JPH05111169A - Power supply control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a power supply control means for electronic appliances in which power can be fed for a long time. CONSTITUTION:A power supply section 11 comprises a plurality of batteries 12a, 12b which are switched at an appropriate interval. Consequently, power can be fed for longer time as compared with the conventional system through a power supply section having identical battery arrangement, and the power supply can be operated more easily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply unit for supplying electric power to electronic equipment and the like, and more particularly to improving efficiency of the power supply unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-142327.
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-242242, the power supply device has a plurality of batteries, and a battery that can be used for a long time during a power failure (when power is supplied by the batteries) is selected to extend the power supply time.

[0003]

The above prior art is to selectively use a pair of batteries at the time of a power outage (when the power supply by the battery is started). However, there is a problem that the power supply time during a power failure (during power supply by the battery) is the upper limit of the continuous dischargeable time of the battery.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control system which realizes a power supply time longer than a continuous dischargeable time of a battery (hereinafter referred to as a long time power supply).

A second object of the present invention is to provide a battery capable of supplying power for a long time with specifications equivalent to those of the conventional battery in terms of shape and the like.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control method capable of supplying electric power even when the operation is defective, in the power supply control method capable of realizing long-term power supply.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control method capable of supplying a voltage / current larger than that during normal operation for a certain period in the power supply control method capable of realizing long-term power supply.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a power supply control system for selecting an optimum battery in the power supply control system capable of realizing long-term power supply.

[0009]

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention is provided with a plurality of batteries, a switching means capable of switching the plurality of batteries, and a switching control means capable of controlling the switching means. ..

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, the present invention incorporates a plurality of power supply means, a switching means capable of switching the plurality of power supply means, and a switching control means capable of controlling the switching means in a battery. did.

In order to achieve the above third object, the present invention provides a main power source unit provided with the plurality of batteries, a switching unit capable of switching and a switching control unit capable of controlling the switching unit, a standby power source unit, and a power source. Part switching means is provided.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned fourth object, the present invention controls a plurality of batteries, a switching means capable of switching the plurality of batteries, a switching means, and in addition to the selection of the batteries
A switching control means capable of switching to parallel connection is provided.

In order to achieve the fifth object, a plurality of batteries, a switching means capable of switching the plurality of batteries, a detection means for detecting battery information such as voltage / current of the plurality of batteries, and battery information. The switching control means is provided which can control the switching means according to the above condition.

[0014]

The plurality of batteries are composed of primary batteries, secondary batteries, or both. The switching means selectively switches one or a part of the plurality of batteries. Switching is performed by selecting one from two alternatives or from three or more candidates. The switching control means controls the switching means periodically or aperiodically to switch the battery. Each battery can be used by intermittent discharge instead of continuous discharge, and power can be supplied for a long time. As a result, in the same battery configuration, continuous use is possible for a long time and usability is improved, as compared with the conventional continuous discharge method.

The plurality of power supply means are composed of primary batteries, secondary batteries, or both. The switching means selectively switches one or a part of the plurality of power supply means.
Switching is performed by selecting one from two alternatives or from three or more candidates. The switching control means controls the switching means periodically or aperiodically to switch the power supply means. Each power supply means can be used not by continuous discharge but by intermittent discharge, and power can be supplied for a long time. As a result, it is possible to realize a battery capable of supplying electric power for a long time that can replace the conventional battery, and improve the operation efficiency.

Further, the switching control means provided for the purpose of providing a power supply control system capable of supplying a voltage / current larger than that in the normal operation for a certain period includes a plurality of batteries connected in series in addition to the switching control of the plurality of batteries.・ Connect in parallel. As a result, both long-term power supply and high-voltage / high-current supply can be selectively realized. The power supply control method can be applied to electronic equipment that requires a large current temporarily such as file access of a word processor, and reliability is improved.

The switching control means for the purpose of selecting the optimum battery detects the voltage / current of the plurality of batteries by the detection means and uses it as the selection reference when switching the batteries. This enables efficient power supply control, such as preferentially selecting a battery with a high voltage, and improves efficiency.

[0018]

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a power supply unit to which the power supply control system of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 11 is a power supply unit, 12 is a battery such as a primary battery / secondary battery, 13 is a switching means for switching between the batteries 12a and 12b, and 14 is a switching means 13 for the battery 12a.
It is a switching control means for switching 2b at an appropriate interval. Figure 2
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between time and voltage during continuous discharge and intermittent discharge of the battery. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information processing device using the power supply unit 11 of the present invention. Figure 3
21 is a CPU that controls the entire apparatus, and 2
Reference numeral 2 is a memory for storing program data, 23 is an input control means for controlling the input means 24, 25 is a display control means for controlling the display device 26, and 27 is a secondary storage means 28. Secondary storage control means, 29
Is an information processing device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between time and voltage when the power supply unit of the present invention operates.

The operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the switching control means uses the switching means 13 at an appropriate timing according to the characteristics of the battery 12
Switch between a and 12b. As a result, electric power is always supplied from the power supply unit, but each battery performs intermittent discharge. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between time and voltage during continuous discharge and intermittent discharge. As shown in FIG. 2, the intermittent discharge has a slower voltage drop than the continuous discharge. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between time and voltage of the power supply unit of the present invention. In FIG. 4, points P1 to P5 are time-voltage curves in this embodiment. Points P1 to P2 to P3 to P4 are time-voltage curves when the two batteries 12a and 12b are switched by the conventional method. When the minimum allowable voltage of the power supply unit 11 is V1, in the conventional example, power can be supplied for T1 hours, but in this embodiment, power can be supplied for T2 hours, and the same battery is supplied for a longer time than the conventional example. Configuration is possible.
FIG. 3 is a configuration example of an information processing apparatus using the power supply unit 11 of this embodiment. Software such as word processor software is loaded into the memory 22 from the secondary storage means 28 under the control of the secondary storage control means 27 and executed by the CPU 21. In this case, the information processing device 29 provides the user with the function of a word processor, and the character input by the input means 24 and the display of the created document by the display device 26 are performed. The power supply unit 11 supplies electric power to each functional block such as the CPU 21, the memory 22, and the input control unit that constitute the information processing device 29, and enables its operation. here,
By applying the power supply control method of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 to the power supply unit 11, it becomes possible to increase the power that can be supplied. As a result, the usable time of the information processing device is extended and the usability is improved.

In this embodiment, one power supply unit is provided, but a plurality of power supply units may be provided. Further, among a plurality of power supply units, at least one power supply unit may have the power supply control method of the present invention, and the remaining power supply units may be conventional power supply units. Furthermore, with a configuration having a plurality of power supply units, it is possible to control the plurality of power supply units themselves by the power supply control means of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the switching control means 14
In the above, the battery is switched by the internal operation, but the battery can be switched in synchronization with the external input.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 51 is a battery to which the power supply control system of the present invention is applied, and 52
Is a circuit unit that performs a predetermined operation such as a word processor, 5
Reference numeral 3 denotes an electronic device including the circuit unit 52 and the battery 13.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The battery 51 has a built-in power supply means 54 such as primary battery parts and secondary battery parts, a switching means 13, and a switching control means 14. The switching control means 13 uses the switching means 13 to switch between the power supply means 54a and 54b at an appropriate timing according to the characteristics of the power supply means 54. As a result, electric power is always supplied from the battery 53, but the individual electric power supply means 54 carry out intermittent discharge. As a result, compared to the case where the individual power supply means 54 are sequentially used, it becomes possible to supply power to the circuit unit 52 for a long time when the same power supply means 54 is used. As a result, the electronic device 53
The usable time of is extended and the usability is improved.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the battery 51 can have the same specifications as the conventional battery in terms of shape and voltage. As a result, in an electronic device using a conventional battery, only the battery can be replaced with the battery that can be used for a long time in this embodiment.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the power supply unit of the present invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 62 is a main power supply unit to which the power supply control system of the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 63 is a standby power source unit such as a primary battery / secondary battery, 64 is a power source unit switching means for switching between the main power source unit 62 and the standby power source unit 63, and 65 is a main power source unit 62 and a standby power source unit using the power source unit switching unit 64. A power supply section designation signal for designating any one of 63 and 66 is a power supply abnormality detecting means for detecting a voltage abnormality of the main power supply section 62.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The power supply abnormality detection unit 66 monitors the voltage of the main power supply unit 62, and when an abnormality such as a voltage drop is detected, the power supply unit designation signal 6
5, the main power source unit 62 is switched to the standby power source unit 63 by using the power source unit switching means 64. As a result, the main power supply unit 62
If the power supply unit 6 malfunctions due to abnormal voltage,
From 1, a normal voltage is output.

Further, in the present embodiment, the power supply abnormality detecting means 6
Although the method in which 6 detects voltage is used, a method in which other conditions such as temperature and current are detected is also possible. Further, the power supply abnormality detection means is provided outside the power supply unit 61, and the power supply unit designation signal 65 is provided.
It is also possible to externally switch the power supply section.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the power supply unit of the present invention. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 72 is a switching control means for controlling the two switching means 13a and 13b, and 73 is a parallel designation signal for designating parallel connection (large current supply) to the power supply section from the outside.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the switching control means 72 turns on the switching means 13a and turns on the switching means 13b in the normal operation without parallel designation.
Is turned off and the battery 12a is selected, or the switching means 13a
Is turned off, the switching means 13b is turned on, and any operation for selecting the battery 12b is performed. The power supply control method of the present invention is realized by alternately performing the operations at appropriate intervals. Further, when the parallel (large current) operation is instructed by the parallel designation signal 73, both the switching means 13a and 13b are turned on and the batteries 12a and 12b are connected in parallel.

The power supply unit 71 operates as a power supply unit capable of supplying power for a long time during normal operation, and further, the parallel designation signal 73.
When the parallel operation is specified by, it can be used as a power supply unit that supplies a large current.

As a result, an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer which does not consume much power during a normal operation and which requires a large current in a specific operation state such as when the secondary storage means is accessed is also supported. It will be possible.

In this embodiment, the parallel connection is possible, but the present invention can be applied to other connection methods such as series connection and series / parallel connection combination.

[0033]

According to the present invention, it is possible to supply power for a long time in a power supply unit having the same battery.

Furthermore, by applying the power supply control method of the present invention to a conventional battery, it becomes possible to supply power for a long time to a battery having the same shape as the conventional battery.

Further, by switching between the main power supply unit and the standby power supply unit of the power supply control system of the present invention, power can be supplied even when the main power supply unit is malfunctioning.

Further, in addition to the power supply control system of the present invention, by providing switching control means capable of switching to other connection systems such as parallel / series connection, long-time power supply and large current / high voltage in normal operation are provided. It is possible to realize a power supply unit capable of supplying a large current and a high voltage when the above are required.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power supply unit to which a power supply control system of the present invention is applied,

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between time and voltage during continuous discharge and intermittent discharge of a battery,

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information processing device using the power supply unit of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between time and voltage of the power supply unit of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic device of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a power supply unit of the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a power supply unit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Power supply part, 12 ... Battery, 13 ... Switching means, 14 ... Switching control means.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Dai Abei 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Ltd. Microelectronics Device Development Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Isao Yamazaki 1-1-1, Higashitaga-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki Hitachi Ltd. Taga Factory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A primary battery for supplying electric power to electronic equipment, etc.
In a power supply unit composed of a battery such as a secondary battery, a plurality of batteries, switching means for switching the batteries, and switching control means for controlling the switching means and switching the batteries at appropriate intervals are provided. And power control method. 2. A battery for supplying electric power to an electronic device or the like, which has a plurality of electric power supply means built therein, and which switches the electric power supply means and controls the switching means to switch the electric power supply means at appropriate intervals. A battery provided with a switching control means. 3. The power supply unit according to claim 1, comprising a battery such as a primary battery or a secondary battery for supplying electric power to an electronic device or the like, at least three or more batteries, and a switching means for the battery, A power supply control system in which a switching control device for controlling the switching device and a spare battery switching device are provided, a plurality of batteries are controlled by the power supply control system, and batteries other than the batteries are used as spare batteries. 4. A power supply control system according to claim 1, further comprising switching control means capable of connecting a plurality of batteries of said power supply unit in series or in parallel. 5. A power supply control system according to claim 1, wherein detection means capable of detecting battery information such as voltage and current of each battery, and a switching interval of the switching control means are varied depending on conditions of the battery information.