JP3075115B2 - Battery level detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a remaining battery level, and more particularly, to an apparatus for estimating a remaining battery level of a portable wireless modem and a display apparatus therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an apparatus for estimating the remaining battery capacity of a portable wireless modem of this type and its display device are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-36817 (Document 1).

[0003] That is, Literature 1 describes a battery pack including a current detection unit for detecting a battery current and a voltage detection unit for detecting a battery voltage. Also,
The battery pack includes a capacity detection unit that integrates the detected current value and voltage value for a predetermined time and estimates the remaining battery capacity. An electronic device to which a wireless modem having a battery pack is connected is provided with a display unit, and the estimated remaining battery capacity is input from the battery pack and displayed.

[0004] As described above, the electronic device connected to the modem employs a configuration for displaying the estimated remaining battery capacity, and therefore, the user can change the battery capacity displayed on the display unit. The remaining amount, for example, “60% remaining amount” can be confirmed, and the time to replace the battery can be known based on the display on the display unit.

[0005]

However, the conventional battery remaining amount estimating and displaying device can display the remaining amount of the battery capacity, but how long the remaining battery can be used or the wireless modem Cannot estimate the amount of information that can be transmitted and received.

In an electronic device to which a wireless modem is connected, different types of batteries, such as a manganese battery and an alkaline manganese battery, are mounted as batteries for each data modem. , There is a problem that the remaining amount of the battery capacity cannot be accurately estimated.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
Provide a battery level detection device that can estimate the remaining battery capacity as the amount of information that can be transmitted and received by the wireless modem, and can accurately estimate the remaining battery capacity even when batteries of different types are installed. Is to do.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a battery remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention comprises a transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving a signal, and a specifying means for specifying a type of a battery used. A remaining amount detecting means for detecting an information amount of a transmittable / receivable signal as a remaining battery capacity based on the specified battery type; and an information amount of the transmittable / receiveable signal becomes equal to or less than a predetermined information amount. Alarm means for alerting the user that the
When the amount of information falls below a predetermined amount, the
Evacuated to memory, and sent an alarm signal
Sends to the communicating wireless station, and responds from the communicating wireless station.
When the response signal is received, the address of the saved transmission / reception signal
And a control means for stopping the transmission / reception operation after the notification .

[0009]

Further, according to the present invention, when the information amount of the transmittable / receivable signal falls below a predetermined information amount, the transmitted / received signal is saved in a memory, and the alarm signal is transmitted to the terminal.
The transmission / reception operation is stopped after transmitting the response signal from the terminal device main body to the main body of the terminal device and notifying the address of the saved transmission / reception signal.

[0011]

In the above-described configuration, the present invention detects the voltage of the battery in two or more load states, and determines the difference between the voltages. The detected difference voltage is applied to load characteristic curves having different characteristics depending on the type of battery, and the type of battery used is specified.

Further, the remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of the battery capacity from the detected voltage value and the load characteristic curve of the specified battery. Since the detected remaining battery capacity uses the load characteristic curve for the detection,
The remaining battery life is detected as the usable time of the battery, and the remaining amount detecting means calculates the amount of information that can be transmitted and received based on the amount of information of the transmitted and received signals, and displays the amount on the display unit.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless modem and an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a wireless modem 20 includes a data interface 22 for exchanging signals with the personal computer 12 via a transmission / reception data bus 16 or an alarm data bus 18. Radio unit 24
Is composed of a transmitting unit 36 and a receiving unit 38. The transmitting unit 36 modulates the carrier with the transmission signal, and transmits the modulated signal via the antenna 34. On the other hand, radio section 38 demodulates the received signal received by antenna 34 and outputs a demodulated signal. A battery is mounted on the battery unit 26, and the power is supplied to the wireless unit 24, an analog / digital converter (A / D) 28,
It is supplied to the interface and the CPU 30. In addition,
In supplying power to the transmission unit 36, the transmission unit 36
Power is supplied only when a transmission signal is being input. The A / D 28 converts the output voltage of the battery stored in the battery unit 26 into a digital voltage value. By inputting the digital voltage value, the CPU 30 calculates the remaining battery capacity as described later. Also, the CPU 30
The digital voltage value is input and the radio unit 24 is controlled as described later. Further, the CPU 30 exchanges data with the RAM 32 for temporarily saving data.

The terminal device main body 10 includes a display unit 13 for displaying the contents of the transmission / reception data. The control unit 14 sets display on the display unit 13 and executes transmission and reception. In addition, the personal computer 12, the transmission / reception data bus 1
6 and the CPU 13 via the interface 22
And exchange signals. The computer 12 includes a key operation unit (not shown), and a command is input by a user. . Next, the operation of the CPU 13 will be described with reference to FIGS.
7 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of detecting the power supply voltage by the CPU 30.

In FIG. 1, first, the load state of the radio unit 24 is set to a predetermined first load state (S1).
01). In the first load state, the wireless unit 38 is set to switch on, and the transmitting unit 36 is set to switch off. After the wireless unit 38 is set to the first load state,
By inputting the digital voltage value, the CPU 30
The power supply voltage value is detected (S102). The detected power supply voltage value is used by the CPU 30 as a first power supply voltage value.
It is stored in the RAM 32 (S103). Subsequently, the load state of the wireless unit 24 is set to a predetermined second load state (S104). In the second load state, the wireless unit 38 and the transmitting unit 36 are set to switch on. Note that the second load state is set to a heavier load than the first load state. After the wireless unit 38 is set to the second load state, the CPU 30 detects a power supply voltage value by inputting a digital voltage value (S10).
5). The detected power supply voltage value is stored in the RAM 32 by the CPU 30 as a second power supply voltage value (S1).
06). The CPU 30 releases the second load state of the wireless unit 24 (S107), and sets the safety critical voltage value VT of the remaining battery capacity estimated from the first and second power supply voltage values in the wireless unit 24. (S108). The safety critical voltage value VT will be described later. The CPU 30 compares the second power supply voltage value with the safety critical voltage value VT (S10
9). In this comparison, when the second power supply voltage value is larger than the safety critical voltage value VT, the CPU 30 stops the power supply voltage detection process (end). On the other hand, when the safety critical voltage value VT is larger than the second power supply voltage value, the CPU 30 proceeds to an alarm interrupt process described later (S110).

In the above-described embodiment, in S108, the CPU 30 compares the second power supply voltage value with the safety critical voltage value VT. However, the transmission unit 36 is set to the switch-off state, and the reception unit 38 When only the switch is set to the switch-on state, that is, when the wireless modem 20 performs only the reception operation, the CPU 30 performs the comparison between the first power supply voltage value and the safety critical voltage value VT.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a method of setting the transmission / reception time of the radio unit 24.

In the figure, first, the CPU 30 reads the first power supply voltage value from the RAM 32 (S201). Further, the CPU 30 reads the second power supply voltage value from the RAM 32 (S202). The CPU 30 determines the type of the battery unit 26 used from the voltage difference between the read first and second power supply voltage values (S203). That is, as shown in FIG. 4 described later, the battery has different load curve characteristics depending on its type.
The type of battery can be determined from the voltage difference between the first and second power supply voltage values. Subsequently, the CPU 30
The load curve characteristic diagram of the battery determined in S203 is read from the load curve characteristic diagram for each battery type stored in the AM 32 (S204). After that, the CPU 30
Either the first or second load state is set in the wireless unit 24 according to the subsequent processing of the wireless unit 24, that is, according to whether only the reception or the both transmission and reception is performed (S205). . Further, the CPU 30 inputs the digital voltage value and detects the power supply voltage value of the battery unit 26 at the present time (S206). The CPU 30 estimates a remaining battery usable time described later from the detected power supply voltage value and the safety critical voltage value VT determined from the read load curve special tax diagram (S207). The estimated remaining battery usage time is stored in the RAM 32 and the control unit 14 via the interface 22 and the computer 12.
Is displayed on the display unit 13 via the computer 12 according to the setting of the control unit 14 (S208).

FIG. 4 is a battery load curve characteristic diagram for explaining the processing method of the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows a load characteristic curve of a manganese battery or a similar characteristic, that is, a battery having a large internal resistance. On the other hand, FIG. 4B shows a load characteristic curve of an alkaline manganese battery or a similar characteristic, that is, a battery having a smaller internal resistance than a manganese battery.

In both figures, VN indicates a battery voltage standard value temporarily assumed by the CPU, and VT indicates a safety critical value of a power supply voltage at which the wireless modem 20 can operate normally. VD indicates the power supply voltage at which the wireless modem 20 cannot operate, VW1 and VW2 indicate the difference between the first and second power supply voltage values, respectively, and the first power supply voltage value in the first load state is , The power supply voltage difference between the two when the voltage becomes VN. TVN1 and TVN2 are:
In the first load state, the time at which the first power supply voltage value reaches the above-described VN is estimated from the load curve characteristic diagram. Each of TVT1 and TVT2 indicates the time at which the time when the second power supply voltage value reaches the above-mentioned VT in the second load state is estimated from the load curve characteristic diagram. Further, TL1 and TL2 are the time from the above-mentioned time TVN1 to TVT1, and TV
The time from N2 to TVT2 is shown.

In the above-described embodiment, since the load in the second load state is the maximum load applied to the radio unit 24, the times TL1 and TL2 until the power supply voltage value reaches the safety critical value in the shortest time. Is the remaining battery available time for operating the wireless modem 20 normally by the time of battery replacement.

Referring again to FIG. 3, in step S203, the CP
U30 indicates that the battery type is determined from the difference between the first and second power supply voltage values in the first and second load states, and the voltage difference is VW1 and VW2 shown in FIG.
Is equivalent to That is, the CPU 30 performs the first and second
And VW1, VW2 or VWX (X =
3, 4,...) Are determined, and the battery having the closest value between the two values is determined to be the used battery.

In step S207, the estimation of the remaining battery available time by the CPU 30 has been described. The estimation method will be described in detail. The load curve characteristic diagram read in S204 shows the power supply voltage value detected in S206. Write. Note that the TVN1 or TVN2 is rewritten at a time corresponding to the written voltage value.
Further, the CPU 30 reads the rewritten TVN1 or TN1.
Based on VN2 and TVT1 or TVT2, TL1
Alternatively, TL2 is calculated, and the remaining battery available time is estimated. Note that when the first load state is set in the wireless unit 24, the remaining battery life is calculated based on the first power supply voltage value in the first load state.

Referring again to FIG. 2, when the second power supply voltage value is lower than the safe critical voltage value in S109, the process proceeds to S110.
Indicates that the alarm interrupt processing is started, but when the first load state is set in the radio unit 24, the first power supply voltage value in the first load state is:
It is compared with the safe critical voltage value.

Next, the alarm interrupt processing will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As described above, when the alarm interrupt process is requested, the CPU 30 transmits the transmission / reception signal to the RAM 3
2 (S301). Subsequently, the CPU 30
Outputs an alarm signal to the not-shown remote station and the control unit 14 (S302). When the CPU 30 receives a response signal from the partner wireless station and the control unit 14 (S3
03), the address of the transmission / reception signal saved in the RAM 32 is output to the partner wireless station and the control unit 14 (S30).
4). After outputting the saved transmission / reception signal address, the CPU 30 terminates the transmission / reception operation (S305), and turns on an alarm sound or a display unit to prompt the power supply of the battery unit 26 to be replaced (S306).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the incoming call connection with the partner radio station by the CPU 30.

In the figure, the radio section 24 is connected to an antenna 34
When an incoming signal is received via the terminal (S401), the wireless unit 24 outputs an incoming response signal to the CPU 30. In response to the incoming response signal, the CPU 30 releases the mode for improving the battery saving efficiency set in the wireless modem 20, that is, the sleep mode (S4).
02). Further, the CPU 30 transmits the incoming signal to the interface 22, the reception data bus 16 and the computer 1.
2 and output the result (S403). Further, the CPU 30
Inputs a digital voltage value from the A / D 28 (S40).
4). By inputting the digital voltage value, the CPU 3
0 indicates the determination of the battery type and the wireless unit 24
The remaining battery available time is calculated based on the load state set in (S405). Note that the incoming signal includes information on the load state set in the wireless unit 24. The CPU 30 inputs a receivable signal in response to the incoming response signal output from the control unit 14 (S406), and outputs the calculated remaining battery available time to the control unit 14 (S4).
07). Further, the CPU 30 transmits a receivable signal to the partner wireless station via the transmitting unit 36 and the antenna (S30).
408). When a reception signal transmitted from a partner wireless station transmitted in response to the reception enable signal is input via the antenna 34 and the reception unit 38, the CPU 30 starts to start a reception processing operation. Then, it is output to the computer 12 (S409).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU 30 for transmitting and connecting to the partner radio station.

Referring to the figure, first, when the CPU 30 inputs a transmission start signal from the control unit 14 via the computer 12 and the transmission / reception data bus 16 (S501), the radio unit 24 is switched on (S502). Subsequently, the CPU 30 inputs a digital voltage value to detect a power supply voltage value (S503), and controls the wireless unit 24 to be temporarily turned off for battery saving (S504). As described above, the CPU 30 determines the type of the battery by inputting the digital voltage value,
The remaining battery available time is calculated based on the load state set in the wireless unit 24 (S505). The CPU 30 outputs the remaining battery available time to the control unit 14 as a transmittable time indicating the transmittable transmission file amount (S50).
6). The CPU 30 inputs a transmission connection request signal in response to the input of the remaining battery available time of the control unit 14 (S50).
7) Then, the wireless unit 24 is controlled to be switched on again (S5).
08), and transmits a transmission connection request signal to the partner wireless station via the antenna 34 (S509). By inputting a response signal in response to the transmission connection request signal of the partner wireless station via the antenna 34 and the receiving unit 38 (S51
0), the CPU 30 outputs a transmission enable signal to the control unit 14 (S511). By inputting the transmission enable signal, the control unit 14 outputs the transmission signal to the CPU 30 via the computer 12, the transmission / reception data bus 16, and the interface 22, and the CPU 30 outputs the transmission signal via the transmission unit 36 and the antenna 34. Transmit to the other station,
The transmission processing operation is started.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controller 14 for inputting a received signal from the wireless modem 20.

In the figure, first, the control unit 14 inputs an incoming signal from a partner radio station via the transmission / reception data bus 16 (S601). The control unit 1 receives the incoming signal.
4 sets a reception file for storing the reception signal (S602), and further sets the computer 22 to the reception state (S603). Subsequently, the control unit 14 outputs a receivable signal to the wireless modem 20 (S604). The control unit 14 inputs the remaining battery available time (S60).
5) The display unit 13 displays the receivable time and the fact that the received signal is received (S606). When the received signal is input to the terminal device main body 10 via the transmission / reception data bus 16, the control unit 14 starts processing the received signal (S60).
7).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit 14 for outputting a transmission signal from the terminal equipment body 10 to the wireless modem 20.

When the control unit 14 inputs a transmission start signal input from a keyboard (not shown) of the computer 12 (S701), a transmission start request signal is output to the CPU 30 via the transmission / reception data bus 16 and the interface 22 (S702). ). Subsequently, the control unit 14
Input the remaining battery available time from the PU 30 (S70)
3) The number of bits of the transmission signal that can be output to the wireless modem 20 is calculated (S704), and further displayed on the display unit 13 (S705). The transmission signal selected by the user is
If it is within the number of transmittable bits (S70)
6) The control unit 14 transmits the transmission connection request signal to the wireless modem 2
0 is output (S708). On the other hand, when the number of bits that can be transmitted is exceeded, the control unit 14 generates an alarm sound and reduces the number of bits of the transmission signal, or notifies the user that the battery unit 26 needs to be replaced (S708). By inputting the transmission enable signal output by the wireless modem 20 in response to the transmission connection request signal (S709), the control unit 14 starts transmission signal transmission processing (S710).

When the control unit 14 receives an interrupt request from the wireless modem 20, the control unit 14 recognizes that the power of the battery unit 26 is insufficient. Here, an interrupt process of the control unit 14 when an interrupt request is received will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, first, when an ARM interrupt signal requesting an interrupt from the wireless modem 20 is input (S
801), the control unit 14 saves the transmission / reception signal that is performing the transmission / reception processing in the RAM 32 (S802). Subsequently, the control unit 14 inputs the ARM information signal from the wireless modem 20 (S803), and the receiving unit 24
It is detected whether a transmission / reception signal is being transmitted / received (S80).
4) Further, it is detected whether the transmission unit 36 is transmitting a transmission signal (S805). S804 and S805
Are both Yes, that is, the transmitting unit 36
However, when the interrupt processing is performed during transmission of the transmission signal, the control unit 14 stops the transmission operation of the transmission unit 36 (S806). The control unit 14 further causes the display unit 13 to display a message indicating “wireless modem stop” or “battery replacement” (S807), and the wireless modem 20
An RM information response signal is output (S808). Control unit 14
When the address of the saved transmission signal is input to the RAM 32 from the wireless modem 20 (S809), the display unit 13 is controlled to display the file name, destination, and the address of the saved transmission signal (S809). S810). Then, the control unit 14 waits for the input of the next command from the computer 12 (S811).

[0041]

As described above, the battery remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention employs a configuration in which the estimated remaining battery amount is calculated as the battery usable time, so that the user can display the displayed battery usable time. , The battery replacement time can be accurately recognized, the transmission signal can be transmitted within the range of the remaining battery power, and the drop of the transmission signal can be prevented.

Further, the present invention employs a configuration for estimating the remaining battery capacity from the load curve characteristics that differ for each battery type. Can be accurately estimated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless modem and a terminal device main body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of detecting a power supply voltage of a battery by a CPU.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of setting a transmission / reception time of a wireless unit by a CPU.

FIG. 4 is a load curve characteristic diagram of the battery for explaining the processing method of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an alarm interrupt process performed by a CPU.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an incoming call connection operation with a partner wireless station by the CPU.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission connection operation to a partner wireless station by the CPU.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an input operation of a reception signal from a wireless modem by a control unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of outputting a transmission signal from the terminal device main body to the wireless modem by the control unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating interrupt processing by a CPU.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 terminal device body 12 personal computer 13 display unit 16 transmission / reception data 18 alarm data bus 20 wireless modem 22 data interface 24 wireless unit 26: Battery unit 28: Analog / digital conversion unit 30: CPU 32: RAM 34: Antenna 36: Transmission unit 38: Receiving unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-164170 (JP, A) JP-A-5-127784 (JP, A) JP-A-5-145465 (JP, A) JP-A-1- 188918 (JP, A) JP-A-3-148719 (JP, A) JP-A-63-89150 (JP, A) JP-A-4-19841 (JP, U) JP-A-63-89150 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H02J ^7/ 00-7/10 H02J ⁷ /34-7/35 H04B 7/26 H04M 11/00-11/10 G01R 31/36 G06F 1 / 26

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving a signal, a specifying means for specifying a type of a battery being used, and an information amount of a signal which can be transmitted / received based on the type of the specified battery. Remaining amount detecting means for detecting as an amount, alarm means for alerting a user that the information amount of the receivable / receivable signal has become equal to or less than a predetermined information amount, When the transmission / reception signal is saved to the memory when the information amount becomes equal to or less than the predetermined information amount, an alarm signal is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit to the communicating wireless station, and a response signal from the other wireless station is received.
And a control means for stopping the transmission / reception operation after notifying the address of the evacuated transmission / reception signal. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission / reception means forms a wireless modem connected to a data terminal device.
1 Symbol placement of the battery level detection device. 3. A transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving a signal, a specifying means for specifying a type of a battery being used, and an information amount of a signal which can be transmitted / received based on the type of the specified battery. Remaining amount detecting means for detecting as an amount, alarm means for alerting a user that the information amount of the receivable / receivable signal has become equal to or less than a predetermined information amount, When the amount of information becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the transmission / reception signal is saved in the memory, an alarm signal is sent to the terminal device main body, and when a response signal from the terminal device main body is received, the address of the saved transmission / reception signal is notified. And control means for stopping the transmission / reception operation after the operation.