remaining battery levels Z1, Z2. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates remaining battery levels Z1 and Z2.

  At the time of processing execution Ton, the current consumption is larger than in the standby state Toff, and thus the amount of decrease in the remaining battery levels Z1, Z2 per unit time is large. In the solid lines 41 and 42 and the virtual line 43 in FIG. 7, a portion with a large inclination indicates a change in the remaining battery levels Z1 and Z2 at the time of processing execution Ton, and a portion with a small inclination indicates the remaining battery level Z1 in the standby state Toff. , Z2 shows the change.

  When the control means 4 is in the first control mode, the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode decreases as indicated by the solid line 41.

  In the comparative example, the control mode of the control means 4 is maintained in the first control mode even when the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value Zth. In such a comparative example, the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode continues to decrease as indicated by the virtual line 43 even when the remaining battery level Z1 is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value Zth.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold Zth, the control mode of the control means 4 is changed from the first control mode to the second control mode. . At this time, the remaining battery level Z2 in the second control mode is larger than the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode. In this embodiment, the remaining battery level Z2 in the second control mode decreases as indicated by the solid line 42. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operation time can be made longer than that in the comparative example described above.

  According to the present embodiment as described above, the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 are executed in parallel as much as possible by appropriately setting the predetermined threshold value Zth. In addition, the operation time can be lengthened.

  In addition, since the control mode is changed based on the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode, compared to the case where the control mode is changed based on the time after the start of power supply by the battery or the operation by the user. The control mode is changed at an appropriate timing.

  In the alarm device 1 for the purpose of crime prevention, it is desirable to execute the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 in parallel in order to obtain a high crime prevention effect. In the alarm device 1, it is desirable to make the operation time as long as possible even if the crime prevention effect is reduced in consideration of the case where the user is absent for a long period of time such as a trip. These can be achieved by appropriately setting a predetermined threshold value Zth.

  More specifically, when the number n1 of process executions in the first control mode is small and the battery remaining amount Z1 in the first control mode can be sufficiently secured, the processes 31 to 33 are executed in parallel in the first control mode. As a result, a high crime prevention effect can be obtained. Further, when the number n1 of process executions in the first control mode is large and the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode is small, the processes 31 to 33 are executed while being shifted in time in the second control mode. Accordingly, although the crime prevention effect is lowered, the current consumption during the process execution can be reduced, the remaining battery level Z2 in the second control mode can be secured, and the operation time can be lengthened.

  The alarm device 1 uses a battery instead of a commercial power source. This alarm device 1 is installed in a place where it is difficult to reach such as the upper part of the door plate 20. Therefore, the battery replacement operation of the alarm device 1 is troublesome for the user. According to the present embodiment, since the operation time can be extended as described above, the number of troublesome battery replacement operations can be reduced.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an alarm device 51 which is an information processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Since the alarm device 51 of the present embodiment is similar to the alarm device 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts, and only different points will be described.

  Alarm device 51 of the present embodiment further includes control mode selection means 52 for selecting one of the first and second control modes. The control mode selection means 52 includes an operation switch that can be operated by a user with fingers. By operating this operation switch, one of the first and second control modes is selected.

  The remaining amount monitoring means 5 is not only the process execution number n1 in the first control mode after the supply of power by the battery is started, but also the process execution number in the second control mode after the supply of power by the battery is started. n2 is also counted. The remaining amount monitoring unit 5 monitors the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode when the control unit 4 is in the first control mode. The battery remaining amount Z1 in the first control mode is obtained based on the equations (1) to (5).

  The control means 4 has first and second operation modes. In the first operation mode, the control unit 4 changes the control mode based on the selection result by the control mode selection unit 52. At this time, the user can select the control mode of the control means 4. In the second operation mode, the control unit 4 changes the control mode based on the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode. At this time, the troublesome operation for changing the control mode of the control means 4 can be eliminated.

  In the second operation mode, when the control mode is the first control mode, the control unit 4 changes the control mode from the first control mode when the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold Zth. Change to the second control mode. In the second operation mode, when the control mode is the second control mode, the control unit 4 switches the control mode from the second control mode when the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode exceeds a predetermined threshold value Zth. Change to the first control mode. In such a second operation mode, by appropriately setting the predetermined threshold value Zth, the alarm sound generation process 31, the alarm light generation process 32, and the alarm information transmission process 33 are executed in parallel as much as possible. The time can be lengthened.

  Alarm device 51 of the present embodiment further includes operation mode selection means 53 for selecting the first and second operation modes. The operation mode selection means 53 includes the operation switch. One of the first and second operation modes is selected by operating this operation switch.

  The control unit 4 switches the operation mode based on the selection result by the operation mode selection unit 53. Therefore, the user can select a desired operation mode, and convenience can be improved.

  By default, the control means 4 is set in the first operation mode. In this case, the user knows that the control mode is changed, and changes the operation mode of the control means 4 to the second operation mode. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from making a mistake in the change in the process due to the change in the control mode and the change in the process due to the failure.

  In the present embodiment, the control mode selection unit 52 and the operation mode selection unit 53 include operation switches, but each of these selection units 52 and 53 may include the antenna 10 and the MSK control unit 11. Each of such selection means 52 and 53 receives selection information transmitted from the facsimile machine 12. In this case, the user can select the control mode and the operation mode using the facsimile apparatus 12, and the convenience can be further improved.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an alarm device 61 which is an information processing apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Since the alarm device 61 of the present embodiment is similar to the alarm device 1 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 described above, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only different points will be described. Alarm device 61 of the present embodiment further includes voltage measuring means 62 that measures the battery voltage of the battery that supplies power.

  In the present embodiment, a battery of a type designated in advance is used as a battery for supplying power, but the battery is not necessarily unused until the supply of power to the alarm device 1 is started. An explanation will be given.

  If the battery has already been used before the supply of power to the alarm device 1 is started, if the initial value of the total current consumption Y is set to zero, the error of the remaining battery level Z1 in the first control mode increases. . In this case, the initial value of the total current consumption Y needs to be set appropriately.

  The battery has a characteristic that the battery voltage decreases as the total current consumption Y increases. Based on such battery characteristics, in the present embodiment, the remaining amount monitoring unit 5 stores in advance a table in which the battery voltage and the total current consumption Y are associated with each other. The remaining amount monitoring means 5 sets an initial value of the total current consumption Y based on the battery voltage measured by the voltage measuring means 62 and the table when the supply of power by the battery is started.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the battery voltage measured by the voltage measuring unit 62 reaches a predetermined end voltage, the control unit 4 may stop the operation. As a result, battery leakage due to overdischarge can be prevented.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, the remaining amount monitoring unit 5 may monitor the battery voltage of the battery that supplies power as the remaining battery amount.

  In still another embodiment of the present invention, the alarm device may further include a notification unit that notifies the control mode of the control unit 4. The notification means includes the antenna 10 and the MSK control unit 11. Such a notification means transmits control mode information indicating the control mode of the control means 4 to the facsimile machine 12. The facsimile machine 12 receives the control mode information and displays an image based on the control mode information on the display unit 23. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from making a mistake in the process change caused by the change in the control mode and the process change caused by the failure.

  Each of the embodiments described above is merely an example of the present invention, and the configuration can be changed within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the second control mode, the alarm sound generation process 31 and the alarm light generation process 32 may be executed alternately and repeatedly.

  In the second control mode, any two of the processes 31 to 33 may be executed at the same time, and one may be executed with a time lag. At this time, considering that the current consumption of each of the processes 31 to 33 is as shown in Table 1, for example, the alarm light generation process 32 and the alarm information transmission process 33 are executed at the same time to generate an alarm sound with the largest current consumption. By executing the process 31 with a time lag, the current consumption in the second control mode can be effectively reduced.

  Further, in order to reduce the current consumption during the process execution in the second control mode compared to the current consumption during the process execution in the first control mode, in the second control mode, an alarm is generated compared to the first control mode. The sound volume may be reduced, or the brightness of the warning light may be reduced. In the second control mode, no alarm sound or no alarm light may be generated. Furthermore, these may be combined. In such a case, it is preferable to change the less important one.

Furthermore, the processing time of each process 31-33 may differ. In this case, when the processing time of the alarm sound generation processing 31 is TB, the processing time of the warning light generation processing 32 is TL, and the processing time of the alarm information transmission processing 33 is TM, consumption due to processing execution in the first control mode The amount of current Y1 is expressed as in equation (8) instead of equation (1), and the amount of consumed current Y2 due to execution of processing in the second control mode is expressed by equation (9) instead of equation (2). Thus, the consumed current amount Yw in the standby state after the time t after the start of power supply by the battery is expressed as in Expression (10) instead of Expression (3).
Y1 = (B × TB + L × TL + M × TM) × n1 (8)
Y2 = (B × TB + L × TL + M × TM) × n2 (9)
Yw = W × [t− {TL × n1 + (TB + TL + TM) × n2}] (10)
Table 2 shows an example of current consumption, processing time, and current consumption for each of the processes 31-33.

  Furthermore, the control means 4 may have three or more control modes. In this case, in each control mode, the control unit 4 causes the process execution unit 3 to execute processes with different current consumption during the process execution. The control unit 4 sequentially changes the control mode based on the battery remaining amount monitored by the remaining amount monitoring unit 5 so that the current consumption during the process execution decreases stepwise.

  As an example, in the first control mode, the processes 31 to 33 are executed in parallel. In the second control mode, the processes 31 to 33 are executed with a time lag. In the third control mode, the processes 31 to 33 are executed with a time lag, and the volume of the alarm sound is reduced compared to the second control mode.

  The present invention can be applied not only to an alarm device but also to a mobile phone device, a portable MD (Mini Disc) player, and the like. That is, the present invention can be applied to a portable information processing apparatus that is operated by power supplied from a battery, whose operation time varies depending on how it is used, and in which battery replacement is difficult.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the alarm device 1 which is the information processing apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an alarm system 16. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a first control mode of the control means 4. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd control mode of the control means. It is a graph which shows an example of the relationship between the electric current value of discharge current and the duration of a battery in the constant current continuous discharge of a battery. 4 is a flowchart for explaining mode change related processing related to control mode change in the control means 4; It is a graph which shows an example of the change of battery remaining charge Z1, Z2. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the alarm device 51 which is the information processing apparatus of other form of implementation of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the alarm device 61 which is the information processing apparatus of further another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 51, 61 Alarm device 2 Detection means 3 Processing execution means 4 Control means 5 Remaining amount monitoring means 31 Alarm sound generation process 32 Alarm light generation process 33 Alarm information transmission process 52 Control mode selection means 53 Operation mode selection means 62 Voltage measurement means

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus that operates by power supplied from a battery,
Process execution means for executing one or more processes;
A first control mode for causing the process execution means to execute a predetermined first process in which the current consumption during the process execution is equal to or less than a predetermined first current value; and the current consumption during the process execution is greater than the predetermined first current value. Control means for controlling the process execution means in either one of the second control mode for causing the process execution means to execute a predetermined second process that is less than or equal to the small second current value;
And a remaining amount monitoring means for monitoring the remaining amount of the battery that supplies power,
The control means changes the control mode from the first control mode to the second control mode when the battery remaining amount monitored by the remaining amount monitoring means in the first control mode is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Processing equipment. Control mode selection means for selecting one of the first and second control modes,
The control means responds to a selection result by the control mode selection means, a first operation mode for changing the control mode, and a second operation for changing the control mode based on the battery remaining amount monitored by the remaining amount monitoring means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an aspect.   The control means causes the process execution means to execute a plurality of processes in parallel as the predetermined first process in the first control mode, and causes the process execution means to execute the plurality of processes as the predetermined second process in the second control mode. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing is executed while being shifted in time.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying a control mode of the control means. It further includes detection means for detecting an abnormality,
The process execution means executes an alarm process for notifying that an abnormality has been detected as the one or more processes,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the process execution unit in response to a detection result by the detection unit.

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