JPH1080068A - Device for displaying residual amount of battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to perform the delicate display in correspondence with the residual amount of a battery and to make it possible to perform the display by finely dividing the residual amount of the battery by inputting the result of the measurement of the residual amount of the battery, and outputting the display-element driving signal in correspondence with the magnitude of the residual amount of the battery. SOLUTION: At first, recharging is performed when a battery is completely discharged. When the recharging is performed, a residual-amount measuring part for battery 10 measures the residual amount of the battery and outputs the data of the residual amount of the battery. Then, a display-driving-signal generating part 20 receives the data of the residual amount of the battery outputted from the residual- amount measuring part for battery 10 and outputs the driving signal in proportion to the data. At this time, a residual-amount display part of a battery 30 can be lit with the driving signal, whose frequency is in proportion, or the driving signal, whose pulse width is in proportion. Therefore, the residual amount of the battery is more subdivided and the result can be displayed. Furthermore, the reliability of the residual amount of the battery is improved, the error in the estimation of the usable time can be decreased and the efficient use of the electric equipment using the battery as the power supply can be performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery remaining amount display device, and more particularly, to a battery remaining amount display device for displaying a battery remaining amount in a divided manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a secondary battery is charged and discharged, so that power is supplied from a portable electronic device. At this time, when the secondary battery is completely discharged and recharged, or when fully charged and discharged, the remaining amount of the battery is displayed outside,
The user of the portable electronic device can know the remaining battery state from this display.

In a conventional battery remaining amount display device, the battery remaining amount is displayed on a battery display panel 1 as shown in FIG. The first display window 3 of the battery remaining amount display panel 1 is displayed when the battery remaining amount is 1% to 25%, and the second display window 5 is displayed when the battery remaining amount is 26% to 50%. The second display window 5 is displayed when the remaining battery power is 26% to 50%, the third display window 7 is displayed when the remaining battery power is 51% to 75%, and the fourth display window is displayed. 9 is battery remaining 76% -10
It is displayed when it is 0%. If the fourth display window 9 of the battery remaining amount display panel 1 is displayed during charging, 76%
When the battery is fully charged, the fourth display window 9 repeats blinking so that the user can interrupt charging.

[0004] When the first display window 3 is displayed at the time of discharging, it indicates the remaining battery level between 1% and 25%. To stop charging.

However, in the above-described conventional technique, when displaying the remaining battery power, only one of the two states of turning on and off the display element is used to display the remaining battery power indicated by the display element. Since only the range is displayed, there is a problem that it is not possible to represent the remaining battery power in a fine range. For example, the first
The display window 3 is displayed when the remaining battery level is 1% to 25%, but cannot display the level of the remaining battery level from 1% to 25%.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the prior art and to provide a battery remaining amount display device for displaying the remaining battery amount in a more detailed manner.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery level display device for measuring a remaining battery level and outputting the measured remaining battery level. A display element driving signal generating unit that receives a measurement result from the measuring unit and outputs a display element driving signal corresponding to the amount of remaining battery power, and a display element driving signal output from the display element driving signal generating unit And a battery remaining amount display means which is driven by input of the command.

According to this configuration, the display element drive signal corresponds to the amount of remaining battery power. Therefore, it is possible to provide a fine display according to the remaining battery level, and it is possible to provide a remaining battery level display device that displays the remaining battery level in more detail.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display element drive signal generating means outputs a drive signal having a frequency corresponding to the remaining battery power inputted from the remaining battery power measuring means. Thus, the remaining battery level can be represented by the difference in frequency. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display element drive signal generating means outputs a drive signal having a pulse width corresponding to the remaining battery power input from the remaining battery power measuring means. Thus, the remaining battery level can be represented by the difference in pulse width.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0011]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a battery remaining power display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the configuration of the battery remaining amount display device according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a battery remaining amount measuring unit 10 that measures and outputs the remaining amount of the battery, and a battery output unit that is output from the battery remaining amount measuring unit 10. Element driving signal generator 20 for inputting the remaining battery level data and outputting a driving signal corresponding to the remaining battery level data, and a display element driving signal output from the display element driving signal generator 20 are input. A battery level display unit 30 is provided for displaying the remaining battery level externally.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a battery level display section 30 of the battery level display device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the battery level display unit 30 of the battery level display device according to the embodiment of the present invention is such that the battery level is 0% to 2%.
A first display section 32 indicating that the battery level is between 5% and a second display section 34 indicating that the remaining battery level is between 26% and 50%.
And a third display section 36 indicating that the remaining battery level is between 51% and 75%, and a fourth display section 38 indicating that the remaining battery level is between 76% and 100%.

The first display unit 32 has a one-side terminal connected to an output terminal of the display element drive signal generator 20 and receives a display element drive signal from the display element drive signal generator 20 to generate a stable voltage. A first resistor R1 for outputting an output signal, and an anode connected to the other terminal of the first resistor R1, a cathode grounded, and a first light emission that emits light when a high display voltage is applied through the first resistor R1. It consists of element LED1.

The second display unit 34 has a one-side terminal connected to an output terminal of the display element drive signal generator 20 and receives a display element drive signal from the display element drive signal generator 20 to provide a stable voltage. And a second light-emitting element, which has an anode connected to the other terminal of the second resistor R2, a grounded cathode, and emits light when a high display voltage is applied through the second resistor R2. It consists of element LED2.

The third display unit 36 has a terminal connected to an output terminal of the display element drive signal generator 20, and receives a display element drive signal from the display element drive signal generator 20 to generate a stable voltage. A third resistor R3 to be output;
An anode is connected to the other terminal of the resistor R3, a cathode is grounded, and a third light emitting element LED3 that emits light when a high display voltage is applied through the third resistor R3.

The fourth display unit 38 has a terminal connected to an output terminal of the display element drive signal generator 20 and receives a display element drive signal from the display element drive signal generator 20 to generate a stable voltage. A fourth resistor R4 for output,
An anode is connected to the other terminal of the resistor R4, the cathode is grounded, and a fourth light emitting element LED4 generates light when a high display voltage is applied through the fourth resistor R4.

With the above configuration, the operation of the battery level indicator according to the first embodiment of the present invention is as follows. First,
When the battery is completely discharged, recharge is performed. When recharging is performed, the remaining battery level measurement unit 10 measures the remaining battery level and outputs remaining battery level data. Then, the display element drive signal generator 20 receives the battery remaining amount data output from the battery remaining amount measuring unit 10 and outputs a drive signal proportional to the data. At this time, the drive signal proportional to the remaining battery data is a drive signal whose frequency is proportional or a drive signal whose pulse width is proportional. At this time, the pulse indicates the width (duty ratio) of a high-level signal that can light the battery level display unit 30.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of a driving signal having a frequency proportional to the remaining battery level as shown in FIG.
FIG. 3A shows a drive signal having a frequency corresponding to 5% of the remaining battery level, and FIG. 3B shows a drive signal corresponding to 20% of the remaining battery level. Here, the driving signal having the remaining battery level of 20% has a higher frequency than the driving signal having the remaining battery level of 5%. Here, two types, that is, 20% and 5% are described, but it is of course possible to display the image more finely.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of a driving signal having a pulse width proportional to the remaining battery level. FIG. 4A shows a driving signal having a pulse width corresponding to the remaining battery level of 5%. FIG. 4B shows a driving signal having a pulse width corresponding to the remaining battery power of 20%. Here, the pulse width of the drive signal having the remaining battery level of 20% is larger than that of the drive signal having the remaining battery level of 5%. As a result, the display element drive signal generator 20 outputs a drive signal having a frequency corresponding to the remaining battery level or a drive signal having a pulse width corresponding to the remaining battery level. Here, two types, that is, 20% and 5% are described, but it is of course possible to display the image more finely.

If the remaining battery power is less than 25%, a drive signal is output to the first display unit 32, and the first display unit 32 receives the drive signal having the corresponding frequency or pulse width and receives the corresponding frequency. Or flashes according to the pulse width and displays it externally. That is, when the remaining battery power is low, the blinking speed becomes slow. Conversely, when the remaining battery power is large, the blinking speed becomes fast, and the state of the remaining battery power can be grasped externally.

Subsequently, charging is performed, and the remaining battery power is 25.
%, The display element drive signal generator 20 outputs a lighting drive signal to the first display unit 32 instead of a blinking drive signal, and the first display unit 32 is turned on without blinking.
It is indicated so that the remaining battery level is 25% externally.

Next, when the remaining battery power is 26% or more and 50% or less, the display element drive signal generation section 20 causes the first display section 32
The driving signal whose frequency or pulse width is increased as shown in FIG. When the remaining battery level is 51% to 75%, the third display unit 36 displays
If it is between 6% and 100%, the same operation is performed on the fourth display unit 38.

Next, in a portable electronic device in which a battery is fully charged, a blinking signal having a frequency or a pulse width corresponding to the remaining battery level is displayed externally even when the battery is discharged, as described above. Show the details of the remaining amount to the outside.

[Another Embodiment] Still another embodiment will be described. The number of display units in the battery remaining amount display unit 30 is four.
The number is not limited to three, and may be three or less, or five or more. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the blinking speed increases as the battery remaining amount increases is described. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the blinking speed increases as the battery remaining amount decreases. Although an example corresponding to the magnitude of the remaining battery level is shown as being proportional, the relationship may be other than proportional. Examples of proportionality include direct proportion and inverse proportion.

[0025]

As described above, the effect of the present invention is that, for example, the display element is blinked repeatedly in correspondence with (in proportion to) the remaining battery level, and the remaining battery level is displayed in a more subdivided manner. Can be provided in a more detailed manner. Furthermore, the reliability of the remaining battery level can be improved, and the error in the estimation of the available battery time can be reduced.
It has also been possible to provide a battery level display device that enables efficient use of electronic devices that use a battery as a power supply.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a battery remaining amount display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a battery level display unit of the battery level display device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of a driving signal having a frequency corresponding to a remaining battery level output from a display element driving signal generator of the remaining battery level display device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of a driving signal having a pulse width corresponding to a remaining battery level output from a display element driving signal generating unit of the remaining battery level display device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a display panel of a conventional battery remaining amount display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 battery remaining amount measuring unit 20 display element drive signal generating unit 30 battery remaining amount displaying unit 32 first displaying unit 34 second displaying unit 36 third displaying unit 38 fourth displaying unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A battery remaining amount measuring means for measuring and outputting a remaining amount of a battery, and a display element driving signal corresponding to a magnitude of the remaining battery amount, to which a measurement result from the battery remaining amount measuring means is inputted. A display element drive signal generating means for outputting a display signal; and a battery remaining amount display means driven by receiving and driving a display element drive signal output from the display element drive signal generation means. Display device. 2. The battery remaining power according to claim 1, wherein the display element driving signal generating means outputs a driving signal having a frequency corresponding to the remaining battery power input from the remaining battery power measuring means. Quantity display. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the frequency corresponds to the amount of the remaining battery power. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display element driving signal generating means outputs a driving signal having a pulse width corresponding to the remaining battery level input from the remaining battery level measuring means. Battery level indicator. 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the pulse width corresponds to the amount of remaining battery power. 6. The battery remaining amount display means displays the remaining battery amount as 0.
% Indicating that the remaining battery level is between 26% and 50%, and a second indicating section indicating that the remaining battery level is between 26% and 50%. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a third display unit indicating that the battery level is within the range, and a fourth display unit indicating that the remaining battery level is between 76% and 100%. Battery level indicator. 7. The display device of claim 1, wherein a first terminal is connected to an output terminal of the display element driving signal generating means, and a display element driving signal is input from the display element driving signal generating means to generate a stable voltage. A first resistor for outputting, and an anode terminal connected to the other terminal of the first resistor, a cathode terminal grounded, and a first light emitting element that generates light when a high display voltage is applied through the first resistor. The second display unit has a first terminal connected to an output terminal of the display element drive signal generating means, and a display element drive signal input from the display element drive signal generation means to output a stable voltage. A second light-emitting element having a second resistor, an anode terminal connected to the other terminal of the second resistor, a cathode terminal grounded, and generating light when a high display voltage is applied through the second resistor; The third display unit is the display A third resistor connected to an output terminal of the slave drive signal generation means, a third resistor for receiving a display element drive signal from the display element drive signal generation means and outputting a stable voltage, and the other side of the third resistor; An anode terminal is connected to the terminal, a cathode terminal is grounded, and a third light emitting element that emits light when a high display voltage is applied through the third resistor, the fourth display unit generates the display element drive signal. A fourth terminal connected to an output terminal of the means for receiving a display element driving signal from the display element driving signal generating means and outputting a stable voltage; and an anode terminal connected to the other terminal of the fourth resistance. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a fourth light emitting device that is connected to a cathode terminal, and that emits light when a high display voltage is applied through the fourth resistor. . 8. The display element drive signal generating means outputs a drive signal so that the first display unit is turned on without blinking when the remaining battery power is 25%. When the battery level is 75%, the drive signal is output so that the second display unit is turned on without blinking. When the remaining battery power is 75%, the third display unit is turned on without blinking. And outputting a drive signal so that the fourth display unit is turned on without blinking when the remaining battery power is 100%. Quantity display.