JPH04105524A - Charging system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To charge while mounted in a battery means device by providing voltage/current receiving mean for receiving a voltage or a current generated by charging voltage/current generating means, and means for supplying the voltage or current received by the voltage/current receiving means to the connected battery means. CONSTITUTION:When a portable device 1 and an AC adapter 2 are connected to one another through a system connector 36, a microcomputer 15 in the adapter 2 sets an entire system to a charging mode or an AC adapter mode based on a control signal to be output from a system microcomputer 23 in the device 1. Accordingly, if the power switch 24 of the device 1 is set to an OFF state, a battery 32 connected to the adapter 2 is charged. That is, a battery 30 is charged in a state mounted at the body of the device 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a charging system, and particularly to a charging system for electronic equipment that can be driven by a secondary battery.

[Background Art] In recent years, as electronic devices have become more portable, the number of electronic devices that can be driven not only by commercial power sources but also by secondary batteries such as batteries is increasing. One such electronic device is, for example, a video device such as a video movie. Many portable electronic devices, typified by such video devices, use batteries that are charged in advance as secondary batteries. FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing handling systems in cases where the above-mentioned portable electronic device (hereinafter referred to as portable device) is driven by a battery and by a commercial power source, respectively. FIG. 5 shows a case where the device is driven by a battery, and FIG. 6 shows a case where it is driven by a commercial power source.

Referring to Figure 5, when using the portable device in a place where it is not possible to connect it to a commercial power source (outdoors), etc.
Connect the charged battery 30 to the portable device 3. In many cases, the portable device 3 has a structure into which a battery 30 can be fitted. By fitting the battery 30 into the portable device 3, the output voltage of the battery 30 is supplied to a pair of battery connection terminals 46 provided in the portable device 3.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the portable device 3 is used in a place where it can be connected to a commercial power source (indoors), the portable device 3 is connected to a dedicated AC adapter 4 via a DC cable 11. In addition to the terminal pair 46 for battery connection, the portable device 3 has a DC terminal 12 that receives an external DC voltage as a driving voltage. On the other hand, AC adapter 4
is connected to a commercial power source (not shown) via an AC cable 18. The AC adapter 4 converts the AC 100V received from a commercial power source via the AC cable 18 into a DC voltage at a level necessary to drive the portable device 3, and outputs the converted DC voltage from a DC terminal 10 provided in advance. do. The DC cable 11 connects the DC terminal 10 of the AC adapter 4 and the DC terminal 12 of the portable device 3.

As a result, the AC 100V is converted to a predetermined DC voltage and supplied to the portable device 3.

The AC adapter 4 often has not only the function of converting an alternating current voltage supplied from a commercial power source into a predetermined direct current voltage, but also the function of charging a battery. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a handling system when the AC adapter 4 is used as a charger.

Referring to FIG. 7, the AC adapter 4 is connected to the AC cable 18.
Connected to commercial power via. Batteries 31 and 32 to be charged are connected to a pair of battery connection terminals 41 and 42 of AC adapter 4, respectively. In this way, AC adapters are often configured to be able to charge multiple batteries.

Next, the internal configuration of the AC adapter 4 will be explained with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a typical internal configuration of an AC adapter.

Referring to FIG. 8, AC voltage supplied from a commercial power supply to AC cable 18 is applied to regulator (stabilized power supply circuit) 16 in AC adapter 4 via fuses F1 and F2. The regulator 16 converts the applied AC voltage into a DC voltage suitable for the portable device to be driven, and outputs it to the DC terminal 10. Further, the regulator 16 converts the applied AC voltage into a DC voltage necessary to charge the battery 31, and switches SW.
I and a series connection circuit of resistor R1 and switch SW3. Further, the regulator 16 converts the applied AC voltage into a DC voltage necessary to charge the battery 32, and supplies it to the switch SW2 and the series connection circuit of the resistor R2 and the switch SW4. Switch SW1~S
W4 is a microcomputer (microcomputer) 15
0N10FF is controlled by. Switches SW1 and SW3 are provided between the regulator 16 and one terminal 41a of the terminal pair 41 for connecting the battery 31.

The other terminal 41b of the battery 31 connecting terminal pair 41 is grounded. Similarly, switches SW2 and SW4 are provided between the regulator 16 and one terminal 42a of the battery 32 connecting terminal pair 42. The other terminal 42b of the battery 32 connecting terminal pair 42 is grounded.

A charger battery presence detection circuit 14 is provided between the terminal 41a and the terminal 42a. The charging/battery presence/absence detection circuit 14 operates based on the potentials of the terminals 41a and 42a.
It is determined whether or not the batteries 31 and 32 are connected to the AC adapter 4, and a signal corresponding to the determination result is provided to the microcomputer 15. Furthermore, when at least one of the batteries 31 and 32 is connected to the AC adapter 4, the charging/battery presence detection circuit 14 is configured based on the potential of the terminal to which the battery is connected among the terminals 41a and 42b. Then, it is determined whether the connected battery is fully charged or not, and a signal corresponding to the determination result is given to the microcomputer 15. Furthermore, microcontroller 15 and D
A detection circuit 13 is provided between the C terminal 10 and the C terminal 10 . The detection circuit 13 detects that an external load is connected to the DC terminal 10. The detection output of the detection circuit 13 is given to the microcomputer 15. That is, the detection circuit 13 notifies the microcomputer 15 that the portable device 3 is connected to the AC adapter 4 via the DC cable 11. Microcomputer 15
are the switches SW1 to SW1 based on the determination output of the charging/battery detection circuit 14 and the detection output of the detection circuit 13.
Controls SW4 and regulator 16. Here, a power switch 17 is connected to the microcomputer 15. The power switch 17 is an external switch used by the user to instruct the AC adapter 4 to turn on the power. power switch 1
When 7 is pressed, the ground potential is applied from the power switch 17 to the microcomputer 15. In response to this, the microcomputer 15
starts a control operation for the regulator 16. This control operation will be specifically explained.

Even if the output of the detection circuit 13 indicates that an external load (portable device 3) is connected to the DC terminal 10, the output of the charging/battery detection circuit 14 indicates that this AC
If the AC adapter 4 indicates that a battery is connected to the adapter 4, the AC adapter 4 enters the charging mode to charge the batteries 31 and 32. That is, in this case, the microcomputer 15 connects the regulator 16 to the batteries 31, 3.
Instructs to output DC voltage for charging 2.

In response, the regulator 16 converts the applied AC voltage into a DC voltage for charging the battery and applies it to the switches SWI and SW2. At the same time, the microcomputer 15 turns on only the switch SWI, and turns on the other switches SW1.
2 to SW4 are all turned off. Therefore, the DC voltage for battery charging output from the regulator 16 is applied only to the battery 31 via the switch SW1 and the terminal 41a. As a result, a charging current flows through the battery 31, and the battery 31 begins to be charged. Along with this, the potential of the terminal 41g increases. battery 31
When the battery is fully charged, the terminal 41, which had been rising until then,
The potential of a slightly decreases.

The charging/battery presence/absence detection circuit 14 detects this. In response to this detection, the microcomputer 15 turns the switch SW1 to
Switch to the FF state and switch SW3 to the ON state. As a result, the charging current for charging the battery outputted by the regulator 16 is limited by the resistor R1 and is applied to the terminal 41a. Therefore, a smaller charging current (usually about 1/30 of the previous charging current) flows through the battery 31. This minute charging current maintains the battery 31 in a fully charged state.

Generally, a method is used to charge a battery, in which the battery is charged with a large charging current and then supplementary charged with a small charging current (so-called trickle charging).

In response to the completion of charging, the switch SW1 is turned off and the switch SW3 is turned on, so that the AC adapter 4 enters a trickle mode in which the battery 31 is trickle charged. In response to this, the microcomputer 15 turns on the switch SW2. by this,
A DC voltage for charging the battery output from the regulator 16 is applied to the terminal 42a. Therefore, charging current now flows to the battery 32 and the battery 32 begins to be charged. When the battery 32 is completely charged by this charging current, the charging/battery presence/absence detection circuit 14 detects that the potential at the terminal 42a, which has been rising, has slightly decreased. In response to this detection, the microcomputer 15 turns switch SW2 to
Switch to the FF state and switch SW4 to the ON state. As a result, the charging current for battery charging from regulator 16 is limited by resistor R2 to terminal 42.
a, the battery 32 is supplementally charged with a smaller charging current (trickle mode).
. In response to this, the microcomputer 15 controls the regulator 16 so that the regulator 16 does not output a DC voltage for charging the battery. In this way, the AC adapter 4 is connected to the switches SWI and S in the charging mode.
It has a so-called series charging function that sequentially charges the batteries 31 and 32 by sequentially switching W2 to the ON state.

When the batteries 31 and 32 are not connected to the AC adapter 4, the AC adapter 4 enters an AC adapter mode in which it performs its original function of providing drive voltage to the portable device 3. That is, when the output of the charging/battery detection circuit 14 indicates that the batteries 31 and 32 are not connected to the terminals 41a and 42a, respectively, the microcomputer 15 sends the regulator 16 a direct current signal to drive the portable device 3. Instructs voltage output. In response to this, the output signal is applied to the output DC terminal 10 of the regulator 16.

Next, the internal configuration of the portable device 3 will be explained with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram showing a typical configuration of the portable device 3. As shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 9, the portable device 3 has two terminals 46a and 46b constituting a terminal pair 46 for connecting the battery 30, and three terminals constituting the DC terminal 12 receiving external DC voltage. 3-wire jack) 12a, 12b, and 12c
, a fuse 20 , a regulator 21 , and a load 22 . The load 22 is a main circuit section that realizes the original functions of the portable device 3 (for example, if the portable device 3 is a video movie, functions such as image recording and playback). Note that both terminals 46b and 12c are grounded.

In addition, when the DC terminal 12 is not connected to any
Terminal 12a is in a state connected to terminal 12b. However, when the output terminal 10 of the AC adapter 4 is connected to the DC terminal 12 via the DC cable 11, the terminals 12b and 12C are connected to the high potential side of the DC terminal 10 of the AC adapter 4 via the DC cable 11, respectively. Connected to the ground side.

Regulator 21 receives a DC voltage applied between terminals 12b and 12a via fuse 20. and,
The regulator 21 converts the received DC voltage into a voltage level suitable for driving the load 22 and applies it to the load 22. As a result, current flows through the load 22 and power from the power source is consumed. The portable device 3 further includes a system microcomputer 23 and a power switch 24 for the user to instruct the portable device 3 to turn on the power. System microcomputer 23 activates the functions of regulator 21 and load 22 in response to power switch 24 being pressed, and disables functions of regulator 21 and load 22 in response to power switch 24 being turned off. become

When the portable device 3 is driven by the battery 3o, the battery 3o is connected to the battery connection terminal 46, while the DC terminal 12 is not connected to either. Therefore, in this case, the output voltage of the battery 30 is applied to the regulator 21 via the battery connection terminal 46a and between the terminals 12a and 12b. Therefore, the regulator 21 adjusts the output voltage of the battery 30 to a predetermined voltage and applies it to the load 22 to drive it.

Conversely, when the portable device 3 is driven by a commercial power source, the AC power is connected to the DC terminal 12 via the DC cable 11.
Output terminal 10 of adapter 4 is connected. therefore,
In this case, the DC voltage obtained by converting the AC voltage supplied from the commercial power source by the AC adapter 4 is transferred to the portable device 3.
is applied between terminals 12b and 12a. Therefore, the regulator 21 drives the load 22 using the output voltage of the AC adapter 4. In other words, even if the battery 30 is connected to the battery connection terminal 46, the DC terminal 12 is
When connected to the adapter 4, the output voltage of the AC adapter 4 is automatically applied to the regulator 21. That is, when the portable device 3 is connected to both the battery 30 and the AC adapter 4, the portable device 3 is configured to give priority to the AC adapter 4.

In this way, the portable device 3 has the DC terminal 12 connected to the input end of the regulator 21 via the terminal 12b and serves to switch the power source, so it can be driven by both the battery 30 and the commercial power source. .

As the battery 30 connected to the portable device 3, batteries 31 and 32 charged by the AC adapter 4 are used.

Incidentally, fuses F1 and F2 in FIG. 8 cause excessive current to flow to the regulator 16 of the AC adapter 4.
6 or prevent it from being destroyed. Similarly, the fuse 20 in FIG. 9 prevents excessive current from flowing into the regulator 21 of the portable device 3 and destroying the regulator 21.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention@] As described above, conventionally, the main body of a portable device and the functional unit for charging the secondary battery that drives the portable device were configured as separate devices. That is, an AC adapter, which is an optional device for driving a portable device with a commercial power source, also has a function of charging a secondary battery. Therefore, when using a battery inserted into a portable device as a secondary battery after charging it, remove the battery from the portable device, attach the removed battery to the AC adapter for charging, and then use the charged battery. It is necessary to remove it from the AC adapter and reattach it to the main body of the portable device. In other words, when you try to charge a battery that has been attached to a portable device and use it again, you have to install the battery to the portable device and AC adapter several times, and remove the battery from the portable device and AC adapter several times. must also be done. Such work is extremely troublesome for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a charging system that solves the above-mentioned problems and can charge a battery once attached to a portable device body without having to remove the battery.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above objects, a charging system according to the present invention includes a device having a load that can be driven by both a commercial power source and a rechargeable battery means, and a device that has a load that can be driven by both a commercial power source and a rechargeable battery means, and and adapter means to be connected. The device is connected to battery means. The adapter means includes a driving voltage generating means for generating a voltage for driving the load in response to a voltage supplied from a commercial power source, and a driving voltage generating means for charging the battery means in response to a voltage supplied from a commercial power source. charging voltage/current generating means for generating a voltage or current. On the other hand, the device includes means for supplying the voltage generated by the drive voltage generation means to the load, voltage/current means for receiving the voltage or current generated by the charging voltage/current generation means, and a voltage/current source means for receiving the voltage or current generated by the charging voltage/current generation means. and means for supplying the voltage or current received by the means to the connected battery means.

[Operation] Since the charging system according to the present invention is configured as described above, it has a load that can drive the output of the charging voltage/current generating means in the adapter means by both a commercial power source and a rechargeable battery means. The device receives and supplies battery means connected to the device body. Further, the output of the drive voltage generating means within the adapter means is supplied to the load within the device as before. Accordingly, the load within said equipment may be conventionally driven by the output of the drive voltage generating means within the adapter means.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This charging system is compatible with portable devices 1. AC adapter 2. and portable equipment 1 and A
It is configured to include a system connector 36 that connects to the C adapter 2.

First, the configuration of the portable device 1 will be explained. 1st
Referring to the figure, the portable device 1 differs from the conventional portable device 3 shown in FIG. and a terminal 43 for receiving charging current to be supplied to the battery 30 from the outside, and selecting which of the output of the battery 30 and the commercial power supply is used as the drive voltage. It has a switch SW5 inside. The switch SW5 is provided between the terminal 44 and the terminal 46, which receive the DC voltage obtained by the AC adapter 2 converting the AC voltage supplied from the commercial power source.

Note that the battery 30 is connected to the battery connection terminal 46. Also, Fuse 20. Regulator 21. And the load 22 operates in the same manner as before. power switch 24
is an external switch for instructing the portable device 1 to turn on the power, as in the conventional case. power switch 24
When is pressed, the system microcomputer 23 switches on the power switch 2.
A ground potential is applied from 4. As a result, the system microcomputer 23 detects that the power switch 24 has been pressed, activates the functions of the regulator 21 and the load 22, and outputs a predetermined detection signal. This detection signal is applied to terminal 45.

The open/close state of the switch SW5 is determined in an environment where the portable device 1 does not require a battery (such as indoors where commercial power can be used) and in an environment where the portable device 1 requires a battery (indoors where commercial power cannot be used). etc.).

The open/close state of the switch SW5 may be controlled mechanically or electrically. Next, an example of a control method for the open/close state of the switch SW5 will be shown.

When electrically controlling the open/close state of the switch SW5, a transistor or a relay switch may be used as the switch SW5, for example.

A small detection switch (not shown) may be provided in the portable device 1 to detect whether or not the portable device 1 is connected to the AC adapter 2 via the system connector 36.

This small detection switch is provided on the mating surface of the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2, and
Determine whether the adapter 2 is attached or detached.

The small detection switch outputs a signal according to the result of this determination. Therefore, the output signal of this small detection switch may be given to the system microcomputer 23 in the portable device 1, and the system microcomputer 23 may output a control signal for controlling the open/close state of the switch SW5. Specifically, if the output of the small detection switch indicates that the portable device l is not connected to the AC adapter 2, the system microphone 23 controls the switch SW5 to be in the ON state, and the output of the small detection switch is However, portable device 1 is AC adapter 2
The control signal that the system microcomputer 23 gives to the switch SW5 and the signal given to the system microcomputer 23 from the small detection switch are combined so that the system microcomputer 23 controls the switch SW5 to the OFF state if the signal indicates that the switch SW5 is connected to the switch SW5. A correspondence relationship is set. In the case of mechanically controlling the open/close state of the switch SW5, for example, the porta-pull device 1 constituting the system connector 36
side connector 36a and AC adapter 2 side connector 36
b may be configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of a portion of the system connector 36 related to the switch SW5. Referring to FIG. 4, a spring switch 100 is built into the portable device 1 side connector 36a as a switch SW5.

The spring switch 100 includes a terminal 110 connected to the battery connection terminal 46a and a terminal 120 connected to the fuse 20. When the porta-pull device 1 side connector 36a and the AC adapter 2 side connector 36b are not fitted, the terminal 110 and the terminal 120
is in a short-circuit condition. On the other hand, the AC adapter 2 side connector 36b includes a convex portion 200 provided to release the short circuit between the terminals 110 and 120 in the portable device 1 side connector 36a. The convex portion 200 is formed of an insulator. When the AC adapter 2 side connector 36b is fitted to the portable device 1 side connector 36a, the convex portion 200 pushes out the space between the terminals 110 and 120 and fits between the terminals 110 and 120. This insulates the terminals 110 and 120.

In this way, the switch SW5 connects the portable device 1 and the
It is electrically or mechanically automatically controlled so that it is in the ON state when the C adapter 2 is not connected, and is in the OFF state when the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 are connected.

The configuration and operation of other parts of the portable device 1 are the same as those of the conventional portable device 3 shown in FIG.

Next, the configuration of the AC adapter 2 will be explained.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the AC adapter 2 differs from the conventional AC adapter 4 shown in FIG. 19, and has a terminal 33 that outputs a charging current for charging the battery 30 of the portable device 1. Terminal 33 is connected to the connection point of switches SW1 and SW3. The connection point of switches SW2 and SW4 is connected to battery 3 as before.
The battery connection terminal 42a is connected to the battery connection terminal 42a connected to the battery connection terminal 42a. The connection point of switches SWI and SW3 is conventionally
Battery connection terminal 41a provided on the adapter 2 main body
(See Figure 8).

The configuration and operation of the other parts of the AC adapter 2 are the same as those of the conventional one, so explanations thereof will be omitted.

Next, the system connector 36 will be explained prior to the configuration and operation of the parts of the AC adapter 2 that are different from the conventional ones. The system connector 36 connects external terminals 43, 44 . and 45 are connected to the external terminals 33°10 and 35 of the AC adapter 2, respectively.

Next, when the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 are connected via the system connector 36, the AC adapter 2
The operation will be explained in detail, focusing on the points that are different from conventional ones.

In response to the power switch 17 being pressed, the microcomputer 15 starts controlling the regulator 16,
The regulator 16 is made to output a DC voltage.

Since the terminal 35 is connected to the terminal 45 of the portable device 1 by the system connector 36, a control signal from the system microcomputer 23 in the portable device 1 is applied to the terminal 35. The microcomputer 15 sets the charging system to either an AC adapter mode for driving the portable device 1 or a charging mode for charging the batteries 30 and 32 in response to a control signal from the system microcomputer 23. That is, the microcomputer 15 is the system microcomputer 2.
3 through terminals 45 and 35 indicating that the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is being pressed, the switch SWI is turned OFF to temporarily stop charging the battery 30. state.

On the other hand, the output voltage of the regulator 16 is applied to the DC terminal 10 to drive the portable device 1 . DC terminal 1
The DC voltage derived to zero is applied to the input terminal 44 of the portable device 1 by the system connector 36. Note that by fitting the portable device 1 to the AC adapter 2, the switch SW5 is turned off. At this time,
If the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is in the OFF state, the battery 31 is charged as described later. However, if the power switch 24 is in the ON state, the output voltage of the regulator 16 of the AC adapter 2 is applied to the portable device 1 via the terminal 10 so that this charging is temporarily stopped and the system enters the AC adapter mode. It will be done.

Therefore, in this case, the DC voltage applied to the input terminal 44 is directly applied to the regulator 2 of the portable device 1.
1. In other words, this portable device 1 is an AC
7'□ By being connected to the adapter 2, it is driven by commercial power.

At this time, the microcomputer 15 in the AC adapter 2 controls all the switches SWI to SW4 to be in the OFF state, so that the output of the regulator 16 is not applied to the battery connection terminal 42a and the terminal 33. Therefore, neither the battery 32 connected to the AC adapter 2 nor the battery 31 connected to the portable device 1 is charged.

Conversely, if the signal output from the system microcomputer 23 indicates that the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is not pressed (power off), the microcomputer 15
The C adapter 2 receives this signal from the system microcomputer 23 via the system connector 36 indicating that the portable device 1 is in a power-off state, and operates to charge the battery 31. That is, the microcomputer 15 turns on the switch SW1 and turns off all the other switches SW2 to SW4. Thereby, the DC voltage output by the regulator 16 is applied to the battery 30 via the terminal 33 and the input terminal 43 of the portable device 1 . Therefore, a constant current flows from the output terminal 33 of the AC adapter 2 to the input terminal 43 of the portable device 1, and the battery 30 is charged by this constant current. When the battery 30 is fully charged, the terminals 46a, 43,
and the potential of 33 decreases slightly. In response to the detection output of the charge/battery detection circuit 14 that detects this, the microcomputer 15 turns the switch SW1 off and turns the switch SW3 on. This puts the charging system in trickle mode and re-charges the battery 30 with a smaller current than before. At the same time, microcontroller 1
Step 5 turns on the switch SW2 to charge the battery 32. As a result, the output voltage of the regulator 16 is applied to the battery 32, and the battery 32 begins to be charged. When the battery 32 is almost completely charged, the control operation of the microcomputer 15 in response to the detection output of the charging/battery detection circuit 14 detects this, and the switch S is turned on.
W2 is set to OFF state, and switch SW4 is set to OFF state instead.
It is assumed to be in N state. As a result, the charging system enters trickle mode and the battery 32 is supplementally charged.

In this way, all circuit operations in the charging mode of this charging system are completed.

However, the charging/battery detection circuit 14 also determines whether the battery 31 or 32 is connected to the battery connection terminal 42. Therefore, if no battery is connected to the battery connection terminal 42 or 46,
The microcomputer 15 determines that it is not necessary to apply the output voltage of the regulator 16 to the battery connection terminal 42 or 46 based on the determination output of the charging/battery presence/absence detection circuit 14, and returns the switch SW1 or switch SW3 to the OFF state. Take the charging system out of charging mode.

Now, when the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is pressed while this charging system is in the charging mode, the microcomputer 15 stores the state of the charging system at that time in the memory circuit 19, and then charges the charging system. mode to AC adapter mode. In other words, microcontroller 1
5 at that point in time in response to the output signal of the system microcomputer 23 switching from one indicating that the power switch 24 was not pressed to one indicating that the power switch 24 was pressed (power on). Then, the charging system outputs information such as whether or not it was in trickle mode and which of the batteries 30 and 32 was being charged as digital data to the memory circuit 19. Then, the microcomputer 15 returns the switches SW1 to SW4 that had been controlled to the ON state to the OFF state, and temporarily stops charging. At the same time, the microcomputer 15 controls the regulator 16 so that the regulator 16 outputs a DC voltage to the DC terminal 10. As a result, the circuit operation for charging the batteries 30 and 32 is stopped, and conversely, a constant voltage output is supplied to the portable device 1.

Conversely, the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is turned on.
When the state is switched from the AC adapter mode to the OFF state, the microcomputer 15 returns the charging system from the AC adapter mode to the charging mode. That is, in response to the change in the output signal of the system microcomputer 23 from one indicating that the power switch 24 is pressed to one indicating that the power switch 24 is not pressed, the microcomputer 15 outputs a signal from the memory circuit 19 in advance. Read the data stored in the . And microcomputer 15
Based on the data read from the memory circuit 19, the open/close states of the switches SWI to SW4 are set to the states before the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is pressed. For example, when the power switch 24 is pressed, the battery 32
When charging is completed and batteries 30 and 32 are supplementally charged in trickle mode, microcomputer 15 controls switches SW3 and SW4 to be in the ON state, and controls other switches SWI and SW2 to be in the OFF state.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 15 resumes the control operation in the charging mode as described above. In this manner, by providing the memory circuit 19, the circuit operation for charging the battery is interrupted only while the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is pressed, and restarted when the power switch 24 is turned off. I can do it.

Furthermore, the memory circuit 19 has the function of storing the state of charge of the battery, and also has the function of preventing the voltage for charging from being applied again to a battery that has already been charged. Specifically, in the charging mode, the charging/battery presence/absence detection circuit 14 detects the battery 3.
0.32 is completely charged, in response, the microcomputer 15 outputs data to the memory circuit 19 indicating which battery is fully charged.

For example, when this charging system switches from the AC adapter mode to the charging mode, the microcomputer 15 performs charging based on data indicating "which battery is fully charged" among the data read from the memory circuit 19. The open/close states of the switches SW1 to SW4 are controlled so that only the circuit operation for charging the incomplete battery is performed.

That is, if the batteries 30 and 32 are already fully charged when the power switch 24 is pressed, the batteries 30 and 32 will be charged again when the charging system returns from the AC adapter mode to the charging mode. There is no need to Therefore, in such a case, when this charging system returns to charging mode, microcontroller 1
5 determines that batteries 30 and 32 are already charged based on the data read from memory circuit 19, and continues to control switches SW1 and SW2 to be in the OFF state and switches SW3 and SW4 to be in the ON state, respectively. This avoids the phenomenon that a charged battery 30, 32 is repeatedly charged when the charging system returns to charging mode.

Note that in order to reset the stored data in the memory circuit 19, the batteries 30 and 32 are connected to the portable device 1, respectively.
After removing it from the AC adapter 2, it can be attached to the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 again. When the batteries 30 and/or 32 are removed, the charging/battery detection circuit 14 in the AC adapter 2 detects the battery 3 from the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2, respectively.
It is detected that 0 and/or 32 have been removed and the microcomputer 15 is notified. In response, the microcomputer 15 resets the data stored in the memory circuit 19.

As described above, when the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 are connected to each other via the system connector 36, the AC
The microcomputer 15 in the adapter 2 sets the entire system to charging mode or AC adapter mode based on the control signal output from the system microcomputer 23 in the portable device 1. Therefore, if the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is set to the OFF state, the AC adapter 2
The battery 32 connected to the main body of the portable device 1 is charged, and the battery 30 is charged while being attached to the main body of the portable device 1. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the battery 3
0 can be charged without removing it from the main body of the portable device 1. Note that the switch SW5 is in an OFF state when the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 are connected via the system connector 36, so the portable device 1 is in a state where it can be driven by the battery while the battery 30 is being charged. It will never become. That is, the switch SW5 is controlled to be 0N10FF by connecting the portable device 1 to the AC adapter 2.

Now, if the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 are not connected to each other, the portable device 1 and the AC adapter
Each adapter 2 operates in the same manner as before. When the portable device 1 is used without being connected to the AC adapter 2, that is, when the portable device 1 needs to be powered by a battery, the switch SW5 in the portable device 1 disconnects the portable device 1 from the AC adapter 2. This turns it into an ON state. Therefore, when a charged battery 30 is connected to the battery connection terminal 46, the output of the battery 30 is transferred to the regulator 2.
1. That is, the portable device 1 is driven by the battery 30.

In this way, the switch SW5 functions to set the portable device 1 that is not connected to the AC adapter 2 to a state where it can be driven by the battery.

When the AC adapter 2 is not connected to the portable device 1, it does not receive a control signal from the system microcomputer 23 in the portable device 1. Therefore, the microcomputer 15 controls only the charging of the battery 32.

However, in this embodiment, only one battery is connected to the AC adapter 2, so when the battery 32 is connected to the battery connection terminal 42, the switches SW2 and SW4
Only these are controlled by the microcomputer 15 and are sequentially turned on. Furthermore, since a memory circuit 19 is provided in this embodiment, the microcomputer 15 controls the regulator 16 and switches SW2 and SW4, and also controls the battery 32.
The memory circuit 19 stores data indicating whether or not the battery has been charged.
give to When the AC adapter 2 is connected to the portable device 1 via the system connector 36 and incorporated into one system, the microcomputer 15 is activated in the charging mode.
reads this data from the memory circuit 19 and switches SWI to S so that only uncharged batteries are charged.
Controls W4. Therefore, for example, if the battery 32 has already been charged before the AC adapter 2 is connected to the portable device 1, the microcomputer 15 turns on the switch SW2 in the charging mode after the AC adapter 2 is connected to the portable device 1. Keep it in the OFF state. As a result, the already charged battery 32
This avoids the phenomenon of repeated charging in the charging mode after the AC adapter 2 is connected to the portable device 1.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 are connected to each other, current for charging the battery is supplied from the AC adapter 2 to the portable device 1, and A control signal is given to the microcomputer 15 that controls the operation of the AC adapter 2 . As a result, it becomes possible to charge the battery 30 connected to the portable device 1 without removing it from the portable device 1 body. Furthermore, the portable device 1 gives a signal to the microcomputer 15 in the AC adapter 2 indicating whether or not the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is pressed. As a result, during the period when the power switch 24 is pressed and the portable device 1 should realize its original function, the portable device 1 is driven by the AC adapter 2 at a constant voltage and the battery 30 is not charged. Therefore, by being connected to the AC adapter 2, the portable device 1 can be driven by commercial power and can also charge its own battery. Furthermore, since the AC adapter 2 has a built-in memory circuit 19, the entire system is controlled so that only uncharged batteries are automatically charged and charged batteries are not repeatedly charged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as not being able to distinguish between an uncharged battery and an uncharged battery and repeatedly charging a fully charged battery, or forgetting to charge an uncharged battery. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a system connector is used as a means for connecting the AC adapter 2 and the portable device 1 in place of the conventional DC cable. A system connector is a small connector that is installed between a plurality of devices to be connected to each other and is fitted into a predetermined terminal portion of these devices. Therefore, by using the system connector, the work to connect the portable device 1 and the AC adapter 2 is simpler than before.

Hereinafter, a method of handling the portable device 1 and AC adapter 2 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a handling system for the portable device 1 when the portable device 1 is used in an environment where commercial power cannot be used. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a handling system for the portable device 1 when the portable device 1 is used in an environment where commercial power can be used.

Referring to FIG. 2, when using the portable device 1 in an environment where commercial power cannot be used, such as outdoors,
What is necessary is to remove the portable device 1 to which the battery 30 is connected from the AC adapter 2 and take it out. When the portable device 1 is used in such an environment, the switch SW5 in FIG. 1 is in the ON state, so the portable device 1 is driven by the output voltage of the connected battery 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, when using the portable device 1 in an environment where commercial power can be used, such as indoors, connect the AC adapter 2 to the portable device 1 via the system connector 36.
, and connect the AC adapter 2 to a commercial power source (not shown) via the AC cable 18. Then, when the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is pressed, a driving voltage is supplied to the portable device 1 from the AC adapter 2, and the portable device 1 realizes its original function.

In this way, the handling method when the portable device 1 is driven by a commercial power source and a battery is basically the same as the conventional method. However, if it is necessary to recharge the battery 30 before using the portable device 1 because the battery 30 has been exhausted due to outdoor use, for example, as shown in FIG. The portable device 1 may be connected indoors to the AC adapter 2 connected to a commercial power source while the battery 30 is connected. Then, turn on the power switch 2 of the portable device 1.
4 is turned off, charging current is supplied from the AC adapter 2 to the battery 30.

Also, at this time, the battery connection terminal 4 of the AC adapter 2
If another battery 32 to be charged is connected to the battery 2, the battery 32 can be charged together with the battery 30. Then, when the battery 3o is completely charged, the portable device 1 may be removed from the AC adapter 2 and taken outside for use. In this way, the portable device 1
By being able to charge the battery 30 for driving the portable device 1 without removing it from the portable device 1, the user's work required to recharge and use the battery 30 is simpler than before.

In the above embodiment, the operation mode of the AC adapter 2 changes depending on whether or not the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is pressed, that is, whether the portable device 1 is in a state where it should realize its original function. Switchable between charging mode and AC adapter mode. However, regardless of whether or not the power switch 24 of the portable device 1 is pressed, the circuit operation for charging the batteries 30 and 32 in response to the connection of the AC adapter 2 to the portable device 1, and the Of course, it is also possible to perform both the circuit operation for driving the load 22 of the device 1 with commercial power at the same time. However, if the AC adapter 2 is configured in this way, the voltage for charging the battery 30 and the current for charging the battery 32,
Since a transformer and a regulator circuit that can simultaneously provide the voltage for driving the load 22 are required, the capacity of the regulator 16 needs to be twice that of the present embodiment. For this reason, the size of the regulator 16 increases, making it difficult to downsize the AC adapter 2. In order to avoid such problems, the charging system of this embodiment is configured so that the circuit operation for charging the battery and the circuit operation for driving the portable device 1 are switched between them.

In the above embodiment, when the battery 30 connected to the portable device 1 is charged, a constant current is passed between the terminals 33 and 43 at the system connector 36, but the battery connected to the portable device 1 is configured by, for example, a lead-acid battery. In such a case, a constant voltage may be applied to the terminal 43 from the terminal 33 in the charging mode.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a device having a load that can be driven by both a commercial power supply and a rechargeable battery means can charge the battery means from an adapter means which is a separate device. It is supplied with both voltage or current and the voltage to drive the load. As a result, it becomes possible to charge the battery means while it is attached to a device that can be driven by the battery means. As a result, the user's work when recharging the battery means and using it as a power source for the device is greatly simplified compared to the prior art.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing how to handle the portable device, AC adapter, and system connector of the embodiment, and FIG. Switch S in Figure 1
A diagram showing an example of a control system for the open/closed state of W5, FIGS. 5 to 7 are diagrams showing a conventional portable device and an AC adapter handling system, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a conventional AC adapter. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a conventional portable device. In the figure, 1 and 3 are portable devices, 2 and 4
is an AC adapter, 13 is a detection circuit, 14 is a charging/battery detection circuit, 15 is a microcomputer, 16 and 21 are regulators, 17 is a power switch for the AC adapter, 18
is an AC code, 19 is a memory circuit, 20. Fl, F2 are fuses, 22 are loads, 23 are system microcontrollers, 24
is the power switch for portable equipment, 10, 33. and 35 is an external terminal of the AC adapter, 36 is a system connector, 42 and 46 are battery connection terminals, 43 to 45
is the external terminal of the portable device. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A device having a load that can be driven by both a commercial power source and a rechargeable battery means, and an adapter means connected to the commercial power source, the adapter means being supplied from the commercial power source. driving voltage generating means for generating a voltage necessary to drive the load in response to a voltage supplied from the commercial power source; and a voltage or current for charging the battery means in response to a voltage supplied from the commercial power source. a charging voltage/current generating means for generating a charging voltage/current; A charging system comprising: means for supplying the voltage or current received by the voltage/current receiving means to the connected battery means; and means for supplying the voltage generated by the drive voltage generating means to the load.