JPH06230861A - Power supply control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain a power supply control device capable of effectively using battery capacity and convenient to use for a user. CONSTITUTION:The power supply control device includes an external input means 3 for inputting data from the outside, an A/D converter 2 for detecting the remaining capacity of a battery BAT and a CPU 6 having an automatic power off function stopping power supply to respective devices after the lapse of a prescribed period when data are not inputted from the means 3 for the prescribed period and an automatic power off time setting function capable of variably setting up the prescribed period in accordance with the remaining capacity of the battery BAT, and is constituted so that time up to automatic power off is set up to a comparatively long time when the battery capacity is sufficiently left, or when the battery capacity is reduced, the time up to the automatic power off is successively shortened.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply control device suitable for application to various portable electronic devices which can use a battery as a power source such as a so-called notebook computer and other small portable computers. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a portable electronic device such as a so-called laptop computer or other small portable computer often uses a battery as a power source. Therefore, in order to prevent the battery from being consumed. ,
For example, it often has an auto power-off function that automatically turns off the power if no input is made for a certain period of time.

The automatic power-off has been devised so as to be executed in accordance with the processing procedure as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, for example.

In FIG. 4, when an electronic device (hereinafter referred to as an information processing device) is powered on, step S20 is performed.
Then, the initialization of the information processing apparatus is executed.

Next, the process proceeds to step S21, and in this step S21, a counter (for example, down-counting) for measuring the time from the last input or the like in the above-mentioned auto power off until the power is automatically turned off. To
For example, it is set for 15 minutes, and the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, it is determined whether or not there is an input from an external data input means such as a key input means such as a keyboard. If there is an input (Yes), the process proceeds to step S23. If there is no input (No), the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S23, the process corresponding to the data input from the external data input means is executed, and the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the auto power-off counter is set again for 15 minutes, and then the process returns to step S22 to repeat the above process.

On the other hand, if the process proceeds to step S25 in the determination at step S22, the auto power off counter is decremented at step S25, and the process proceeds to step S26. In this step S26, it is determined whether or not the value of the auto power-off counter becomes 0, that is,
Determine if there is no input for 15 minutes. If the value of the counter becomes 0 in step S26, the power is automatically turned off, that is, the information processing apparatus is turned off. If it is determined in step S26 that the value of the counter is not 0, the process returns to step S22 and the above-mentioned processing is repeated.

[0009]

By the way, the conventional information processing apparatus (electronic device) as described above has the following drawbacks.

First, in the above-mentioned conventional information processing apparatus, the time until auto power off is predetermined.
Even if the battery capacity is low, it will not automatically power off until the same time as when the battery capacity is sufficient, so even if the battery capacity is low, it is wasted. It consumes the battery capacity and is unsatisfactory for users who want to effectively use the remaining capacity of the battery.

Secondly, for example, in an information processing apparatus in which the auto power off time is set to be relatively short, the auto power is immediately turned off even though the battery capacity is sufficient. It is still unsatisfactory for a user who often leaves the front of the information processing device while operating the information processing device or a user who wants to slowly check the display of a monitor screen or the like provided in the information processing device.

Thirdly, recently, an information processing apparatus has been devised in which the time for auto power off can be set by key input. In this case, however, the time until auto power off is restarted each time the battery capacity decreases. Has to be set again, which is annoying.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above situation, and can effectively use the battery capacity, and is a power source for electronic equipment having an automatic power-off function which is convenient for the user. An object is to provide a control device.

[0014]

A power supply control device of the present invention is proposed in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, and is a power supply control device for an electronic device which can use a battery as a power supply, Input means for inputting from the battery, a battery capacity detecting means for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery, and a power supply for converting the power supplied from the battery into power for each device in the electronic device Supply means,
The power supply control means for controlling the start and stop of power supply to each device in the power supply means, and the electronic device when the predetermined time period has passed through the power supply control means when there is no input from the external input means for a predetermined time period. Auto power off means for stopping the supply of power to each device of the device, and the predetermined period in the auto power off means (according to the auto power off according to the remaining capacity of the battery obtained from the battery capacity detection means) The time until) is variably set.

Here, the electronic device is an information processing device such as a portable small computer, the external input means is a key input means (keyboard), and the predetermined period in the auto power off time setting means is variable. It is assumed that the central processing unit (CPU) of the information processing device performs this.

Further, the battery capacity detecting means of the power supply control device of the present invention is an A / D converter for converting the voltage value of the battery into a digital value, and compares the voltage value of the battery with a predetermined threshold value. Can be realized by a voltage comparator.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the time (predetermined period) until auto power off can be variably set according to the remaining capacity of the battery. Therefore, for example, when the battery capacity is sufficient, the time until auto power off is reached. Is set to be relatively long, and when the battery capacity becomes low, the time until auto power off is sequentially set to be short so that the battery capacity can be effectively used.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The power supply control device of the first embodiment of the present invention is
As shown in FIG. 1, a power supply control device for an electronic device (for example, an information processing device such as a small portable computer) that uses a battery BAT as a power supply, and an external input unit 3 such as a keyboard to which an external input is made. , A / D converter 2 as a battery capacity detecting means for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery BAT
(A / D converter for converting an analog voltage value of the battery BAT into a digital value), and a power supply for converting power supplied from the battery BAT into power for each device in the information processing apparatus and supplying the power respectively. Means (PS) 1
A power supply control means for controlling the start and stop of power supply to each device in the power supply means 1 and the power supply control means when there is no input from the external input means 3 for a predetermined period to be described later. In the auto power off means for stopping the supply of power to each device of the information processing apparatus after a lapse of a predetermined period, and in the auto power off means according to the remaining capacity of the battery BAT obtained from the A / D converter 2. The automatic power-off time setting means variably sets the predetermined period (time until auto power-off).

Here, in the present embodiment, the functions of the power supply control means, the auto power off means, and the auto power off time setting means are possessed by the central processing unit (CPU 6) of the information processing apparatus. .

The information processing apparatus (including the function as the power supply control apparatus) of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the battery BAT is the power source of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, and the power supply means 1
Supply this power to. The power supply means 1 converts the power supplied from the battery BAT into the power of each of the other active devices of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment and supplies the power.
The power supply means 1 is a CPU (central processing unit).
6, the power supply to each active device is turned on / off based on the control of the CPU 6.

The CPU 6 is the most important active device of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, and is read from the ROM 5 of the read-only memory that stores the processing procedure of the CPU 6 and various data (programs etc.) necessary for the processing. , Reads the data (program) of the processing procedure, and is in charge of executing various functions of the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment and controlling other devices based on the data. The ROM 5 sends data of the processing procedure to the CPU 6 in response to a request from the CPU 6. Also,
The ROM 5 can also store data indicating the time (predetermined period) until the auto power off, which will be described later in detail. Furthermore, the RAM 4 is read /
It is a writing memory and is used for storing and reading data according to the processing of the CPU 6.

The external input means (KB) 3 is, for example, a keyboard or the like, reads a user's input from the keyboard, and transmits the information to the CPU 6. The external input means 3 is not limited to the keyboard but may be other external input means such as a so-called mouse or various switches.

The display 8 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device,
The processing result of the information processing apparatus of this embodiment, the input data from the user, and the like are displayed. In addition, the display controller (D
The R) 7 controls the display device 8 in response to a request from the CPU 6 to display the display data on the display device 8.

The A / D converter 2 as the battery capacity detecting means measures the battery capacity of the battery BAT (converts the analog capacity of the battery capacity into a data value) and informs the CPU 6 of the value.

Each of these devices is connected by a bus.

Next, the processing procedure of power supply control in the information processing apparatus (power supply control apparatus) of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the flow chart shown in FIG. The CPU 6 mainly performs the processes in this flowchart.

In FIG. 2, when a power switch (not shown in FIG. 1) of the apparatus of this embodiment is turned on, first, the process of step S1 is executed. In step S1, the minimum necessary initial setting of the apparatus of this embodiment is performed, and then the process proceeds to step S2. The data required for the initial setting is stored in the ROM 5, and the CPU 6 reads the data required for the initial setting from the ROM 5 in response to turning on the power switch.

In step S2, the A / D converter 2 converts the voltage of the battery BAT into a digital value and sends it to the CPU 6, so that the CPU 6 measures the battery capacity of the battery BAT based on the digital value. To do. Then, it transfers to step S3.

In step S3, the above step S2
It is determined whether or not the capacity of the battery BAT measured in step 7 is sufficiently high, and if it is determined to be sufficiently high (Yes), step S
If No, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4 when it is determined to be no in step S3, the battery B measured in step S2 is measured.
It is determined whether or not the capacity of the AT is medium, and if it is determined to be medium (Yes), step S9.
If it is determined that the number is less than the medium level (No), the process proceeds to step S5.

In the step S5, the step S2
It is judged that the battery capacity measured in is low, and the shortest set time (for example, 5 minutes as the predetermined time) is selected as the time until auto power off among the preset multiple times. Set the counter for auto power off (measuring the time by counting down) so that
Control goes to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the external input means 3 in FIG. 1. If it is determined that there is an input (Yes), it is determined in step S7 that there is no input (No). In step S10, the process proceeds to step S10.

In step S7, the process corresponding to the input obtained in step S6 is executed, the process proceeds to step S2, and the above process is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined Yes in step S3 and the process proceeds to step S8, in step S8, the longest time until the auto power off is selected from a plurality of preset times, The auto power-off counter is set so as to reach this longest set time (for example, 15 minutes as the predetermined time), and then the process proceeds to step S6. The process after step S6 is the same as described above.

When it is determined Yes in step S4 and the process proceeds to step S9, in step S9, a medium one is selected from a plurality of preset times until the auto power off, The auto power-off counter is set so that this intermediate setting time (for example, 10 minutes as the predetermined time) is reached, and then step S6.
Move to. The process after step S6 is the same as described above.

Further, when it is determined No in step S6 and the process proceeds to step S10, the auto power off counter is decremented by 1 in step S10, and the process proceeds to step S11. Step S11
Then, it is determined whether or not the value of the auto power-off counter has become 0, and if it is determined that the value of the counter has become 0 (Yes), a series of information processing in the present embodiment is executed. Stop and turn off the power. Also,
When it is determined in step S11 that the counter value is not 0, the process proceeds to step S6. Step S6
The subsequent processing is the same as described above.

In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the battery capacity of the battery BAT is judged in three stages of high, medium and low, but this is not limited to the three stages.
It is clear that 5 steps, 10 steps, or more have the same effect. In other words, the time (predetermined time) until the auto power off is 3 of high, medium and low.
It is not limited to long, medium and short time,
More types of time can be set. From the A / D converter 2 as the battery capacity detecting means,
Since a digital value corresponding to the analog voltage value of the battery BAT can be obtained, theoretically, the battery capacity can be judged at a stage corresponding to all the digital voltage values, thus leading to automatic power off. The time up to can also be set to a time corresponding to all the stages.

Next, FIG. 3 shows an information processing apparatus (including a power supply control apparatus) according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The second embodiment apparatus shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
The difference from the device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is that the battery capacity detecting means is not the A / D converter 2 but the battery B.
That is, the configuration is such that voltage comparators DET1 and DET2 for comparing the voltage value of AT with a predetermined threshold value are replaced.

That is, in FIG. 3, the voltage detectors DET1 and DET2 detect whether the current voltage of the battery BAT is higher or lower than a predetermined voltage value (predetermined threshold value), This is for notifying the CPU 6.

In the present embodiment, the voltage detector DE
T1 informs the CPU 6 when the voltage value when the battery BAT has a large capacity (high voltage) drops to a voltage value of a medium capacity (medium voltage).

Similarly, when the capacity of the battery BAT drops from a medium voltage value (medium voltage) to a low capacity voltage (low voltage), the voltage detector DET2 notifies the CPU 6 of the fact. Let us know.

Thus, the A / D of the above-mentioned apparatus of FIG.
The converter 2 measures the capacity of the battery BAT steplessly (actually, since the analog value is converted into a digital value, the value is divided into minute steps for measurement). Voltage detectors DET1 and DET2 of the embodiment apparatus
Then, the stepwise detection is performed to detect whether or not the two threshold values have fallen below two predetermined threshold values.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 as well, if the types of the voltage detectors (which detect different voltage values) are increased, finer settings can be made. It will be apparent from the above description.

As described above, according to the information processing device (including the power supply control device) of each embodiment of the present invention, the battery B
Since the capacity of the AT is detected and the time until the auto power off is variably set according to the detected capacity, it is caused by forgetting to turn off the power supply especially when the capacity of the battery BAT becomes low. It is possible to suppress the wasteful consumption of the battery to the minimum, and therefore, it is superior to the conventional device in the effective use of the battery BAT.

The power supply control device of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned information processing device such as a computer, but other various electronic devices (for example, a transceiver or a so-called so-called power supply whose power is consumed by the use of a battery or the like). Remote controller). In this case, the external input can be considered to be reception of infrared rays or reception of radio waves, for example.

[0049]

In the power supply control device of the present invention, the external input means for inputting from the outside, the battery capacity detecting means for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery, and the external input means when there is no input for a predetermined period Auto power off means for stopping the supply of power to each device when this predetermined period has elapsed,
By having an auto power-off time setting means for variably setting a predetermined period according to the remaining capacity of the battery obtained from the battery capacity detecting means, the time until auto power-off can be set when the battery capacity is sufficient. Can be set relatively long,
When the battery capacity becomes low, the time until auto power off can be set to be shorter one by one, so the battery capacity can be used effectively, and the time until auto power off does not need to be set again by the user according to the battery capacity. Therefore, it is possible to realize a device that is easy to use for the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of automatic power-off of the embodiment apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of a second embodiment device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of automatic power off of a conventional information processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Power supply means 2 ... A / D converter 3 ... External input means 4 ... RAM 5 ...・ ・ ・ ・ ROM 6 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ CPU 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Display controller 8 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Display BAT ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Batteries DET1, DET2 .... Voltage detectors

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A power supply control device for an electronic device which can use a battery as a power source, an external input means for inputting from the outside, a battery capacity detecting means for detecting a remaining capacity of the battery, and the external input means. When there is no input for a predetermined period, in accordance with the remaining capacity of the battery obtained from the battery capacity detection means and auto power off means for stopping the supply of power to each device of the electronic device when the predetermined period has elapsed. A power supply control device comprising: an automatic power-off time setting means for variably setting the predetermined period in the automatic power-off means. 2. The electronic device is an information processing device, the external input means is a key input means, and the predetermined period in the auto power off time setting means is changed by a central processing unit of the information processing device. The power supply control device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The power supply control device according to claim 1, wherein the battery capacity detecting means is an A / D converter that converts a voltage value of the battery into a digital value. 4. The power supply control device according to claim 1, wherein the battery capacity detection means is a voltage comparator that compares the voltage value of the battery with a predetermined threshold value.