JP2020173124A - Electronic apparatus and method for outputting alarm - Google Patents

Abstract

To notify a user of completion of the self recovery of a battery.SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes a controller and an output device. The controller includes: an acquisition unit for acquiring the voltage of a battery installed in the electronic apparatus; a writing unit for writing the number of times the voltage became a predetermined threshold value or less into a nonvolatile memory; a determination unit for determining whether the number of times is a predicted value or more of the number of times when the battery has self-recovered; and an instruction unit for issuing an instruction to output an alarm to the output device when the number of times has been determined to be the predicted value or more. The output device outputs an alarm according to the instruction to output an alarm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to electronic devices and alarm output methods.

In electronic devices equipped with batteries, a technique is used to notify the remaining battery level or warn when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined value. With such a technique, the user can determine whether to replace the battery or charge the battery. However, even if the remaining battery level is reduced to a level at which the electronic device cannot be used, when the power of the electronic device is turned off and a predetermined period of time elapses, the battery self-recovers due to a chemical change and the electronic device becomes usable. There is.

As a related technique, a technique has been proposed in which an alarm is generated to the effect that the remaining battery level is low when it is determined that the rate of change obtained by dividing the voltage difference by the temperature difference exceeds the rate of change threshold (for example). , Patent Document 1).

Further, as a related technology, when the detected voltage value is divided by the lower limit reference value set to be equal to or higher than the over-discharge voltage value of the secondary battery, the opening / closing means is open-controlled until the detection voltage reaches a reference value higher than the self-recovery voltage. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2018-132318 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-236677

Once a depleted battery self-recovers, the electronic device equipped with the battery can operate for a short period of time, but may perform unstable operation, malfunction, or the like. In addition, since the self-healing battery has already deteriorated, there is a possibility that the electronic device may be damaged due to liquid leakage.

In addition, as described above, there are technologies such as notifying the remaining battery level and warning when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined value. Is the battery self-healing even if such a technology is used? Cannot be known by the user.

As one aspect, the present invention aims to inform the user that the battery has self-healed.

In one aspect, the electronic device comprises a control device and an output device. The control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires the voltage of the battery mounted on the electronic device, a writing unit that writes the number of times the voltage becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value to the non-volatile memory, and the battery. A determination unit that determines whether the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value when self-healing is performed, and an instruction unit that outputs an alarm output instruction to the output device when it is determined that the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value. And include. The output device outputs an alarm in response to an output instruction of the alarm.

In another aspect, in an alarm output method performed by an electronic device comprising a control device and an output device, the control device acquires the voltage of a battery mounted on the electronic device, and the voltage is a predetermined threshold value. The following number of times is written to the non-volatile memory, it is determined whether the number of times is equal to or more than the predicted value of the number of times when the battery self-recovers, and it is determined that the number of times is equal to or more than the predicted value. If so, the output device of the alarm is output to the output device, and the output device outputs the alarm in response to the output instruction of the alarm.

According to one aspect, the user can be informed that the battery has self-healed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of an electronic device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a processor. FIG. 3 is a flowchart (No. 1) showing the processing of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart (No. 2) showing the processing of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 3) showing the processing of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of an electronic device. An electronic device is, for example, a device that emits radio waves to read a wireless tag. Further, the electronic device may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic devices include a battery 21, a resistor 22, an ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) 23, a processor 24, a flash memory 25, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 26, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 27, and a buzzer. 28 and is included.

The battery 21 is used as a power supply source for electronic devices. The battery 21 may be, for example, a primary battery such as a manganese battery or a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery. The number of batteries 21 mounted on the electronic device may be one or a plurality.

The battery 21 self-recovers when a predetermined period of time elapses with the power of the electronic device turned off. For example, by using the battery 21, the concentration of the ionized substance around the electrode is lowered, and it becomes difficult for the current to flow. After that, when a predetermined period elapses with the power turned off (a state in which no current flows), the concentration of the ionized substance in the electrolyte becomes uniform, so that the current easily flows again.

The ADC 23 is connected to the battery 21 via a resistor 22. The ADC 23 has a voltage measuring function, converts the measured voltage from an analog signal to a digital signal, and outputs the measured voltage to the processor 24. The voltage output by the ADC 23 to the processor 24 is used as a battery voltage for controlling the processor 24. An operational amplifier may be connected to the output terminal (OUT shown in FIG. 1) of the ADC 23, and a signal indicating the battery voltage amplified by the operational amplifier may be output to the processor 24.

The processor 24 determines whether the battery 21 has self-healed based on the input battery voltage, and if it determines that the battery 21 has self-healed, outputs an alarm output instruction to the LED 27 and the buzzer 28. The processor 24 is an example of a control device. The processing executed by the processor 24 will be described in detail later.

The flash memory 25 stores various data used for processing executed by the processor 24. Further, the flash memory 25 stores a program that performs the processing of the embodiment. The flash memory 25 is an example of a non-volatile memory. The RAM 26 stores various data used in the processing executed by the processor 24.

The LED 27 emits light in response to an alarm output instruction from the processor 24. The LED 27 is normally turned on or off, for example, and may blink when an alarm output instruction is received from the processor 24. The buzzer 28 outputs a sound in response to an alarm output instruction from the processor 24. The electronic device may include a display device (for example, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)) that displays a message or the like in response to an alarm output instruction from the processor 24. The LED 27, buzzer 28, and display device are examples of output devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the processor 24. The processor 24 includes an acquisition unit 11, a writing unit 12, a determination unit 13, a reading unit 14, an erasing unit 15, and an indicating unit 16. The processor 24 operates as an acquisition unit 11, a writing unit 12, a determination unit 13, a reading unit 14, an erasing unit 15, and an indicating unit 16 by executing a program stored in the flash memory 25.

The acquisition unit 11 acquires the battery voltage output from the ADC 23 at a plurality of timings. The acquisition unit 11 periodically acquires, for example, the battery voltage output from the ADC 23.

The writing unit 12 writes various data to the flash memory 25 and the RAM 26. The writing unit 12 writes, for example, the number of times (count value N) that the battery voltage acquired by the acquisition unit 11 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (threshold value TH2) to the flash memory 25. The threshold value TH2 is a value near the minimum voltage at which the electronic device can operate, and is, for example, a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the minimum voltage at which the electronic device can operate.

When writing the count value N to the flash memory 25, the writing unit 12 may increase the count value N and write the count value N to the flash memory 25 when the two battery voltages having different acquisition timings are both equal to or less than the threshold value TH2.

The determination unit 13 refers to the flash memory 25 and determines whether the count value N is equal to or greater than the threshold value THn. The threshold value THn is a predicted value of the count value N when the battery 21 self-recovers. When the battery 21 self-recovers, the battery voltage rises once and then falls again with the subsequent use of the electronic device, so that the count value N increases as compared with the case where the battery 21 does not self-recover. Therefore, when the count value N is equal to or greater than the threshold value THn, it is considered that the battery 21 has self-recovered.

Further, the determination unit 13 determines whether the battery voltage is larger than the threshold value TH1. The threshold value TH1 is a value near the voltage value when the battery 21 is in a new or fully charged state, and is, for example, a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the voltage value when the battery 21 is in a new or fully charged state. When the battery voltage b1 is larger than the threshold TH1, the battery 21 is considered to be new or fully charged.

When it is determined that the count value N is equal to or higher than the threshold value THn, the writing unit 12 writes a specific value (FbN value) indicating that the battery 21 has self-recovered to the flash memory 25.

Further, when it is determined that the battery voltage is higher than TH1, the writing unit 12 writes a value (FbO value) indicating that the battery 21 can be used normally in the flash memory 25.

The reading unit 14 reads various data from the flash memory 25 and the RAM 26. The reading unit 14 reads, for example, an area in the flash memory 25 in which the FbN value or the FbO value is written.

The erasing unit 15 erases the data written in the flash memory 25 before the writing unit 12 writes various data to the flash memory 25.

When the determination unit 13 determines that the count value N is equal to or greater than the threshold value THn, the instruction unit 16 outputs an alarm output instruction to the output device. Alternatively, the indicator unit 16 may output an alarm output instruction to the output device when the FbN value is written from the flash memory 25. Since the indicator 16 refers to the FbN value of the non-volatile flash memory 25, the alarm output instruction can be output to the output device even if the power is turned off once the FbN value is written. The output device outputs an alarm indicating that the battery 21 has self-recovered in response to the alarm output instruction output from the indicator unit 16. The output device outputs an alarm by, for example, light emission and sound output.

After determining that the count value N is equal to or greater than the threshold value THn, the determination unit 13 determines whether the battery voltage has increased by a predetermined ratio (bx%) or more. When the battery voltage rises by bx% or more, it is considered that the battery voltage has risen due to charging the battery 21. bx% is, for example, 20%.

When it is determined that the battery voltage has risen by bx% or more, the indicator 16 outputs an alarm output stop instruction to the output device because it is considered that the battery 21 can be used normally. The output device stops the running alarm output in response to the stop instruction output from the instruction unit 16.

3 to 5 are flowcharts showing the processing of the embodiment. The electronic device performs the processes shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 while the power is on. Further, when the power of the electronic device is turned off and then turned on again during the execution of the processes shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the process is restarted from step S101. It is assumed that the acquisition unit 11 periodically acquires the battery voltage in parallel with the processes shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. The acquisition unit 11 may acquire the latest battery voltage at a timing immediately before the writing unit 12 writes the battery voltage to the RAM 26.

The writing unit 12 writes the latest battery voltage acquired by the acquisition unit 11 into the RAM 26 (step S101). Let the battery voltage written in step S101 be b1. The determination unit 13 determines whether the battery voltage b1 is larger than the threshold value TH1 (step S102). The threshold value TH1 is a value near the voltage value when the battery 21 is new or fully charged, and is, for example, a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value from the voltage value when the battery 21 is new or fully charged. To do. When the battery voltage b1 is larger than the threshold TH1, the battery 21 is considered to be new or fully charged.

When the battery voltage b1 is larger than the threshold value TH1 (YES in step S102), the erasing unit 15 erases the value written in the area A of the flash memory 25 (step S103). The writing unit 12 writes a value (FbO value) indicating that the battery 21 can be used normally in the area A of the flash memory 25 (step S104). By performing the erasing process by the erasing unit 15 in step S103, it is possible to prevent an inappropriate value from remaining in the area A of the flash memory 25 when an error or the like occurs during the writing process of step S104. ..

The electronic device executes various programs (step S105). The process of step S105 differs depending on the function of the electronic device. For example, when the electronic device is a device that transmits radio waves, the process executed in step S105 is the transmission process of radio waves. The time required for step S105 is, for example, 3 seconds. Various programs of the electronic device may be executed in parallel with the processes of FIGS. 3 to 5. After the processing of step S105, the processing returns to step S101.

When the battery voltage b1 is equal to or less than the threshold value TH1 (NO in step S102), the reading unit 14 reads the area A of the flash memory 25 (step S106). The determination unit 13 determines whether the value of the area A of the flash memory 25 is the FbN value (step S107). When the value of the area A of the flash memory 25 is the FbN value (YES in step S107), the process proceeds to step S116 of FIG.

The FbN value is a value written in the process described later when the battery 21 is considered to have self-recovered. Since the voltage that rises due to self-recovery is very small, it is highly possible that the battery voltage will not be higher than TH1 even if self-recovery is performed. Therefore, after it was determined that the battery 21 had self-recovered and an alarm output instruction was output to the output device, the power was turned off, and the power was turned on again without being replaced or charged with a new battery. In this case, the result becomes NO again in step S102, and the process proceeds to step S107. Since the FbN value is held in the flash memory 25, YES is set in step S107, and an alarm output instruction is output to the output device again by the process described later. That is, since the FbN value is written in the non-volatile flash memory 25, even if the power is turned off once during the alarm output, if the battery is not replaced with a new one or charged, the output device outputs the alarm. Can be restarted.

When the value of the area A of the flash memory 25 is not the FbN value (NO in step S107), the writing unit 12 writes the latest battery voltage acquired by the acquisition unit 11 to the RAM 26 (step S108). Let the battery voltage written in step S108 be b2. It is assumed that the battery voltage b1 and the battery voltage b2 are acquired at different timings by the acquisition unit 11. The determination unit 13 determines whether the battery voltage b1 is equal to or less than the threshold value TH2 (step S109). The threshold value TH2 is a value near the minimum voltage at which the electronic device can operate, and is, for example, a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the minimum voltage at which the electronic device can operate.

When the battery voltage b1 is larger than the threshold value TH2 (NO in step S109), the process proceeds to step S105. When the battery voltage b1 is equal to or less than the threshold value TH2 (YES in step S109), the determination unit 13 determines whether the battery voltage b2 is equal to or less than the threshold value TH2 (step S110 in FIG. 4). When the battery voltage b2 is larger than the threshold value TH2 (NO in step S110), the process proceeds to step S105 in FIG.

When the battery voltage b2 is equal to or less than the threshold value TH2 (YES in step S110), the writing unit 12 writes the value obtained by adding 1 to the current count value N as a new count value N in the area B of the flash memory 25 (step). S111). It is assumed that the initial value of the count value N is 0.

When the battery voltage drops, the voltage becomes unstable and the variation becomes large. It is not appropriate to increase the count value in the process of step S111 when the voltage temporarily drops due to the voltage instability. Therefore, as shown in steps S109 to S111, when the two battery voltages (b1 and b2) having different acquisition timings are both equal to or less than the threshold value TH2, the writing unit 12 increases the count value N and flash memory. Write to 25. As a result, the electronic device can reduce the possibility of determining that the battery 21 that has not self-healed has self-healed.

The determination unit 13 determines whether the count value N is equal to or greater than the threshold value THn (step S112). When the count value N is less than the threshold value THn (NO in step S112), the process proceeds to step S105 in FIG.

If the battery is not replaced or charged with a new battery after the result is NO in step S112, the result is YES in steps S109 and S110 until the power of the electronic device is turned off due to insufficient battery level or user operation. The process of increasing the count value N is repeated in step S111. Then, it is assumed that the power is turned off due to insufficient battery level or the user's operation, the battery 21 self-recovers, and the battery voltage recovers to the minimum voltage at which the electronic device can operate. Then, when the power of the electronic device is turned on, the process is restarted from S101, and the battery voltage drops again due to the use of the electronic device. Then, the process of S109 to S111 is repeated to further increase the count value N. Therefore, when the battery 21 self-recovers, the count value N increases as compared with the case where the battery 21 does not self-recover. Further, the self-recovery is performed in a state where the power is off, but since the count value N is written in the non-volatile flash memory 25, it is not erased even when the power is turned off.

The threshold value THn is preset with a predicted value of the count value N when the battery 21 self-recovers. This predicted value is, for example, a value predicted by an experiment or a simulation. Therefore, when the count value N becomes equal to or higher than the threshold value THn, it is considered that the battery 21 has self-recovered.

When the count value N is equal to or greater than the threshold value THn (YES in step S112), the erasing unit 15 erases the value written in the area A of the flash memory 25 (step S113). The writing unit 12 writes a specific value (FbN value) indicating that the battery 21 has self-recovered in the area A of the flash memory 25 (step S114). Similar to step S103 of FIG. 3, when the erasing unit 15 performs the erasing process in step S113 and an error or the like occurs during the writing process of step S114, an inappropriate value for the area A of the flash memory 25. Can be prevented from remaining.

The writing unit 12 writes 0 to the count value N of the area B of the flash memory 25 (step S115). That is, the writing unit 12 initializes the count value N. Then, the writing unit 12 writes the latest battery voltage acquired by the acquisition unit 11 to the RAM 26 (step S116). Let the battery voltage written in step S116 be b3.

The instruction unit 16 outputs an alarm output instruction to the output device (step S117 in FIG. 5). When the electronic device has a plurality of output devices, the indicator unit 16 may output an alarm output instruction to all output devices, or may output an alarm output instruction to some output devices.

The output device outputs an alarm for notifying that the battery 21 has self-recovered in response to the alarm output instruction. For example, when the indicator 16 outputs an alarm output instruction to the LED 27 shown in FIG. 1, the LED 27 starts blinking. Further, for example, when the instruction unit 16 outputs an alarm output instruction to the buzzer 28 shown in FIG. 1, the buzzer 28 starts outputting sound. Further, for example, when the instruction unit 16 outputs an alarm output instruction to the display device, the display device displays a message prompting for battery replacement or charging.

The writing unit 12 writes the latest battery voltage acquired by the acquisition unit 11 to the RAM 26 (step S118). Let the battery voltage written in step S118 be b4. In step S118, when the battery voltage b4 has already been written, the writing unit 12 updates the battery voltage b4 with the latest battery voltage. The determination unit 13 determines whether the battery voltage b4 is bx% or more higher than the battery voltage b3 (step S119).

If NO in step S119, the process returns to step S118. During the period in which the processes of steps S118 and S119 are repeated, the output device continues to output the alarm. The output device stops the alarm output if the power of the battery 21 is turned off while the alarm is being output. For example, the output device stops the alarm output when the battery 21 is insufficient, when the user turns off the power, or when the battery 21 is removed for replacement.

If YES in step S119, it is considered that the battery voltage has increased due to charging the battery 21 with the power turned on. If YES in step S119, the erasing unit 15 erases the value written in the area A of the flash memory 25 (step S120). The writing unit 12 writes a value (FbO value) indicating that the battery 21 can be used normally in the area A of the flash memory 25 (step S121). Similar to step S103 of FIG. 3 and S113 of FIG. 4, when an error or the like occurs during the writing process of step S121 by the erasing unit 15 performing the erasing process in step S120, the area A of the flash memory 25 It is possible to prevent an inappropriate value from remaining in.

The instruction unit 16 outputs an alarm output stop instruction to the output device that outputs the alarm output instruction in step S117 (step S122). The output device stops the alarm output in response to the alarm output stop instruction. After the execution of step S122, the process proceeds to step S105 of FIG.

As described above, the electronic device of the present embodiment outputs an alarm when the number of times the battery voltage becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value becomes equal to or more than the predicted value when the voltage self-recovers. This is because it is considered that the battery 21 has self-recovered when the number of times the voltage has fallen below a predetermined threshold value is equal to or greater than the predicted value. As a result, the electronic device of the present embodiment can notify the user that the battery 21 has self-healed. When an alarm is output, the user can replace the battery with a new one or charge the battery to prevent unstable operation or malfunction of the electronic device, or failure of the electronic device due to liquid leakage of the battery 21. Can be done.

11 Acquisition unit 12 Writing unit 13 Judgment unit 14 Reading unit 15 Erasing unit 16 Indicator 21 Battery 22 Resistance 23 ADC
24 processors 25 flash memory 26 RAM
27 LED
28 buzzer

Claims (6)

An electronic device equipped with a control device and an output device.
The control device is
An acquisition unit that acquires the voltage of the battery mounted on the electronic device, and
A writing unit that writes the number of times the voltage falls below a predetermined threshold value to the non-volatile memory,
A determination unit for determining whether the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value of the number of times when the battery self-recovers.
When it is determined that the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value, the output device includes an instruction unit for outputting an alarm output instruction.
The output device is an electronic device that outputs an alarm in response to an output instruction of the alarm. When it is determined that the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value, the writing unit writes a specific value to the non-volatile memory.
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator outputs an output instruction of the alarm to the output device when the specific value is written in the non-volatile memory. After determining that the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value, the determination unit determines whether the voltage of the battery has increased by a predetermined ratio or more.
When it is determined that the voltage of the battery has increased by a predetermined ratio or more, the indicator unit outputs an instruction to stop the output of the alarm to the output device.
The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output device stops the output of the alarm in response to the stop instruction. The acquisition unit acquires the voltage of the battery at a plurality of timings, and obtains the voltage of the battery.
The writing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the two voltages having different acquisition timings are both equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, the writing unit writes the voltage to the non-volatile memory by increasing the number of times. The electronic device according to any one item. The electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output device outputs the alarm by emitting light and sound. It is an alarm output method executed by an electronic device equipped with a control device and an output device.
The control device is
Obtain the voltage of the battery mounted on the electronic device and
The number of times the voltage falls below a predetermined threshold is written to the non-volatile memory,
It is determined whether the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value of the number of times when the battery self-recovers.
When it is determined that the number of times is equal to or greater than the predicted value, an alarm output instruction is output to the output device.
An alarm output method, wherein the output device outputs an alarm in response to an output instruction of the alarm.

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