JP3165112B2 - Solar battery charger connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a solar battery charger connector, and more particularly to a solar battery charger connector for a personal computer which can easily charge a battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional solar charging connector, there is a battery bag with a solar cell described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-81355. In this device, a solar battery is installed in a battery bag containing a secondary battery.

Another conventional example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-81.
No. 810 discloses a laptop personal computer. This computer has a built-in battery as a power supply means and a solar cell as a power supply and battery charging means. When the power of the solar cell is larger than a predetermined value, the power of the solar cell is charged to the power supply and the battery. And a control circuit for supplying power of the battery as a power source when the power is smaller than a predetermined value.

Further, as a conventional example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-237
There is an attache type personal computer described in Japanese Patent No. 314. This personal computer has a rewritable optical disk device for large-capacity storage, a network control device and a receiver that enable communication and a host computer connection at an arbitrary location, a case for storing writing instruments, and an auxiliary power supply. It is a personal computer having a solar cell for charging.

[0005]

The battery for a personal computer of the conventional solar-type charger connector described above depends on the battery slot of the main body and can only be charged in the main body. Even if it is desired to charge the battery, the battery is charged by inserting it into the battery slot, and the next battery cannot be charged until the battery is fully charged.

[0006] In addition, there is a problem in that since charging is performed using an AC adapter, a household power supply is used, and energy saving is disadvantageous.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a solar battery charger connector which can be easily connected to a battery for a personal computer and which is effective in saving energy in order to solve the above problems.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a solar battery charger connector according to the present invention comprises: a battery connecting connector for connecting to a battery;
A motherboard arranged between the battery connection connector and the solar, and an R mounted on the motherboard;
An OM and a charge LED are provided, and only by connecting the battery connection connector to the battery, the solar energy taken from the solar is converted into a charging current via the motherboard, and the battery is charged to the battery.
In the electrical connector, the ROM controls the charging process.
Firmware that includes the battery
And the battery connector section are connected.
If solar energy is taken in or
Battery with battery energy
When the battery connector is connected
To communicate with the battery and determine whether charging is possible.
Post-charging is started .

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

Further, it is preferable that the firmware be converted to a charging current via the motherboard and start charging the battery if the initial communication is completed and the charging is possible.

Still further, it is preferable that the firmware starts polling communication at the same time as the start of charging the battery.

In the polling communication, it is preferable to repeat the polling communication command while the firmware is operating to perform the communication.

Further, in the polling communication, when the firmware detects that the remaining amount of the battery is 95% or more, the charge LED lights up in a predetermined color, and the state where the remaining amount of the battery is less than 95%. Then charge L
Preferably, the ED illuminates in another color.

Still preferably, the predetermined color is green and the other colors are red.

It is also preferably used for a personal computer.

[0019]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows a state in which a battery 10 for a personal computer is charged using a solar battery charger connector for a personal computer (SOLAR) of the present invention. A solar battery charging connector 11 for a personal computer includes a battery connection connector 14 for connecting to the battery 10, a motherboard 13, and a ROM mounted on the motherboard 13.
15 and a charge LED 16, and a solar unit 12 mounted on a motherboard. When the solar battery charger connector 11 for a personal computer is connected to the battery 10, solar energy is taken in from the solar unit 12 and converted into a charging current via the motherboard 13. After that, the battery 10 is charged through the battery connection connector section 14. The firmware (F / W) that controls these processes is the ROM 15 mounted on the motherboard 13. The solar energy taken from the solar unit 12 is a source for charging the battery 10 for a personal computer, and of course, the F /
It is also a power source for operating W. That is, in a state where solar energy is not taken in from the solar section 12, the F / W itself is not operating, so that charging of the battery 10 is naturally impossible.

The F / W mounted on the ROM 15 is used when solar energy is taken in from the solar unit 12 with the battery 10 and the battery connector unit 14 connected, or when the solar energy is received from the solar unit 12. When the battery 10 is connected to the battery connection connector section 14 in a state where the data is captured, initial communication is performed. F mounted on the ROM 15
/ W indicates that the initial communication is completed and the battery is in a rechargeable state.
The battery 1 is converted into a charging current through the motherboard 3
Start charging to zero. At the same time, the firmware starts polling communication. In polling communication, F / W
While the is operating, the communication is repeated by repeating the eight commands of the polling communication. In polling communication, F
/ W detects that the remaining amount of the battery 10 is 95% or more, the charge L
The ED (light emitting diode) 16 lights up at GREEN.
When the battery 10 is connected, the LED
In a state where the light is not lit at EN, that is, when the charge is less than 95%, the charge LED 16 is lit at RED.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing each signal of the battery charging connector 14 connected to the battery 10. The signal lines are, from the top of the figure, a device detection terminal (BMU (battery microcomputer) terminal) S1 line 20, discharge terminal + line 21, device detection terminal (BMU terminal) S2 line 22, serial data terminal P1 line 23, block Input terminal P
Two lines 24, an unused / unconnected P3 line 25, a charging terminal C line 26, and a GND-line 27 are shown in this order. The above initial communication and polling communication are performed by serial data terminal P1 line 23 / clock input terminal P2 line 2
4 is performed. The solar energy taken from the solar unit 12 is converted into a charging current via the motherboard 13 and the battery 10 is charged. The charging line of the connector section is a charging terminal C line.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the firmware performs initial communication. In the initial communication, a command corresponding to the communication content is issued and its data is acquired. Starting from the earliest command issuance, relative remaining data (3-1), B
MU (battery microcomputer) information output data (3-
2), W rate data (3-3), V rate data (3
-4), nominal capacity data (3-5), nominal voltage data (3-6), learning capacity data (3-7), charge / discharge voltage data (3-8), battery voltage data (3-9), Battery type data (3-10), Rev. Code2 data (3
-11), Rev. Code1 data (3-12), I
Rate data (3-13), charging current data (3-1)
4), charging voltage data (3-15) and cycle counter data (3-16).
Get data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart at the time of polling communication. In the polling communication, a command corresponding to the communication content is issued and its data is acquired in the same manner as the initial communication. Starting from the earliest command issuance, relative remaining data (4-1), absolute remaining data (4-2), charging / discharging power data (4-3), charging / discharging power (1/16 range) data ( 4-4), battery voltage data (4-5), charge / discharge current data (4-6), charge / discharge current (1/16 range) data (4-7), BMU information output data (4-
8), and the above eight command issuance / data acquisition is performed.

Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, since the charging current can be increased by increasing the area of the solar section 12, an embodiment in which a large area option is provided in the solar section 12 is considered. Can be Further, an embodiment is possible in which the solar unit 12 can be replaced.

[0027]

By using the solar battery charger connector according to the present invention, it is not necessary to use the personal computer main body at the time of charging, and it becomes possible to charge by simply connecting this connector directly to the battery. This has the effect.

Further, by using a plurality of solar battery charger connectors for a plurality of batteries, it is possible to simultaneously charge the batteries.

Further, since the charging energy of the battery is solar energy, the home power supply is not used at all and the effect of considerable energy saving is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and is an image diagram of charging a battery for a personal computer using a solar battery charger connector for a personal computer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing each signal of a connector unit connected to a battery.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when the firmware performs an intended communication.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for polling communication.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 Battery for personal computer 11 Solar battery charger connector for personal computer 12 Solar section 13 Motherboard 14 Battery connection connector 15 ROM 16 Charge LED 20 S1 (device detection terminal) (BMU terminal) 21 + (discharge terminal) 22 S2 ( Device detection terminal) (BMU terminal) 23 P1 (serial data terminal) 24 P2 (clock input terminal) 25 P3 (unused / unconnected) 26 C (charging terminal) 27-(GND)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H02J ^7/ 00-7/12 H02J ⁷ /34-7/36

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A battery connection connector for connecting to a battery, a motherboard disposed between the battery connection connector and a solar unit, and a ROM and a charge LED mounted on the motherboard. By simply connecting the battery connection connector section to the battery, the solar energy taken from the solar section is converted to a charging current via the motherboard, and the battery charger connector for charging the battery.
The ROM stores firmware for controlling the charging process.
Firmware , wherein the firmware connects the battery to the battery.
When the solar connector is connected to the
If energy is taken in or the solar
-When the battery is
When the battery connection connector is connected,
Performs initial communication with the battery to determine whether charging is possible.
A solar battery charger connector characterized by starting charging after disconnection . Wherein said firmware if chargeable state the initial communication is terminated, characterized in that is converted to a charging current starts charging of the battery through the motherboard to claim 1 A solar battery charger connector as described. 3. The solar battery charger connector according to claim 2 , wherein the firmware starts polling communication simultaneously with the start of charging the battery. In wherein said polling communication, in a state in which the firmware is operating and performing communication by repeating the command of the polling communication,
The solar battery charger connector according to claim 3 . In wherein said polling communication, if detecting that the firmware remaining capacity of the battery becomes equal to or higher than 95%, the charge LED will light to a predetermined color, the remaining amount of the battery 95 The solar battery charger connector according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the charge LED lights up in another color in a state of less than%. Wherein said predetermined color is green, the other color is characterized by a red, a solar cell battery charger connector according to claim 5. Wherein said battery is characterized by a battery for a personal computer, a solar cell battery charger connector according to claim 1.