JPH0946933A - Battery replacement detector for time recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a time recorder itself detect the fact of battery replacement and automatically perform normal operation even if a user does not press an operation button each time at replacement of a battery to inform a time recorder of it. SOLUTION: A time recorder 1 which performs normal operation with a main battery 15 a power source is provided with a voltage monitor 13 which monitors the voltage of the main battery 15, an output OFF means which turns off the output of the time recorder when the voltage of the main battery 15 falls under the reference value, a power failure recovery interruption means (or power restoration confirmation means) which waits for the system to recover from instantaneous power failure, a battery replacement judging means which judges the replacement of the main battery 15 from the voltage change after recovery from instantaneous power failure, and a normal operation reopening means which reopens the normal operation of the time recorder.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a time recorder that operates using a battery as a power source, and more specifically, when a battery that has reached the end of its life is replaced with a new battery, this replacement The present invention relates to a battery replacement detection device capable of detecting facts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a time recorder is used in an area where commercial AC power supply is bad and power is frequently cut off, a time recorder with a battery is used to prevent a failure due to a power failure.

In a conventional time recorder equipped with a battery as described above, when the battery is exhausted and replaced with a new battery, the operation button PS as shown in FIG. 6 is pressed to complete the replacement of the battery. This is notified to the time recorder TR side, and this notification causes the time recorder TR to restart the input operation and the printing operation, and the AC power is turned on even if the battery is replaced with a new battery.
There is a configuration that does not restart the operation unless it is performed.

Further, when the time recorder performs an input operation or a printing operation when the power of the battery is weakened, a phenomenon called an instantaneous power failure occurs due to insufficient power, and the power is temporarily interrupted. When this happens, the output is turned off by the power failure process of the time recorder, so that a state in which a large amount of current does not have to flow, and therefore the battery voltage returns to the original state and power is restored immediately.

Since the phenomenon of once power failure → recovery is an event at an extremely short interval of only several tens of ms to several seconds,
As mentioned above, it is called "instantaneous power failure". However, the battery whose power has once weakened seems to hold a normal voltage, and the time recorder again inputs or prints. However, there is a problem in that a repetitive phenomenon occurs in which a sufficient current cannot be supplied and a power failure occurs again.

Therefore, whether the battery has weakened power or a new battery having sufficient power, the time recorder cannot judge because it shows the same voltage, and as a result, the former one mentioned above. Wait for the operation button PS to be pressed, as in the example
The normal operation is restarted, or the operation is restarted only after the AC power supply is turned on once as in the latter example.

[0007]

However, in the configuration in which the normal operation is not performed only by exchanging the battery and the normal operation is not performed unless the operation button PS is pressed, if the operation of the operation button PS is forgotten, Since the time recorder TR does not normally operate forever, the user thinks that the time recorder TR is out of order, and sometimes there is a case where he / she inquires with the store, etc.
Alternatively, in the case of the configuration in which the normal operation is not started until the AC power supply is turned on, there is a problem that continuous operation cannot be performed by replacing the battery.

Therefore, the technical problem of the present invention is to eliminate the troublesomeness of turning on the operation button or the AC power supply at the time of battery replacement, and the time recorder itself detects the fact of battery replacement to perform normal operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery replacement detection device for a time recorder that can be automatically restarted.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Means taken in the present invention for solving the above technical problems are as follows.

Performs normal operation using the main battery as a power source,
When the main battery voltage monitoring device detects that the voltage of the main battery has become less than the reference value, in the time recorder configured to automatically switch to the auxiliary battery and perform the power outage process,

(1) In the power outage process described above, a power outage monitoring interrupting means for interrupting the monitoring of the power outage recovery signal output from the main battery voltage monitoring device for a certain period of time, and a main operation after the interruption is released. Battery replacement determination means for determining that the battery has been replaced with a new main battery only when the main battery voltage monitoring device detects that the voltage of the battery once becomes less than the reference value and then returns to the reference value or more, The normal operation restarting means for restarting the normal operation of the time recorder when it is determined that the main battery is replaced with a new main battery.

(2) During the above power outage process, the main battery voltage monitoring device is used to confirm the voltage of the main battery is returned to the reference value or more, and the power recovery confirmation means, and after confirming the voltage, the main power is confirmed. Battery replacement determination means for determining that the battery has been replaced with a new main battery only when the main battery voltage monitoring device detects that the voltage of the battery once becomes less than the reference value and then returns to the reference value or more,
The normal operation restarting means for restarting the normal operation of the time recorder when it is determined that the main battery is replaced with a new main battery.

Here, in the above-mentioned power failure processing, as is generally done conventionally, first, it is possible to output the lamp indicator corresponding to the key, the printer, the card carrier, the sound generator, etc. Turn off as much as possible.

Further, the main battery means either a primary battery whose electric power never recovers once used up, or a secondary battery which recovers its original electric power when charged up even if used up once.

The operation of the means described in (1) above will be described with reference to the voltage transition diagram of the main battery shown in FIG.
In the case where the main battery has sufficient power, the main battery voltage does not fluctuate even if the time recorder performs the input operation or the printing operation, but if the power becomes slightly weaker, as shown at point a. The voltage fluctuates.

However, in this state, power failure has not yet been reached, and when further current is released and the power of the main battery becomes extremely weak, the time recorder input operation or printing operation is performed as shown by point b in the drawing. The power failure is detected.

At the time of this power failure, generally, the output of the time recorder is turned off as much as possible by the power failure process, so that only a small amount of current flows, and the main battery voltage can normally operate as indicated by point c in the drawing. Return to voltage.

The interval from point b to point c is several tens of ms.
Since this is an extremely short time of several seconds, if a time longer than this time interval (for example, 3 seconds) is set as the fixed time described in the above (1), the instantaneous power failure has already ended after this fixed time. Can be regarded as being present.

After that, the voltage of the main battery remains at a voltage at which it can normally operate. However, when the main battery is removed by the user or administrator of the time recorder, the voltage is changed to d in the drawing. It falls like a dot and a power failure is detected by the main battery voltage monitor.

When a new battery is attached to the time recorder, the battery replacement determination means detects this and determines that the battery has been replaced with a new battery, and automatically restarts the normal operation of the time recorder.

The means described in (2) above uses the power recovery confirmation means instead of using the fixed time for recognizing the point c in FIG. After detecting the momentary power failure caused by the weakening of the battery, it is possible to automatically restart the normal operation of the time recorder by detecting the change of the main battery from the fluctuation of the voltage.

As described above, the above-mentioned technical problems can be solved by the above-mentioned means, and the problems of the conventional art can be solved.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the above-described battery replacement detecting device for a time recorder according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a time recorder equipped with a battery replacement detection device according to the present invention. In this drawing, 1 is an electronic time recorder,
Reference numeral 1a is a card pocket in which a time card (not shown) can be inserted freely, 2 is an indicator for displaying the current date and time, and numeral 3 is a ten-key pad 3a and an attendance key which is turned on when attending work. 3b and leaving key 3 that turns on when leaving the office
A keyboard 4c and a key hole 3d dedicated to mode switching, 4a and 4b are the attendance key 3b and the leaving key 3
In the indicator lamp provided in c, when a dedicated key (not shown) is inserted into the key hole 3d to switch to the time setting mode, the date and time of the internal clock 9 shown in FIG. 2 can be freely adjusted. It is structured.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the time recorder 1 described above. The BUS connected to the CPU 5 which is the center of the control unit stores the ROM 6 storing the system program and the print data and the like. The data memory RAM 7, the internal clock 9, and the interface circuits 8 and 10 are connected to each other, and one of the interface circuits 10 has, in addition to the above-described display 2 and keyboard 3,
The key lamp 4 including the display lamps 4a, 4a, the printing device 11 for printing working data and the like, and the sounding device 12 for producing various cautions and messages as necessary are connected. A voltage monitoring device 13 that monitors the voltage of the main battery 15 is connected to the interface circuit 8, and each is configured to be controlled and operated according to a system program stored in the ROM 6 under the supervision of the CPU 5.

Further, in FIG. 2, 16 is the main battery 15
Of the auxiliary battery for backup which is automatically switched and used when the voltage of is less than the reference value, 14 is a switch section for automatically switching between the main battery 15 and the auxiliary battery 16, and the time recorder 1 is provided with these. The structure is such that it is operated by electric power supplied from the main battery 15 or the auxiliary battery 16.

Although the time recorder 1 is operated by the main battery 15 or the auxiliary battery 16 in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the time recorder 1 is normally operated by the commercial AC power supply, and the main battery 15 is operated only during a power failure. In some cases, the time recorder 1 may be operated by the auxiliary battery 16 only, and the power source of the time recorder 1 may be only the battery or the commercial AC power source and the battery may be used in combination.

Then, in the ROM 6 of the time recorder 1 configured as described above, as described in the configuration diagram shown in FIG. 5, the main battery voltage monitoring device 13 described above causes the voltage of the main battery 15 to fall below the reference value. When it is detected that the output of the time recorder 1 is turned off as much as possible, "output OFF means", and when the voltage monitoring device 13 also detects that the voltage of the main battery 15 becomes less than the reference value, voltage monitoring is performed. In order to realize "power failure monitoring interruption means" for interrupting the monitoring of the power failure power recovery signal output from the device 13 for a certain time, or alternatively, "power recovery confirmation means" for confirming recovery from an instantaneous power failure The program of is stored.

Further, the above-mentioned voltage monitoring device 1 is stored in the ROM 6 after cancellation of the above-mentioned interruption (or confirmation of power restoration).
3, the voltage of the main battery 15 once drops below the reference value,
After that, when it is detected that the value has exceeded the standard value,
The "battery replacement determination means" for determining that the main battery 15 has been replaced with a new one, and the "normal operation restarting means" for restarting the normal operation of the time recorder 1 when it is determined that the main battery 15 has been replaced with a new main battery 15 are realized. The program for is stored.

Next, the procedure of the power failure process by the time recorder battery replacement detection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows the processing corresponding to claim (1), in which the voltage monitoring device 13 detects the momentary power failure of the main battery 15, and the time recorder 1 starts at step S1. When the output of is turned off as much as possible so that only a small amount of current flows through the time recorder 1, the voltage of the main battery 15 returns to a voltage at which it can normally operate,
Go to next step S2.

In step S2, it is determined whether or not a time period (for example, 3 seconds) larger than the time interval from point b to point c shown in FIG. 3 has elapsed, and when this 3 seconds has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S3. Whether or not the voltage of the main battery 15 has been checked and the main battery 15 has a power failure, that is, the main battery 15 is a user, an administrator, or the like.
If it is determined that a power failure (removal) has occurred, the process proceeds to the next step S4, the voltage of the main battery 15 is checked again, and it is determined whether or not the main battery 15 is restored. Then, it is determined whether or not the main battery 15 is replaced with a new main battery 15, and when the power is restored, the normal processing of the time recorder 1 is automatically restarted and the processing is ended.

FIG. 4B shows a process corresponding to claim (2). Here, after performing the process of turning off the output of the time recorder 1 as much as possible in step S5, step S6 is performed. Then, it is determined whether or not the voltage of the main battery 15 is restored to a voltage at which normal operation is possible, and when the voltage is restored, the processes of steps S7 and S8, which are the same as steps S3 and S4 described in FIG. , That is, the main battery 1
After the power failure due to the removal of No. 5 and the power recovery due to the replacement of the new main battery 15, the normal processing of the time recorder 1 is restarted and the processing is ended.

[0034]

As described above, according to the battery exchange detection device for a time recorder of the present invention, the troublesome operation of pressing the operation button every time the main battery is exchanged and notifying the time recorder is omitted, and the automatic operation is performed after the exchange. Since the normal operation can be resumed, the operation when replacing the main battery can be simplified, and since it is not necessary to provide the above operation buttons on the time recorder, the structure of the time recorder can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly. In particular, it is suitable for use in a time recorder used in an area where the power supply situation is bad.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a time recorder in which a battery replacement detection device according to the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the time clock shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a voltage transition diagram of a main battery.

4A and 4B are flow charts for explaining the procedure of the power failure process according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional time recorder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Time Recorder 13 Main Battery Voltage Monitoring Device 15 Main Battery 16 Auxiliary Battery

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A normal operation is performed using a main battery as a power source, and when the main battery voltage monitoring device detects that the voltage of the main battery has become less than a reference value, it automatically switches to an auxiliary battery for power failure processing. In the time recorder configured to perform, during the above power outage process, power outage monitoring interruption means for interrupting the monitoring of the power failure recovery signal output from the main battery voltage monitoring device for a certain period of time, and this interruption is released. After that, the main battery voltage monitoring device detects that the main battery voltage has once dropped below the reference value and then returned to the reference value or higher. The determination means and the normal operation restarting means for restarting the normal operation of the time recorder when it is determined that a new main battery has been replaced Time clock battery replacement detection apparatus characterized. 2. A normal operation is performed using the main battery as a power source, and when the main battery voltage monitoring device detects that the voltage of the main battery has become less than a reference value, it automatically switches to the auxiliary battery to perform a power failure process. In the time recorder configured to perform, during the power outage process, power recovery confirmation means for confirming that the voltage of the main battery returns to the reference value or more by using the main battery voltage monitoring device, and Only after the main battery voltage monitoring device detects that the voltage of the main battery has dropped below the reference value and then returned to the reference value or more after checking the voltage, the battery is determined to have been replaced with a new main battery. It is characterized by comprising a judging means and a normal operation restarting means for restarting the normal operation of the time recorder when it is judged that a new main battery has been replaced. The time recorder for battery replacement detection device to.