JP2006319585A - Electronic apparatus and display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus capable of finding out certainly a place where battery charging or fuel refilling can be done, even if a remaining quantity of a battery becomes low. <P>SOLUTION: A cellular phone 10 operates by a fuel cell 17. The cellular phone 10 comprises a first indicator 11 having a storage nature capable of continuing to display information even after power supply from the fuel cell 17 is cut off; a battery remaining quantity detection unit 18 for detecting the remaining quantity of the fuel cell 17; and a controller 15 for determining whether the detected remaining quantity of the fuel cell 17 is below a constant threshold or not, notifying the fact to a user through a notification portion 20 when it is determined that the remaining quantity is below the threshold, and controlling to display information indicative a charging-enable place where the fuel cell 17 can be charged or exchanged, on the first indicator 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device such as a mobile phone that operates on a battery, and more particularly to a technology that supports charging or replacement of the battery.

  In recent years, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones have become widespread. The power source of most devices is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery, but some using a fuel cell system have been developed. In portable electronic devices, it is desirable to be able to charge the secondary battery anywhere, replenish fuel in the fuel cell system, or replace the fuel cartridge.

  As a conventional technology that meets such demands, when the remaining amount of the secondary battery or the fuel in the fuel cell system is low, it is possible to obtain information on the location where charging or fuel can be supplied by transmitting own position information Electronic devices have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this electronic device, when the remaining amount of the secondary battery or the fuel in the fuel cell system is low, map data of a place where charging or refueling can be obtained can be obtained.

The fuel cell system is either a system using only a fuel cell as an electromotive body, or a system using an electromotive body as a hybrid connection system in which power storage components such as secondary batteries and capacitors and a fuel cell are connected in series or in parallel. It means that.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-128827

  However, according to the above-described conventional technology, even if map data is obtained, the map data can no longer be displayed after the remaining amount of the battery is completely exhausted. Therefore, even if map data is obtained, if the user does not view the map data while the remaining battery level remains, it is impossible to find a place where the battery can be charged or refueled. There's a problem. Or, even if you can browse the map data when the battery level remains, the battery level may not remain until you reach a place where you can charge or refuel the battery, Therefore, it is not always possible to reach the place with certainty. In particular, if the battery cannot be immediately moved to a place where it can be charged or refueled, such a case will occur, and the map data that has been displayed until then will not be displayed, and the user will be confused. .

  It is also desirable for the user to be able to make various display settings when displaying map data indicating where the battery can be charged or where fuel can be supplied. For example, the setting of the scale of the map, the designation of the place where the user wants to go to charge or refuel while being displayed, and the display of character information such as an address and a telephone number. This makes it very convenient for the user to obtain information about the place where the battery can be charged or refueled in a form or display manner that suits their convenience.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even when the remaining amount of the battery is decreasing, it is possible to reliably find a place where the battery can be charged or fueled. The purpose is to provide electronic devices.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic device or the like that can obtain information on a place where the battery can be charged or refueled in a form or display manner suitable for the user.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device that operates on a battery, and can continue to display information even after the supply of power from the battery is cut off. 1st display means which has memory | storage property, and the display control means which displays the information which shows the chargeable place which is a place which can charge or replace | exchange the said battery on the said 1st display means, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. . As a result, if the information indicating the chargeable place, which is a place where the battery can be charged or exchanged, is displayed on the first display means, the battery can be charged even when the remaining battery power is exhausted. Since the possible locations continue to be displayed, the user can reach the rechargeable location by looking at the screen, and can charge or refuel.

  Here, the electronic device further includes a remaining battery level detecting unit that detects the remaining battery level, and whether or not the remaining battery level detected by the remaining battery level detecting unit is below a certain threshold value. Determination means for determining, and when the determination means determines that the remaining amount is below the threshold value, the display control means displays information indicating the chargeable location on the first display means. It is preferable to do this. As a result, the chargeable location is displayed on the first display means before the remaining battery level is depleted, so that the user does not need to continue to monitor the remaining battery level. In addition, even when the remaining battery power is exhausted, the chargeable location continues to be displayed, so that the user can reach the chargeable location by looking at the screen and recharge or refuel. . In addition, when the battery remaining amount falls below the threshold value, the user may be notified of that. Since the user can know that the remaining battery level is low and the place where the battery can be charged, it is easy to prevent the battery from running out.

  In addition, as a method for specifying a chargeable location, the electronic device further includes a map storage unit that stores a map indicating the chargeable location, and a current location information acquisition unit that acquires current location information indicating a current location. The display control means specifies a chargeable place near the current position indicated by the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition means by referring to the map stored in the map storage means, and specifies It is good also as a structure which displays the information which shows the chargeable place on the said 1st display means, or the said electronic device is further the present position information acquisition means which acquires the present position information which shows a present position, and the said present position Chargeable location information acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a chargeable location close to the current position indicated by the current location information acquired by the information acquisition means from outside via communication, Serial display control unit may information indicating been chargeable location acquired by the chargeable location information acquisition unit configured so as to display on said first display means. Thus, the user can know the chargeable place close to the current position, which improves convenience.

  The electronic apparatus further includes a second display unit that displays information related to the content displayed on the first display unit, and an instruction acquisition unit that acquires an instruction from the user for the information displayed on the second display unit. It is further preferable that the apparatus further comprises display update means for updating the content displayed on the first display means in accordance with the instructions acquired by the instruction acquisition means. Thereby, the user can know the rechargeable place in a form or display manner suitable for his / her convenience.

  The battery may be not only a secondary battery but also a fuel cell system, and the rechargeable place can not only charge or replace the battery but also supply fuel to the fuel cell system. It may be a place.

  In addition, the present invention can be realized as such an electronic device, and is a display method related to a battery in an electronic device that operates on a battery, the battery remaining amount detecting step for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, A determination step for determining whether or not a remaining battery level detected in the remaining battery level detection step has fallen below a certain threshold value; and the determination step has determined that the remaining charge level has fallen below the threshold value. In this case, information indicating a chargeable place where the battery can be charged or exchanged can be displayed even after the power supply from the battery is cut off. It can be realized as a display method characterized by including a display control step for displaying on a display means having the above, or as a program having the method as a step.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably find a place where the battery can be charged or refueled even when the remaining amount of the battery of the electronic device is low. For example, even if the battery runs out when you are moving to a rechargeable location, the location will continue to be displayed, so you can definitely reach the rechargeable location and charge or replace the battery to use the electronic device. Can do.

  Further, according to the present invention, information on the place where the battery can be charged or refueled can be obtained in a form or display manner suitable for the convenience of the user, and the convenience of the electronic device is greatly improved.

  Therefore, the practical value of the present invention in the present day when portable electronic devices are widely used is extremely high.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a mobile phone 10 as an example of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration thereof. The mobile phone 10 is a mobile phone that operates on a fuel cell and has two screens, and includes a first display unit 11, a second display unit 12, an antenna 13, a GPS unit 14, a control unit 15, an input unit 16, a fuel cell. 17, a battery remaining amount detection unit 18, a storage unit 19, and a notification unit 20.

  The first display unit 11 is a display device having a memory property that can continue to display information even after the power supply from the fuel cell 17 is cut off. For example, the first display unit 11 is a cholesteric liquid crystal or a photo-writing type electronic device. Paper etc.

  The 2nd display part 12 is a display device which does not have memory nature, for example, is a common liquid crystal display device.

  The antenna 13 is an antenna for a telephone and GPS (Global Positioning System).

  The GPS unit 14 is a GPS that acquires current position information indicating the current position via the antenna 13.

  The input unit 16 is a button for obtaining an instruction from the user.

  The fuel cell 17 is a small fuel cell system using, for example, a methanol aqueous solution as fuel.

  The battery remaining amount detection unit 18 is a sensor that detects the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17, and is, for example, a float type fuel meter that detects the remaining amount based on the position of the aqueous methanol solution in the fuel cell 17.

  The storage unit 19 stores in advance map information 19a indicating the location of a shop that provides a service for replenishing the fuel cell 17 or replacing the fuel cell 17 (hereinafter, this location is referred to as a “chargeable location”). Non-volatile memory or the like.

  The notification unit 20 is a vibrator, a speaker, a light, a display, or the like that notifies the user that the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 has fallen below a certain threshold based on an instruction from the control unit 15.

  The control unit 15 is a CPU or the like that controls each of the constituent elements 11 to 14 and 16 to 20 and communicates with each constituent element according to a flowchart described later based on a built-in program.

  Next, the operation of the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile phone 10. Here, an operation procedure centering on a process of monitoring the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 is shown.

  Now, it is assumed that the mobile phone 10 is used as usual (S10). In this state, the battery remaining amount detection unit 18 detects the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 and notifies the control unit 15 of the value (S11). The control unit 15 determines whether or not the value notified from the battery remaining amount detection unit 18 is less than a predetermined value (S12). These processes (S11 and S12) are repeated until it is determined that the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 has fallen below a predetermined value.

  When the control unit 15 determines that the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 has fallen below a predetermined value (Yes in S12), the control unit 15 notifies the user via the notification unit 20 (S13). For example, vibration by a vibrator, sound from a speaker, light, and display on a display are notified individually or in combination.

  Subsequently, the control unit 15 acquires the current position information via the GPS unit 14 (S14), and refers to the map information 19a stored in the storage unit 19, thereby being closest to the current position indicated by the current position information. A chargeable place is searched (S15). And the chargeable place obtained by the search is displayed on the first display unit 11 having a memory property as an initial display as in the screen display example in the first display unit 11 shown in FIG. S16).

  As a result, when the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 falls below a predetermined value, the user is notified of this, and a map showing the rechargeable location closest to the current position is stored in the first display unit 11 having a memory property. Therefore, even if the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 is completely exhausted thereafter, the user can check the fuel displayed on the first display unit 11 while viewing the map of the fuel cell 17. You can definitely get to the place where you can replenish.

  Here, the user who wants to change the display response with respect to the initial display displayed on the first display unit 11 can display the display on the first display unit 11 via the menu displayed on the second display unit 12. The contents can be changed. Specifically, based on an instruction from the user, the control unit 15 displays a map to be displayed on the first display unit 11 as in the screen display example of the second display unit 12 illustrated in FIG. An input screen for instructing to change the scale or place, or to switch from map display to address display is displayed. When the user inputs a change instruction or the like on the input screen, the control unit 15 changes the change instruction as shown in the screen display example in the first display unit 11 shown in FIG. Accordingly, the display content of the first display unit 11 is updated (S17). Such a dialogue between the user and the mobile phone 10 is repeated until the display content of the first display unit 11 becomes the display desired by the user (S18). “Map display” is a display mode in which the chargeable location is indicated only by a map, and “Address display” is only text indicating the address or phone number of the chargeable location, or the text and the map. Is a display mode for displaying.

  When the display content of the first display unit 11 is the display desired by the user (S18), the display content is held in the first display unit 11. Thereafter, even if the fuel cell 17 is used up or the power is automatically turned off, the display content of the first display unit 11 is not displayed and is continuously displayed (S19). As a result, information on the place where the fuel of the fuel cell 17 can be replenished is continuously displayed on the first display unit 11 on a map at a scale desired by the user, or a map or address display close to the place desired by the user. Can reliably reach a rechargeable location. For example, when it is expected that the fuel cell 17 will run out at the destination, the user inputs the location of the destination to display the chargeable location near the destination on the first display unit 11. I can leave.

  As mentioned above, although the electronic device which concerns on this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the present invention includes modifications that are realized by applying various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art to the present embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, as an example of an electronic device, the mobile phone 10 having the first display unit 11 and the second display unit 12 on the same surface is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to such a display unit. It is not restricted to a structure and is not restricted to a mobile phone. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the second display unit 12a has a first display unit 11a having a memory property on the back surface and has no memory property on the front surface as shown in FIG. 5 (b). It may be a portable information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance). In such a PDA, the display device is divided into front and back, and the display content cannot be seen at once. However, not only the display content for the second display unit 12a but also the first display unit 11a is displayed on the second display unit 12a. By displaying the display contents together, there is no inconvenience to the user.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 10 is provided with the fuel cell 17. However, the type of the battery may be another type of secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. In that case, the battery remaining amount detection part 18 should just measure the voltage of a secondary battery. Then, when the voltage measured by the battery remaining amount detection unit 18 falls below a predetermined value, the control unit 15 performs notification to the user, initial display on the first display unit 11, and the like, thereby performing the present embodiment. A function similar to the form is realized.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 10 holds map information 19a indicating a chargeable place in advance and specifies the optimum chargeable place based on the current position information obtained by the GPS unit 14, but the optimum A method for specifying a rechargeable place is not limited to such a method. For example, a Web server that provides information on a rechargeable location on the Internet is provided, and the mobile phone 10 does not hold the map information 19a itself, and the current position information obtained by the GPS unit 14 is transmitted by communication. By transmitting to the Web server, map information related to the rechargeable location closest to the current position information may be acquired from the Web server.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of an electronic apparatus according to such a modification, that is, a mobile phone that includes a lithium ion secondary battery as a battery and acquires map information of a rechargeable place from a Web server. Here, it is determined whether or not the remaining battery level is below a certain threshold value by comparing the battery voltage with a predetermined value (S11a, S12a), and the communication with the Web server Only the point (S15a) of acquiring map information of a chargeable place is different from the present embodiment. Even in such a configuration, the user can display useful information (information on a chargeable place) suitable for his / her convenience on the device even after the power is turned off.

  In the present embodiment, the second display unit 12 is a general liquid crystal or the like having no memory property, but may be a display device having a memory property. This is because the present invention can be realized as long as at least one display device (or a part of display area in one display device) has a storage property.

  If there is only one display device and it is a display device with memory, the display of the display device with memory is not updated in S19 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Even if the information is memorized (saved) and the user displays other contents such as e-mail, the display is forcibly updated to map information when the battery voltage approaches the lower limit voltage at which the device can operate. Control to turn off the device.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 10 is provided with the notification unit 20 that notifies the user that the remaining amount of the fuel cell 17 is below a certain threshold value. Not necessary. Even if there is no notification section, if the remaining battery power is exhausted, the rechargeable location will continue to be displayed on the mobile phone, so the user can reach the rechargeable location by looking at the screen and charge or fuel. It is because it can replenish.

  The present invention is used as an electronic device that operates on a battery, particularly an electronic device that operates on a battery such as a secondary battery or a fuel cell system and can be charged or refueled, such as a mobile phone or a PDA. Can do.

External view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention Functional block diagram showing the configuration of a mobile phone Flow chart showing operation of mobile phone The figure which shows the example of the screen display of the cellular phone External view of electronic equipment (PDA) according to a modification of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the mobile telephone which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile phone 11, 11a 1st display part 12, 12a 2nd display part 13 Antenna 14 GPS part 15 Control part 16 Input part 17 Fuel cell 18 Battery remaining charge detection part 19 Storage part 19a Map information 20 Notification part

Claims (9)

An electronic device powered by a battery,
A first display means having a storage property capable of continuing to display information even after the power supply from the battery is cut off;
An electronic device comprising: display control means for displaying information indicating a chargeable place, which is a place where the battery can be charged or replaced, on the first display means. The electronic device further includes
Battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery;
Determination means for determining whether or not the remaining battery level detected by the remaining battery level detection means falls below a certain threshold value,
The said display control means displays the information which shows the said chargeable place on the said 1st display means, when it is judged by the said judgment means that the said residual amount has fallen below the said threshold value. 1. The electronic device according to 1. The electronic device further includes
Battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery;
Determination means for determining whether or not the remaining battery level detected by the remaining battery level detection means falls below a certain threshold value,
When the determination means determines that the remaining amount is below the threshold value, the display control means notifies the user to that effect and displays information indicating the chargeable location in the first display means. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is displayed. The electronic device further includes
Map storage means for storing a map indicating the chargeable place;
Current position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information indicating the current position,
The display control means identifies a chargeable place close to the current position indicated by the current position information acquired by the current position information acquisition means by referring to the map stored in the map storage means, and the specified chargeable The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein information indicating a place is displayed on the first display means. The electronic device further includes
Current position information acquisition means for acquiring current position information indicating the current position;
Chargeable location information acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a chargeable location close to the current position indicated by the current location information acquired by the current location information acquisition means from outside via communication,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays information indicating the rechargeable location acquired by the rechargeable location information acquisition unit on the first display unit. The electronic device further includes
Second display means for displaying information on the content to be displayed on the first display means;
Instruction acquisition means for acquiring an instruction from a user for the information displayed on the second display means;
The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a display update unit that updates contents displayed on the first display unit in accordance with an instruction acquired by the instruction acquisition unit. The battery is a fuel cell system;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable place is a place where fuel can be supplied to the battery. A display method related to a battery in an electronic device operating on a battery,
A remaining battery level detecting step for detecting the remaining battery level;
A determination step of determining whether or not the remaining battery level detected in the remaining battery level detection step is below a certain threshold;
When it is determined in the determination step that the remaining amount is lower than the threshold value, information indicating a rechargeable place, which is a place where the battery can be charged or replaced, is supplied from the battery. A display control step of displaying on a display means having a storage property capable of continuing to display information even after the power is turned off.   In the display control step, when it is determined in the determination step that the remaining amount is lower than the threshold value, the display control step notifies the user to that effect and at a place where the battery can be charged or replaced. It is a step of displaying information indicating a rechargeable place on a display means having a memory property capable of continuing to display information even after the supply of power from the battery is cut off. The display method according to claim 8.

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