JPH08329990A - Battery pack and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a small and lightweight power supply battery in a system consisting of an electronic device, a battery pack that incorporates a charging device attached to the electronic device, and an external power supply, and between the electronic device and the battery pack. By communicating information about each other's states,
Provide an appropriate charging / discharging system. [Structure] A power input unit (14) detachable from an electronic device (1) and supplied with power from an external power supply (3), a rechargeable battery (5), and a discharge output of the battery (5) to the electronic device (1) when the electronic device (1) is operating. The charging device 4 that controls the charging of the battery 5 by the power output unit 15 to be supplied and the power input to the power input unit 14.
And a battery power input unit 13 to which the battery pack 2 is detachable and which receives power supply from the battery pack 2 and an external power input unit 11 which receives power supply from the external power supply 3. The electronic device 1 provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, a rechargeable secondary battery which is a power source for the portable electronic device, and a battery pack incorporating a charging device for charging the secondary battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, secondary batteries such as nickel cadmium storage batteries (hereinafter referred to as NiCd batteries) and sealed nickel-hydrogen storage batteries (hereinafter referred to as nickel-hydrogen batteries), which are capable of reducing power consumption due to advances in semiconductor technology and being rechargeable. With higher performance of
Portable electronic devices such as laptop computers and word processors have come into general use.

These electronic devices operate by connecting an AC adapter to the AC power source when there is an AC power source and receiving power from the AC power source, or when there is no AC power source, receiving power from a battery pack. To do. In some electronic devices, the battery pack can be removed and the charging device is built in the battery pack. Incorporating the charging device into the battery pack brings downsizing and cost reduction of the electronic device which does not include the charging device for a user who always uses the electronic device only with an external power source and does not use the battery pack. Further, by incorporating the charging device in the battery pack, the charge control characteristic of the charging device in the battery pack can be made a predetermined characteristic of the battery incorporated in the battery pack.

As a result, the capacity of the rechargeable battery has increased due to technological innovation, and the circuit of the charging device inside the electronic equipment, which was conventionally required when a rechargeable battery of a new battery system having different characteristics was newly installed in the battery pack. There is no need to change or prepare a new charging device for a newly installed battery (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-317526).

The structures of conventional electronic devices and battery packs will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional system including an electronic device, a battery pack, and an external power source, showing the internal structure of the electronic device and the battery pack, and the connection between the battery pack, the external power source, and the electronic device. In the figure, an external power source 53 is an AC adapter, which converts a household AC power source into a DC power source. The power input unit 63 provided in the battery pack 52 is a connector, which is connected to the external power source 53 and receives power from the external power source 53. The power output unit 62 is a connector and is connected to the power input unit 51 of the electronic device 51 to supply power to the electronic device 51. The battery 55 is a rechargeable secondary battery. The charging device 54 performs charging control for charging the battery 55 with the power supplied to the power input unit 63. The control device 56 causes the battery 5 to operate according to the signals 81 and 82.
5 charge and discharge are controlled.

The operation of the conventional battery pack and electronic device configured as described above will be described below.

When the control device 56 outputs the signal 81, the charging device 4 receives the signal 81 and controls the charging of the battery 55. When the control device 56 outputs the signal 82, the switch 71 is turned on in response to this. When the switch 71 is turned on, the power generated by discharging the battery 55 is supplied to the power output unit 62 via the switch 71. The diode 72 is a diode for preventing the discharge current of the battery 55 from flowing back to the power input unit 63 side.

The controller 56 detects from the voltage of the signal 83 whether or not the external power source 53 is connected. The signal 84 is synchronized with the power switch 73 in the electronic device 51, and the control device 56 detects the presence / absence of the connection of the electronic device 51 and the operating state of the electronic device 51 by the pull-up resistor in the battery pack. To do.

When the power input section 63 is supplied with power from the external power source 53 and the power switch 73 of the electronic device 51 is off or the electronic device 51 is not connected, the control device 56 outputs the signal 81 and the charging device 54. The battery 54 is charged by the operation of. When the battery input unit 63 is not supplied with power from the external power supply 53 and the power switch 73 in the electronic device 51 is on, a signal 82 is output to supply power to the power output unit 62 by discharging the battery 55. In addition, the power input unit 63
Is supplied with power from an external power source 53, and the electronic device 51
When the power switch 73 is turned on, the control device 65 outputs neither the signal 81 nor the signal 82, and the power supplied to the power input unit 63 is supplied to the power output unit 62 through the diode 72 or the signal 82. , The signal 81 is output, the battery 55 is charged by the power from the power input unit 63 by the charging device 54, and the power supplied to the power input unit 63 is passed through the diode 72 to the power output unit 6
2 is controlled.

[0011]

However, the above-described conventional electronic device and battery pack configurations have the following drawbacks.

When the electronic device is supplied with electric power from the external power source and the electronic device is operating, the electric power is not supplied to the electronic device by discharging the battery in the battery pack, and the electronic device operates. All power is supplied by an external power source. Normally, the electric power consumed by electronic devices is not only the constant power consumed by a constant load, but also the rush power consumed by the momentary high power consumption of motors used in hard disks, printers, etc. is there. The maximum value of rush power may range from twice to three times the steady power consumption. Since the electric power of the conventional electronic device is supplied from the external power source when the external power source is connected,
It is necessary to design the external power supply with a margin so that it can supply not only the power consumed by the electronic equipment used during the steady state but also the maximum output power including rush power. And increase in volume and weight, and increase in equipment price.

In the conventional electronic device and battery pack shown in FIG. 4, when the power input section 63 is supplied with power from the external power source 53 and the power switch 73 of the electronic device 51 is turned on, the control device is controlled. 56 outputs neither the signal 81 nor the signal 82, and the power supplied to the power input unit 63 is the diode 7
2 is supplied to the power output unit 62 or does not output the signal 82 but outputs the signal 81, the charging device 54 charges the battery 55 with the power from the power input unit 63, and the power input unit 63. When the external power source 53 is connected to the battery pack 52, the operating power of the electronic device 51 is controlled because the power supplied to the battery pack 52 is controlled through the diode 72. Are all supplied from the external power source 53. Therefore, the external electric power 53 needs to be designed to be compatible with the rush electric power, and is large and heavy.

Further, let us consider a case where a plurality of battery packs having the above-mentioned conventional structure can be attached to an electronic device. When there is no external power supply connected to any of the multiple battery packs and the electronic equipment is operating, the control devices in any of the battery packs uniformly output the battery discharge signal and In order to supply electric power, the operating power of the electronic device is supplied from all of the plurality of battery packs at the same time. Here, it is assumed that the conventional battery pack is an electronic device to which two battery packs can be connected and the battery packs are both fully charged. If the electronic device consumes the amount of electric power equivalent to one battery pack without connecting an external power source, the control devices in the two battery packs both output signals to output electric power by discharging the batteries. Since the electric power generated by discharging the battery is supplied to the electronic device, each of the two battery packs consumes half the amount of electric power. Therefore, when trying to fully charge all the battery packs, even if each of the two battery packs uses only one-half of the amount of electric power they can have,
It is inconvenient and wasteful of time because it is necessary to connect an external power source to each battery pack and fully charge the battery again.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a system including a conventional electronic device and a battery pack, and is a block diagram when two battery packs are connected to the electronic device. In the various embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts, and duplicate explanations are omitted. In FIG. 5, the battery pack 52
A and the battery pack 52B have the same internal configuration, and are connected to the power input unit 61A and the power input unit 61B of the electronic device 51 by the power output unit 62A and the power output unit 62B, respectively. The external power source is not connected to the battery packs 52A and 52B. The operation will be described below in the case where the external power supply is not connected to either of the battery packs.

No power is supplied from an external power source to the power input sections 63A and 63B, and the power switch 7 in the electronic device 51 is provided.
When 3 is on, the control devices 56A and 56B provide signal 82.
A and 82B are output to output switches 71A and 71B, respectively.
Is turned on to supply electric power generated by discharging the batteries 55A and 55B to the electric power output units 62A and 62B. The electronic device 51 has a battery pack 52A through the power input sections 61A and 61B.
And 52B from the power output units 62A and 62B. Here, the diodes 74A and 74B are diodes for preventing the discharge current from each battery pack from flowing back to the power input side from the other battery pack. In this way, the operating power of the electronic device 51 is simultaneously supplied from the battery pack 52A and the battery pack 52B.

Even if the two battery packs 52A and 52B are fully charged at the start of use of the electronic device 51A, the control devices 56A and 56B in each battery pack perform the same control. That is, the control devices 52A and 52B use the signal 82
A and 82B are output, and power is supplied to the electronic device 51 from the batteries of both battery packs through the power output units 62A and 62B. Since the electric power of the batteries of each battery pack is consumed in the same manner, when the electric power of one battery pack is consumed by the electronic device, the battery packs 52A and 52B are
The power consumption of each is half. Therefore, when it is necessary to fully charge the two battery packs together, such as when going to a place without an AC power source, even if each battery uses only one half of its power consumption. It is inconvenient because it is necessary to connect an external power source to the power input section of each battery pack and recharge it fully.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. A small and lightweight external power supply is provided by supplying the operating power of the electronic equipment connected to the battery pack from the battery in the battery pack in addition to the external power supply. To configure.

Another object of the present invention is to receive a signal relating to the state of an electronic device in a battery pack, and perform charge control without excess or deficiency according to the situation of the electronic device based on the signal by the charging device in the battery pack. Especially.

Another object of the present invention is that the electronic device comprises a signal processing unit for receiving information from the signal processing unit of the battery pack, and the battery pack receives a signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device. The electronic device includes a processing unit, a plurality of battery packs are attachable / detachable, and the electronic device includes a plurality of battery power input units that receive power supplied from the plurality of battery packs. The waste of charging is reduced by selecting and operating the power from at least one battery power input unit among at least the battery power input units based on the information about the state of the battery pack input to the signal processing unit. Electronic devices and battery packs can be supplied.

[0021]

In order to achieve this object, the battery pack of the present invention is attachable to and detachable from an electronic device, and has a power input section for receiving power from an external power source, and a rechargeable battery. When the electronic device operates, the electronic device includes a power output unit that supplies electric power by discharging the battery to the electronic device, and a charging device that performs float charging control of the battery by the power input to the power input unit. When the electronic device operates, the battery pack is detachable and includes a battery power input unit that receives power from the battery pack and an external power input unit that receives power from an external power source. It is characterized in that it is operated by electric power from the unit and the battery power input unit.

Further, the electronic device of the present invention comprises a signal processing unit for outputting information on the state of the electronic device, and the battery pack comprises a signal processing unit for receiving a signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device. The charging device is characterized by performing charging control based on information about the state of the electronic device input to the signal processing unit.

The electronic device of the present invention comprises a signal processing unit for receiving information from the signal processing unit of the battery pack, and the battery pack comprises a signal processing unit for receiving a signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device. , The electronic device has a plurality of battery packs that can be attached and detached, and has a plurality of battery power input units that receive power from the plurality of battery packs. When the electronic device operates, input to the signal processing unit. It is characterized in that it is operated by the power from at least one battery power input section among the plurality of battery power input sections based on the information on the state of the stored battery pack.

[0024]

With this configuration, the electronic device and the battery pack of the present invention can be downsized by using the power of the battery pack in addition to the external power source as the power source of the electronic device to perform the float charging, thereby making the external power source compact, lightweight and economical. System.

Further, the electronic device outputs a signal relating to the state of the electronic device to the battery pack, and the battery pack controls charging based on the input signal, so that there is no excess or deficiency depending on the load condition of the electronic device. Charge / discharge control can be performed.

Further, the electronic device and the battery pack that reduce the waste of charging can be supplied by sequentially selecting and controlling the battery pack to which the power is supplied from the plurality of battery packs by the electronic device.

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system comprising an electronic device, a battery pack and an external power source according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The internal structure of the electronic device and the battery pack, the battery pack, the external power source and the electronic device. Shows the connection with. FIG.
1 is a portable electronic device such as a personal computer. An external power source 4 converts a household AC power source into a DC power source and supplies power to an external power source input section 11 provided in the electronic device 2. Reference numeral 2 denotes a battery pack, which has a structure attachable to and detachable from the electronic device 2. Reference numeral 11 denotes an external power supply input unit, which receives power from the external power supply 3. Reference numeral 12 is a power output unit that supplies power from the external power supply input unit 11 to the battery pack 3. Reference numeral 13 is a battery power input unit that receives power from the battery pack 3. Reference numeral 23 is a power switch of the electronic device 1. When the power switch 23 is turned on, power is supplied to the load 6 inside the electronic device 2 via the power switch 23. The diode 21 and the diode 22 are diodes for preventing the reverse flow of the electric power, which is input through the external power source 3 and the battery power input unit 13, due to the discharge of the battery 5 in the battery pack 2.

The inside 5 of the battery pack 2 is a chargeable / dischargeable battery. In this case, a Nicad battery is used as the battery. Reference numeral 4 denotes a charging device that performs charging control for charging the battery 5 with the power from the power input unit 14. A power input unit 14 receives the power of the external power supply 2 through the electronic device 1. A power output unit 15 supplies power to the electronic device 1 by discharging the battery 5. Power output unit 1 of electronic device 1
2 and the power input unit 14 of the battery pack 2, the battery power input unit 13 of the electronic device 1, and the power output unit 15 of the battery pack 2 come into contact with each other when the battery pack 2 is attached to the electronic device 1 to transfer power. .

The operation of the system composed of the electronic equipment, the battery pack and the external power source configured as described above will be described below. When the power switch 23 is turned on and the battery pack 2 is connected to the electronic device 1 and the external power source 3 is not connected, the battery power input unit 13 is connected.
The electric power generated by the discharge of the battery 5 in the battery pack 1 is supplied to the load 6 in the electronic device 1 through the diode 22 and the power switch 23. The external power supply 3 is connected to the external power supply input section 11.
Is not connected, the power cannot be supplied, and the load 6 in the electronic device 1 is supplied with the power by discharging the battery 5 in the battery pack 2.

The electronic device 1 includes a battery pack 2 and an external power source 3.
Is connected together, the load 6 is supplied with power from the external power supply 3 from the external power supply input section 11 through the diode 21 and the power switch 23, and the shortage of power from the external power supply 3 is caused by the battery pack. Electric power generated by discharging the battery 5 in the battery 2 is input from the battery power input unit 13 and supplied through the diode 22 and the power switch 23. If the electronic device 1 has a source of rush power such as a floppy disk motor in its internal load like a personal computer, it must be able to supply rush power that is several times the average power consumed when the motor is started. I have to. In the case of the configuration of the present invention, even when an external power source is connected,
The power that cannot be supplemented by the external power supply is supplied from the battery in the battery pack, which is called float charging.Therefore, a large-capacity external power supply that can supply up to the maximum power of the PC required in the conventional configuration is used. It is possible to use an external power supply that is small in capacity, small in size, and lightweight without the need for it.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the external power source is connected, the operating power of the electronic device is applied to the external power source and the shortage of the power is supplied by discharging the battery in the battery pack. The external power source, which requires a large output power and is heavy and heavy, which is required when the power source is supplied only from the external power source, can supply a small, lightweight and economical external power source.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a system including an electronic device, a battery pack and an external power source according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The internal configuration of the electronic device and the battery pack and the connection between the battery pack, the external power source and the electronic device. Indicates.
2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The points in FIG. 2 different from the configuration in FIG. 1 will be described below. In FIG. 2, 7 is a signal processing unit,
The state of the electronic device 1 is detected from the signal 31 for detecting ON / OFF of the power switch 23 and the signal 32 for detecting the operating condition of the load 6, and the information is output to the battery pack 2 as a signal 33. Here, the signal processing unit 7 outputs the signal 33 when the electronic device 1 is operating, and does not output the signal 33 when the electronic device 1 is not operating, that is, when not operating. The signal processing unit 8 in the battery pack 2 receives the signal 33 regarding the state of the electronic device 1 from the signal processing unit 8 of the electronic device 1 and outputs the signal 34 to the charging device 4 when the signal 33 is input.
The charging device 4 selectively executes the charging control method of the battery 5 according to the input of the signal 34.

The operation of the system including the electronic device, the battery pack, and the external power source configured as described above will be described below. In the charging device 4, when the battery voltage of the battery 5 becomes equal to or lower than a certain value, control is performed to start charging with the power of the external power supply 3 supplied from the power input unit 14. Signal 3 at this time
4, whether or not there is an input, that is, whether or not the electronic device 1 is operating, performs different charging control. Signal 34 to charging device 4
Is not input, that is, when the electronic device 1 is not operating, it is charged with a constant current of about 1 C (C indicates the capacity of the battery), and it is detected that the voltage of the battery 5 drops by a minute voltage from the peak value or less. To stop the constant current charging, and perform the rapid charging control by the ΔV control. When the signal 34 is input to the charging device 4, that is, when the electronic device 1 is operating, charging is performed with a constant current of about ⅕, and timer charging is performed to stop charging after a lapse of a certain time by a timer. A value obtained in advance from the battery capacity, the battery characteristics, and the charging current is used as the timer value.

The constant current charging is stopped by detecting that the battery voltage drops slightly below the peak value. The charge control of the ΔV control can be performed in a short time when charging a nickel-cadmium battery, and the charging control can be performed properly without excess or deficiency. However, it is a condition that the charging current is a constant current. On the other hand, the power consumed by an electronic device such as a personal computer changes every moment depending on its operating state, that is, the display state of the screen, the operating state of the motor of the hard disk, and the processing state of the CPU. Therefore, as in the embodiment of the present invention, the operating power of the load 6 of the electronic device 1 is the external power source 3 and the battery pack 2 being charged.
In the case of performing float charging that is also supplied from the battery 5 inside, the battery voltage of the external power source 3 and the battery pack 2 that are power sources also changes due to the change in the power consumption of the load 6. The amount of change is much larger than the minute battery voltage drop at the end of charging of the NiCd battery, and the end of charging is erroneously detected, resulting in insufficient charging. Therefore, -ΔV control, which detects full charge based on changes in battery voltage, cannot be used. Therefore, the charging device 4 selects the charging control according to the operating state of the electronic device 1, and the charging device 4 sets the charging current to 1 when the electronic device 1 is operating.
By supplying with a small constant current value of about / 5C, and stopping charging after the preset timer time has passed,
It can be solved from insufficient charging and proper charging is possible. When the electronic device 1 is not operating, the electric power of the external power supply 3 which is not used can be used by performing -ΔV control rapid charging, and the charging time can be shortened.

As described above, the electronic device is provided with the signal processing unit for outputting the signal relating to the state of the electronic device to the battery pack, and the battery pack is provided with the signal processing unit for receiving the signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device, The charging device is characterized by performing charging control based on the information input to the signal processing unit, unlike the case where only unique charging control is performed regardless of the operating state of conventional electronic devices. The information on the state of the electronic device allows the electronic device side to act on the charging control of the electronic device, thereby performing the charging control suitable for the state of the electronic device.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a system including an electronic device, a battery pack and an external power source according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The internal configuration of the electronic device and the battery pack, and the connection between the battery pack, the external power source and the electronic device. Indicates.
In FIG. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, FIG. 3 will be described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the electronic device 1 has two battery packs having the same structure, that is, the first battery pack 2A and the second battery pack 2B, and the external power supply 3 is detachable. An external power input unit 11 receives power from the external power supply 3. 12
A and 12B are power output units that supply power from the external power supply input unit 11 to the two battery packs 2A and 2B, respectively. Reference numerals 13A and 13B are battery power input units that receive power from the battery packs 2A and 2B. Reference numeral 23 denotes a power switch of the electronic device 1, and when the power switch 23 is turned on, electric power is supplied to the load 6 inside the electronic device 2. The diode 21 and the diode 22 are each an external power source 3
And a diode for preventing the reverse flow of the electric power from the battery packs 2A and 2B input through the battery power input units 13A and 13B. Battery pack 2A
5A and 5B inside 2 and 2B are chargeable and dischargeable batteries. Reference numerals 4A and 4B are charging devices that perform charging control for charging the batteries 5A and 5B with electric power from the respective power input units 14A and 14B. 15A and 15
A power output unit B supplies power to the electronic device 1 by discharging each battery. The signal processing units 10A and 10B output signals regarding the state of the battery pack to the signal processing unit of the electronic device 1. A signal processing unit 9 controls a changeover switch 24 for supplying the load 6 inside the electronic device 1 with the power of either the battery pack 2A or 2B supplied through the power input units 13A and 13B. The changeover switch 24 is a relay, and switches the power source supplied to the load 6 to either the first battery pack 2A or the second battery pack 2B in response to a signal from the control device 9.

The operation of the system composed of the electronic device, the battery pack and the external power source configured as described above will be described below. Charging device 4 in battery packs 2A and 2B
A and 4B output signals 35A and 35B, respectively, when batteries 5A and 5B are being charged. Signal processing unit 1
0A and 10B are battery 5A due to signals 35A and 35B
And 5B detect whether or not they are being charged, and output the state to the signal processing unit 9 of the electronic device 1 as signals 36A and 36B. The signal processing unit 9 detects whether or not the battery packs 2A and 2B are connected by the signals 36A and 36B and, at the same time, detects whether or not each battery pack is being charged. In the signal processing unit, two battery packs are mounted together, and when the charging states of the respective battery packs are the same, that is, both are charging or not charging, the power from the battery pack 2A is supplied to the load 6. The switch 24 is switched so as to operate. Also,
When two battery packs are mounted together and only one of the battery packs is not charged, the switch 24 is switched to supply the electric power to the load 6 from the battery pack which is not charged. Further, when only one battery pack is connected, the switch 24 is switched to supply the power from the connected battery pack to the load 6.
As a result, only electric power from one battery pack selected by the changeover switch 24 is sequentially supplied to the load 6. The charging devices 4A and 4B automatically start charging when the battery voltage drops below a certain value due to the discharge of electric power from the batteries 5A and 5B, and stop charging when the batteries 5A and 5B reach full charge.

The electronic device 1 has an external power source 3 and a fully charged state 2.
Consider a case where the individual battery packs 2A and 2B are mounted. Since the two battery packs are both fully charged, the charging devices 4A and 4B do not charge. Therefore, the signals 35A and 35B are not output from the charging devices 4A and 4B to the signal processing units 10A and 10B, and the signal processing units 10A and 10B output their states to the signal processing unit 9 of the electronic device 1 as signals 36A and 36B. The signal processing unit 9 detects from the signals 36A and 36B that both battery packs are fully charged, and the power from the battery pack 2A is applied to the load 6
Switch 24 to supply the battery pack 2
The load 6 is operated by the electric power generated by discharging the battery 5A in A and the electric power supplied by the external power supply 3. Only the battery pack 2A of the two battery packs is discharged until the discharge of the battery 5A progresses over time and the battery voltage drops to the charging start voltage of the charging device 5A. In the configuration of the electronic device and the battery pack of the present invention, the power is supplied from either one of the battery packs in this manner, and the power is supplied from both of the battery packs generated in the case of the conventional structure. Is never consumed together. Therefore, when it is necessary to fully charge the two battery packs together, such as when going to a place without an AC power source, if the amount of power consumed is within the capacity of one battery pack, fully charge one battery pack. do it. Even if the same amount of electric power is consumed, it is possible to reduce the time and waste of charging as compared with the conventional case in which an external power source is connected to each of the two batteries and the battery is fully charged.

When the electronic device 1 is further used, the voltage of the battery 5A of the battery pack 2A drops and reaches the charging start voltage of the charging device 5A to start charging. At this time, the charging device 5A outputs the signal 35A, and the signal processing unit 10A outputs the signal 3A.
6A outputs to the signal processing unit 9 of the electronic device 1 that charging is started. As a result, the signal processor 9 loads the load 6
The changeover switch 24 is controlled so that the operating power is supplied from the battery pack 2B.

By performing such switching control, in the case of the conventional electronic device and battery pack configuration, the electronic device was connected to the electronic device which was a problem when the power supply source of the electronic device was selected in the battery pack. Even if it is necessary to fully charge all the battery packs, only the used batteries will be discharged because the uniform discharge from all the battery packs will not occur and selective discharge will be possible. Since it only needs to be charged, the waste of time and effort required for charging can be reduced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the electronic device is provided with the signal processing unit for receiving the information from the signal processing unit of the battery pack, and the battery pack receives the signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device. When the electronic device operates, the electronic device is equipped with a plurality of battery power input parts to which a plurality of the battery packs are attachable / detachable, and electric power is supplied from the plurality of battery packs. Is characterized in that it is operated by power from at least one battery power input unit among a plurality of battery power input units based on information about the state of the battery pack input to the signal processing unit. Thus, even if a plurality of battery packs are used, selective discharge can be performed, the battery packs are uniformly discharged as in the conventional configuration, and waste of time for charging all the used battery packs can be reduced.

In the embodiment, the electronic device is directly supplied with the power from the external power source and the battery pack is supplied with the power from the external power source through the electronic device. However, the battery pack is supplied with the power from the external power source. The electronic device may be directly supplied with electric power via a battery pack.

Further, in the second embodiment, the signal processing section of the electronic device outputs information on the operation / non-operation of the electronic device.
The temperature inside the electronic device, the operating environment temperature of the electronic device, the load information inside the electronic device, the load information about the external device connected to the electronic device, the information from the software running on the electronic device, the external information about the electronic device. Information based on a signal, information input by a user, or the like may be output as a signal, and the battery pack may change the charging control method based on the information on the signal.
Further, the charging control method selected by the charging device is two, that is, -ΔV control and timer control.
The charging control using the battery capacity, the battery voltage, or the like, or a plurality of combinations of the charging controls may be changed according to the operating status of the electronic device.

Further, although the number of battery packs connectable to the electronic device is two in the third embodiment, it may be three or more.

Further, in the third embodiment, the signal processing unit has a structure in which the power source is selected from the two inputs by one changeover switch, but two or more changeover switches may be used instead of the relay. Alternatively, a semiconductor switch may be used.

[0049]

As described above, the battery pack of the present invention is attachable to and detachable from an electronic device, and has a power input section that receives power from an external power source, a rechargeable battery, and an electronic device that operates. Is equipped with a power output unit that supplies power from the discharge of the battery to the electronic device, and a charging device that controls the float charging of the battery by the power input to the power input unit. When the electronic device operates, it has a battery power input unit that receives power from the battery pack and an external power input unit that receives power from an external power source. It is characterized by operating with the power of.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a signal processing unit that outputs information regarding the state of the electronic device, and the battery pack includes a signal processing unit that receives a signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device. The charging device is characterized by performing charging control based on information about the state of the electronic device input to the signal processing unit.

The electronic device of the present invention comprises a signal processing unit for receiving information from the signal processing unit of the battery pack, and the battery pack comprises a signal processing unit for receiving a signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device. , The electronic device has a plurality of battery packs that can be attached and detached, and has a plurality of battery power input units that receive power from the plurality of battery packs. When the electronic device operates, input to the signal processing unit. It is characterized in that it is operated by the power from at least one battery power input section among the plurality of battery power input sections based on the information on the state of the stored battery pack.

With the above structure, the external power supply can be downsized, and the size and weight can be greatly reduced and the economical effect can be obtained. Also, it is possible to charge the battery efficiently without excess or deficiency with the battery pack based on the information about the electronic device. In addition, it is possible to provide an excellent electronic device and a battery pack that can reduce the time and effort required for charging by selecting and discharging the battery pack to be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an electronic device and a battery pack of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of an electronic device and a battery pack of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of an electronic device and a battery pack of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional electronic device and a battery pack.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional electronic device and a battery pack.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 electronic device 2 battery pack 2A battery pack 2B battery pack 3 external power supply 4 charging device 4A charging device 4B charging device 5 battery 5A battery 5B battery 6 load 7 signal processing unit 8 signal processing unit 9 signal processing unit 10A signal processing unit 10B signal Processing unit 11 External power input unit 12 Power output unit 12A Power output unit 12B Power output unit 13 Power input unit 13A Power input unit 13B Power input unit 21 Diode 22 Diode 23 Power switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A power input unit that is attachable to and detachable from an electronic device and receives power from an external power source, a rechargeable battery, and a power output unit that supplies the discharge output of the battery to the electronic device when the electronic device operates. And a charging device that performs float charging control of the battery by the power input to the power input unit. 2. A battery pack is attachable / detachable, and has a battery power input section for receiving power supply from the battery pack and an external power input section for receiving power supply from an external power source. An electronic device that takes in power from the power input section and the battery power input section. 3. The electronic device includes a signal processing unit that outputs information regarding a state of the electronic device, the battery pack includes a signal processing unit that receives a signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device, and the charging device includes a signal processing unit. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the charging control is performed based on information about a state of the electronic device input to the processing unit. 4. The electronic device includes a signal processing unit that receives information from a signal processing unit of the battery pack, and the battery pack includes a signal processing unit that receives a signal from the signal processing unit of the electronic device. The electronic device includes a plurality of battery packs to which the plurality of battery packs can be attached and detached, and a plurality of battery power input units that receive power from the plurality of battery packs. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein electric power is taken in from at least one battery power input unit of the plurality of battery power input units based on the information regarding the state of the battery pack.