JPH10187295A - Power supply management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to previously know operatable time based on a current battery residual amount in accordance with processing required by a user with respect to a power supply management device for a portable electronic equipment such as an electronic notebook to be driven by a battery power supply. SOLUTION: A false load corresponding to a load current L required for the operation of an operation mode selected and set up by a user is connected to a battery power supply part 22 by a false load circuit part 24 under the control of a power supply control part 21 in a power supply unit 17, battery restoring time T from time t1 when the false load is detached up to voltage recovery time t2 is counted by a counter CT, battery remaining capacity N is found out from relation between the load current L and the battery restoring time T based on the contents of a battery remaining capacity table sorted in each load current which is stored in a load-sorted battery life table 25, and operation executable time (h) calculated from the battery remaining capacity N (mAh) and the load current L (mA) is displayed on a liquid crystal display part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power management device for a portable electronic device such as an electronic organizer operated by a battery power supply.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a portable electronic device such as an electronic organizer operated by a battery power source, if a power source voltage is reduced due to a drain of a battery, the system is stopped or memory data is destroyed. A quantity warning function is provided.

This power remaining amount warning function, for example, when detecting that the voltage level of the battery power supply has fallen below a certain voltage level, notifies the user of the fact that the remaining battery level is low, or displays the battery remaining level. And prohibits the execution of new operations thereafter, thereby preventing the system from stopping during operation or the destruction of memory data due to this.

[0004]

On the other hand, in recent portable electronic devices, for example, a card-type communication unit is externally connected to the card I / F, and mail data and F-type data are transmitted.
AX data transmission / reception processing can be performed. However, if such a communication unit is externally connected and data transmission / reception processing is performed, the battery voltage is extremely depleted. Even if not performed, the system may be stopped in a short time.

In addition, when the communication unit is externally connected to perform data transmission / reception processing, an excessive load is applied particularly at an early stage of the communication operation, so that the operation may be suddenly disabled.

[0006] Therefore, especially in a portable electronic device to which an external interface with a high power load can be connected, the operable time for the process desired by the user depends on the current remaining capacity of the battery power supply. It is desirable to be able to be notified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a power management apparatus which enables the user to know in advance the operable time based on the current remaining battery level in accordance with a process desired by a user. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

That is, a power supply management device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a pseudo load connection means for connecting a pseudo load equivalent to an actual load to a power supply, and the pseudo load connection means. Recovery time measuring means for measuring the time from when the pseudo load is removed to when the power supply voltage recovers, and the remaining power amount for each load which stores in advance the relationship between the recovery time of the power supply voltage and the remaining power capacity depending on the size of the load. Operation time for reading the remaining power supply capacity corresponding to the actually measured value of the power supply voltage recovery time measured by the recovery time measuring means based on the table and the load remaining power supply table for each load, and calculating the operable time according to the load. It is characterized by comprising a calculating means and an operating time notifying means for notifying the operable time calculated by the operating time calculating means.

That is, in the power management apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pseudo load equivalent to an actual load is connected to the power supply, and the time from when the connected pseudo load is removed to when the power supply voltage recovers. Is measured, and based on a load-based power supply remaining table preliminarily storing the relationship between the power supply voltage recovery time and the power supply remaining capacity that differs depending on the magnitude of the load, the power supply remaining capacity corresponding to the actually measured power supply voltage recovery time is read. Is issued and the operable time according to the load is calculated and reported,
The user is informed of the continuous operable time at the current remaining power level according to the content of the operation to be executed.

A power management apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the power management apparatus according to the first aspect,
Further, when the load is a communication operation, a transfer time calculating means for calculating a time required for data transfer, a time required for data transfer calculated by the transfer time calculating means, and a time calculated by the operation time calculating means. Transfer enable determination means for determining whether all data can be transferred by comparing the operable time.

That is, in the power management apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention, when the load is a communication operation, the time required for data transfer is calculated, and the calculated time required for data transfer and the operation time are calculated. Since it is determined whether or not all data can be transferred by comparing the operable time calculated by the arithmetic means, it is possible to automatically control, for example, the execution / non-execution of the communication operation according to the current remaining power supply. .

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a portable electronic device equipped with a power management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This portable electronic device has a CPU 11. The CPU 11 responds to key input data input from the input unit 12, received data input from the card I / F 13, or the like, and stores system program data stored in the storage device 14 in advance or externally via the storage device 14. The program data read from the recording medium 14a is started, and the operation of each part of the circuit is controlled using the RAM 15 as a work memory. The input unit 12, the card I / F, the storage device 14, and the RAM 15 are connected to the CPU 11. In addition, a liquid crystal display unit 16 and a power supply unit 17 are connected.

The operating voltage of each circuit section of the portable electronic device is supplied by a battery power supply which is detachably mounted on the power supply unit 17. The input unit 12 is provided with data input keys for inputting various characters and symbols such as, for example, hiragana, katakana, alphabets, numbers, symbols, and kanji, and registers memo data, schedule data, telephone number data, and the like. Mode selection key for making selection settings such as a notebook mode for performing search, display, a communication mode in which a card type communication unit (not shown) is connected to the card I / F 13, and an instruction to execute a selection function. And an execution key for performing the operation.

The storage device 14 stores in advance a system program that controls the overall operation of the portable electronic device, and also stores a plurality of subprograms that control the operation of each mode.

The RAM 15 is provided with a notebook data register in which notebook data such as memo data, schedule data and telephone number data is inputted and registered in the notebook mode setting state, and is transmitted and received according to the communication mode setting. A communication data register for storing data to be displayed, a display data register for drawing and storing display data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16, a work area for temporarily storing data input to and output from the CPU 11, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the power supply unit 17 of the portable electronic device. This power supply unit 17
Is provided with a power supply control unit 21 connected to the system bus, a battery power supply unit 22 including a detachable battery E and a temperature correction thermistor R0, voltage dividing resistors R1, R2, and an A / D converter 23a. Battery voltage detector 23,
A plurality of pseudo load resistors r1, r2,... For applying a pseudo load to the battery power supply unit 21 and their switches s1, s
, A pseudo load circuit section 24 composed of.

A voltage signal is supplied from the battery power supply section 22 to the power supply control section 21 so that the battery voltage detection section 2
3 supplies a battery voltage detection signal. Further, the switch control signals of the pseudo load resistors r1, r2,... Are supplied from the power supply control unit 21 to the pseudo load circuit unit 24.

The power supply control section 21 of the power supply unit 17 is connected to a battery life table (ROM) 25 for each load. FIG. 3 shows the battery voltage V detected by the voltage detection circuit unit 23 of the power supply unit 17 of the portable electronic device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing load discharge characteristics of the present invention.

Normally, the discharge characteristic of the battery voltage V has a characteristic that it sharply decreases from the time t0 when the load is applied and then returns from the time t1 when the load is removed. The time from the time t2 to the time t2 when the battery voltage V returns to near the voltage level at the time of load connection t0 is defined as a battery recovery time T.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a battery remaining capacity table by load current used in a battery life table by load 25 provided in the power supply unit 17 of the portable electronic device.

That is, the battery return time T is closely related to the magnitude of the load current L applied to the battery power source E, and the battery remaining capacity N is determined according to the load current L and the battery return time T.
Is determined, and by calculating the remaining battery capacity N and the load current L, the executable time of the process associated with the load current L is calculated.

That is, in the power supply unit 17, the pseudo load resistors r1, r in the pseudo load circuit section 24 are set according to the operation mode set according to the mode selection by the user.
Are selected and the switches s1, s2,... Are turned on / off, and the battery recovery time T from the pseudo load removal time t1 accompanying the switch off to the voltage recovery time t2 is:
It is counted by the counter CT.

From the relationship between the battery return time T counted by the counter CT and the load current L according to the operation setting mode, the battery remaining capacity table for each load current stored in the battery life table for each load 25 is stored. , The remaining battery capacity N is calculated, and the operable time in the setting mode is calculated.

That is, when a certain operation mode is set, the load current L is "600 (mA)", and the battery recovery time T due to the pseudo load connection is "2 (mS)". Since the remaining battery capacity N is "100 (mAh)", the operable time is calculated as 10 minutes (N / L).

Next, a power management operation in a portable electronic device equipped with the power management device having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a power management process in the portable electronic device.

By operating a mode selection key in the input unit 12, for example, a communication mode for connecting a card type communication unit to the card I / F 13 and performing communication processing via a wireless telephone line is selected and set. The power supply control unit 21 of the power supply unit 17 determines that the operation mode is the use mode of the external load, and the load connection of the pseudo load circuit unit 24 for applying the pseudo load according to the load current required for the communication operation in the communication mode. The switch is selected, and the corresponding switch s of the dummy load circuit section 24 is turned on (steps S1 → S2, S3).

Here, when the battery voltage level V detected by the battery voltage detecting section 23 falls below the voltage level corresponding to the system OFF point (see FIG. 3), the OFF point detecting signal is supplied from the power control section 21. Is output to the CPU 11
And the message data indicating that the communication operation is not possible is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16 (steps S4 → S5).

On the other hand, the battery voltage level V detected by the battery voltage detecting section 23 does not fall below the voltage level corresponding to the system OFF point (see FIG. 3), and the battery voltage level V from the time when the dummy load circuit section 24 is removed. The battery remaining capacity N is obtained based on the battery remaining capacity table by load current (see FIG. 4) stored in the battery life table by load 25 according to the battery return time T counted by the counter CT, and received by the CPU 11. Then, the executable time of the communication operation is calculated from the relationship between the load current L corresponding to the set operation mode and the battery remaining capacity N, and is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16 to notify the user (step S4 → S6 → S7, S
8).

That is, for example, when the load current L required for the operation in the setting mode is 600 (mA), connection of the pseudo load →
If the battery recovery time T accompanying the release is as short as 400 (nS) and there is a sufficient remaining battery capacity N "= 1800 (mAh)", it is calculated and displayed as "executable time 3h".

Also, the battery recovery time T associated with the connection and disconnection of the dummy load is as long as 2.0 (ms), and the remaining battery capacity N “= 1”
00 (mAh) "," Executable time 10m
In "is calculated and displayed.

Therefore, according to the portable electronic device equipped with the power management device having the above-described configuration, the pseudo load corresponding to the load current L required for the operation in the operation mode selected and set by the user is generated by the power supply of the power supply unit 17. Under the control of the control unit 21, the battery load unit 22 is connected to the battery power supply unit 22 by the pseudo load circuit unit 24, and at the time t when the pseudo load is removed.
The battery recovery time T from 1 to the voltage recovery time t2 is counted by the counter CT, and based on the relationship between the load current L and the battery recovery time T, the battery remaining by load current stored in the battery life by load table 25 is stored. The remaining battery capacity N is obtained based on the capacity table, and the operation executable time is calculated based on the remaining battery capacity N (mAh) and the load current L (mA).
Since (h) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16, particularly when a communication mode with a high power load is set, it is possible to know in advance the continuous operable time of the current remaining capacity of the battery power supply E, It is possible to prevent the system from being stopped during the communication operation.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation executable time corresponding to the remaining battery level corresponding to the selected operation mode is obtained and displayed. However, for example, the selected operation mode is the data transmission mode. In this case, a configuration may be adopted in which the time required for transmitting all the data and the operation executable time are compared to determine whether or not desired communication processing is possible.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a data transmission process in a portable electronic device equipped with the power management device. That is, when the data transmission mode is selected by operating the input unit 12, the total data amount (bits) to be transmitted stored in the communication data register of the RAM 15 and
From the relationship with the data transmission speed (nbps) of the card type communication unit connected to the card I / F 13, the time required until the end of transmission of all data is calculated (step A1).

Further, through the same processing as in steps S1 to S7 in the power management processing of FIG. 5, the executable time with the current remaining battery level in the data transmission mode is calculated (step A2).

Then, the time required to complete the transmission of all the data calculated in step A1 and the time required in step A1
2 is compared with the executable time in the current battery remaining amount in the data transmission mode calculated in step 2 (step A).
3).

If the executable time is longer than the total data transmission time and it is determined that data transmission is possible, the corresponding data transmission process is started (steps A3 → A4).

On the other hand, for example, when it is determined that the executable time is shorter than the total data transmission time and the data cannot be transmitted, message data indicating that the data cannot be transmitted is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 16 ( Step A3 → A
5).

Thus, execution / non-execution of the data transmission operation can be automatically controlled according to the current remaining capacity of the battery power supply E. The methods described in the above-described embodiment, that is, the power management processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the data transmission processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Card, RAM card, etc.), magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.),
It can be stored and distributed on an external recording medium 14a such as a semiconductor memory. Then, the computer reads the program recorded on the external recording medium 14a via the storage device 14, and controls the operation by the read program, thereby realizing each function described in the above embodiment. A similar process can be executed by the method described above.

[0040]

As described above, according to the power management apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pseudo load equivalent to an actual load is connected to the power supply, and the power supply is removed after removing the connected pseudo load. The time until the voltage recovers is measured, and based on the load-specific power remaining amount table in which the relationship between the recovery time of the power supply voltage and the remaining power of the power supply differs depending on the magnitude of the load, the measured value of the power supply voltage recovery time is used. The corresponding remaining power capacity is read out, and the operable time according to the load is calculated and reported, so that the continuous operable time at the current remaining power capacity according to the content of the operation to be executed is provided to the user. Be informed.

According to the power supply management apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, when the load is a communication operation, the time required for data transfer is calculated, and the calculated time required for data transfer and the time required for data transfer are calculated. Since it is determined whether or not all data can be transferred by comparing the operable time calculated by the operating time calculation means, for example, the execution / non-execution of the communication operation can be automatically controlled according to the current power remaining capacity. Become like Therefore, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to know in advance the operable time based on the current remaining battery level in accordance with the processing desired by the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a portable electronic device equipped with a power management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a power supply unit of the portable electronic device.

FIG. 3 is a view showing load discharge characteristics of a battery voltage V detected by a voltage detection circuit unit of a power supply unit of the portable electronic device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a battery remaining capacity table by load current used in a battery life table by load provided in a power supply unit of the portable electronic device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a power management process in the portable electronic device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a data transmission process in a portable electronic device equipped with the power management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Input part, 13 ... Card I / F, 14 ... Storage device, 14a ... External recording medium, 15 ... RAM, 16 ... Liquid crystal display part, 17 ... Power supply unit, 21 ... Power supply control part, 22 ... Battery power supply unit, 23: Battery voltage detection unit, 24: Pseudo load circuit unit, 25: Battery life table by load, CT: Battery recovery time counter.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pseudo load connecting means for connecting a pseudo load equivalent to an actual load to a power supply, and recovery for measuring a time from when the pseudo load connected by the pseudo load connecting means is removed to when the power supply voltage is restored. A time measuring unit, a load-based power remaining amount table that stores in advance a relationship between a power supply voltage recovery time and a power remaining capacity that differs depending on the magnitude of the load, and a load-based power remaining amount table. An operating time calculating means for reading the remaining power of the power supply corresponding to the measured actual value of the power supply voltage recovery time and calculating an operable time according to the load, and notifying the operable time calculated by the operating time calculating means. A power management device comprising: an operation time notification unit. 2. A transfer time calculating means for calculating a time required for data transfer when the load is a communication operation; a time required for data transfer calculated by the transfer time calculating means; 2. The power management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transfer enable determining unit that determines whether all data can be transferred by comparing the operable time calculated by the unit.