JP2009159487A - Electronic apparatus, control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To update computation and indication of available time at appropriate timing. <P>SOLUTION: A microcomputer 6 of a battery B performs computation or correction processing on a dischargeable integration capacity or the like based on information on power consumption received from the apparatus body 100, battery temperatures detected by a thermistor 7, battery cycles (the number of times of charges or discharges), or the like. A microcomputer 8 of the apparatus body 100 computes available time based on the dischargeable integration capacity received from the battery B and indicates it on an indicator 11. When there is a change in power consumption, if available time computed based on the change in the power consumption exceeds correction time t<SB>1</SB>, computation and indication of the available time are updated and reported to the user. If the change is within the correction time t<SB>1</SB>(area 2), the computation and indication of the available time are not updated; and available time computed using, for example, power consumption before the change is continuously reported to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as an imaging apparatus (electronic still camera or digital video camera), a control method thereof, and a program, and more particularly to a technique for calculating and displaying a usable time by a battery mounted on the apparatus body. .

  Taking an imaging apparatus such as an electronic still camera or a digital video camera as an example, the imaging apparatus includes an apparatus main body for recording / reproducing image data obtained by imaging a subject, and a battery pack for supplying power to the apparatus main body. The battery pack is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and can be charged by current from an AC power adapter provided outside.

  Further, when a battery pack is attached to the apparatus main body, the remaining usable time (usable time) of the imaging apparatus using the battery pack is displayed on the display unit. The usable time is notified to the user as auxiliary information by a numerical display or a bar display such as a level meter on the display unit, and the user can perform shooting and reproduction with reference to the usable time displayed on the display unit. .

  In Patent Document 1, the communication terminal device 1 stores information indicating the base station 10 that was in the communication area when the charger 2 was charged. If the base station 10 is the base station AA10, the remaining battery level for warning is set lower than that of the other base stations 10 within the communication range of the base station AA10. As a result, it is disclosed that warning of the remaining amount is given to the user at an earlier stage in the communication area of the base station 10 that takes a long time until charging can be started.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the graphic information and the battery remaining amount information among the battery information include the first battery remaining amount based on the voltage during the period from the battery full capacity (100%) to a predetermined ratio. 1 is displayed according to the remaining battery level. It is disclosed that display is performed according to an intermediate blend value between the first battery remaining amount and the second battery remaining amount based on the current integrated value during the period from the predetermined ratio to 0% of the first battery remaining amount. Has been.

JP-A-2005-278306 JP 2004-213491 A

  When the state of the device changes, the usable time calculated from the remaining battery level and the power consumption of the device is calculated and displayed on the display unit. When the state of the device changes, the state where the power consumption changes and the usable time becomes longer or shorter is repeated, and it becomes difficult to predict how much the device can be used afterwards. For the user, it is easy to understand the display that decreases from the available time once displayed in a linear line, but if the available time changes frequently, it will be difficult to determine whether or not the display will finally change according to the display time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable the calculation and display of usable time to be updated at an appropriate timing.

The electronic device according to the present invention is an electronic device that can be operated by a rechargeable battery, and is usable by a usable time calculating unit that calculates a usable time by the battery and a usable time calculated by the usable time calculating unit. Display means for displaying the time on the display unit, a threshold is set for a change in a predetermined value, and the calculation by the usable time calculation means and the display by the display means are updated when the threshold is exceeded It is characterized by that.
Another electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device that can be operated by a rechargeable battery, a setting means for setting a usable time calculation table for obtaining a usable time by the battery, and a temperature of the battery Update means for updating the usable time calculation table when the change in power consumption or the change in power consumption of the electronic device exceeds a predetermined range, and the predetermined range displays the usable time for 0 minute. It is set based on the dischargeable integrated capacity that is left as a reserve remaining amount.
Another electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device that can be operated by a rechargeable battery, a setting means for setting a usable time calculation table for obtaining a usable time by the battery, and a temperature of the battery Update means for updating the usable time calculation table when the change in power consumption or the change in power consumption of the electronic device exceeds a predetermined range, and the predetermined range is a capacity that changes depending on the temperature of the battery. It is set based on.
Another electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device that can be operated by a rechargeable battery, a setting means for setting a usable time calculation table for obtaining a usable time by the battery, and a temperature of the battery Update means for updating the usable time calculation table when the change in power consumption or the change in power consumption of the electronic device exceeds a predetermined range, and the setting means calculates the usable time in the predetermined range. The table is set based on an allowable error when setting the table.
The method for controlling an electronic device according to the present invention is a method for controlling an electronic device that can be operated by a rechargeable battery, the usable time calculating step for calculating the usable time by the battery, and the usable time calculating step. A display step for displaying the usable time calculated by the above-mentioned on the display unit, and setting a threshold value for a change in a predetermined state, and when the threshold value is exceeded, the calculation by the usable time calculating step and the The display in the display step is updated.
The program of the present invention is a program for controlling an electronic device operable with a rechargeable battery, and includes a usable time calculating step for calculating a usable time by the battery, and a usable time calculating step. Causing the computer to execute a display step of displaying the calculated usable time on the display unit, setting a threshold value for a change in a predetermined state, and calculating the usable time calculating step when the threshold value is exceeded, and The display in the display step is updated.

  According to the present invention, since the calculation and display of the usable time can be updated at an appropriate timing, there is no sense of incongruity that the usable time once displayed changes frequently from the viewpoint of the user.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment, a battery (battery pack) B is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100. When the battery B is attached to the apparatus main body 100, electric power is supplied from the battery B to the apparatus main body 100 via the contacts 12a to 12d and 13a to 13d, and the apparatus main body 100 becomes operable. In addition, when the battery (battery pack) B is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 100, the apparatus main body 100 and the battery pack B can communicate with each other.

  In the battery B, reference numeral 1 denotes a rechargeable battery cell that generates an electromotive force. Reference numeral 2 denotes a protection IC that controls a protection function during charging / discharging of the battery cell 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a battery voltage detection unit that detects a voltage between the terminals of the battery cell 1 (battery voltage). Reference numeral 4 denotes a detection resistor for detecting a charge / discharge current (battery current). A storage medium 5 is used as a memory for storing battery data such as an authentication code. Reference numeral 6 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) having an information processing unit 6a. Reference numeral 7 denotes a thermistor that detects a battery temperature (battery temperature). The information processing unit 6a of the microcomputer 6 has a function of A / D converting information from the battery voltage detection unit 3, the detection resistor 4, and the thermistor 7, for example, integrating current.

  In the apparatus main body 100, reference numeral 8 denotes a microcomputer that controls the apparatus main body 100, which will be described in detail later. The Reference numeral 9 denotes a power supply control unit, which generates a use voltage from the power supplied from the battery B by a DC / DC converter. Further, charging can be performed by controlling the microcomputer 8 and operating the charging circuit by the power supply control unit 9 to supply current to the battery B side. A storage medium 10 is used as a memory that stores in advance a plurality of pieces of power consumption information corresponding to the state (operation mode or the like) of the apparatus main body 100. Reference numeral 11 denotes a display unit that displays a usable time.

  FIG. 1 shows only components necessary for explaining the present invention, and other components are not shown.

  The microcomputer 8 of the apparatus main body 100 transmits a request command and power consumption information selected and read from the storage medium 10 to the battery B. The power consumption information (mW) is the power consumption rate of the electronic device, and this is the discharge rate of the battery B. The microcomputer 8 (discharge rate switching means) of the apparatus main body 100 switches the discharge rate of the battery B according to the state of the apparatus main body 100.

  The microcomputer 6 of the battery B calculates and corrects the dischargeable integrated capacity based on the power consumption information received from the apparatus main body 100, the battery temperature detected by the thermistor 7, the battery cycle (number of times of charge / discharge), and the like. Do. That is, the microcomputer 6 functions as a dischargeable integrated capacity calculation means in the present invention.

  The total dischargeable capacity (mAh) is obtained by subtracting the capacity used in the apparatus main body 100 from the total capacity after charging, and further correcting the remaining power in the battery B by correcting the power consumption information and the battery temperature. It is capacity. The dischargeable integrated capacity changes (decreases) during operation of the apparatus main body 100 by the battery B even if the power consumption information and the battery temperature do not change.

  The total capacity (mAh) is a chargeable capacity that has entered the battery cell 1 from the discharge state to the charge end state, and is a variable value that varies depending on the charging condition, the number of charge cycles, and the like. That is, the total capacity that can be discharged from the fully charged state corrected by the power consumption information and the battery temperature. The total capacity changes at the end of charging. The total capacity changes when the power consumption information and the battery temperature change during operation of the apparatus main body 100 by the battery B, but does not change (decrease) unless the power consumption information and the battery temperature change.

  The microcomputer 6 of the battery B transmits information such as the accumulated capacity that can be discharged and corrected, to the microcomputer 8 of the apparatus main body 100 as response data.

  The microcomputer 8 of the apparatus main body 100 sets the usable time calculation table based on the dischargeable integrated capacity received from the battery B and the power consumption information selected and read from the storage medium 10. Then, the usable time is obtained from the set usable time calculation table and displayed on the display unit 11. That is, the microcomputer 8 functions as a usable time calculation means and display means in the present invention.

  In addition, such setting update of the usable time calculation table is executed, for example, when the operation mode of the apparatus main body 100 changes to change the power consumption (power consumption information) or the battery temperature changes. Is done.

  In FIG. 1, the battery temperature is also transmitted from the thermistor 7 of the battery B to the microcomputer 8, but when the battery temperature is required on the apparatus main body 100 side, it is not directly transmitted from the thermistor 7. It is good also as a structure transmitted from the microcomputer 6 of the battery B.

  The electronic device of the present embodiment does not update the setting of the usable time calculation table every time power consumption (power consumption information) or battery temperature changes, but sets a threshold for a change in a predetermined state, Only when this threshold value is exceeded, the setting of the usable time calculation table is updated. Hereinafter, the characteristic threshold value will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the set usable time calculation table. In FIG. 2, the horizontal axis is the usable time, and the vertical axis is the cumulative dischargeable capacity of the battery B. When the available time on the display unit 11 of the apparatus main body 100 to 0 minutes display (end indication) is also to the battery B so that the dischargeable accumulated capacity E ₁ as spare remaining amount remains. This is a correction capacity that assumes that the state of the battery B changes depending on power consumption and battery temperature, and a capacity for writing management information to a recording medium with a digital video camera or the like.

  In this usable time calculation table, the correction capacity assuming that the state of the battery B changes depending on the power consumption or the battery temperature is allocated in advance to the actual dischargeable integrated capacity as the correction capacity during actual operation. A region 1 indicated by hatching in FIG. 2 is obtained by assigning the correction capacity to the usable time.

  When the electronic device is driven at a constant power consumption, the relationship between the usable time and the dischargeable integrated capacity of the battery B is a characteristic line 1 (primary straight line) having a predetermined slope as shown in FIG. . When the set usable time calculation table is indicated by the characteristic line 1, the usable time is used when the change is within the region 1 even if the inclination of the characteristic line 1 changes due to changes in power consumption or battery temperature. The available time is calculated using the available time calculation table indicated by the characteristic line 1 without updating the calculation table.

For example, even if the available time changes due to changes in power consumption or battery temperature at point A, the available time is determined as if it is at point A if the amount of change is less than the time width t ₁ . On the other hand, at point A, when the usable time exceeds the time width t _{1 due} to changes in power consumption or battery temperature, the usable time calculation table is updated and the updated usable time calculation table is displayed. Based on this, the available time is obtained.

  In other words, if the change in power consumption or battery temperature in the area set based on the dischargeable accumulated capacity that is left as a reserve remaining when the available time is displayed for 0 minute, the available time calculation table is updated. Do not do. The usable time calculation table is updated only when the power consumption or the battery temperature changes beyond this range.

  Thus, since the usable time calculation table can be updated at an appropriate timing, there is no sense of incongruity that the usable time once displayed frequently changes from the user's point of view.

  In the above description, the threshold is set for the usable time. However, when the power consumption or the battery temperature changes, the region 1 is set for the dischargeable integrated capacity calculated based on the change. May be.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). The second embodiment is an example in which a threshold is set for a dischargeable integrated capacity (temperature-corrected change capacity) that changes due to only the battery temperature. FIG. 3A is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between the battery temperature and the dischargeable integrated capacity of the battery B. FIG.

  As described in the first embodiment, the microcomputer 6 of the battery B calculates and corrects the dischargeable cumulative capacity based on the power consumption information received from the apparatus main body 100, the battery temperature detected by the thermistor 7, and the like. Process. Specifically, when battery temperature rises, it correct | amends so that dischargeable integrated capacity may be increased from a battery characteristic (refer Fig.3 (a)). Therefore, when the battery temperature rises even though the state of the apparatus main body 100 does not change, a situation occurs in which the usable time increases due to temperature correction.

  Thus, in the second embodiment, the power consumption (power consumption information) of the apparatus main body 100 does not change or can be used for an increase in the dischargeable integrated capacity when the battery current detected in the battery B does not decrease. Set the area where the time calculation table is not updated. That is, an area in which the usable time calculation table is not updated is set for the dischargeable integrated capacity (temperature correction change capacity) caused only by the battery temperature.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining a case where an area in which the usable time calculation table is not updated is set as described above. In this case, unlike the first embodiment, a region having a constant width is set regardless of the usable time, and this width is equal to the temperature correction change capacity.

  By setting such an area, it is possible to perform processing such as adjusting the update timing instead of easily increasing the usable time even when the dischargeable integrated capacity increases due to the battery temperature. An area may be set for the usable time calculated from the temperature-corrected change capacity.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). The third embodiment is an example in which a threshold is set based on an allowable error. FIG. 4A is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between time and power consumption.

  The tolerance that must be allowed in the usable time due to the accuracy error of the calculation by the microcomputer 8 of the apparatus main body 100 and the microcomputer 6 of the battery B, the accuracy error of the power consumption information stored in the storage medium 10 of the apparatus main body 100, etc. An error occurs.

  When the electronic device is driven at a constant power consumption, for example, the usable time indicated by the point A changes with an error in a region between the characteristic line having the slope 1 and the characteristic line having the slope 2. To go. That is, the time change within the allowable error as the usable time accuracy is not an accurate numerical value because it includes an error factor. Therefore, an allowable error is set as a threshold, and when the change width is within the allowable error range, for example, control is performed such as not changing the usable time or adjusting the change timing. The allowable error is obtained from time information, capacity information, voltage information, current information, power consumption information, temperature information, calculation error, and the like.

  FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining a case where an area in which the usable time calculation table is not updated is set as described above. Also in this case, as in the second embodiment, an area having a constant width is set regardless of the usable time, and this width is equal to the allowable error.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The fourth embodiment is an example in which a region is set for each arbitrary range in the relationship between the usable time and the dischargeable integrated capacity. FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between time and the dischargeable integrated capacity of the battery B.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the range of the dischargeable integrated capacity is arbitrarily set, and a region is set for each range. For example, the dischargeable integrated capacity is arranged on the vertical axis, and the time is arranged on the horizontal axis. Here, the dischargeable integrated capacity is divided into three ranges of 100% -70%, 70% -30%, and 30% -0%, and regions each having upper and lower thresholds are set. A change before and after the calculated usable time is calculated, and it is determined whether or not to update the calculation and display of the usable time depending on whether or not the threshold value is exceeded.

  When the dischargeable integrated capacity is large (in the range of 100% -70%), the threshold value is set large, and the threshold value is set small as the dischargeable integrated capacity decreases. That is, in a situation where the usable time is short, the usable time is calculated and the display is updated with relatively high sensitivity, and the user is notified of the accurate usable time.

  In addition, in the upper and lower threshold values in each range, the threshold value is set to be large when the usable time becomes long, and the threshold value is made small when the usable time becomes short. In the example of FIG. 5, for example, in the range of 100% to 70%, the upper threshold is set to 10 minutes and the lower threshold is set to 3 minutes. By setting the upper and lower thresholds in this way, the usable time is changed and displayed with high sensitivity (positively) when the usable time becomes shorter.

  The threshold value may be set for each arbitrary range by arranging the battery voltage instead of the dischargeable integrated capacity on the vertical axis.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus. In this case, the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are not limited to being realized by executing the program code read by the computer. For example, an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. May be.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, after being written in the memory, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the function of the above-described embodiment is performed by the processing. Is realized.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic device which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the threshold value in 1st Embodiment, and is a characteristic figure which shows the example of the relationship between time and the dischargeable integration capacity of a battery. It is a figure for demonstrating the threshold value in 2nd Embodiment, and is a characteristic view which shows the example of the relationship between battery temperature and the dischargeable integration capacity of a battery. It is a figure for demonstrating the threshold value in 3rd Embodiment, and is a characteristic view which shows the example of the relationship between time and power consumption. It is a figure for demonstrating the threshold value in 4th Embodiment, and is a characteristic figure which shows the example of the relationship between time and the dischargeable integration capacity of a battery.

Explanation of symbols

B Battery 1 Battery cell 2 Protection IC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Battery voltage detection part 4 Detection resistance 5 Storage medium 6 Microcomputer 6a Information processing part 7 Thermistor 8 Microcomputer 9 Power supply control part 10 Storage medium 11 Display part 100 Device main body

Claims (9)

An electronic device operable with a rechargeable battery,
Usable time calculating means for calculating usable time by the battery;
Display means for displaying the available time calculated by the available time calculation means on a display unit;
An electronic apparatus, wherein a threshold is set for a change in a predetermined value, and when the threshold is exceeded, the calculation by the usable time calculation unit and the display by the display unit are updated. Dischargeable integrated capacity calculation means for calculating the dischargeable integrated capacity of the battery using the power consumption information and battery temperature of the electronic device,
2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the usable time calculating unit calculates a usable time based on the dischargeable integrated capacity calculated by the dischargeable integrated capacity calculating unit.   The threshold value is set with respect to the dischargeable integrated capacity calculated by the dischargeable integrated capacity calculating means or the available time calculated by the available time calculating means based on the dischargeable integrated capacity. The electronic device according to claim 2.   The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein a range is set in relation to a usable time and a dischargeable integrated capacity or a battery voltage, and the threshold value is set for each range. An electronic device operable with a rechargeable battery,
Setting means for setting an available time calculation table for obtaining the available time by the battery;
Updating means for updating the usable time calculation table when a change in temperature of the battery or a change in power consumption of the electronic device exceeds a predetermined range;
The electronic device is characterized in that the predetermined range is set based on a dischargeable integrated capacity that is left as a spare remaining amount when the usable time is displayed for 0 minute. An electronic device operable with a rechargeable battery,
Setting means for setting an available time calculation table for obtaining the available time by the battery;
Updating means for updating the usable time calculation table when a change in temperature of the battery or a change in power consumption of the electronic device exceeds a predetermined range;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is set based on a capacity that varies depending on a temperature of the battery. An electronic device operable with a rechargeable battery,
Setting means for setting an available time calculation table for obtaining the available time by the battery;
Updating means for updating the usable time calculation table when a change in temperature of the battery or a change in power consumption of the electronic device exceeds a predetermined range;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is set based on an allowable error when the setting means sets the usable time calculation table. A method for controlling an electronic device operable with a rechargeable battery,
A usable time calculating step for calculating a usable time by the battery;
A display step for displaying the usable time calculated in the usable time calculating step on a display unit;
A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising: setting a threshold value for a change in a predetermined state, and updating the calculation by the usable time calculation step and the display by the display step when the threshold value is exceeded. A program for controlling an electronic device operable with a rechargeable battery,
A usable time calculating step for calculating a usable time by the battery;
Causing the computer to execute a display step of displaying the available time calculated in the available time calculation step on a display unit;
A program that sets a threshold for a change in a predetermined state, and updates the calculation by the usable time calculation step and the display by the display step when the threshold is exceeded.

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