JP6214032B2 - Charge control device and program - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a charge control device and a program.

  Conventionally, a charging device is used to charge a secondary battery. The charging method in such a charging device is generally performed based on a voltage (output voltage) output from the secondary battery or a voltage (charging voltage) for charging the secondary battery.

  For example, the output voltage of the secondary battery is used to determine whether or not the secondary battery is fully charged. It is checked whether or not the output voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined specified value X (overdischarge voltage check). If the output voltage is less than the specified value X, it is determined that the battery is fully charged and precharge such as trickle charge is performed. Moreover, if it is more than specified value X, this charge will be performed by supplying power to the secondary battery. In the main charging, the charging is continued until the value of the charging voltage is lowered to a predetermined specified value Y, and when the charging voltage is reduced to the specified value Y, the charging is considered to be a fully charged state.

  By the way, it is known that the values of the output voltage and the charging voltage described above vary depending on the ambient temperature. Therefore, in the above-described conventional technology, it may be determined that the battery is fully charged even though it is not fully charged, or an overcharged state in which charging (main charging) is continuously performed even though the battery is fully charged may occur. There is sex. Moreover, since a secondary battery will deteriorate when an overcharge state occurs frequently, there exists a problem that the lifetime of a secondary battery will fall.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a charge control device and a program capable of extending the life of a secondary battery.

The charge control device according to the embodiment is a charge control device that controls charging of a secondary battery, and includes a voltage detection unit that detects an output voltage value of the secondary battery, and the secondary battery based on the output voltage value. Determination means for determining whether or not the battery is fully charged, and charge control means for consistently charging the secondary battery by trickle charging, wherein the determination means is not fully charged. When the state is determined, the trickle charge is performed for a predetermined fixed first predetermined time, and when the determination unit determines that the state is fully charged, the trickle charge is performed at a time interval different from the first predetermined time. Perform trickle charging intermittently.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the power supply control device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a charging control process performed by the power supply control device. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the main charging process shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the intermittent charging process illustrated in FIG. 3.

  Exemplary embodiments of a charge control device and a program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The information processing apparatus 1 is an information processing apparatus such as a portable terminal such as a PC or a smartphone or a POS terminal.

  The information processing apparatus 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a read only memory (ROM) 12, a random access memory (RAM) 13, a nonvolatile memory 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, a communication unit 17, and the like. Further, the information processing apparatus 1 includes a power supply control device 20 and a secondary battery 30 for supplying power necessary for operation to each component unit. Note that the ROM 12, the RAM 13, the nonvolatile memory 14, the input unit 15, the display unit 16, the communication unit 17, and the power supply control device 20 are connected to the CPU 11 via the bus 18.

  The CPU 11 comprehensively controls the operation of the information processing apparatus 1 by developing and executing the program stored in the ROM 12 on the RAM 13.

  The ROM 12 stores various programs and files such as various data used in the processing of the various programs. The RAM 13 temporarily stores working data. The non-volatile memory 14 stores various programs such as an OS (Operating System) and files such as various data used in the processing of the various programs. The nonvolatile memory 14 stores data received from an external device (not shown).

  The input unit 15 includes an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device (not shown), and accepts an operation input via the input device. The display unit 16 includes a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and controls display of various screens. The communication unit 17 is a communication interface for performing communication with an external device in accordance with a wired communication standard or a wireless communication standard.

  The power supply control device 20 corresponds to a charge control device. The power supply control device 20 converts the power supplied from the external power supply OP via the secondary battery 30 mounted in a battery mounting section (not shown) or the adapter AD into power required for each component and supplies the power.

  The secondary battery 30 is detachable from the information processing apparatus 1 and is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged within a predetermined charging cycle such as several hundred cycles. is there.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the power supply control device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the power supply control device 20 includes a control unit 21, a timekeeping unit 22, a charging unit 23, a switching unit 24, a power supply detection unit 25, a voltage detection unit 26, and the like.

  Here, the control unit 21 functions as a voltage detection unit by cooperating with the voltage detection unit 26. The control unit 21 functions as a determination unit and a charge control unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 21 includes a CPU 21a, a ROM 21b, a RAM 21c, and the like. The control unit 21 acquires the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 from the voltage detection unit 26. Further, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the secondary battery 30 is in a fully charged state based on the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 detected by the voltage detection unit 26. Moreover, the control part 21 controls the start and stop of the charge by the charging part 23 according to the determination result of whether it is a full charge state. Further, the control unit 21 controls opening and closing of the switching unit 24.

  The CPU 21a controls the entire power supply control device 20 by expanding and executing the program stored in the ROM 21b on the RAM 21c.

  The ROM 21b stores files such as a program for power control and various data used in processing of the program. The ROM 21b stores, for example, setting information related to a first specified time, a second specified time, a third specified time, etc., which will be described later, and a program for executing a charging control process, which will be described later. The RAM 21c functions as a work area for the CPU 21a.

  The timer unit 22 is a functional unit corresponding to a timer means. The timer unit 22 includes an RTC (Real Time Clock) and the like, and measures time under the control of the control unit 21.

  The charging unit 23 charges the secondary battery 30 using the power supplied from the external power source OP via the adapter AD under the control of the control unit 21.

  Here, the charging control by the control unit 21 will be described. The control unit 21 determines whether or not the secondary battery 30 is in a fully charged state by comparing the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 with a predetermined specified value X that is an index of the fully charged state.

  When the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 is greater than or equal to the specified value X, the control unit 21 determines that the battery is not fully charged, and performs the main charging of the secondary battery 30 by controlling the charging unit 23. In the main charging, the control unit 21 causes the charging unit 23 to trickle charge the secondary battery 30 after starting the time counting (timer) of the timing unit 22. Then, the control unit 21 stops trickle charging by the charging unit 23 when the timer value of the time measuring unit 22 reaches a predetermined time (first specified time).

  The charge amount (charge current) to the secondary battery 30 during trickle charging is not particularly limited, but may be a minute current such as 1/30 C (C is the capacity of the secondary battery 30). preferable. The first specified time is not particularly limited, but is preferably set to a time from when the secondary battery 30 becomes empty to a fully charged state by supplying a minute current by trickle charging. For example, when the charging current for trickle charging is 1/30 C, the first specified time may be 30 hours.

  In addition, the first specified time is not limited to a fixed value, and may be determined dynamically according to the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30. When this form is adopted, the control unit 21 estimates the charge amount (remaining battery level) of the secondary battery 30 based on the output voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit 26. Then, the control unit 21 calculates the time from the estimated charge amount to the full charge state by supplying a minute current by trickle charging, and sets the calculated time as the first specified time. A known technique can be used for estimating the charge amount based on the output voltage value.

  When the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 is less than the specified value X, the control unit 21 determines that the battery is fully charged, and controls the charging unit 23 to perform intermittent charging of the secondary battery 30. In such intermittent charging, the control unit 21 starts a timer of the time measuring unit 22, and every time the timer value passes the second specified time, the trickle of the secondary battery 30 is charged to the charging unit 23 for the third specified time. Let the battery charge. Then, when the third specified time has elapsed, the control unit 21 stops charging the secondary battery 30 and waits until the next second specified time elapses.

  Here, the second specified time is not particularly limited, but may be set to a time during which the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 when the charge amount is reduced due to spontaneous discharge falls within a range less than the specified value X. preferable. The third specified time is not particularly limited. For example, it is preferable that the third specified time is shorter than the first specified time and can be compensated for the power lost by the natural discharge in the second specified time. .

  The switching unit 24 opens or closes the switch in accordance with the switch on / off control signal from the control unit 21, thereby supplying or cutting off power from the external power supply OP or the secondary battery 30 to the load unit. For example, the control unit 21 outputs an on / off control signal to the switching unit 24 in response to a power supply switching instruction received via the input unit 15. The control unit 21 charges the secondary battery 30 when supplying power from the external power supply OP to the load unit. However, the condition for charging the secondary battery 30 is not limited to this. .

  The power supply detection unit 25 detects the presence / absence of power supply from the external power supply OP through the adapter AD, the attachment / detachment state of the secondary battery 30, and outputs a power supply detection signal to the control unit 21.

  The voltage detection unit 26 converts the analog output voltage of the secondary battery 30 into a voltage value of a digital signal and outputs it to the control unit 21 as an output voltage signal.

  In the power supply control device 20, power from the secondary battery 30 or the external power supply OP is supplied to the load unit, converted into a control voltage by a DC-DC converter or the like, and supplied to the control unit 21.

  Next, the operation of the power supply control device 20 described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the charging control process executed by the power supply control device 20. 3 is based on the assumption that the secondary battery 30 is attached to the information processing apparatus 1 and the secondary battery 30 is charged.

  First, the control unit 21 of the power supply control device 20 acquires the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 from the voltage detection unit 26 (step S11). Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the secondary battery 30 is fully charged based on the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 (step S12).

  Here, when the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 is equal to or greater than the specified value X, the control unit 21 determines that the secondary battery 30 is in a non-fully charged state (step S12; No). In this case, the control unit 21 executes the main charging process by controlling the charging unit 23 (step S13). Hereinafter, the main charging process in step S13 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the main charging process. In the main charging process, the control unit 21 first starts a timer of the time measuring unit 22 (step S21). Next, the control unit 21 controls the charging unit 23 to start trickle charging of the secondary battery 30 (step S22).

  Subsequently, the control unit 21 continues trickle charging until the timer value of the time measuring unit 22 reaches the first specified time (step S23; No). When the control unit 21 determines that the timer value of the time measuring unit 22 has passed the first specified time (step S23; Yes), the charging unit 23 stops trickle charging (step S24). And the control part 21 stops the timer of the time measuring part 22 (step S25), and returns to step S11 of FIG. 3 again.

  Returning to FIG. 3, when the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 is less than the specified value X, the control unit 21 determines that the secondary battery 30 is in a fully charged state (step S12; Yes). In this case, the control unit 21 executes the intermittent charging process by controlling the charging unit 23 (step S14). Hereinafter, the intermittent charging process in step S14 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the intermittent charging process. In the intermittent charging process, the control unit 21 first starts a timer of the time measuring unit 22 (step S31).

  Subsequently, the control unit 21 continues timing until the timer value of the timing unit 22 reaches the second specified time (step S32; No). When the controller 21 determines that the timer value of the timer 22 has passed the second specified time (step S32; Yes), the timer of the timer 22 is stopped (step S33).

  Subsequently, the control part 21 starts the timer of the time measuring part 22 (step S34), and starts the trickle charge to the secondary battery 30 by controlling the charging part 23 (step S35).

  Subsequently, the control unit 21 continues trickle charging until the timer value of the time measuring unit 22 reaches the third specified time (step S36; No). When the control unit 21 determines that the timer value of the time measuring unit 22 has passed the third specified time (step S36; Yes), the charging unit 23 stops trickle charging (step S37). And the control part 21 stops the timer of the time measuring part 22 (step S38), and returns to step S11 of FIG. 3 again.

  Thus, according to the power supply control device 20, when the secondary battery 30 is not fully charged, secondary charging is performed by performing trickle charging for the first specified time regardless of the charging voltage to the secondary battery 30. The battery 30 is fully charged. Further, when the secondary battery 30 is in a fully charged state, the trickle charge is intermittently performed based on the second specified time and the third specified time regardless of the charging voltage to the secondary battery 30, thereby causing spontaneous discharge. Make up for the loss.

  Thereby, although the output voltage value of the secondary battery 30 is affected by the ambient temperature, the main charge and the intermittent charge can be performed regardless of the charging voltage of the secondary battery 30 that is similarly affected by this. The influence of temperature can be suppressed. Moreover, since the occurrence of an overcharged state can be suppressed by trickle charging, the life of the secondary battery 30 can be extended.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the said embodiment was shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, additions, combinations, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the said embodiment and its deformation | transformation are included in the range of the invention, the summary, and the invention described in the claim, and its equal range.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 21 of the power supply control device 20 is configured to execute the charging control process, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured to be executed by the CPU 11 of the information processing device 1. Specifically, it can be realized by the CPU 11, ROM 12 (or nonvolatile memory 14), and RAM 13 of the information processing apparatus 1 functioning as the control unit 21 (CPU 21a, ROM 21b, and RAM 21c) of the power supply control device 20. When this configuration is adopted, the control unit 21 of the power supply control device 20 is not necessary, and the CPU 11 and each unit of the power supply control device 20 are connected via the bus 18.

  In addition, the program executed by the information processing apparatus 1 (power supply control apparatus 20) of the above embodiment is provided by being incorporated in advance in a storage medium (ROM 21b), but is not limited thereto. For example, an installable or executable file is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). Also good. Furthermore, the storage medium is not limited to a medium independent of a computer or an embedded system, but also includes a storage medium that downloads and stores or temporarily stores a program transmitted via a LAN, the Internet, or the like.

  The program executed by the information processing apparatus 1 (power supply control apparatus 20) of the above embodiment may be provided by storing it on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloading it via the network. Further, the program executed by each device of the above embodiment may be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

1 Information processing apparatus 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Nonvolatile Memory 15 Input Unit 16 Display Unit 17 Communication Unit 18 Bus 20 Power Supply Control Device 21 Control Unit 22 Timekeeping Unit 23 Charging Unit 24 Switching Unit 25 Power Supply Detection Unit 26 Voltage Detection Unit 30 Secondary Battery AD Adapter OP External Power Supply

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-164034

Claims (3)

A charge control device for controlling charging of a secondary battery,
Voltage detection means for detecting an output voltage value of the secondary battery;
Determining means for determining whether or not the secondary battery is fully charged based on the output voltage value;
Charge control means for consistently charging the secondary battery by trickle charge;
With
The charge control unit performs the trickle charge for a predetermined first predetermined time when the determination unit determines that the battery is in a non-full charge state, and when the determination unit determines that the battery is in a full charge state. A charge control device that intermittently performs trickle charging at a time interval different from the first specified time . It further comprises a time measuring means for measuring time,
Said charging control means, based on the time the clock means is clocking, the charging control apparatus according to claim 1 for the trickle charge. A computer of a charging control device for controlling the charging of the secondary battery,
Voltage detection means for detecting an output voltage value of the secondary battery;
Determining means for determining whether or not the secondary battery is fully charged based on the output voltage value;
Charge control means for consistently charging the secondary battery by trickle charge;
To function,
The charge control unit performs the trickle charge for a predetermined first predetermined time when the determination unit determines that the battery is in a non-full charge state, and when the determination unit determines that the battery is in a full charge state. A program for intermittently performing trickle charging at a time interval different from the first specified time .

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