JPS6234302Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention is a battery consumption notification device that detects when the consumption of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined value and notifies that the consumption of the secondary battery has reached the predetermined value. It is related to.

When the electrical energy of a secondary battery is supplied to a load to drive it, the amount of consumption of the secondary battery is detected and if it exceeds a preset value, the secondary battery in use is charged. It is necessary to correct this in order to drive the load efficiently and extend the life of the secondary battery used. For this reason, a device is required that detects the amount of consumption of the secondary battery and notifies that it has reached a predetermined value. Conventionally, the voltage between the terminals of a secondary battery was generally measured, and the secondary battery was charged after confirming that the voltage was lower than a predetermined value.

However, the discharge characteristics of NiCd batteries, which have been widely used in recent years, have improved, and the voltage drop due to discharge is extremely small over a long period of time from the beginning of use. It is not possible to clearly detect the drop in voltage. Therefore, even if the amount of battery consumption is detected and reported at this point, there is already little electrical energy remaining in the battery at the time of notification, and the time during which the load can be driven after this notification is made is extremely short. Therefore, with this method, it is not possible to properly determine when to charge the secondary battery, and the battery may be consumed while driving the load, resulting in a power outage accident, or conversely, the remaining electrical energy of the battery may be lost. Accidents such as shortening the life of the battery by repeating charging more than necessary even when there is sufficient battery life have often been observed.

This invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional battery consumption measurement, reliably detects when the battery consumption reaches a preset value, and detects when the battery consumption reaches a predetermined value. To provide a battery consumption amount reporting device that can quickly and accurately notify the amount of battery consumed.

This idea has the following structure. That is, a current detection resistor for detecting the load current is inserted in series in a current supply circuit from the secondary battery to the load. A series connection circuit of two electrochemical time elements each having the same pole connected to each other is connected in parallel to this current detection resistor for the load current.

Clearing current flows through these two electrochemical time elements alternately when supplying load current and charging the battery, respectively, and when supplying current to the load, the voltage across the one element through which the clearing current is flowing reaches a predetermined value. Detection means are provided for detecting the arrival of the signal. Since the notification means is driven by the output signal of the detection means, the battery consumption notification device of this invention detects that the battery consumption has reached a predetermined value and notifies the user of this. It becomes possible to do so.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The battery consumption amount reporting device of this invention will be described in detail below based on an embodiment thereof using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of this invention, in which a current detection resistor 13 is inserted in series with a current supply circuit from a secondary battery 11 to a load 12.

That is, the positive electrode side of the secondary battery 11 is connected to the diode 1.
The anode side of this diode 14 serves as a charging terminal _t1 . diode 14
The cathode side of is connected to the load 1 via the load input switch 15.
The other end of this load 12 serves as a charging terminal _t2 . Charging terminal t ₂ and secondary battery 11
A current detection resistor 13 is connected between the negative electrode side and the negative electrode side.

Therefore, when the load input switch 15 is turned on, a load current is supplied from the secondary battery 11 to the load 12, and a current corresponding to this load current is passed through the current detection resistor 1.
The load current can be detected by the current flowing through the current detection resistor 13.

A series connection circuit of two electrochemical time-limiting elements 16-1 and 16-2 connected to each other at the same pole is connected in parallel to the current detection resistor 13.

That is, the connection point between the current detection resistor 13 and the charging terminal _t2 is connected to the electrochemical timer 16 via the resistor 17.
-1 is connected to anode A. This resistor 17 is an adjustment resistor for supplying a predetermined current to the electrochemical time elements 16-1 and 16-2. The cathode K of the electrochemical timer 16-1 and the cathode K of the electrochemical timer 16-2 are connected, and the cathode A of the electrochemical timer 16-2 is connected to the resistor 13 and the negative electrode of the secondary battery 11. Connected to the connection point with the side.

For example, an E-CELL can be used as an electrochemical timer. The Ecel has a structure as shown in FIG. 2, in which a small-diameter cylindrical anode 19 made of gold is inserted and disposed approximately along the central axis of a cylindrical silver cathode 18 with one end closed. The open side of the cathode 18 is closed with a cylindrical lid 20, and an opening 21 slightly larger than the diameter of the anode 19 is formed around the axis of the lid 20, through which the anode 19 is exposed to the outside. Taken out and anode terminal 2
2 is connected to this. At the end of the open surface of the cathode 18, the anode terminal 22 is connected to an insulating fixed body 23.
It is insulated and fixed to the cathode 18.

On the other hand, a cathode terminal 24 is connected to the bottom surface of the cathode 18 in parallel to the axis. Cylindrical cathode 1
8 is filled with an electrolytic solution 25.

In this Ecell, when a DC voltage is applied between the cathode 18 and the anode 19 and the DC voltage is passed from the cathode 18 to the anode 19 direction, the anode 1 immersed in the electrolyte 25
Silver is electrodeposited on the surface of 9. In this way, anode 1
The step of electrodepositing silver on the surface of the anode 19 by applying a voltage between the anode 9 and the cathode 18 to flow a current from the cathode 18 toward the anode 19 is called a setting step.

Anode 1 in Ecel where the setting process was carried out.
When a voltage is applied between the anode 9 and the cathode 18 in the opposite direction to the setting process and a current is caused to flow from the anode 19 to the cathode 18, the silver electrodeposited on the surface of the anode 19 moves to the cathode 18. do. The total amount of silver movement at this time is equal to the amount of silver electrodeposited on the surface of the anode 19 in the setting step, and is proportional to the product of the current value per unit time and the movement time. This process is called the clearing process.

Since gold is insoluble in the electrolytic solution 25, when the silver electrodeposited on the surface of the anode 19 is transferred, the resistance value between the anode 19 and the cathode 18 increases rapidly.
The voltage between both electrodes increases. By detecting this sudden increase in the voltage between the two electrodes, it is possible to know the complete movement of silver, and by utilizing this, it is possible to use the Ecel as a timer, counter, or integrating element.

Now, returning to the circuit shown in Figure 1, Ecel is used as the electrochemical timer elements 16-1 and 16-2,
Initially, an electrochemical timer 16-1 that had been subjected to a setting process was used as the electrochemical timer 16-1.
As No. 2, use a material that has been subjected to a clearing process. In this way, when the load input switch 15 is turned on and the load current is supplied from the battery 11 to the load 12,
This load current applies a voltage corresponding to the fluctuation of the load current across the current detection resistor 13, and current flows through the electrochemical time element 16-1 from its anode A to its cathode K. The chemical timer 16-1 will enter a clearing process.

Therefore, the silver electrodeposited on the surface of the anode A in the setting process moves from the anode A to the cathode K in the clearing process, and when all the silver has been transferred, the electrochemical time limit is reached. The voltage at the anode A of element 16-1 will rise, and upon detection of this, electrochemical time element 16-1 can be operated as a timer.

A detection means is provided for detecting when the voltage across the element through which the clearing current is flowing reaches a predetermined value when current is supplied to the load 12 among two electrochemical time-limiting elements having the same poles connected to each other. Based on the output of the detection means, the notification means notifies that the consumption amount of the secondary battery 11 has reached a predetermined value.

That is, a comparator 27 is provided, one input terminal of which is connected to the anode A of the electrochemical timer 16-1. On the other hand, the anode A of the electrochemical timer 16-2
is connected to the + input terminal of the comparator 27 via the resistor 26. In addition, the + input terminal of the comparator 27 is connected to the resistor 2.
8 to the anode side of the light emitting diode 29, and the cathode side of the light emitting diode 29 is connected to the output terminal of the comparator 27 via a resistor 30.

The cathode side of the Zener diode 31 is connected to the anode side of the light emitting diode 29, and the Zener diode 3
The anode side of 1 is connected to charging terminal _t2 . One end of a resistor 32 is connected to the connection point between the anode side of the light emitting diode 29 and the cathode side of the Zener diode 31, and the other end of this resistor 32 is connected to the cathode side of the diode 33. The anode side of this diode 33 is connected to the cathode side of the diode 14 via the load input switch 15.

Now, an Ecel that has gone through a setting process is used as the electrochemical timer 16-1, an Ecel that has gone through a clearing process is used as the electrochemical timer 16-2, and the load input switch 15 is turned on to turn on the load 1.
The operation in the case where a load current is supplied from the secondary battery 11 charged to 2 is explained.

In this case, the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11, the load input switch 15, the load 12, and the current detection resistor 1
3. A closed circuit is formed by the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11, through which a current corresponding to the load current flows. This load current determines the current detection resistor 1.
Voltage fluctuations occur at both ends of 3 in response to fluctuations in load current.

For this purpose, the electrochemical timers 16-1 and 16-
A current proportional to the fluctuation of the load current flows through the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11, the load switch 15, the load 12, the resistor 17, the anode A of the electrochemical timing element 16-1, the cathode K of the electrochemical timing element 16-1, the cathode K of the electrochemical timing element 16-2, the anode A of the electrochemical timing element 16-2, and the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11.

Therefore, the electrochemical timer 1 that has undergone the setting process
For 6-1, the current flows from its anode A to its cathode K, so that the electrochemical timer 16-1 is placed in a clearing process. Furthermore, since the current flows from the cathode K to the anode A in the electrochemical timer 16-2 which has undergone the clearing process, the electrochemical timer 16-2 is placed in the set process.

When electrochemical timers 16-1 and 16-2 having the same characteristics are used, the clearing process of the electrochemical timer 16-1 progresses, and the silver electrodeposited on the anode A surface is transferred to the cathode. When the silver is completely transferred to K and the clearing process is completed, the electrodeposition of silver from the cathode K to the anode A surface is completed in the electrochemical time element 16-2, and the setting process is completed.

In this state, the resistance value between the anode A and the cathode K of the electrochemical timer 16-1 increases rapidly, so that the voltage at the anode A of the electrochemical timer 16-1 increases rapidly. The comparator 27 is connected to the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11, the load application switch 15, the diode 33, the resistor 32, A current flows through a closed circuit consisting of resistor 28, resistor 26, and the negative electrode terminal of secondary battery 11, and resistor 3
It is set so that when the voltage value of the + input terminal, which is set by dividing by 2, 28, and 26, is exceeded, this is detected and the logic value of the signal at the output terminal becomes "0".

Therefore, when the clearing process of the electrochemical timer 16-1 is completed and the voltage at its anode A increases, the light emitting diode 29 lights up. The time it takes for the electrochemical timer 16-1 to undergo the clearing process after the set process is completed, for example, when the secondary battery 11 supplies current to the load 12, and its consumption is 80% of the total stored electricity. % is set to match the time it reaches. Therefore, the electrochemical timer 1
The clearing process of 6-1 is completed, and the light emitting diode 2
If the secondary battery 11 is charged when 9 lights up, efficient charging can be achieved.

When charging the secondary battery 11, the load input switch 15 is opened to disconnect the load 12 from the secondary battery 11, and then a charger is connected between the charging terminals _t1 and _t2 . In this case, the charging current flows through a closed circuit including the charging terminal t ₁ , the diode 14 , the positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11 , the negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery 11 , the current detection resistor 13 , and the charging terminal t ₂ .

The current flowing through the current detection resistor 13 creates a potential difference between the anode A of the electrochemical time element 16-2 and the anode A of the electrochemical time element 16-1. Therefore, from the anode A to the cathode K of the electrochemical timer 16-2 in which the setting process has been completed,
Since the current flows in the direction, the electrochemical timing element 16
-2 is placed in the clearing process. Further, in the electrochemical timer 16-1 in which the clearing process has been completed, current flows from the cathode K to the anode A, so that the electrochemical timer 16-1 is placed in the set process.

Therefore, the charging terminals t ₁ and t ₂ are disconnected from the charger after charging is performed for a period of time when the clearing process of the electrochemical timer 16-2 is completed and the setting process of the electrochemical timer 16-1 is completed. Once released, the secondary battery 11 will be fully charged. In this state, the consumption of the secondary battery 11 is restored to the state where it has been supplementally charged, and it becomes possible to supply the load current to the load 12 again.

Although not shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1,
Means for detecting that the clearing process of the electrochemical timer 16-2 and the setting process of the electrochemical timer 16-1 are completed when charging the secondary battery 11, and displaying the completion of the process. It is convenient when charging.

As explained in detail above, in the battery consumption informing device of this invention, two electrochemical time elements having the same characteristics and having the same poles connected are used.
When the load current is supplied from the secondary battery to the load, one clearing process of the electrochemical timer is used to detect that the consumption amount of the secondary battery has reached a predetermined value, and In the charging process, the clearing process of another electrochemical timer is used to perform a setting process on the electrochemical timer whose clearing process is used when supplying the load current.

Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect and notify that the consumption amount of the secondary battery has reached a predetermined value by supplying load current by a change in the voltage value of this electrochemical time element, and also Since a device is used and the setting and clearing processes correspond to supplying and charging the load current of the secondary battery, it is possible to supply and clear the load current with a simple operation of switching the load input switch and connecting the charger. The device can be driven during the process of charging the secondary battery.

In this way, when the battery consumption notification device of this invention is used, it is possible to accurately detect and notify the battery consumption even when the voltage drop in the terminal voltage is difficult to detect.
In addition, since supply of load current and charging of the secondary battery can be performed with simple operations, current can be supplied to the load efficiently without accidents, and the life of the secondary battery that supplies the load current can be extended. It becomes possible to extend the length significantly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the battery consumption amount reporting device of this invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of an E-cell. 11: Secondary battery, 12: Load, 13: Current detection resistor, 16-1, 16-2: Electrochemical time element, 27: Comparator, 29: Light emitting diode.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A current detection resistor is inserted in series in the current supply circuit from the secondary battery to the load, the same poles are connected to each other, and a series connection circuit of two electrochemical time-limiting elements with the same characteristics is used for the current detection. These electrochemical time-limiting elements are connected in parallel to a resistor, and when the accumulated amount of clear current reaches a predetermined value, the voltage across both ends suddenly increases. A detection means is provided for detecting when the voltage across the flowing element reaches a predetermined value, and the output of the detection means drives a notification means to notify that the consumption amount of the secondary battery has reached the predetermined value. Battery consumption notification device.