JPH0637698A - Charging battery service life detector in moving equipment for codeless communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate unsuitable responding action at the time of generating a charging failure by providing a counter showing an accumulated load to a charging battery, counting-up by a different up rate and notifying the service span of life of a battery to a user. CONSTITUTION:This detector is provided with a means 11 constantly comparing the value of a stress counter 10 with the service life and an alarm means 12 making LED 8, etc., to operate when the result of comparing by the means 11 exceeds a service life value. Besides, the detector is provided with a count update means 13 which keeps updating the value of the counter 10 and the means 13 multiplies an update rate given from a update rate changing means 14 and passing time data given from a timer 15 to give it to the counter 10. Besides, the means 14 is connected with a charging detector 6, a power switch 3 and a talk switch 4 to detects the state of its code-less slave equipment 1 from each output and state to select the update rate from among one (stand-by charge), 1.43 (off charge) and 0.01 (off, stand-by and talk).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile device of a cordless communication device, a pager, a cordless facsimile device,
The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery life detecting device in a communication terminal that is movable by mounting a rechargeable battery of a mobile device of a cordless personal computer, a civic band transceiver, or other similar communication devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a mobile device such as a cordless telephone which is equipped with a rechargeable battery and is movable, the mobile device can be freely moved and used (call) within a range of radio waves, and charged when not in use. It is extremely convenient because you can charge the built-in rechargeable battery just by placing it on the table. In addition, even when the mobile phone is not placed on the charging stand even when it is not used, and waiting for an incoming call in a state where the mobile phone can be freely moved, the built-in battery can operate for several hours to several dozen hours. And when the battery runs out,
If it is placed on the charging stand again, it will be charged, and it will take several minutes to several tens of minutes.
After a few minutes, it is ready for normal operation.

[0003]

However, the built-in rechargeable battery has a life, and when the rechargeable battery reaches the end of life, it is charged even though the mobile device is normally placed on the charging stand. That is, the mobile does not start normally, or if the mobile is picked up and used for a very short time (several hours, for example) even though the mobile was left on the charging stand for a sufficient time (for example, several hours). It will not work in about a minute). In this case, a general user first checks whether there is a failure of the charging base or a defective contact of the charging terminal, and then replaces the rechargeable battery only after recognizing the life of the rechargeable battery. Alternatively, the manufacturer or dealer may be contacted for repair or repair without noticing the life of the rechargeable battery. The present invention is intended to eliminate the above inconvenience.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in a communication terminal equipped with a movable rechargeable battery, such as a mobile device of a cordless communication device, a counter indicating a total load on the rechargeable battery,
Count updating means for updating the count value of the counter, update rate changing means for changing the update rate of the count updating means according to the usage state of the communication terminal, and the count value of the counter with a given constant value. Comparison means to compare,
It is a rechargeable battery life detecting device comprising alarm means for issuing a warning based on a comparison result by the comparing means.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 4 is an external view of a cordless telephone embodying the present invention. (1) is a child device as a mobile device placed on the charging stand (2), and a switch such as an earpiece, a numeric keypad, an antenna, a power on / off switch (3), and a talk switch for switching between standby and talk. (4) is provided. Of course, a charging terminal (not shown) is provided on the lower surface of the charging stand (2) and the slave unit (1), and power is supplied through the charging terminal in the mounted state shown in the figure to the slave unit (1). It is designed to be charged by the built-in rechargeable battery.
The charging stand (2) may also serve as the master unit.

Next, a life detecting device for a rechargeable battery mounted on the slave unit (1) will be described. In FIG. 2, reference numeral (5) indicates a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) mounted on the slave unit (1). The microcomputer (5) includes the talk switch (4), the power on / off switch (3),
And a charging detection device (6) for detecting whether a charging pressure is applied to the charging terminal (whether charging is in progress),
Each is connected. The charge detection device comprises a transistor (7) which is turned on / off by the voltage from the charge terminal. The microcomputer (5) is connected to an LED (8) for battery life display and a rechargeable battery (9) which will be described later in detail.

Further, in order to make the following description clear, a combination of respective states of the switches (3) and (4) and the charge detection device (6) will be indicated by the following terms.
That is, when the charging detection device (6) detects charging (during charging) and the power switch (3) is off, charging is being performed in a state in which it does not stand by for incoming calls. Called. In this state, the rechargeable battery (9) is supplied with a larger amount of current as much as the various functions (standby etc.) are not operated, and the stress exerted on the battery life is the maximum. Next, during charging and when the power switch (3) is on, functions such as waiting for an incoming call are working, and this is called “standby charging”. (Charging (on cradle)
In principle, the talk switch (4) does not turn on. In this state, the rechargeable battery (9) is supplied with a smaller current than during the "off charging", so that the stress exerted on the battery life is normal. Further, the state in which the charging detection device (6) does not detect charging may be a state in which the child device (1) is lifted from the charging stand (2). In this case, the user lifts the child device (1). You can either use it for a call using (talk switch (4) on), turn off the power, or turn on the talk switch (4) with power on and put it in the standby state. This is called "off, standby, talk". In this state, the rechargeable battery only discharges (when the power is off, the discharge is almost zero), and the stress exerted on the battery life is extremely small.

Although the stress applied to the battery is different in the various states described above, it is possible to manage the stress by converting it into a coefficient. In this embodiment, the stress during "standby charging" is used as a reference (coefficient = 1) and the stress during "off-charging" is 1.43 according to the ratio of the supply current,
0.01 stress during "off, standby, talk"
And set. In addition, in the “standby charging” state, it is predetermined that how long (or how many minutes) each individual rechargeable battery has a life. In this embodiment, it is 2 years when fully used for 24 hours, that is, 2 ( Year) x 365 (days) x 24 (hours) x
It is known that there is a life of 60 (min) = 1051200 (min).

Next, a battery life management device provided in software in the microcomputer (5) for counting the above stress will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG. That is, in FIG. 3, (10)
Is a stress counter for storing a value (total stress) obtained by accumulating the stress (S) in the above various states. The value of the stress counter (10) is constantly compared with the life (S = 1051200). Means (1
1) and alarm means (12) for activating the LED (8) and the like when the result of the comparison by the comparison means (11) exceeds the life value. In addition, the count updating means (1) that continuously updates the value of the stress counter (10).
3), and the update means (13) has an update rate given by the update rate changing means (14) (1.43 for "off charge", 1 for "standby charge", "off standby, talk"). In this case, 0.01) is multiplied by the elapsed time data given from the timer (15) and given to the stress counter (10). In addition, update rate changing means (1
4) is the charge detection device (6) and the power switch (3)
And the talk switch (4), the state of the cordless cordless handset (1) is detected from each output or state, and the above-mentioned update rate (coefficient) is set to 1 or 1.43 or 0.01. Choose one of.

These operations will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 1. First, whether or not charging is in progress is judged by the output from the charging detection device (6) (S-1). Since the state is "off, standby, talk" (S-2), the timer counts until this state ends ((S-3) to (S-5)), and the counter is multiplied by a coefficient of 0.01. Send to (10).

If the battery is being charged at (S-1), then it is determined whether the power switch (3) is on (S-).
7) If the power is off, the above-mentioned "standby charge" state is set (S-8), so a coefficient of 1 is selected, and (S-9)-
The elapsed time measured in (S-11) is multiplied by a coefficient 1 and sent to the counter (10).

Similarly, during charging in (S-1), (S-7)
If the power switch (3) is on, the state is "off charging" (S-13), so the coefficient 1.43 is selected and (S
The elapsed time measured by the timer (15) in (-14) to (S-16) is multiplied by a coefficient of 1.43 and sent to the counter (10).

Since the total amount of stress is accumulated in the counter (10) as described above (S-1
8), this value is the standard life of the battery (S = 105120
Compared with 0) (S-19), if this value is exceeded, battery life display such as continuous lighting of the LED (8) is performed (S-20). Of course, if the integrated value of the counter does not exceed the life value, the process returns to the beginning of the flowchart again. The graph of FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the count value of the stress counter and the state of the child device.

Further, in the above embodiment, the LED (8) for displaying the battery life is made common with the LED for displaying the incoming call, so that the LED (8) is lit continuously, or at a special interval such as blinking at long intervals. As an operation, the user is notified that the battery (rechargeable battery) has reached the end of its life. However, it goes without saying that a dedicated LED may be provided to notify the end of the life of the battery. Of course, a sound warning means such as a buzzer may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the coefficient in the "off, standby, talk" state is uniformly set to 0.01.
In the non-charged state, the power switch (3) is off (off) and the talk switch (4) is off (standby)
And the talk switch (4) ON (talk) are detected by the switching states of the respective switches (3) and (4), and different coefficients (for example, 0.001 and 0.0) are detected.
05, 0.01) may be given.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the user is properly informed that the rechargeable battery has reached the end of its life. The person does not have to take inappropriate actions such as inspecting the trouble at a useless place or sending it out for repair.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for detecting battery life in a cordless telephone handset according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram similarly showing a battery life detection circuit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the same.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a cordless telephone.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an increase state of stress count.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Handset (2) Charging stand (3) Power on / off switch (4) Talk switch (5) Microcomputer (6) Charge detection device (8) LED (9) Rechargeable battery (10) Stress counter (11) Comparison means (12) Alarm means (13) Count updating means (14) Update rate changing means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a mobile communication terminal equipped with a rechargeable battery, such as a mobile device of a cordless communication device, a counter indicating a total load on the rechargeable battery, and a count updating means for updating the count value of the counter. The update rate changing means for changing the update rate of the count updating means according to the usage state of the communication terminal, the comparing means for comparing the count value of the counter with a given constant value, and the comparison result by the comparing means. An apparatus for detecting the life of a rechargeable battery in a mobile device or the like of a cordless communication device, comprising: an alarm means for issuing a warning based on