JP6804892B2 - Electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric device that receives DC power from an external DC power source.

The electric device is connected to an external DC power source via a cable to receive DC power. A plug connector is provided at the tip of the cable, and a receptacle connector is provided on the side surface of the electric device, etc., and both are connected.

In recent electric devices, miniaturization of connectors has been promoted, and therefore, when fine foreign substances are mixed inside the connectors, they tend to be easily affected by them. For example, if a conductive foreign substance adheres between the terminals that supply DC power, the electrical resistance between the terminals increases, and the Joule heat may overheat the connector.

JP-A-2014-120464

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric device capable of protecting an electric device and an external power source from overheating inside the connector.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an electric device including a connector for receiving DC power from a DC power supply of a unit and a load driven by the DC power, and the power output end of the connector. The voltage detecting means for detecting the DC voltage in the above, the connection monitoring means for monitoring the connection state of the connector based on the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means, and the connection monitoring means for the connector connection failure. When the DC voltage is detected, the connection monitoring means further includes a breaking means for cutting off the supply of the DC power to the load, and the connection monitoring means has a poor connection of the connector when the DC voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. It is characterized in that it is determined.

In the electric device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the connection monitoring means determine that the connection of the connector is defective when the drop of the DC voltage is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value.

In the electric device according to the present invention, the connector has a signal transmission terminal for transmitting an electric signal, and the electric signal includes a signal corresponding to information on a DC voltage applied to a power input end of the connector. It is desirable to be included.

In the electric device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the connection monitoring means determine the threshold value based on the signal corresponding to the information.

In the electric device according to the present invention, it is desirable that the shutoff means has a switch provided in a power supply line connecting the connector and the load.

In the electric device according to the present invention, it is desirable to further include a secondary battery that supplies DC power to the load when the blocking means cuts off the supply of the DC power to the load.

In the electric device according to the present invention, it is desirable to further include warning means for outputting a warning regarding the connection state of the connector when the connection monitoring means detects a connection failure of the connector.

According to the electrical device of the present invention, the connection monitoring means monitors the connection state of the connector based on the DC voltage at the power output end of the connector. For example, when the DC voltage drops more than usual due to foreign matter entering the connector, the blocking means cuts off the supply of DC power to the load. As a result, the generation of Joule heat due to the adhesion of foreign matter between the terminals inside the connector is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to protect the connector and thus the electric device and the external power source from overheating due to Joule heat. Further, even when the contact resistance of the connector increases due to deterioration, the connection monitoring means and the breaking means function in the same manner as described above to protect the connector and the like. Further, the connection monitoring means determines that the connector connection is defective when the DC voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, so that the connector connection state can be quickly and accurately determined.

It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the electric device and the device connected to the outside by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a detailed block diagram of the said electrical equipment.

A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an electric device 1 of the present embodiment and an electric device 100 connected to the outside thereof. The electric device 1 and the electric device 100 are connected via a cable 200.

The electric device 1 includes a connector 2 that receives DC power from the electric device 100, and a load 3 that is driven by the DC power. Examples of the electric device 1 include a multifunctional mobile phone called a smartphone in recent years and a tablet-type or notebook-type personal computer.

The connector 2 is connected to the cable 200. The connector 2 is, for example, a receptacle connector mounted on the circuit board of the electric device 1. DC power and various electric signals are transmitted via the connector 2 and the cable 200.

The load 3 is driven by the DC power supplied from the electric device 100. When the electric device 1 is a multifunctional mobile phone, the load 3 includes a liquid crystal display, a transmission / reception circuit for transmitting / receiving wireless signals, and the like.

The electric device 100 has a DC power supply 101 and a connector 102. Examples of the electric device 100 include, for example, a desktop type or notebook type personal computer, a so-called AC adapter for charging the secondary battery of the electric device 1, and the like.

For example, the DC power supply 101 converts commercial AC power into DC power and supplies it to the inside of the electric device 100 or the electric device 1. When the electric device 100 is a portable information terminal having a built-in secondary battery such as a notebook personal computer, the secondary battery corresponds to the DC power supply 101. Such an electric device 100 is provided with a management circuit (not shown) for monitoring the DC power supply 101.

The management circuit is configured to include, for example, an IC or the like, and detects the output voltage, output current, or the like of the DC power supply 101. The management circuit can detect the output voltage, output current, and the like for each cell of the secondary battery constituting the DC power supply 101. The output voltage, output current, and the like detected by the management circuit are stored in, for example, a memory (not shown) of an electric device.

The connector 102 is connected to the cable 200. The connector 102 is, for example, a receptacle connector mounted on a circuit board of an electric device 100. DC power and various electrical signals are transmitted via the connector 102 and the cable 200.

The cable 200 has a cable body 201 and connectors 211 and 212.

The cable body 201 includes a pair of power supply cables 202 and 203 for supplying DC power from the electric device 100 to the electric device 1, and at least for transmitting various electric signals between the electric device 100 and the electric device 1. It has one signal transmission cable 204.

The connector 211 is provided at one end of the cable body 201 and is connected to the connector 2. The connector 212 is provided at the other end of the cable body 201 and is connected to the connector 102. That is, the connector 211 and the connector 212 are plug connectors provided at both ends of the cable body 201. The connector 211 and the connector 212 may have the same shape or different shapes.

The electrical device 1 of the present embodiment further includes a voltage detecting means 4, a connection monitoring means 5, and a breaking means 6.

The voltage detecting means 4 detects the DC voltage at the power output end of the connector 2. That is, the voltage detecting means 4 detects the DC voltage between the feeding lines 7 and 8 between the connector 2 and the load 3.

The connection monitoring means 5 monitors the connection state between the connector 211 and the connector 2 based on the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4. For example, in the connection between the connector 211 and the connector 2, if foreign matter is mixed between the terminals connected to the power supply lines 7 and 8, the DC voltage between the power supply lines 7 and 8 drops. Therefore, the connection monitoring means 5 monitors the connection state between the connector 211 and the connector 2 by periodically referring to the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4.

If the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 is lower than usual, the connection state between the connector 211 and the connector 2 may be poor, and Joule heat larger than usual may be generated between the two. There is. In this case, the connection monitoring means 5 controls the cutoff means 6 to cut off the direct current flowing through the power supply lines 7 and 8.

The blocking means 6 is provided in the power supply lines 7 and 8 connecting the connector 2 and the load 3 inside the electric device 1. The cutoff means 6 controls the direct current flowing through the power supply lines 7 and 8. When the connection monitoring means 5 detects a connection failure of the connector 2, the cutoff means 6 cuts off the direct current flowing through the power supply lines 7 and 8. As a result, the supply of DC power to the load 3 is cut off, and accordingly, the generation of Joule heat due to the adhesion of foreign matter between the terminals inside the connector 2 is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to protect the connector 2, the electric device 1, and the external DC power supply 101 from overheating due to Joule heat.

In addition to the above-mentioned foreign matter contamination, the poor connection of the connector 2 includes deterioration of the contacts of the connector 2 such as when an oxide film is formed on the contacts of the connector 2 and when the contacts of the connector 2 are worn out. The case is also included. When the contacts of the connector 2 are deteriorated, the contact resistance becomes large, and the Joule heat increases as in the case where foreign matter is mixed inside the connector 2. In the electric device 1, even if the contact of the connector 2 is deteriorated, the breaking means 6 cuts off the direct current flowing through the feeding lines 7 and 8, so that the Joule heat generation is stopped.

Various methods can be applied to the monitoring of the connection state of the connector 2 by the connection monitoring means 5. For example, when the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 is lower than a predetermined threshold value (first threshold value), it is considered that foreign matter may be mixed inside the connector 2, and a connection failure of the connector 2 occurs. It can be determined that there is.

Further, the connection monitoring means 5 can determine that a connection failure of the connector 2 has occurred when the drop of the DC voltage between the connector 211 and the connector 2 is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value (second threshold value). The DC voltage drop is easily calculated based on the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 when the voltage applied to the power input end (power output end of the connector 211) of the connector 2 is known according to the standard or the like. Can be done. Further, when the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 when the connector 211 and the connector 2 are connected is lower than the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 at the time of the previous connection, the above-mentioned Similarly, it can be determined that the connection failure of the connector 2 has occurred.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the electric device 1. In the present embodiment, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51 that controls each part of the electric device 1 is applied as the connection monitoring means 5. The CPU 51 executes various arithmetic processes, information processing, and the like. The program that controls the operation of the CPU 51 and various information (for example, the above threshold value and the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 at the time of the previous connection) are stored in the memory 52 or the like. The CPU 51 and the memory 52 are also a part of the load 3.

Further, in the present embodiment, as the shutoff means 6, a switch 61 provided in the power supply line 7 connecting the connector 2 and the load 3 is applied. The opening / closing operation of the switch 61 is controlled by the CPU 51. In addition to switches having mechanical contacts, various switches such as semiconductor switches can be applied to the switch 61.

In this embodiment, resistors 41 and 42 are applied as the voltage detecting means 4. The DC voltage between the power supply lines 7 and 8 is divided by the resistors 41 and 42 and input to the CPU 51. The CPU 51 compares the potential between the resistor 41 and the resistor 42 with the reference potential, and detects the DC voltage between the feeding lines 7 and 8.

It is desirable that the electric device 1 of the present embodiment further includes a secondary battery 9 that supplies DC power to the load 3. The secondary battery 9 supplies DC power to the load 3 when the electric device 1 is not supplied with DC power via the connector 2. Therefore, when the cutoff means 6 cuts off the supply of DC power to the load 3, the secondary battery 9 supplies DC power to the load 3. As a result, the operation of the electric device 1 is continued while preventing the connector 2 from overheating, and the usability of the electric device 1 is improved. When the DC power supplied from the external DC power supply 101 is larger than the power consumption of the load 3, the surplus power is used for charging the secondary battery 9.

The connector 2 has a pair of power supply terminals 21 and 22 for supplying DC power to the load 3 and at least one signal transmission terminal 23 for transmitting an electric signal. The power supply terminals 21 and 22 are connected to the load 3 via the power supply lines 7 and 8, and the signal transmission terminal 23 is connected to the CPU 51.

The electrical signal transmitted via the signal transmission terminal 23 includes a signal corresponding to information regarding a DC voltage applied to the power input terminal of the connector 2. This signal is transmitted from the CPU (not shown) of the electric device 100 or the like. Such an electric signal mainly includes information on the value of the output voltage of the DC power supply 101 detected by the management circuit of the electric device 100, and further, the DC power supply 101 stored in the memory of the electric device 100 or the like. It is possible to integrate the history of temporal changes in information such as output voltage and output current value.

The CPU 51 that has received the signal can determine the first threshold value of the DC voltage or the second threshold value of the drop of the DC voltage based on the above information. For example, the first threshold of the DC voltage can be determined in the range of 80% to 95% of the DC voltage applied to the power input end of the connector 2 by the electric device 1, and the second threshold of the DC voltage drop can be determined. It can be determined in the range of 5% to 20% of the DC voltage applied to the power input end of the connector 2. That is, both the first threshold of the DC voltage and the second threshold of the drop of the DC voltage can be determined based on the information regarding the DC voltage applied to the power input end of the connector 2.

Further, the CPU 51 can control the opening / closing operation of the switch 61 based on the temporal change of the above information. For example, by utilizing the temporal change of the above information, the cause of the decrease in the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 is either the connection failure of the connector 2 or the secondary battery constituting the DC power supply 101. It can be determined whether it is due to wear. For example, when the output voltage of the DC power supply 101 is reduced, it can be determined that the decrease in the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4 is due to the consumption of the secondary batteries constituting the DC power supply 101. Further, in this case, in order to further suppress the consumption of the secondary battery on the electric device 100 side, the switch 61 can be opened to cut off the current flowing through the power supply lines 7 and 8. As a result, the supply of electric power to the load 3 and the secondary battery 9 is stopped, and further consumption of the secondary battery on the electric device 100 side can be suppressed.

It is desirable that the electrical device 1 further includes the warning means 10. The warning means 10 outputs a warning regarding the connection status of the connector 2. For example, when the CPU 51 detects a connection failure of the connector 2, the warning means 10 considers that foreign matter may be mixed inside the connector 2 or that the contacts of the connector 2 may be deteriorated. Outputs a warning regarding the connection status of the connector 2. When the upward temporal change of the output voltage, output current value, etc. of the DC power supply 101 is used, the connection state of the connector 2 can be accurately determined, and false alarms by the warning means 10 can be suppressed.

Warnings can be performed by voice, light or vibration. Therefore, a speaker that outputs sound, a liquid crystal display that outputs an image, an LED (light emitting diode), a motor that vibrates the electric device 1, and the like can be appropriately applied to the warning means 10.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. At least, a connector 2 that receives DC power from an external DC power supply 101 and a load 3 driven by DC power. It is an electric device provided with, and monitors the connection state of the connector 2 based on the voltage detecting means 4 for detecting the DC voltage at the power output end of the connector 2 and the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means 4. It suffices to further include a connection monitoring means 5 to be connected, and a blocking means 6 for cutting off the supply of DC power to the load 3 when the connection monitoring means 5 detects a connection failure of the connector 2.

Further, when the input DC voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the CPU 51 opens the switch 61 and opens the power supply line 7, assuming that a DC voltage exceeding the rating may be applied to the power input end of the connector 2. It may be configured to cut off the current flowing through 8. In this case, the safety of the connector 2 and thus the electric device 1 can be further enhanced.

1 Electrical equipment 2 Connector 3 Load 4 Voltage detection means 5 Drop detection means 6 Breaking means 9 Secondary battery 10 Warning means 23 Signal transmission terminal 61 Switch

Claims (5)

An electric device having a connector for receiving DC power from an external DC power source and a load driven by the DC power.
A voltage detecting means for detecting a DC voltage at the power output end of the connector, and
A connection monitoring means for monitoring the connection state of the connector based on the DC voltage detected by the voltage detecting means, and
When the connection monitoring means detects a connection failure of the connector, the connection monitoring means further includes a blocking means for cutting off the supply of the DC power to the load.
The connector has a signal transmission terminal for transmitting an electric signal.
The electrical signal includes a signal corresponding to information about a DC voltage applied to the power input end of the connector.
The connection monitoring means, based on a signal corresponding to the information to determine the threshold of the DC voltage, when the DC voltage is below said threshold value, characterized in that the connection of the connector is determined to be defective Electrical equipment. The electrical device according to claim 1, wherein the connection monitoring means determines that the connection of the connector is defective when the drop of the DC voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. The electrical device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking means has a switch provided in a power supply line connecting the connector and the load . The electric device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a secondary battery for supplying DC power to the load when the blocking means cuts off the supply of the DC power to the load . The electric device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a warning means for outputting a warning regarding a connection state of the connector when the connection monitoring means detects a connection failure of the connector .

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