JP2000287364A - Secondary battery device, secondary battery control method, and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a secondary battery device, a secondary battery control method, and an electronic device that can calculate a charged capacity with the same components even when the configuration of a battery cell changes. A secondary battery device includes a battery cell group (26) that supplies a stored voltage to a driving unit that operates an external control target unit based on a charge amount, and a charging current or charge of the battery cell group (26). A charge capacity calculating means 24a for calculating the charge capacity of the battery cell group 26 by measuring the voltage, and an EE for storing data of a set value used for calculating the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation means 24a.
PROM 25 (storage means) and charging capacity calculation means 24a
And setting value varying means 24b for varying the data of the setting value used for calculating the charging capacity in the above.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a secondary battery device for charging a charging device having a built-in storage battery and a built-in storage battery, a secondary battery control method, and electronic equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic equipment such as a personal computer has a battery pack in which a charger and a storage battery (battery) are built in a main body, and the storage battery is charged by a charger and charged. The electronic device is operated using the voltage of the storage battery.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional electronic apparatus, in the calculation of the remaining capacity of the storage battery of the battery pack by the charger, the set value used in the calculation is fixed in accordance with the configuration of the battery cell. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the microcomputer in the control block of the battery pack charger for each battery cell configuration.As a result, mass production effects cannot be obtained, which increases the cost of parts and simultaneously manages ordering of separate parts. However, there is a disadvantage that the management cost for performing the operation also increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a secondary battery device, a secondary battery control method, and an electronic apparatus which can calculate a charge capacity using the same components even when the configuration of a battery cell changes. It is intended to propose.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a secondary battery device for supplying a stored voltage to a driving unit for operating an external control target unit based on a charged amount. Means, and a charging capacity calculating means for calculating a charging capacity of the power storage means by measuring a charging current or a charging voltage of the power storage means. The secondary battery device according to the present invention includes, in particular, a storage unit for storing data of a set value used for calculating the charged capacity in the charged capacity calculating unit, and a set value data used for calculating the charged capacity in the charged capacity calculating unit. And a variable means for varying the value.

[0006] Further, according to the secondary battery control method of the present invention, a power storage step of supplying a voltage stored in the power storage means to a driving means for operating an external control target unit based on the charged amount; A charge capacity calculating step of calculating a charge capacity of the power storage means by measuring a charge current or a charge voltage. In particular, the secondary battery control method according to the present invention includes a storage step for storing data of a set value used for calculating the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation step, and a setting value for use in calculating the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation step. And a variable step of changing data.

Further, the electronic apparatus of the present invention has a driving means for operating the control target section based on the charged amount, a power storage means for supplying the stored voltage to the driving means, a charging current for the power storage means or A charging capacity calculating unit that calculates a charging capacity of the power storage unit by measuring a charging voltage. The electronic device according to the present invention may be configured such that, in particular, the storage means for storing the set value data used for calculating the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation means, and the set value data used for calculating the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation means are variable. And variable means for performing the operation.

According to the secondary battery device, the secondary battery control method, and the electronic apparatus of the present invention, the following operations are performed. The charge capacity value of the power storage means is calculated by the charge capacity calculation means. In this case, the charging capacity of the power storage means can be calculated by measuring the charging current or the charging voltage of the power storage means by the current detection circuit or the voltage detection circuit.

In the present invention, in particular, the setting value stored in the storage means is read out according to the difference in the configuration of the power storage means,
The set value is varied by the variable means, and the charge capacity value of the power storage means is calculated by the charge capacity calculation means.

According to the difference in the configuration of the storage means in the storage means,
Since the data of the set value of the charge capacity calculation, which is the information for calculating the remaining capacity, is stored, the charge capacity is calculated with high accuracy based on the data of the set value. When the data of the charge capacity value is smaller than the predetermined value, the charging operation to the power storage means is performed by the charge / discharge control circuit, and when the data of the charge capacity value is larger than the predetermined value, the discharge from the power storage means is performed. Perform the operation. Note that the charging operation is performed by stopping the operation of the driving unit that operates the control target unit, and the discharging operation is performed by executing the operation of the driving unit.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The secondary battery device according to the present embodiment relates to a battery pack for calculating a charge capacity of a storage battery having a different cell configuration by a charger, and is applied to a personal computer which is an electronic device having the battery pack mounted on a main body. Things.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
In, a battery (lithium ion battery) as a storage battery and a battery pack 4 containing a charger are mounted on a predetermined mounting portion of the main body 1. Note that a charger may be built in a predetermined portion of the main body 1. Next, the charger D of the main body 1
DC output code 1 of AC adapter 10 to C input terminal 9
1 and the plug 12 into a household power outlet 13 of AC100V. This completes the connection.

In the above connection state, the power switch 6 of the main body 1 is switched to "OFF" (OFF). Then
Charging of the battery (storage battery) is started from the charger. When charging is started, a battery lamp 8 as a display unit in front of the keyboard 2 of the main body 1 is turned on to indicate that there is a remaining battery voltage. When the power switch 6 of the main body 1 is switched to “ON” (ON) after charging is completed, the power lamp 7 is turned on.

Here, in the present embodiment, when calculating the charge capacity value of the battery (storage battery) charged by the charger, the charging current or the charging voltage of the battery (storage battery) is measured. When calculating the charge capacity of the battery (storage battery) by the above, the set value used for the charge capacity calculation according to the configuration of the battery cell is stored in the storage means, and the set value used for the charge capacity calculation according to the configuration of the battery cell Is varied to perform highly accurate charge capacity calculation.

When calculating the charge capacity in the charger on the main body side, the charge capacity value based on the set value is calculated via communication between the charger on the main body side and the battery pack 4. It has been done. The charger may be provided not only on the main body side but also outside. In this case, the charge capacity value based on the set value is calculated via communication between the external charger and the microcomputer of the battery pack.

In this way, it is possible to calculate the highly accurate charging capacity of the battery in the battery pack 4 in which the battery and the charger are built-in, and to know it concretely by displaying it on a predetermined display section. Note that the battery pack 4 was provided in a cylindrical shape along the side of the connection portion between the main body 1 and the display 3, but as shown in FIG.
It may be provided in a box shape so as to be inserted into the hollow portion at the rear end of the main body 1.

Next, the configuration of a battery and a charger to which the secondary battery device of the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 2, a charger 20 and a battery cell group (lithium ion battery) 26 correspond to the battery pack 4 shown in FIG. The charger 20 may be provided separately from the battery pack 4 on the main body side or outside. The battery 21 includes a charge / discharge control circuit 21, a current detection circuit 22, a voltage detection circuit 23, a microcomputer (microcomputer) 24, a charge capacity calculation unit 24a in the microcomputer 24, and a set value variable unit 24b.
And an EEPROM (Electrically Era)
sable Programmable Read O
nly Memory) 25. Although not shown, the charge / discharge control circuit 21 includes a constant current circuit and a constant voltage circuit. The DC output terminal 11 of the AC adapter 10 shown in FIG.
Is inserted.

In this battery cell group (lithium ion battery) 26, the charger 20 can be simply constructed, and the amount of charge can be almost accurately determined by detecting the battery voltage or the charging current using the characteristics of the battery. Can be displayed.
This battery cell group (lithium ion battery) 26
The battery can be easily charged by the constant current circuit and the constant voltage circuit in the charger 20. The detection of full charge in the battery cell group (lithium ion battery) 26 can be detected by either the current value or the voltage value in the current detection circuit or the voltage detection circuit in the charger 20. In addition, a battery cell group (lithium ion battery) 2
The calculation of the charging capacity in 6 can be performed by either the current value or the voltage value in the current detection circuit or the voltage detection circuit in the charger 20.

Here, in the present embodiment, as described above, the charge capacity value of the battery cell group (storage battery) 26 charged by the charger 20 is calculated by the charge capacity calculation means 24a in the microcomputer 24. In this case, the charging of the battery cell group (storage battery) 26 by the charger 20 is performed by measuring the charging current or the charging voltage of the battery cell group 26 (storage battery) by the current detection circuit or the voltage detection circuit in the charger 20. The capacity can be calculated.

In the present embodiment, in particular, when calculating the charge capacity value of the battery cell group (storage battery) 26 charged by the charger 20, the charging current or the charging voltage of the battery cell group (storage battery) 26 is measured. By doing so, when the charge capacity of the battery cell group (storage battery) 26 by the charger is calculated by the charge capacity calculation means 24a, a set value used for calculating the charge capacity according to the configuration of the battery cell group 26 described later is stored. The stored value is stored in a table of the EEPROM 25 as a means, and the set value used for calculating the charged capacity is varied by the set value varying means 24b in accordance with the configuration of the battery cell group 26, and the highly accurate charged capacity is calculated.

As a result, the charging capacity indicating the remaining capacity with high accuracy is calculated. Based on this remaining capacity data, the microcomputer 24 determines whether the charging capacity value data is smaller than a predetermined value. By controlling the discharge control circuit 21 for charging, the charging operation to the battery cell group 26 is performed, and when the data of the charging capacity value is larger than a predetermined value, by controlling for discharging, the battery is controlled. The discharge operation is performed from the cell group 26. The charging operation is performed by stopping the operation of the driving means on the main body side of the notebook personal computer shown in FIG. 1, and the discharging operation is performed by executing the operation of the driving means on the main body side of the notebook personal computer.

When the charging capacity is calculated in the charger 20 of the main body, the charging capacity value based on the setting is calculated via communication between the microcomputer of the charger 20 of the main body and the microcomputer of the battery pack 4. It is made to be operated. Note that the charger 20 may be provided not only on the main body side but also on the outside. In this case, the charge capacity value based on the set value is calculated via communication between the microcomputer of the external charger 20 and the microcomputer of the battery pack 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows four cells connected in series in cascade. FIG. 3B shows a structure in which four cells are cascaded in series and two cells are further connected in parallel.
FIG. 3C shows a structure in which four cells are cascaded in series and three more cells are connected in parallel. As described above, by increasing the number of parallel lines, the volume of the battery cell group also increases, but a high-capacity battery cell group can be configured. Here, an example in which four cells are connected in series as a basic configuration has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the same can be considered even if the number of cells in series is different.

Hereinafter, a specific operation of calculating the charge capacity by changing the set value of the charge capacity calculation according to the configuration of the battery cell group will be described. 2, the microcomputer 24 in the battery pack 4 controls the charge / discharge control circuit 21 based on the charge / discharge current value information from the current detection circuit 22 and the battery cell voltage value information from the voltage detection circuit 23, The charge / discharge operation of the battery cell group 26 is controlled and managed.

Further, the microcomputer 24 in the battery pack 4 simultaneously operates the SMB (System Ma
communication with the main body 1 of the notebook personal computer based on the standard (Nature bus) standard, such as a cell voltage value detected by the voltage detection circuit 23, a charge / discharge current value detected by the current detection circuit 22, and a predetermined remaining capacity value. The information is transmitted to the main unit 1 and predetermined information from the main unit 1 is received.

The predetermined information transmitted by communication from the main body 1 to the microcomputer 24 in the battery pack 4 is as follows. The information transmitted by communication from the main body 1 includes adjustment data for correcting the variation of the current detection circuit 22, adjustment data for correcting the variation of the voltage detection circuit 23, and the remaining amount changed by the difference in the cell configuration. It is data for calculation and the like. Information transmitted by communication from the main body 1 is written in advance in the EEPROM 25 through the microcomputer 24 through communication at the time of battery production.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing characteristics of cell voltage versus discharge capacity according to the present embodiment. The cell voltage is the voltage of the battery cell group, and the discharge capacity is the remaining capacity of the battery cell group. Here, the capacity of a single cell is set to 1000 mAH.
It is assumed that Information on the remaining capacity value transmitted to the main body 1 by communication is obtained based on the relationship between the cell voltage value and the discharge capacity (remaining capacity). Compared with the case of the series 4 group shown in FIG. 4A, the discharge capacity (remaining capacity) at the same voltage of the series 4 parallel 2 group shown in FIG. 4B and the series 4 parallel 3 group shown in FIG. 4C.
Are twice and three times respectively.

By writing this remaining capacity calculation data indicating the relationship between the remaining capacity at a certain voltage and the EEPROM 25 by communication from the main body 1 during battery production, a plurality of types of different cell configurations are provided. The battery pack 4 having a battery can be realized with a circuit board having the same circuit configuration as the circuit shown in FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 4 described above, the discharge current at the time of voltage measurement by the voltage detection circuit was not considered, but since the battery cell group has an internal impedance,
The characteristics of the cell voltage versus the discharge capacity shown in FIG. 4 change according to the change of the discharge current. Assuming that the internal impedance of a single cell is 120 mΩ, 480 groups are connected in series in FIG.
4 mB, 240 mΩ in two groups of 4 in series and parallel shown in FIG.
C is 160 mΩ in the series 4 parallel 3 group shown in C.

Therefore, in this case, when the discharge current increases by 1 A, the cell voltage becomes 480 mV in the series 4 shown in FIG.
B is 240 mV in the series 4 parallel 2 group and B is 160 mV in the series 4 parallel 3 group shown in FIG. 4C, respectively, and decreases to the left in the horizontal axis direction in FIG.

The cell configuration, that is, the change in voltage due to the difference in the internal impedance of the cell group is also used as information for calculating the remaining capacity.
By storing in M25, accurate remaining capacity calculation independent of the cell configuration can be realized. In the above-described example, the calculation of the discharge capacity (remaining capacity) at the time of discharging is shown, but the calculation can be similarly applied to the calculation of the charging capacity (remaining capacity) at the time of charging.

In the above-described embodiment, the charge capacity calculation in the case where the cell configuration is different by software processing using the charge capacity calculation means 24a and the set value change means 24b of the microcomputer 24 in the battery pack 4. However, the charging capacity calculating means 24a and the set value varying means 24b are configured by hardware such as a custom IC, and the A of the set value data and the current data are set.
The / D conversion and the calculation of the charge capacity value may be performed collectively. In this way, by configuring with hardware, the calculation is performed at a high speed, so that fine battery control is possible.

The secondary battery device according to the present embodiment includes a battery cell group 26 serving as power storage means for supplying a stored voltage to a driving means for operating an external control target unit based on a charged amount; By measuring the charging current or charging voltage of the cell group 26, the battery cell group 2
And EEPRO as storage means for storing set value data used for calculating the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation means 24a.
M25 and the set value changing means 24b for changing the data of the set value used for the calculation of the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation means 24a, so that the set value used for the remaining capacity calculation is changed to the cell configuration of the battery cell group 26. It can be changed together, the microcomputer 24 for controlling can be made common regardless of the cell configuration, and the development cost of the microcomputer 24 itself can be reduced.
Since the mass production effect can be obtained by the common use of the microcomputer 24, the cost of parts can be reduced, the management cost for order management can be reduced by the common use of the parts, and the common circuit parts can be used. , A circuit board can be shared, and battery cell groups 2 of different capacities
Since components and substrates can be diverted between the six units, it is possible to reduce residual materials at the time of completion of production.

The secondary battery control method according to the present embodiment includes a power storage step of supplying a voltage stored in the battery cell group 26 to a driving means for operating an external control target unit based on the charge amount. A charging capacity calculating step of calculating a charging capacity of the battery cell group 26 by measuring a charging current or a charging voltage of the battery cell group 26, and setting value data used for calculating the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating step. And the setting value data used for calculating the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating step.
, The setting value used for the remaining capacity calculation can be changed in accordance with the cell configuration of the battery cell group 26, and regardless of the cell configuration,
The microcomputer 24 that performs the control can be made common, the development cost of the microcomputer 24 itself can be reduced, and the mass production effect by the common use of the microcomputer 24 can be obtained, so that the parts cost can be reduced,
The commonality of parts can reduce the management cost for order management, and the circuit parts become common. Therefore, by devising the connection with the cells, the circuit board can be made common, and the parts between the battery cell groups 26 having different capacities can be used. Further, since the substrate can be diverted, the residual material at the time of the completion of the production can be reduced.

The electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a driving unit for operating the control target unit based on the charge amount, and a battery cell group 2 for supplying the stored voltage to the driving unit.
6, a charging capacity calculating unit 24a for calculating the charging capacity of the battery cell group 26 by measuring the charging current or charging voltage of the battery cell group 26, and a set value used for calculating the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating unit 24a. An EEPROM 25 as storage means for storing the data of
Since there is provided a set value changing means 24b for changing the data of the set value used for calculating the charged capacity in the charged capacity calculating means 24a, the set value used for calculating the remaining capacity is changed according to the cell configuration of the battery cell group 26. Can be
The microcomputer 24 that performs control can be shared regardless of the cell configuration.
4, the development cost of the microcomputer 4 itself can be reduced, the mass production effect can be obtained by the common use of the microcomputer 24, the component cost can be reduced, the management cost for order management by the common component can be reduced, and the circuit component can be shared. Therefore, by devising the connection with the cell, the circuit board can be shared, and the parts and the board can be diverted between the battery cell groups 26 having different capacities, so that the remaining material at the time of the completion of the production can be reduced. it can.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the target device is applied to a notebook personal computer. However, the present invention is not limited to an electronic device using a storage battery. The present invention may be applied to a video camera device, a portable telephone, a PHS (personal handy phone), a POS (point of sales) terminal, a remote control device, and the like.

[0037]

According to the present invention, there is provided a secondary battery device comprising: a power storage unit for supplying a stored voltage to a driving unit for operating an external control target unit based on a charged amount; A charging capacity calculating means for calculating a charging capacity of the power storage means by measuring a charging voltage; a storage means for storing data of a set value used for calculating a charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating means; Means for changing the data of the set value used for calculating the charging capacity in the means, so that the set value used for calculating the remaining capacity can be changed according to the cell configuration of the power storage means. Control microcomputer can be shared, the development cost of the microcomputer itself can be reduced, and The cost of parts can be reduced due to mass production effects, and the management cost for order management can be reduced by standardizing parts.Since circuit parts are common, the circuit board can be shared by devising connections with cells. Since parts and substrates can be diverted between power storage units having different capacities, it is possible to reduce the amount of residual material at the time of completion of production.

Further, in the secondary battery control method according to the present invention, a power storage step of supplying a voltage stored in the power storage means to a driving means for operating an external control target unit based on the charged amount; By measuring the charging current or the charging voltage of the battery, a charging capacity calculating step of calculating the charging capacity of the power storage means, and a storing step of storing data of a set value used for calculating the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating step, A variable step of changing the data of the set value used for calculating the charge capacity in the charge capacity calculation step, it is possible to change the set value used for the remaining capacity calculation according to the cell configuration of the power storage means, Regardless of the cell configuration, a common microcomputer can be used for control, reducing the development cost of the microcomputer itself. The cost of parts can be reduced due to the mass production effect achieved by the common use of microcomputers, the management cost for order management can be reduced by the use of common parts, and the circuit parts become common, so the connection with the cell is devised. By doing so, the circuit board can be shared, and components and boards can be diverted between power storage means having different capacities, so that there is an effect that residual materials at the time of completion of production can be reduced.

Further, the electronic apparatus of the present invention includes a driving unit for operating the control target unit based on the charged amount, a power storage unit for supplying the stored voltage to the driving unit, and a charging current for the power storage unit. Or a charging capacity calculating means for calculating a charging capacity of the power storage means by measuring a charging voltage; a storing means for storing data of a set value used for calculating a charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating means; A variable means for varying the data of the set value used for calculating the charged capacity in the calculating means, so that the set value used for calculating the remaining capacity can be changed according to the cell configuration of the power storage means, Instead, a common microcomputer can be used for control, and the development cost of the microcomputer itself can be reduced. Since the mass production effect can be obtained through the introduction of parts, the cost of parts can be reduced, the management cost for order management can be reduced by the use of common parts, and the circuit parts can be shared. Since components can be shared and components and substrates can be diverted between power storage units having different capacities, there is an effect that a residual material at the time of completion of production can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a battery and a charger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a battery cell configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3A shows a configuration in which four cells are cascaded in series; FIG. 3B shows a configuration in which four cascades are connected in parallel;
FIG. 3C shows four cascades connected in series and three connected in parallel.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing characteristics of voltage versus discharge capacity according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows a case where four cells are cascaded in series, and FIG. 4B shows a case where two cells are cascaded in parallel. FIG. 4C shows four cascades connected in series and three cascades connected in parallel.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... body, 2 ... keyboard, 3 ... display,
4 ... Battery pack, 5 ... Battery pack, 6
... Power switch, 7 Power lamp, 8 Battery lamp, 9 DC input terminal, 10 AC adapter, 11 DC output cord, 12 plug, 13
... outlet, 20 ... charger, 21 ... charge / discharge control circuit, 22 ... current detection circuit, 23 ... voltage detection circuit, 2
4 ... microcomputer, 24a ...
Charge / discharge capacity calculating means, 24b... Set value changing means, 25
... EEPROM (storage means), 26 ... battery cell group,

Claims (3)

[Claims] An accumulating means for supplying an accumulated voltage to a driving means for operating an external control target unit based on a charge amount; and measuring a charging current or a charging voltage of the accumulating means, thereby obtaining Charging capacity calculating means for calculating the charging capacity of the power storage means; storage means for storing data of a set value used for calculating the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating means; and setting for calculating the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating means. Variable means for varying value data; and a secondary battery device comprising: 2. A power storage step of supplying a voltage stored in a power storage means to a driving means for operating an external control target unit based on a charge amount, and measuring a charging current or a charging voltage of the power storage means. A charging capacity calculating step of calculating the charging capacity of the power storage means, a storing step of storing data of a set value used for calculating the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating step, and a calculating of the charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating step A variable step of varying data of a set value used in the secondary battery control method. 3. A driving means for operating a control target part based on a charge amount, a power storage means for supplying a voltage stored to the driving means, and measuring a charging current or a charging voltage of the power storage means. A charging capacity calculating means for calculating a charging capacity of the power storage means, a storage means for storing data of a set value used for calculating a charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating means, and a calculation of a charging capacity in the charging capacity calculating means An electronic device, comprising: a variable unit configured to vary data of a set value used for: