JPH11136870A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conduct battery replacement at optimum timing by calculating and displaying the next replacement time and date of a battery based on the former replacement time and date of the battery, and battery discharging characteristics. SOLUTION: When a battery is replaced, the time and date when the battery was replaced (for example, '15:00, April 1, 1997') is first stored in a RAM5. Discharging characteristics (voltage-time characteristics) of the battery used at a mean current value and a generally-used atmospheric temperature, for example, under the condition of a current value of 10 mA at 25 deg.C, the data of its available time from initial voltage to lower operating limit 3V, for example, '200 hours' is readout from a ROM4. By subtracting a prescribed value of 5 hours from that time, 200 hours after the stored time and date (for example, 15:00, April 1, 1997), that is, at 23:00, April 9, 1997, the battery replacement time and date for the next time, '18:00, April 9, 1997' is calculated. When a user makes an instruction for displaying the next battery replacement time and date, for example, by operating a specific key, it is possible to display the next replacement time and date on a display part 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device which is driven by a battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable secondary battery, and requires replacement with a new dry battery or a charged battery when the battery is exhausted. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electronic device, a method of notifying a battery replacement time is a method of monitoring a battery voltage, displaying a pictorial display indicating a remaining battery level, or replacing the battery when the battery voltage reaches a certain voltage. A warning message or a sign was issued to warn of the time to replace the battery.

[0003]

However, as described above, the user looks at the pictorial display indicating the remaining battery level and predicts the battery replacement date by himself. There is a risk that the battery for the replacement cannot be prepared and the battery replacement time will be missed, and that preparing the replacement battery from too early a time has to be carried for a long period of time, which may be cumbersome.

[0004] In addition, when there are a plurality of types of batteries that can be used (for example, manganese dry batteries and alkaline dry batteries), the characteristics are different, so that it is more difficult to predict.

[0005] Further, since the use time of the battery varies depending on the ambient temperature, it is more difficult to predict the battery usage time. In order not to miss the time to replace the battery, the battery must be replaced as soon as possible with a certain degree of waste. Did not get.

Therefore, the present invention is to notify the time of battery replacement by date and time so as to prevent human error such as unexpectedness as described above, thereby performing battery replacement with less waste. is there.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in an electronic device driven by using a battery as a power supply, a means for storing the date and time when the battery was last replaced, and a means for storing the discharge characteristics of the battery. Means for calculating the next battery replacement date and time from the date and time when the battery was last replaced and the discharge characteristics of the battery,
The above problem is solved by providing a means for displaying the next battery replacement date and time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for inputting the discharge characteristics of the battery, and means for calculating the next battery replacement date and time from the discharge characteristics of the battery and the date and time when the battery was last replaced. To solve the above problem.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a voltage detecting means for detecting a battery voltage, and a means for calculating a next battery replacement date and time from the detected battery voltage and the discharge characteristics of the battery. Solve the problem.

According to claim 4 of the present invention, means for periodically detecting a battery voltage, means for calculating a power consumption speed from the battery voltage detected periodically, and The above problem is solved by providing a means for correcting the battery replacement date and time.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the above object is achieved by providing a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the battery and a means for correcting the next battery replacement date and time based on the temperature of the battery. .

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic device employing a battery replacement notice according to the present invention.
In this figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory) which stores discharge characteristic data of a usable battery, a predetermined program for controlling the operation of the device, and various data necessary for the operation.

The discharge characteristic of a battery is a characteristic of voltage and time when a predetermined current value is continuously supplied from the battery.
In the electronic device according to the first aspect, the average current value of the device and the voltage and time characteristics at a general use environment temperature are stored in the ROM. In the electronic device according to the second and third aspects, the characteristics of the voltage and time of all the types of batteries that can be used are determined. In the electronic device according to claim 5, the voltage-time characteristics at different values are stored in the ROM in addition to the general use environment temperature. Keep it.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU that performs central control of the device. A power source (battery) unit 2 supplies power, and a ROM 4 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 5 that stores input data from a key input unit 7 and the like at a predetermined address are connected. The clock unit 6 is composed of a crystal oscillator or the like, counts the date and time, and stores time data such as a battery replacement date in the RAM 5. The display unit 3 includes a liquid crystal display for displaying data read from the ROM 4 and the RAM 5 and the like. The voltage detection unit 8 detects the voltage of the battery of the power supply unit 2 and
Store it in AM5. The temperature detecting section 9 detects the temperature of the power supply section 2 and stores it in the RAM 5.

Next, the flow of the process of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a battery replacement time calculation process in the electronic device shown in FIG. When the battery is replaced, the date and time when the battery was replaced in step A1 (for example, "199
15:00 on April 1, 2007) is stored in the RAM. Then, in step A2, the average current value and the discharge characteristics (voltage-time characteristics) of the battery used at the general use environment temperature, for example, a current value of 10 mA Under the condition of a temperature of 25 ° C., the use time from the initial voltage to the operation lower limit of 3 V, for example, data of “200 hours” is read from the ROM 4.

In step A3, the date and time (for example, April 1, 1997, 15:00) stored in step A1
0 hours later, that is, by subtracting a predetermined value of 5 hours from 23:00 on April 9, 1997, the date and time of the next battery replacement “4/1997
When the user gives an instruction to display the next battery replacement date and time, for example, by operating a specific key, the next battery replacement date and time is displayed on the display unit 3.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of the battery replacement timing calculation process in the electronic device according to the second aspect. When the battery is replaced, the date and time at which the battery was replaced in step B1 (for example, “15:00 on April 1, 1997”)
Store it in M5. Next, a display prompting the user to determine whether or not the battery used in step B2 is an initially set battery (for example, a manganese dry battery) is displayed on the display unit. The user makes a determination and inputs from the key input unit 7.

When a battery (for example, a manganese dry battery) that has been initialized in step B2 is input, step B
Step 3 → Step B6 to calculate the next battery replacement date and time in the same manner as in the calculation method of claim 1.

When a battery other than the initial setting is input in step B2, the flow advances to step B4 to select and input a battery (eg, an alkaline dry battery) to be used from the key input section. In step B5, the average current value of the battery (eg, alkaline battery) selected and input in step B4 and the discharge characteristic (voltage-time characteristic) at a general use environment temperature, for example, a current value of 1
The operating time from the initial voltage to the lower limit of operation of 3 V, for example, “500 hours” under the condition of 0 mA and a temperature of 25 ° C.
Read from

In step B6, 500 of the date and time (for example, 15:00 on April 1, 1997) stored in step B1 is used.
After a lapse of time, that is, by subtracting a predetermined value of 5 hours from 11:00 on April 22, 1997, the date and time of the next battery replacement “4/1997
When the user gives an instruction to display the next battery replacement date and time, for example, by operating a specific key, the next battery replacement date and time is displayed on the display unit 3.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of the battery replacement timing calculation processing of the electronic equipment according to the third aspect. The processing in steps C1 to C4 is performed in steps B2 to C2 in FIG.
This is the same as the processing in step B5. The electronic device according to the third aspect is different from the electronic devices according to the first and second aspects in that the battery replacement date and time are not stored. Further, the discharge characteristics read from the ROM 4 in step C2 include not only the initial voltage but also the usage time from the voltage after the initial voltage to the lower limit of operation of 3V.

In step C6, the battery voltage (for example, 4.5 V) detected by the voltage detector 8 and the detection date and time (for example, 1
(15:00 on April 1, 997) is stored in the RAM 5, and the usage time (for example, 100 hours) from the battery voltage (for example, 4.5 V) detected in Step C6 to the lower limit of operation 3V is read from the discharge characteristics, and Step C6 is performed. 100 hours after the search date and time (15:00, April 1, 1997) stored in (1)
At 19:00 on April 5, 997, a margin of, for example, 5 hours is subtracted, and the next battery replacement date and time (for example, 1997)
(April 5, 14:00). Thereafter, steps C5 and C6 are repeated at regular intervals (periodically) to calculate and update the next battery replacement date and time. When the user wants to know the date and time of the next battery replacement, the user can operate the key input unit 7 to display the date and time of the next battery replacement on the display unit 3 and check it.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a flow of a battery replacement time calculation process according to the electronic device according to the fourth aspect. The processing in steps D1 to D5 is similar to the processing in steps C1 to C5 in FIG.
Read out from OM4 and set the date and time when
Store it in M5.

Next, in step D6, it is determined whether or not the detected voltage detected in step D5 is in line with the change in the discharge characteristic. If so, the process proceeds to step D7.
The same processing as the electronic device of claim 3 is performed.

If not, the process proceeds to step D8, employing a discharge characteristic close to the actual voltage change, and returning to step D5. Here, the fact that the detected voltage drop is faster than the voltage drop of the discharge characteristic of the average current value means that the equipment is used more frequently than the average and the current value is larger than the average current value. A discharge characteristic at a current value equal to or larger than the current value (for example, 15 mA) is employed.

Further, the fact that the detected voltage drop is slower than the voltage drop of the discharge characteristic of the average current value means that the frequency of use of the device is lower than the average and the current value is lower than the average current value. A current value equal to or less than the current value (for example, 5 m
The discharge characteristics in A) will be adopted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the next battery replacement time calculation process in the electronic device according to the fifth aspect. The processing in steps E1 to E7 is the same as that in FIG.
Is the same as the processing in steps D1 to D7.

In step E8, the discharge characteristic is adopted for the actual voltage change, and the process returns to step E5. The electronic device according to the fifth aspect includes the temperature detection unit 9, and when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 9 is higher than the general use environment temperature (for example, 25 ° C.), the temperature (the temperature is higher than the general use environment temperature) For example, discharge characteristics at 30 ° C.) are employed. When the detected temperature is lower than the general use environment temperature, the discharge characteristics at a temperature lower than the general use environment temperature (for example, 20 ° C.) are adopted.

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the date and time of the next battery replacement can be known at a specific date and time at the time of battery replacement, so that the battery can be replaced at an optimum timing without depending on the user's expectation. Becomes

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to input and set the discharge characteristics of a battery to be actually used, so that it is possible to accurately determine the battery replacement time even in a device that can use a plurality of types of batteries. It becomes possible.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the battery voltage is monitored, it is possible to know the exact time for replacing the battery even when a used battery that has been used once and has been consumed is inserted.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the battery replacement time is calculated based on the discharge characteristics corresponding to the battery consumption speed due to the difference in the frequency of use of the user, the battery replacement can be accurately performed even by a user who is extremely frequent in use. It is possible to determine the time.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the battery section is monitored, and the battery replacement time is calculated based on the discharge characteristics corresponding to the temperature of the battery section. In addition, it is possible to accurately determine the battery replacement time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of a next battery replacement time calculation process in the electronic device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a next battery replacement time calculation process in the electronic device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a next battery replacement time calculation process in the electronic device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a next battery replacement time calculation process in the electronic device according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a next battery replacement time calculation process in the electronic device according to the fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 CPU 2 Power supply unit 3 Display unit 4 ROM 5 RAM 6 Clock unit 7 Key input unit 8 Voltage detection unit 9 Temperature detection unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device which is driven by a battery as a power supply, wherein a means for storing a date and time when the battery was last replaced, a means for storing a discharge characteristic of the battery, and a date and time when the battery was last replaced and the discharge characteristic of the battery. An electronic device comprising: means for calculating the next battery replacement date and time; and means for displaying the next battery replacement date and time. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for inputting discharge characteristics of the battery, and means for calculating the next battery replacement date and time from the discharge characteristics of the battery and the date and time when the battery was last replaced. Electronic device as described. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: voltage detecting means for detecting a battery voltage; and means for calculating a next battery replacement date and time from the detected battery voltage and the discharge characteristics of the battery. Electronics. 4. A means for periodically detecting a battery voltage; a means for calculating a power consumption speed from the periodically detected battery voltage; and a means for correcting the next battery replacement date and time from the power consumption speed. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
Electronic device as described. 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the battery, and a unit configured to correct a next battery replacement date and time based on the temperature of the battery. .