JP2006238598A - Charging time calculator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging time calculator for making an information terminal calculate the charging time required for a full charge, based on the remaining capacity of a battery, when the battery begins to be charged, informing the user of the charging time, and for improving the convenience of the user. <P>SOLUTION: The charging time calculator is provided with a battery remaining capacity calculating means for calculating the remaining capacity of the battery; a charging time maintaining means for maintaining the relation between the remaining capacity of the battery and the charging time as a time for fully charging the battery; a charging time predicting means for acquiring a predicted charging time as the charging time, corresponding to the remaining capacity of the battery calculated by the battery remaining capacity calculating means from the charging time maintaining means, based on the remaining capacity of the battery calculated by the battery remaining capacity calculating means; and an informing means for informing the user of the predicted charging time that is predicted by the charging time predicting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a charging time calculation device, and more particularly to a charging time calculation device capable of notifying a user of a time until a battery is fully charged.

  Many small information terminals such as notebook personal computers can use a battery as a power source so that the user can carry them and use them in any place. The battery used for such an information terminal uses a rechargeable battery (referred to as a secondary battery) that can be recharged and used many times for user convenience and consideration of environmental issues. (For example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-165478).

When charging such a rechargeable battery, it is convenient for the user if the remaining time necessary for charging (generally referred to as full charge) until the battery is full is known. In order to be able to inform the user of the remaining charging time in this way, until now, a battery is equipped with a coulomb counter, the current of charging / discharging of the battery is measured, and this is recorded in the battery. As a result, the required charging time and the remaining battery level were displayed.
See JP 2000-165478 A

  However, in general, a battery equipped with a coulomb counter has a problem that it is not suitable for a portable information terminal because it has a large volume and a high cost. In addition, in order to reduce the volume of the battery, there may be a method of installing a coulomb counter on the main body side of the information terminal, but in that case, when the battery is temporarily removed or replaced, the remaining amount calculation is performed. It is not suitable for an information terminal that is assumed to have a spare battery and replace the battery for use.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and based on the remaining amount of the battery when charging is started, the information terminal side calculates the required charging time until full charging, and this It is an object of the present invention to improve the convenience of the user by providing a charging time calculation device that notifies the user of the above.

In order to solve the above problems, a charging time calculation device according to the present invention is:
A battery level calculating means for calculating the battery level of the battery;
Charging time holding means for holding the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time which is the time until the battery is fully charged;
Based on the remaining battery level calculated by the remaining battery level calculating unit, a charging time corresponding to the remaining battery level calculated by the remaining battery level calculating unit is acquired as a predicted charging time from the charging time holding unit. Charging time prediction means;
Notifying means for notifying the user of the predicted charging time predicted by the charging time predicting means;
It is characterized by providing.

In this case, the charging time calculation device further includes battery temperature acquisition means for acquiring the battery temperature of the battery,
The charging time predicting unit may correct the predicted charging time based on the battery temperature acquired by the battery temperature acquiring unit.

  In this case, the remaining battery level calculating unit may correct the remaining battery level based on the battery temperature acquired by the battery temperature acquiring unit.

The charging time calculation device
A time measuring means for measuring the time required from the start of charging until the battery is fully charged,
Charging time correcting means for correcting the charging time holding means based on an error between a time until full charge measured by the time measuring means and an estimated charging time;
May be further provided.

  In this case, the charging time correction means multiplies the charging time held in the charging time holding means by an error rate between the time until full charge measured by the time measuring means and the estimated charging time. By doing so, the charging time holding means may be corrected.

  The notification unit may count down the estimated charging time predicted by the charging time prediction unit and notify the user of the remaining charging time required until full charging.

The control method of the charging time calculation device according to the present invention is:
Calculating the battery level of the battery;
Corresponding to the calculated remaining battery level from the charging time holding means that holds the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time that is the time until the battery is fully charged based on the calculated remaining battery level. Obtaining a charging time as an estimated charging time;
Notifying the user of the predicted predicted charging time;
It is characterized by providing.

The program according to the present invention is:
Calculating the battery level of the battery;
Corresponding to the calculated remaining battery level from the charging time holding means that holds the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time that is the time until the battery is fully charged based on the calculated remaining battery level. Obtaining a charging time as an estimated charging time;
Notifying the user of the predicted predicted charging time;
Is executed by the charging time calculation device.

The recording medium according to the present invention is
Calculating the battery level of the battery;
Corresponding to the calculated remaining battery level from the charging time holding means that holds the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time that is the time until the battery is fully charged based on the calculated remaining battery level. Obtaining a charging time as an estimated charging time;
Notifying the user of the predicted predicted charging time;
Is recorded in the charging time calculation apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the information terminal 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, only a portion necessary for operating the information terminal 10 as a charging time calculation device according to the present invention is exemplarily shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information terminal 10 includes a battery 20 that can be charged and used a plurality of times, a CPU 22, a display device 24, and a hard disk drive 26 that are loads that operate by receiving power from the battery 20. It is configured with. In addition, the information terminal 10 includes another load 28 that operates by receiving power from the battery 20. The battery 20 may be integrated in the information terminal 10 or may be separated from the information terminal 10 so that it can be replaced or retrofitted. The battery 20 and these loads are connected via a power line 30, and a switch SW 10 is inserted in the power line 30.

  In the present embodiment, the display device 24 is configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The hard disk drive 26 is an example of a rewritable nonvolatile storage device.

  Further, the information terminal 10 has a power line 42 for charging or supplying power to each load when the AC adapter 40 is connected to the information terminal 10, separately from the power line 30. I have. That is, when the information terminal 10 is connected to a household outlet through the AC adapter 40, the CPU 22, the display device 24, the hard disk drive 26, and other loads 28 are connected via the power line 42. It is driven by the power supplied from the AC adapter. Therefore, the above-described switch SW10 is a switch that is turned off when the AC adapter 40 is inserted and turned on when the AC adapter 40 is removed. The switch SW10 is turned on / off by an AC insertion detection signal output from the AC adapter 40. This AC insertion detection signal is also input to the CPU 22.

  Further, a charging IC 50 is connected to the power line 42. When the AC adapter 40 is inserted into the information terminal 10, the charging IC 50 supplies the power of the power line 42 to the battery 20 and becomes fully charged when the battery 20 is fully charged. If this happens, the power supply to the battery 20 is stopped and the charging is terminated. In the present embodiment, the charging IC 50 outputs a charge off signal to the CPU 22 when the charging of the battery 20 is completed.

  The battery 20 includes a battery voltage detection unit 60 and a battery temperature detection unit 62. The battery voltage detection unit 60 detects the voltage of the battery 20 and notifies the CPU 22 of the voltage. The battery temperature detection unit 62 detects the temperature of the battery 20 and notifies the CPU 22 of the temperature.

  The CPU 22 calculates the remaining amount of the battery 20 at any time or at a predetermined interval based on the battery voltage and battery temperature acquired from the battery 20 and stores them in the storage unit 70. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 70 is configured by a RAM (Random Access Memory) provided in the CPU 22.

  There are various methods for calculating the remaining battery level. In this embodiment, the remaining battery level is calculated by adding a correction based on the battery temperature to the remaining battery level determined based on the battery voltage. To do. Furthermore, in addition to the battery temperature, the remaining battery level may be corrected according to the state of the load on the battery 20. In this case, the load on the battery 20 may be calculated by measuring the amount of current flowing through the battery 20, or the operation status of each load driven by receiving power supply from the battery 20 is monitored. Then, it may be calculated from this operation situation.

  Next, based on FIG.2 and FIG.3, the charge time calculation process which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. These FIG.2 and FIG.3 is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the charging time calculation process which concerns on this embodiment. In the present embodiment, this charging time calculation process is a process executed by the CPU 22 at any time or at a predetermined time interval.

  As shown in FIG. 2, first, the CPU 22 determines whether charging by the AC adapter 40 has started (step S10). Specifically, the CPU 22 determines whether an AC insertion detection signal AC indicating that the AC adapter 40 has been inserted is output from the adapter 40. If charging has not been started (step S10: NO), the process of step S10 is repeated to stand by.

  On the other hand, when charging is started (step S10: YES), the CPU 22 acquires the remaining battery capacity stored in the storage unit 70 (step S12). Then, CPU22 acquires battery temperature from the battery 20 (step S14).

  Next, based on the battery temperature acquired in step S14, the CPU 22 generates a temperature correction charging time table that is a charging time table corresponding to the battery temperature (step S16). Specifically, in this embodiment, a charging time table TB10 as shown in FIG. 4 is prepared and stored in the hard disk drive 16 in advance. This charging time table TB10 is a table that stores representative values of the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time until full charge. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the battery 20 is a lithium ion battery, and the remaining battery capacity when the battery temperature of the lithium ion battery is 5 ° C, 25 ° C, and 40 ° C. And the relationship between the charging time until full charge are stored in advance.

  FIG. 5 is a graph of the charging time table TB10 of FIG. In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the remaining battery level (0% to 100%), and the vertical axis represents the charging time (minutes) required until full charge. FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of a general charge characteristic of a lithium ion battery at 40 ° C. for reference. As can be seen from FIG. 6, in general, the lithium ion battery is charged with a constant current while the remaining battery capacity is low. FIG. 6 shows that charging is performed at a constant current from 0 minute to approximately 50 minutes. Then, when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined value (in FIG. 6, about 50 minutes after the start of charging), switching to charging with a constant voltage is performed. Then, when the current flowing into the battery 20 becomes zero or smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that the battery is fully charged. For this reason, when the remaining battery level at the start of charging is small, the charging time with a constant current becomes longer, and when the remaining battery level at the start of charging is large, the charging time with a constant current is shortened, as shown in FIGS. It becomes a simple graph.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, only charging times corresponding to three temperatures of 5 degrees, 25 ° C., and 40 ° C. are prepared, so the charging time corresponding to the battery temperature acquired in step S14. A table is generated in step S16. For example, when the battery temperature acquired in step S14 is 20 ° C., the charging time table at 10 ° C. in the charging time table TB10 is complemented by a straight line to generate a charging time table at 20 ° C.

Here, if the battery remaining amount in the charging time table TB10 is represented by Z and the charging time in the case of the battery temperature T is represented by C (Z, T), for example, the battery remaining amount is 30% at a battery temperature of 5 ° C. In this case, the charging time C (30%, 5 ° C.) is 193 minutes. Then, the acquired battery temperature is Tx, and the temperatures sandwiching the battery temperature Tx are T1 and T2 (where T1 <T2 and any of 5 ° C., 25 ° C., and 40 ° C.), and the remaining battery level to be calculated is Assuming Z (Z is 0%, 10%... 90%, 100%), the charging time C (Z, Tx) can be expressed by the following formula (1).

C (Z, Tx) = {C (Z, T1) -C (Z, T2)} × {(T2-Tx) / (T2-T1)} + C (Z, T2) (1)

Therefore, for example, the remaining battery capacity C (Z, 20 ° C.) at 20 ° C. can be expressed by the following mathematical formula (2).

C (Z, 20 ℃) = {C (Z, 5 ℃) -C (Z, 25 ℃)} × {(25-20) / (25-5)} + C (Z, 25 ℃)… (2 )

  When a temperature corrected charging time table of 20 ° C. is generated using the mathematical formula (2), a temperature corrected charging time table TB20 as shown in FIG. 7 is generated. In the present embodiment, the temperature correction charging time table TB20 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 70, for example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 22 calculates a predicted charging time corresponding to the remaining battery level acquired in step S12 using the temperature correction charging time table TB20 (step S18). Specifically, the acquired remaining battery level is Zx, and the remaining battery level sandwiching the remaining battery level Zx is Z1, Z2 (where Z1 <Z2, and 0%, 10%... 90%, 100% ), The estimated charging time C (Zx, Tx) can be expressed by the following formula (3).

C (Zx, Tx) = {C (Z1, Tx) -C (Z2, Tx)} × {(Z2-Zx) / (Z2-Z1)} + C (Z2, Tx) (3)

For example, assuming that the remaining battery level acquired in step S12 is 35%, the predicted charging time is calculated using the following formula (4).

C (35%, 20 ℃) = {C (30%, 20 ℃) -C (40%, 20 ℃)} × {(40-35) / (40-30)} + C (40%, 20 ℃ (4)

  Using this formula (4), the estimated charging time C (35%, 20 ° C.) when the battery remaining amount is 35% and the battery temperature is 20 ° C. is 177 minutes.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 22 notifies the user of the predicted charging time calculated in step S18 (step S20). In the present embodiment, the predicted charging time calculated in step S18 is notified by displaying it on the display device 24 as a numerical value. The notification of the estimated charging time is not limited to this mode. For example, the estimated charging time may be displayed according to the length of the bar using liquid crystal, or the display of the bar using liquid crystal. The display device 24 may display both numerical values. Furthermore, you may make it notify an estimated charging time to a user by audio | voice output.

  Next, the CPU 22 starts counting down the estimated charging time (step S22). For example, if the display of the predicted charging time on the display device 24 is a display in units of minutes, the user can subtract the display of the predicted charging time displayed on the display device 24 by 1 each time one minute elapses. Inform the remaining charging time required for full charging. When the predicted charging time is represented by the bar display, the remaining charging time can be notified to the user by shortening the length of the bar according to the elapsed time.

  Next, the CPU 22 starts a timer (step S24). This timer is used later to measure the time required from the start of charging to full charging.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the charging is finished (step S30). Specifically, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the charging is completed depending on whether or not a charging off signal is output from the charging IC 50. If the charging has not been completed (step S30: NO), this step S30 is repeated to stand by.

  On the other hand, when charging is completed (step S30: YES), the time actually required for charging is acquired based on the timer activated in step S24 (step S32).

  Next, the CPU 22 calculates an error rate between the predicted charging time calculated in step S18 and the actual charging time acquired in step S32 (step S34). Specifically, the error rate = (time actually required for charging) / (predicted charging time).

  Next, the CPU 22 corrects the charging time table TB10 based on the error rate calculated in step S34 (step S36). Specifically, the CPU 22 reads from the hard disk drive 26 the charging time table TB10 used when calculating the charging time in step S18. Then, the charging time stored in the temperature used to generate the temperature correction charging time table TB20 in step S16 in the charging time table TB10 is multiplied by the error rate calculated in step S34, thereby correcting the charging time. A new charging time table TB10 is obtained.

  For example, assuming that the actual charging time acquired in step S32 is 180 minutes, the estimated charging time calculated in step S18 is 177 minutes, so the error rate is 180/177. = 1.017. This 1.017 is multiplied by all the charging times of 5 ° C. and 25 ° C. in the charging time table TB10. The corrected charging time table TB10 is as shown in FIG.

  Next, the CPU 22 stores the charging time table TB10 corrected in step S36 in the hard disk drive 26 again (step S38). As a result, when the charging time is calculated next time, a new charging time table TB10 reflecting the current error rate is used.

  As described above, according to the information terminal 10 according to the present embodiment, based on the remaining battery level when the user starts charging, the charging time required until full charging is predicted, and this is notified to the user. As a result, the user can know the charging time required for full charging. For this reason, user convenience is improved.

  In addition, when calculating the charging time required until full charge, the information terminal 10 acquires the battery temperature of the battery 20 and corrects based on the battery temperature before calculating the charging time. Therefore, the calculation accuracy can be improved.

  Furthermore, when calculating the remaining battery level, the information terminal 10 according to this embodiment adds the correction of the battery temperature to the battery voltage to calculate the remaining battery level, thereby improving the calculation accuracy. be able to.

  In the information terminal 10 according to the present embodiment, the charging time table TB10 is corrected based on the error between the charging time actually required for full charging and the calculated predicted charging time. The prediction accuracy when calculating the predicted charging time next time can be improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the battery remaining amount is calculated by the CPU 22, but the battery 20 itself may calculate and notify the CPU 22.

  Moreover, the charging time calculation device according to the present invention can be realized by any kind of information terminal 10 driven by the rechargeable battery 20. Furthermore, the charging time calculation device according to the present invention is not limited to an information terminal, and can be mounted on any type of device driven by a rechargeable battery 20.

  Further, the time and numerical values used in the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and change variously depending on the type of battery actually used.

  Further, for each process described in the above embodiment, a program for executing each process is recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), a ROM, or a memory card. Thus, it can be distributed in the form of a recording medium. In this case, the above-described embodiment can be realized by causing the information terminal 10 to read and execute the program recorded on the recording medium.

  Moreover, the information terminal 10 may be provided with other programs, such as an operating system and another application program. In this case, in order to utilize another program provided in the information terminal 10, a program including an instruction for calling a program that realizes processing equivalent to the above-described embodiment from among the programs provided in the information terminal 10, You may make it record on a recording medium.

  Furthermore, such a program can be distributed not as a recording medium but as a carrier wave through a network. The program transmitted in the form of a carrier wave on the network is taken into the information terminal 10, and the above-described embodiment can be realized by executing this program.

  Also, when a program is recorded on a recording medium or transmitted as a carrier wave on a network, the program may be encrypted or compressed. In this case, the information terminal 10 that has read the program from the recording medium or the carrier wave needs to execute the program after decoding or decompressing the program.

  Furthermore, the charging time calculation process performed in the above-described embodiment can also be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific IC). In this case, the hardware configured by the ASIC or the like includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a battery remaining amount calculation unit 80, a charging time prediction unit 82, a notification unit 84, a time measurement unit 86, and a charging time. A correction unit 88 and a storage unit 70 are provided.

  The battery remaining amount calculation unit 80 acquires the battery voltage and the battery temperature from the battery 20, and calculates the battery remaining amount of the battery 20 by the same calculation method as in the above-described embodiment. The storage unit 70 stores a charging time table TB10 as in the above-described embodiment. The charging time prediction unit 82 searches the charging time table TB10 stored in the storage unit 70 based on the remaining battery level calculated by the remaining battery level calculation unit 80, and acquires the charging time corresponding to the remaining battery level. This is the estimated charging time. A specific method for calculating the predicted charging time is the same as that in the above-described embodiment. The notification unit 84 notifies the user by displaying the predicted charging time predicted by the charging time prediction unit 82 or outputting the voice.

  The time measuring unit 86 measures the time from when charging of the battery 20 is started until the battery 20 is fully charged. The charging time correction unit 88 corrects the charging time table TB10 based on the error between the time until full charge measured by the time measurement unit 86 and the predicted charging time predicted by the charging time prediction unit 82. A specific correction method is the same as that in the above-described embodiment.

  The notification unit 84 counts down the predicted charging time predicted by the charging time prediction unit 82 as time elapses, and notifies the user of the remaining charging time required until full charging.

  The hardware configuration in FIG. 9 is merely an example, and various hardware configurations can be employed.

The block diagram for demonstrating an example of the internal structure of the information terminal which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows the flowchart explaining the content of the charging time calculation process which the information terminal which concerns on this embodiment performs (the 1). The figure which shows the flowchart explaining the content of the charging time calculation process which the information terminal which concerns on this embodiment performs (the 2). The figure which shows an example of the charge time table holding the relationship between battery remaining charge and charge time stored in the information terminal which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the relationship between battery remaining charge and charge time as a graph. The figure which shows an example of the relationship between charging current and charging time as a graph. The figure which shows an example of the temperature correction | amendment charging time table corresponding to battery temperature. The figure which shows an example of the charging time table after adding correction | amendment based on the difference | error of the charging time actually required to full charge, and estimated charging time. The figure which shows an example of a hardware configuration in the case of implement | achieving charging time calculation processing by hardware.

Explanation of symbols

SW10 switch 10 information terminal 20 battery 22 CPU
24 display device 26 hard disk drive 28 other load 30 power line 40 AC adapter 42 power line 50 charging IC
60 battery voltage detection unit 62 battery temperature detection unit 70 storage unit

Claims (9)

A battery level calculating means for calculating the battery level of the battery;
Charging time holding means for holding the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time which is the time until the battery is fully charged;
Based on the remaining battery level calculated by the remaining battery level calculating unit, a charging time corresponding to the remaining battery level calculated by the remaining battery level calculating unit is acquired as a predicted charging time from the charging time holding unit. Charging time prediction means;
Notifying means for notifying the user of the predicted charging time predicted by the charging time predicting means;
A charging time calculation device comprising: Battery temperature acquisition means for acquiring the battery temperature of the battery;
The charging time calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the charging time prediction unit corrects the predicted charging time based on the battery temperature acquired by the battery temperature acquisition unit.   The charging time calculation device according to claim 2, wherein the remaining battery charge calculation unit corrects the remaining battery charge based on the battery temperature acquired by the battery temperature acquisition unit. A time measuring means for measuring the time required from the start of charging until the battery is fully charged,
Charging time correcting means for correcting the charging time holding means based on an error between a time until full charge measured by the time measuring means and an estimated charging time;
The charging time calculation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The charging time correcting means multiplies the charging time held in the charging time holding means by an error rate between the time until full charge measured by the time measuring means and the estimated charging time. The charging time calculation device according to claim 4, wherein the charging time holding unit is corrected.   6. The notification unit according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit counts down the predicted charging time predicted by the charging time prediction unit, and notifies the user of the remaining charging time required until full charging. The charge time calculation apparatus in any one. Calculating the battery level of the battery;
Corresponding to the calculated remaining battery level from the charging time holding means that holds the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time that is the time until the battery is fully charged based on the calculated remaining battery level. Obtaining a charging time as an estimated charging time;
Notifying the user of the predicted predicted charging time;
A control method for a charging time calculation device. Calculating the battery level of the battery;
Corresponding to the calculated remaining battery level from the charging time holding means that holds the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time that is the time until the battery is fully charged based on the calculated remaining battery level. Obtaining a charging time as an estimated charging time;
Notifying the user of the predicted predicted charging time;
For causing the charging time calculation device to execute. Calculating the battery level of the battery;
Corresponding to the calculated remaining battery level from the charging time holding means that holds the relationship between the remaining battery level and the charging time that is the time until the battery is fully charged based on the calculated remaining battery level. Obtaining a charging time as an estimated charging time;
Notifying the user of the predicted predicted charging time;
A recording medium on which a program for causing the charging time calculation device to execute is recorded.

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