JP2008064535A - Charged battery-loaded apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to set freely each color for displaying a charged state, a battery residual capacity or the like. <P>SOLUTION: Correspondence between an emission color from a charging lamp 105 for emitting each light in a plurality of colors and the battery residual capacity of a charged battery 102 is inputted by an input part 104, and the inputted correspondence is stored in an emission color database 106, and the charging lamp 105 emits light in an emission color based on the correspondence stored in the emission color database 106 corresponding to the battery residual capacity of the charged battery 102 measured by a battery residual capacity measuring part 103. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery mounted device on which a rechargeable battery used as an operating power supply is mounted.

  In recent years, electronic devices using a rechargeable battery as an operating power source exist in every place of life. Many of the rechargeable batteries are mounted on movable electronic devices such as portable terminals and notebook PCs (personal computers).

  As the most familiar thing, a mobile phone will be described as an example. In mobile phones, the charging lamp is generally turned on while charging the rechargeable battery, and the charging lamp is turned off or the color of the charging lamp changes when charging is completed. As a result, the user can determine whether charging is in progress or whether charging is complete, but the remaining time during charging cannot be known.

  Further, the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery is only indicated by a predetermined small display on the display, and thus it is difficult for the user to recognize.

  Then, the technique which displays using the LED mounted in the said apparatus about the charge state to the rechargeable battery mounted in the apparatus, the battery residual amount of a rechargeable battery, etc. is considered (for example, patent documents 1-4). reference.).

The techniques described in these patent documents change the color of the LED according to the state of charge of the rechargeable battery, the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery, and the like. Thereby, a user can confirm easily the charge condition to a rechargeable battery, the battery remaining charge of a rechargeable battery, etc., without a user looking into a display.
JP 11-299144 A JP 2002-164974 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-026534 Special table 2005-536025 gazette

  However, the method described in the above patent document has a problem that the user cannot freely set the emission color of the LED to be lit.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and is equipped with a rechargeable battery that allows a user to freely set a color for displaying a state of charge, a remaining battery level, and the like. The purpose is to provide equipment.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A rechargeable battery-equipped device equipped with a rechargeable battery used as an operating power supply,
A light emitting element that emits a plurality of colors;
Control means for controlling the emission color of the light emitting element;
Battery remaining amount measuring means for measuring the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery;
Input means for inputting a correspondence between the remaining battery level and the light emission color of the light emitting element;
A light emission color database for storing the correspondence input by the input means;
The control means causes the light emitting element to emit light with a light emission color based on the correspondence stored in the light emission color database in accordance with the battery remaining amount measured by the battery remaining amount measurement means.

  Further, the input means inputs a correspondence between the remaining battery level and a voltage applied to the light emitting element.

Further, the battery remaining amount measuring means measures the battery remaining amount of the rechargeable battery at a predetermined cycle,
The control means causes the light emitting element to emit light in the cycle.

It also has a display button on the outside,
The control means causes the light emitting element to emit light when it is determined that the display button is pressed.

  The light emitting element is an LED.

  The rechargeable battery-equipped device is a mobile terminal.

  The rechargeable battery-equipped device is a notebook PC.

  In the present invention configured as described above, the association between the light emission color of the light emitting element that emits a plurality of colors and the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery is input by the input means, and the input association is the light emission color. In accordance with the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery that is stored in the database and measured by the remaining battery level measuring means, the light emitting element emits light in the emission color based on the correspondence stored in the emission color database.

  As described above, in the present invention, the input means inputs the association between the light emission colors of the light emitting elements that emit a plurality of colors and the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery, and the light emission color database stores the input associations. Since the control unit causes the light emitting element to emit light with the emission color based on the association stored in the emission color database according to the battery remaining amount of the rechargeable battery measured by the battery remaining amount measuring unit, the user can The color for displaying the state of charge, the remaining battery level, etc. can be freely set.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a rechargeable battery-equipped device of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a charging unit 101, a rechargeable battery 102, a battery remaining amount measuring unit 103, an input unit 104, a charging lamp 105, a light emission color database 106, and a control unit that controls these units. 107.

  The charging unit 101 is connected to an external charger, an AC power source, or the like to charge the rechargeable battery 102 that is a power source for operating the rechargeable battery mounted device. The rechargeable battery 102 is a power source for operating the rechargeable battery mounted device. The remaining battery level measurement unit 103 measures the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102. The input unit 104 is input means such as a keyboard for the user to input information to the rechargeable battery mounted device. The charging lamp 105 is a light emitting element such as an LED that emits a plurality of colors. The emission color database 106 is storage means for storing the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 and the emission color of the charging lamp 105 in association with each other. Here, only the components related to the present invention are shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure stored in the emission color database 106 shown in FIG. Here, the case where the charging lamp 105 shown in FIG. 1 is an LED incorporating a green element and a red element will be described as an example.

  The data structure stored in the emission color database 106 shown in FIG. 2 includes the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102, the voltage ratio applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105, and the voltage ratio applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105. And the light emission color of the charging lamp 105 are associated with each other. Here, the voltage ratio applied to the green element and the voltage ratio applied to the red element are the ratio of the voltage with respect to the voltage at which each element emits light at the maximum.

  For example, when the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 is 10% or less, the voltage ratio applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105 is 0%, and the voltage ratio applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105 is 100%. As a result, it is stored that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 is red. When the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 is 25%, the voltage rate applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105 is 25%, and the voltage ratio applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105 is 75%. As a result, it is stored that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 is orange. When the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 is 50%, the voltage ratio applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105 is 50%, and the voltage ratio applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105 is 50%. As a result, it is stored that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 is yellow. When the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 is 75%, the voltage rate applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105 is 75%, and the voltage ratio applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105 is 25%. As a result, it is stored that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 is yellowish green. Further, when the battery remaining amount of the rechargeable battery 102 is 100%, the voltage rate applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105 is 100%, and the voltage rate applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105 is 0%. As a result, it is stored that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 is green.

  These pieces of information can be arbitrarily set by the user inputting from the input unit 104.

  In the above example, the light emission colors are set to five types, but more types can be set. Needless to say, the number of types can be set. Furthermore, it is not possible to set the emission color to change intermittently (stepwise) as in the above example, but to set the emission color to change continuously (linearly).

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the data structure stored in the emission color database 106 shown in FIG.

  The data structure stored in the emission color database 106 shown in FIG. 3 is the same as the data structure stored in the emission color database 106 shown in FIG. In this data structure, the voltage rate applied to the element, the voltage ratio applied to the red element of the charging lamp 105, and the emission color of the charging lamp 105 are associated with each other.

  The difference from the data structure stored in the emission color database 106 shown in FIG. 2 is that the voltage ratio of the green element of the charging lamp 105 and the charging lamp are in the range where the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 is 10% to 100%. The voltage ratio of the red element 105 is set so as to change continuously.

  For example, when the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 changes from 10% to 100%, the voltage ratio applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105 changes from 0% to 100% and is applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105. It is stored that the voltage rate changes from 100% to 0%.

  As a result, as the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 changes from 10% or less to 100%, it can be seen that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 gradually changes from red to green. . Further, as the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 changes from 100% to 10% or less, it can be seen that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 gradually changes from green to red.

  FIG. 4 shows the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 when setting is made so that the emission color of the charging lamp 105 changes continuously as in the data structure stored in the emission color database 106 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between the voltage ratio of the green element of the charging lamp 105 and the voltage ratio of the red element of the charging lamp 105.

  As shown in FIG. 4, by performing the setting shown in FIG. 3, the voltage ratio of the green element of the charge lamp 105 and the red element of the charge lamp 105 with respect to the change in the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102. The voltage ratio of will change continuously.

  Below, the process in the rechargeable battery mounting apparatus comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process in the charging place mounting device shown in FIG. 1.

  First, when an association between the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 and the emission color of the charging lamp 105 is input from the input unit 104 by the user, the input association is stored in the emission color database 106 by the control unit 107. (Step S1). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this association is made by associating the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 with the voltage ratio of the green element of the charge lamp 105 and the voltage ratio of the red element of the charge lamp 105. It is what.

  Thereafter, when the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 is measured by the remaining battery level measuring unit 103 (step S2), the voltage ratio and charging of the green element of the charging lamp 105 associated with the measured remaining battery level. The voltage ratio of the red element of the lamp 105 is acquired from the emission color database 106 by the control unit 107 (step S3).

  Then, a voltage based on the acquired voltage ratio of the green element is applied to the green element of the charge lamp 105, and a voltage based on the voltage ratio of the red element is applied to the red element of the charge lamp 105 to charge the battery. The lamp 105 emits light (step S4).

  When it is desired to always display the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 on the charging lamp 105, the processes in steps S2 to S4 may be repeated at a predetermined cycle. In addition, when it is desired to display the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 on the charge lamp 105 only when the user wants to know the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102, the input from the input unit 104 or the like is used as a trigger in steps S2 to S4. Processing may be performed.

  As described above, the case where the charging lamp 105 is an LED including a green element and a red element is described as an example. However, the charging lamp 105 is an LED including a green element, a red element, and a blue element. There may be. In this case, the voltage ratio of the green element of the charge lamp 105, the voltage ratio of the red element of the charge lamp 105, and the voltage ratio of the blue element of the charge lamp 105 are set in the emission color database 106.

  Since the present invention described above indicates the remaining battery level of the charging place 102, in addition to displaying the remaining battery level in use, it can also be used to display the charging status of the battery being charged. can do.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the mobile terminal when the rechargeable battery-equipped device of the present invention is a mobile terminal.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the portable terminal 110 having this embodiment is provided with a charging lamp 105 and a display button 111. When the display button 111 is pressed by the user, the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102 is displayed by the charge lamp 105.

  As a result, the charging lamp 105 can be made to emit light only when it is desired to know the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102, and power consumption due to the light emission of the charging lamp 105 can be minimized.

  Instead of newly providing the charging lamp 105, the background or overall color of the display provided in the rechargeable battery mounted device may be changed according to the remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery 102.

It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the rechargeable battery mounting apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure memorize | stored in the luminescent color database shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of the data structure memorize | stored in the luminescent color database shown in FIG. The remaining battery level of the rechargeable battery and the green element of the charging lamp when the setting is made so that the luminescent color of the charging lamp continuously changes as in the data structure stored in the luminescent color database shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the voltage rate of and the voltage rate of the red element of a charge lamp. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process in the charging ground installation apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the said portable terminal in case the rechargeable battery mounting apparatus of this invention is a portable terminal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Charging part 102 Rechargeable battery 103 Battery remaining charge measuring part 104 Input part 105 Charging lamp 106 Emission color database 107 Control part 110 Portable terminal 111 Display button

Claims (7)

A rechargeable battery-equipped device equipped with a rechargeable battery used as an operating power supply,
A light emitting element that emits a plurality of colors;
Control means for controlling the emission color of the light emitting element;
Battery remaining amount measuring means for measuring the remaining amount of the rechargeable battery;
Input means for inputting a correspondence between the remaining battery level and the light emission color of the light emitting element;
A light emission color database for storing the correspondence input by the input means;
The rechargeable battery-equipped device that causes the light emitting element to emit light with a light emission color based on the correspondence stored in the light emission color database in accordance with the battery remaining amount measured by the battery remaining amount measurement unit. In the rechargeable battery-equipped device according to claim 1,
The rechargeable battery-equipped device, wherein the input means inputs an association between the remaining battery level and a voltage applied to the light emitting element. In the rechargeable battery-equipped device according to claim 1 or 2,
The battery remaining amount measuring means measures the battery remaining amount of the rechargeable battery at a predetermined cycle,
The said control means makes the said light emitting element light-emit with the said period, The rechargeable battery mounting apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the rechargeable battery-equipped device according to claim 1 or 2,
Has a display button on the outside,
The control unit causes the light emitting element to emit light when it is determined that the display button is pressed. The rechargeable battery mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The rechargeable battery-equipped device, wherein the light emitting element is an LED. In the rechargeable battery mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The rechargeable battery mounted device is a mobile terminal. In the rechargeable battery mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The rechargeable battery-equipped device is a notebook PC.

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