JP2010009511A - Information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide in information processing device capable of notifying a user even when power of the power source for supplying power to a system is zero. <P>SOLUTION: The information processing device at least includes a main battery as a first power source, a sub-battery as a second power source, and a battery state notification part 30. The sub-battery as a second power source supplies power independently from the main battery to the components which require power supply of a built-in RTC (real time clock) and the battery state notification part 30. The battery state notification part 30 has a power source control part 31, an alarm part 34, etc. When the power source control part 31 becomes inoperative as the remaining power level of the main battery is lower than a predetermined level, the alarm part 34 is driven by receiving power supply from the sub-battery 26 and causes a light emitting part 18 to emit light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that operates using a battery as a power source.

  In recent years, batteries such as batteries composed of secondary batteries such as lithium ion batteries have been widely used as power sources for information processing apparatuses such as notebook personal computers and mobile phones. In an information processing apparatus that uses a battery as a power source, a function of notifying a user of the remaining amount of battery power is required in order to prevent adverse effects caused by a shortage of remaining battery power.

  Conventionally, there is an electronic device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-359931 (Patent Document 1) as a technique for notifying a user of the remaining power of this type of battery.

  The electronic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a warning output means for outputting a warning related to the remaining amount of battery power to a user, and the electronic device according to whether the power switch of the electronic device is on or off. And control means for controlling the power output to be turned on and off and controlling the warning output means. The control means warns before turning on the power supply when the power switch of the electronic device is turned on. Drives the output means to output a warning according to the remaining battery power, and keeps the power supply shut off when the remaining battery power is insufficient to ensure the normal operation of the device It is supposed to be.

According to this electronic device, if the remaining battery power is insufficient to ensure the normal operation of the device, the battery power is not supplied to the system by supplying a warning to the user without supplying power to the system. It can be notified that the remaining amount is low. In this case, the user can take appropriate measures such as replacing the battery with a new battery or charging if the battery is a secondary battery.
JP 2002-359931 A

  However, in the conventional technology for notifying the user of the remaining battery power, the remaining battery power becomes so low that the warning output means becomes inoperable, such as when the remaining battery power becomes completely zero. Does not consider the case. For this reason, in the prior art, the warning output means for outputting a warning to the user and the control means for controlling the warning output means are supplied with power from the same battery as the battery for driving the system. If the remaining power of the battery becomes less than a predetermined remaining amount due to natural discharge caused by leaving it for a long time, power is not supplied to the warning output means or the control means in the first place.

  Therefore, in the conventional technology, when the system is not started even when the power switch is pressed because the remaining battery power is insufficient, the user cannot be notified of this cause, and the user can This is very inconvenient because it may be mistaken for the failure.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and provides an information processing apparatus capable of notifying a user even when the power of a power supply for supplying power to the system is zero. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first power source that is configured by a secondary battery and can supply power to the entire information processing apparatus, and required members of the information processing apparatus. A second power source capable of supplying power independently from the first power source, and driven by receiving power supply from the first power source, and the remaining power of the first power source is equal to or greater than a predetermined remaining amount. If there is a power supply control unit that outputs a first signal and a light emitting unit, and the power supply control unit does not output the first signal, it is driven by receiving power supply from the second power supply and emits the light. A warning unit that causes the first power source to emit light, and the state in which the remaining power amount of the first power source is less than the predetermined remaining amount includes a state in which the remaining power amount of the first power source is zero, If the remaining power of the first power source is less than the predetermined remaining power, the system cannot be started. In addition, the power supply control unit is inoperable, and the light emitting unit emits light under the control of the warning unit driven by the second power supply, so that the remaining power of the first power supply is the predetermined power. It is possible to notify the user that the system is less than the remaining amount and cannot be activated.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention can notify the user of the fact even when the power of the power source that supplies power to the system is completely zero.

  Embodiments of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. In the following description, a notebook personal computer is shown as an example of an information processing apparatus.

  The information processing apparatus 10 includes a computer main body 11 and a display unit 12.

  The computer main body 11 has a thin box-shaped casing, and a keyboard 13 as an input section is provided at the center of the upper surface of the casing. The display unit 12 incorporates an LCD 14 (Liquid Crystal Display) as a display unit. The display unit 12 is connected to the computer main body 11 via a connecting portion (hinge 16) so as to be openable and closable in the direction of arrow X about the opening and closing shaft 15.

  A power button 17 and a light emitting unit 18 are provided on the back side of the top surface of the casing of the computer main body 11. The user gives an instruction to activate the system to the information processing apparatus 10 by pressing the power button 17. The light emitting unit 18 is configured by a general light emitting member such as a light emitting diode (LED). This embodiment demonstrates the example in case the light emission part 18 is comprised by LED.

  In the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 18 is configured to be lit while the main battery 25 of the information processing apparatus 10 is being charged, and the remaining power of the main battery 25 is a predetermined remaining amount (for example, a remaining system startable system). When the power button 17 is pressed while the system is shut down, the case where the power button 17 is turned on will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal structure of the computer main body 11 shown in FIG.

  The computer main body 11 includes a CPU 21 (Central Processing Unit), a RAM 22 (Random Access Memory), a ROM 23 (Read Only Memory), a network connection unit 24, a main battery 25 as a first power source, and a second power source. A sub-battery 26 and a battery state notification unit 30 are provided.

  The CPU 21 controls the processing operation of the information processing apparatus 10 according to a program stored in the ROM 23. The RAM 22 provides a work area for temporarily storing programs executed by the CPU 21 and data. The ROM 23 stores a startup program for the information processing apparatus 10 and various data necessary for executing these programs.

  The ROM 23 has a configuration including a recording medium readable by the CPU 21 such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory, and a part or all of the programs and data in the ROM 23 are transmitted via an electronic network. It may be configured to be downloaded.

  The network connection unit 24 implements various information communication protocols according to the network form. The network connection unit 24 connects the information processing apparatus 10 and other electrical devices according to these various protocols. For this connection, an electrical connection via an electronic network can be applied. Here, the electronic network means an entire information communication network using telecommunications technology. In addition to a LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet network, a telephone communication line network, an optical fiber communication network, a cable communication network, and a satellite communication network. Etc.

  The main battery 25 as a first power source is constituted by a secondary battery, and supplies power to all members constituting the information processing apparatus 10. Moreover, the secondary battery which comprises the main battery 25 is charged via an AC adapter from a commercial power source. As the secondary battery, for example, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery, a lead secondary battery, a nickel cadmium secondary battery, or the like can be used. In addition, a secondary battery shall include the assembled battery which connected the several secondary battery mutually other than a single secondary battery.

  The sub-battery 26 as the second power source is formed of, for example, a button-type battery, and supplies power independently of the main battery 25 to the necessary constituent members of the built-in RTC (Real Time Clock) and the battery state notification unit 30. To do. In this embodiment, when the sub battery 26 has a remaining amount of the main battery 25 smaller than a predetermined remaining amount (for example, a remaining amount that can start the system), at least a required component of the battery state notification unit 30 is main. An example in which power is supplied instead of the battery 25 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the battery state notification unit 30.

  The battery state notification unit 30 includes a power control unit 31, a remaining amount detection unit 32, a commercial power connection determination unit 33, and a warning unit 34.

  The power supply control unit 31 includes a processor such as a microcomputer (microcomputer) and is driven by receiving power supply from the main battery 25 (or commercial power supply).

  The remaining amount detection unit 32 outputs an output signal S0 corresponding to the remaining amount of power of the main battery 25. The commercial power connection determination unit 33 determines whether a commercial power is connected to the information processing apparatus 10 so that the main battery 25 can be charged.

  The power supply control unit 31 receives an output signal S0 corresponding to the remaining power of the main battery 25 from the remaining amount detection unit 32, and the remaining power of the main battery 25 is greater than or equal to a predetermined remaining amount (or is supplied with power from a commercial power supply). The first signal S1 is output HIGH.

  In the present embodiment, the power remaining amount of the main battery 25 being equal to or greater than the predetermined remaining amount means that the system can be activated and the power control unit 31 is operable.

  When the remaining power of the main battery 25 is less than the predetermined remaining power and the commercial power source is not connected (hereinafter referred to as a battery power shortage state), the power supply control unit 31 is inoperable. The signal cannot be output HIGH, and the first signal S1 becomes LOW. Further, even when the remaining power of the main battery 25 further decreases to zero, the first signal S1 remains LOW.

  The power supply control unit 31 receives information indicating that the commercial power supply is connected from the commercial power supply connection determination unit 33 and the main battery 25 is not fully charged based on the signal S0 received from the remaining amount detection unit 32. When this is found, the second signal S2 is output HIGH. Note that, when the commercial power source is connected and the main battery 25 is not fully charged (the second signal S2 is output as HIGH), the main battery 25 is charged by receiving power supply from the commercial power source.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the warning unit 34 includes a light emitting unit 18, a first FET 41 (Field Effect Transistor), a second FET 42, an inverter 43 that inverts the first signal S1, and the power button 17 is pressed / released. And at least a power switch 44 and a pull-up resistor 45 that are short-circuited / opened.

  In FIG. 3, the potential described as Vsubbat is given from the sub battery 26 in a battery power shortage state (a state where the commercial power source is not connected and the remaining power of the main battery 25 is less than a predetermined remaining amount). In other states, it is supplied from the connected commercial power source or the main battery 25.

  In the following description, an example in which an n-type MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) FET is used as the first FET 41 and the second FET 42 will be described.

  When the second signal is HIGH, HIGH is given to the gate of the second FET 42, and a current flows through the circuit constituted by the light emitting unit 18 and the second FET 42, so that the light emitting unit 18 emits light (FIG. 3). reference). As a result, it is possible to notify the user that the main battery 25 is being charged through the light emission of the light emitting unit 18.

  Then, an example of operation | movement of the information processing apparatus 10 in a battery power shortage state is demonstrated.

  In the battery power shortage state, power is supplied from the sub battery 26 to a required member of the warning unit 34. Further, when the battery power is insufficient, the power supply control unit 31 cannot operate, so the first signal S1 and the second signal S2 are LOW.

  Since the second signal S2 is LOW, no current flows through the circuit constituted by the light emitting unit 18 and the second FET 42. In this case, the light emitting unit 18 does not emit light depending on the second signal S2.

  On the other hand, the first signal S1 is also LOW, but is inverted by the inverter 43 and HIGH is given to the gate of the first FET 41.

  For this reason, when the power button 17 is pressed by the user and the power switch 44 is short-circuited, the source potential of the first FET 41 is lowered, and a current is supplied to the circuit configured by the light emitting unit 18, the first FET 41 and the power switch 44. Flows and the light emitting section 18 emits light. Further, when the power button 17 is released by the user and the power switch 44 is opened, no current flows through the light emitting unit 18 and the light is turned off.

  In the information processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the user presses the power button 17 to activate the system, the remaining amount of power of the main battery 25 is less than a predetermined remaining amount (remaining amount that can start the system). The light emitting unit 18 can be turned on by using the sub battery 26. For this reason, when the system cannot be started due to insufficient power remaining in the main battery 25, it is possible to easily notify the user that “the system cannot be started due to insufficient power remaining in the main battery 25”. Therefore, according to the information processing apparatus 10, when the system cannot be started up due to insufficient power remaining in the main battery 25, the user is not mistaken for the failure of the information processing apparatus 10, and is very Convenient to.

  Next, a modified example of the warning unit 34 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram of the warning unit 34 showing a first modification of the warning unit 34.

  The warning unit 34 shown in the first modification is configured to cause the light emitting unit 18 to emit light for a predetermined period after the power button 17 is released, in addition to the power button 17 being pressed.

  The warning unit 34 is provided with a delay unit 46 for adjusting the lighting time of the light emitting unit 18. The delay unit 46 includes, for example, a resistor 47, a capacitor 48, a diode 49, and a Schmitt circuit 50 as shown in FIG. By having the delay unit 46 shown in FIG. 4, the warning unit 34 can cause the light emitting unit 18 to emit light for a predetermined period after the power button 17 is released in addition to when the power button 17 is pressed. .

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the power switch 44 and each signal of the warning unit 34. Note that t = t0 in FIG. 5 indicates a time when the battery power is insufficient and the system is shut down.

  At t = t1, when the power button 17 is pressed by the user and the power switch 44 is short-circuited, the potential of the input signal S11 to the Schmitt circuit 50 falls from the lower end potential of the pull-up resistor 45 to the ground potential. And is input to the Schmitt circuit 50 without being delayed by the RC integration circuit. At this time, the signal S11 immediately falls below the lower threshold potential V1 of the Schmitt circuit 50, and the output signal S12 of the Schmitt circuit 50 similarly falls. For this reason, the source potential of the first FET 41 also falls, and the light emitting unit 18 starts to emit light.

  Next, at t = t2, when the power button 17 is released by the user and the power switch 44 is opened, the potential of the signal S11 rises. The rise of the signal S11 is delayed by a predetermined time constant by the RC integration circuit.

  Next, when the potential of the signal S11 exceeds the upper threshold potential V2 of the Schmitt circuit 50 at t = t3, the output signal S12 of the Schmitt circuit 50 rises. For this reason, the source potential of the first FET 41 rises and the light emitting unit 18 is turned off.

  According to the warning unit 34 having the delay unit 46 shown in FIG. 4, as shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the power button 17 being pressed (from t = t 1 to t = t 2), the power button 17 The light emitting unit 18 can also emit light for a predetermined period (from t = t2 to t = t3) after being separated. This predetermined period can be arbitrarily adjusted according to the characteristic values of the resistor 47, the capacitor 48, and the Schmitt circuit 50 constituting the delay unit 46 (for example, 1 second). For this reason, even if the user presses the power button 17 for a short time and then releases it immediately, the user can easily confirm that the light emitting unit 18 has emitted light by pressing the power button 17 himself. it can.

  FIG. 6 is a partial configuration diagram of the warning unit 34 showing a second modification of the warning unit 34.

  The warning unit 34 shown in the second modification is configured to cause the light emitting unit 18 to emit light only for a predetermined period after the power button 17 is started to be pressed.

  Also in the second modification, the warning unit 34 is provided with a delay unit 46 for adjusting the lighting time of the light emitting unit 18. The delay unit 46 includes, for example, a resistor 47, a capacitor 48, a diode 49, an inverting Schmitt circuit 51, and an OR circuit 52 as shown in FIG. By including the delay unit 46 illustrated in FIG. 6, the warning unit 34 can cause the light emitting unit 18 to emit light only for a predetermined period after the power button 17 is started to be pressed. Note that the connection direction of the diode 49 in the second modified example is opposite to the direction in the first modified example.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the power switch 44 and each signal of the warning unit 34. Note that t = t0 in FIG. 7 indicates a time when the battery power is insufficient and the system is shut down.

  When the user presses the power button 17 and the power switch 44 is short-circuited at t = t11, the potential of the first input signal S21 with respect to the OR circuit 52 falls from the lower end potential of the pull-up resistor 45 to the ground potential. .

  On the other hand, at this time, the fall of the input signal S22 to the inverting Schmitt circuit 51 is delayed by a predetermined time constant by the RC integrating circuit. While the potential of the signal S22 is higher than the lower threshold potential V11 of the inverting Schmitt circuit 51, the potential of the output signal (second input signal to the OR circuit 52) S23 of the inverting Schmitt circuit 51 remains lowered.

  Therefore, the output signal S24 of the OR circuit 52 falls based on the signal S21 and the signal S23. Accordingly, the source potential of the first FET 41 also falls, and the light emitting unit 18 starts to emit light.

  Next, when the potential of the signal S22 falls below the lower threshold potential V11 of the inverting Schmitt circuit 51 at t = t12, the output signal S23 of the Schmitt circuit 50 rises. For this reason, the output signal S24 of the OR circuit 52 rises. Therefore, the source potential of the first FET 41 rises and the light emitting unit 18 is turned off.

  According to the warning unit 34 having the delay unit 46 shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitting unit 18 only during a predetermined period (from t = t11 to t = t12) after the power button 17 is started to be pressed. Can emit light. As in the first modification of the warning unit 34 shown in FIG. 4, this predetermined period can be arbitrarily adjusted according to the characteristic values of the resistor 47, the capacitor 48, and the inverting Schmitt circuit 51 constituting the delay unit 46 ( For example, 1 second). For this reason, even if the power button 17 is continuously pressed for a long time by the user, the light emitting unit 18 can be automatically turned off after a predetermined period has elapsed since the start of pressing. Therefore, when the user keeps pressing the power button 17 for a long time, the user can surely recognize the light emission of the light emitting unit 18 and the power consumption of the sub battery 26 can be suppressed.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the light emitting unit for indicating that the battery power is insufficient is shared with the light emitting unit 18 for indicating that the battery is being charged, but separately from the light emitting unit 18 indicating that the battery is being charged. An independent light emitting unit may be provided. At this time, if the light emission color is different between when the battery is being charged and when the battery power is insufficient, it is easier for the user to understand and the convenience can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the light emission by the light emitting unit 18 is used to notify the user that “the system cannot be started due to insufficient power remaining in the main battery 25” has been described. ) Is not limited to light emission, and may be a warning by sound such as a beep sound or guidance voice.

1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an internal structure of a computer main body according to a first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of 1 structure of a battery state notification part. The partial block diagram of the warning part which shows the 1st modification of a warning part. Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a power switch and each signal of the warning part which concerns on a 1st modification. The partial block diagram of the warning part which shows the 2nd modification of a warning part. Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a power switch and each signal of the warning part which concerns on a 2nd modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Information processing apparatus 11 Computer main body 12 Display unit 13 Keyboard 14 LCD
15 Opening / closing axis 16 Hinge 17 Power button 18 Light emitting unit 21 CPU
22 RAM
23 ROM
24 Network connection unit 25 Main battery (first power supply)
26 Sub-battery (second power supply)
30 Battery state notification unit 31 Power supply control unit 32 Remaining amount detection unit 33 Commercial power supply connection determination unit 34 Warning unit 41 First FET
42 Second FET
43 Inverter 44 Power switch 45 Pull-up resistor 46 Delay unit 47 Resistor 48 Capacitor 49 Diode 50 Schmitt circuit 51 Inverted Schmitt circuit 52 OR circuit

Claims (6)

A first power source configured by a secondary battery and capable of supplying power to the entire information processing apparatus;
A second power source capable of supplying power to a required member of the information processing apparatus independently of the first power source;
A power supply controller that is driven by power supply from the first power supply and outputs a first signal when the remaining power of the first power supply is equal to or greater than a predetermined remaining power;
A warning unit that has a light emitting unit and is driven by receiving power supply from the second power source when the power supply control unit does not output the first signal;
With
The state in which the remaining power of the first power source is less than the predetermined remaining power includes a state in which the remaining power of the first power source is zero,
When the remaining power of the first power source is less than the predetermined remaining power, the system cannot be started up and the power control unit is not operable,
When the warning unit driven by the second power source controls the light-emitting unit to emit light, the remaining power of the first power source is less than the predetermined remaining amount and the system cannot be started. An information processing apparatus characterized by being able to notify the user. The warning part is
When the power control unit does not output the first signal and the user presses a power button to start the system, the power controller is driven by receiving power supply from the second power source and emits the light. Make the part emit light,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The warning part is
The light emitting unit is turned off by receiving a signal indicating that the power button has been released, and is driven by being supplied with power from the second power source only while the power button is pressed. , Flash
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The warning unit further includes a delay unit,
The delay unit is
Delay the signal that the power button has been released for a predetermined period of time,
The warning part is
In addition to the power button being pressed, the light emitting unit is caused to emit light for a predetermined period delayed by the delay unit after the power button is released,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. The warning unit further includes a delay unit,
The delay unit is
Delay the signal that the power button is pressed for a predetermined period,
The warning part is
Based on the signal indicating that the power button has been pressed and the signal delayed by the delay unit for the predetermined period, the light emitting unit is caused to emit light only for the predetermined period after the power button is started to be pressed.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 2. A remaining amount detection unit that provides the power control unit with a signal corresponding to the remaining amount of power of the first power source;
A determination unit that determines whether the first power source is connected to a commercial power source and can be charged;
Further comprising
The power control unit
When the first power source is connected to a commercial power source and can be charged, and the first power source is not fully charged, a second signal is output;
The light emitting unit
It is configured to be able to notify the user that the first power source is being charged by receiving the second signal and emitting light.
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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