JPH0467731A - Residual capacity indicator for battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To indicate residual capacity of battery stepwise for the entire electric appliance by providing each battery unit with a switch thereby constituting a circuit for using the battery unit set by set while furthermore providing a voltage detecting circuit and a residual capacity indicator for the battery unit. CONSTITUTION:When the voltage of a battery unit 1 drops below El, a voltage detecting circuit 5 unlights an LED 9 for indicating residual capacity. Consequently, the signal 21 of the voltage detecting circuit 5 and the control signal 25 of a switch 13 change the state thus turning the switch 13 OFF and turning a switch 14 ON. When the residual battery capacity indicator and the switch control circuit are provided in such a manner, residual capacity of entire battery can be known easily.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery remaining amount display device used in electrical equipment that is powered entirely by batteries.

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a conventional battery remaining amount display device will be described below with reference to the drawings. Generally, a remaining battery level display device for an electric device using a battery as a power source is composed of a battery 71, a voltage detection circuit 72, and a battery drive indicator 73, as shown in FIG.

The battery 71 has only one series-connected unit in the circuit.

Therefore, when using a battery whose discharge voltage characteristic drops rapidly from a constant voltage point as shown in curve a, as shown in Figure 6, the battery voltage will change rapidly and the remaining capacity of the battery will be adjusted in stages. could not be displayed.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention With the configuration of the conventional battery remaining power display device, it is impossible to know the remaining power of the battery, and therefore it is impossible to predict when it is time to replace the battery of an electrical device that is powered entirely by batteries. It had drawbacks.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery remaining amount display device that can step-by-step display the remaining battery amount of an entire electrical equipment device that is powered by a battery.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses a plurality of sets of battery units, provides a switch for each battery unit, and configures a circuit that uses each set of battery units. Furthermore, a voltage detection circuit and a remaining capacity display device for the battery unit are provided. When the voltage of the battery unit currently in use falls below a certain level, the remaining capacity display is changed so that the next battery unit can be used.

Function: With this configuration, the remaining battery power can be known by sequentially changing the remaining battery power display.

Therefore, it is possible to fully predict the battery replacement timing for battery-powered electrical equipment.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a battery remaining amount display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention provided in an information device. In Figure 1, 1~
4 is a battery unit, 5 to 8 are voltage detection circuits for each battery unit, 9 to 12 are light emitting diodes, 13 to 16 are switches, 17 is a control circuit for the switch, and 18 is a protective capacitor. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the switch control circuit 17. In FIG. 2, 21-24 are signals from the voltage detection circuits 6-8 of FIG. 1, respectively, and 25-28 are control signals of switches 13-16 of FIG. 1, respectively. FIG. 3 is an external view of the information device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 indicates a light emitting diode for displaying remaining battery power, which corresponds to the light emitting diodes 9 to 12 in FIG.

The operation of the battery remaining amount display device will be described below.

First, a charged battery unit is mounted on the information device. In this state, the voltage of all battery units 1 to 4 is higher than group Eh in FIG. 6, so the voltage detection circuits 5 to 8 of each battery unit
A signal is sent from the switch control circuit 17 to the switch 13
only one switch is turned on, and the other switches 14 to 16 are turned off.

Further, all the light emitting diodes 9 to 12 are turned on by the voltage detection circuits S to 8 of each battery unit.

When the voltage of the battery unit 1 becomes equal to or lower than E4 in FIG. 6, the voltage detection circuit 6 turns off the light emitting diode 9 for displaying remaining power. Then, the signal 21 of the voltage detection circuit 6 changes and the switch 1
No switch 13 that also changes the control signal 25 of 3
is turned off, and the switch 14 is turned on.

When switching this switch, the circuit is momentarily cut off, but by placing the capacitor 18, the capacitor 18
It is possible to prevent malfunctions of information equipment by using the discharge. The state in which this battery unit 2 is used is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

When the voltage of the battery unit 2 becomes less than Ed in FIG. 6, the voltage detection circuit 6 turns off the light emitting diode 10. Then, the switch control circuit 17 turns off the switch 14 and turns on the switch 15. Similarly, by sequentially using the battery units 3 and 4, each of the light emitting diodes 11 and 12 goes out one by one.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of battery units are used, each battery unit is provided with a voltage detection circuit and a switch, and a battery level indicator and a control circuit for the switch are provided. You can easily know the remaining battery power.

A used battery unit can still be replaced while the information equipment is still operating with another battery unit.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Like the first embodiment, the second embodiment is also used for information equipment.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a battery remaining amount display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 41 to 44 are battery units, 45 to 48 are switches, and 49td! A pressure detection circuit and a switch control circuit 1.50 is a display device, 61 is a signal indicating the voltage supplied to the information equipment, and 52 is a protective capacitor. FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram of the switch control circuit 49. In FIG. 5, 61 is a reset signal when the power is turned on;
62 is a signal 51 indicating the supply voltage in FIG. 4, and signals 63 and 6.
4゜65.66 are respectively the switches 48.47゜4 in Fig. 4.
Al with control signal of 6.45.

The operation of the battery remaining amount display device will be described below.

First, a charged battery unit is mounted on the information device. Turn on the power switch of the information device. As a result, the reset signal 61 is input to the switch control circuit 49, and all the switches are placed in the initial state. The initial state is a state in which the switch 45 is on and the switches 46, 47, and 48 are off. The display on the display device at this time is performed according to the signals 63.64 and 65.66 of the switch control circuit 49.

When the battery unit 41 is used up, the voltage of the signal 62 indicating the supply voltage in the switch control circuit drops.
6 and 65 change, turning off switch 45 and turning off switch 46.
Turn on. The display on the display device also changes as the signal changes. When this switch is switched, the circuit is momentarily cut off, but by providing the capacitor 52, the discharge of the capacitor 52 can be used to prevent malfunctions of the information equipment. The state in which this battery unit 42 is used is shown in FIG.

When the battery unit 42 is used up, the voltage of the signal 62 drops, so the signals 65 and 64 change, turning off the switch 46 and turning on the switch 47.

The display on the display device also changes as the signal changes.

Similarly, by sequentially using the batteries 43 and 44, the display device changes sequentially.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, by using a plurality of battery units, connecting a switch to each battery unit, and providing a battery level indicator, a voltage detection circuit, and a control circuit for the switches, the entire battery can be controlled. You can easily know the remaining amount.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, since a plurality of battery units are arranged so as to be used sequentially, a battery remaining capacity display device that accurately displays the remaining battery capacity is provided. Can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a battery level display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention installed in an information device, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a switch control circuit of the same battery level display device, and FIG. An external view of an information device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a remaining battery level display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a switch control diagram of the remaining battery level display device. A circuit diagram of the circuit, FIG. 6 is a discharge voltage characteristic diagram of a battery, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional battery remaining amount display device. 1~4-・Battery unit, 5~8・Voltage detection circuit, 9
〜１２・Light emitting diode, １３〜１６・・・Switch, １７・・・Switch control circuit. Name of agent Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person Clothes number'#, lI'l';&4 ¥1!! Go ID- Salary present'ji L+ygb1; pl@q TIM21ノ+l3roJu-1 to 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of sets of battery units, a switch for independently using the battery units, a circuit for controlling the switch, a circuit for detecting the voltage of the battery units, and an indicator for the number of remaining sets of the battery units. Battery level display device with.