JP7571583B2 - Electronic device with battery depletion detection function and battery depletion detection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic device with a battery depletion detection function and a battery depletion detection method.

Various methods have been proposed to detect battery depletion or component failure in electronic devices. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a battery life inspection device that includes a dummy resistor, a switch that connects the dummy resistor in parallel with a battery under test, a first comparison circuit that compares the potential of the dummy resistor with a first reference potential, and a second comparison circuit that compares the potential of the dummy resistor with a second reference potential different from the first reference potential.

Patent document 2 also discloses a power supply circuit failure detection device that stops the output power of a switching regulator for a specified stop time, and if the voltage level of the power supply path falls below the operating voltage to the microcomputer during this stop time, it notifies the user of a failure in capacitor C.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-281708 JP 2012-150053 A

However, both of the inventions disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 use dedicated circuit components to check the battery consumption or to detect failures in the power supply circuit. This leads to increased costs.

One aspect of the present invention aims to realize an electronic device and a method for detecting low battery level that have a low battery detection function that can detect low battery level without using a dedicated circuit component for detecting low battery level.

An electronic device with a battery depletion detection function according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a control unit that is powered by a battery and an electronic circuit unit that is powered by the battery, the minimum operating voltage of the control unit is lower than the minimum operating voltage of the electronic circuit unit, and the control unit generates a notification signal to notify the user of the depletion of the battery when it is no longer able to obtain a signal from the electronic circuit unit.

A battery depletion detection method according to one aspect of the present invention is a battery depletion detection method for an electronic device that is powered by a battery, and includes an acquisition step in which a control unit acquires a signal from an electronic circuit unit, and a step in which a notification signal is generated when the control unit is unable to acquire the signal in the acquisition step, and the minimum operating voltage of the control unit is lower than the minimum operating voltage of the electronic circuit unit.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize an electronic device and a method for detecting battery depletion that have a battery depletion detection function that can detect battery depletion without using a dedicated circuit component for detecting battery depletion.

1 is a block diagram of an odor detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a connection circuit diagram of a battery, a microcomputer, and a sensor unit according to the first embodiment, and a graph showing the relationship between the minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer and the sensor unit. 4 is a flowchart showing a battery depletion detection method according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an odor detection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a connection circuit diagram of a battery, a microcomputer, and a sensor unit according to a second embodiment, and a graph showing the relationship between the minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer and the sensor unit. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a microcomputer configured by a computer that executes a program.

[Embodiment 1]
An odor detection device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The odor detection device 1 can be used, for example, in a care facility or hospital to monitor a person who needs nursing care. For example, if a person who needs nursing care cannot go to the toilet by himself/herself and wears a diaper, the odor detection device 1 can be placed near the person and used to notify the person of excretion. However, the odor detection device 1 is not limited to the above purpose and can be used for general purposes that require odor detection.

The odor detection device 1 is one form of "electronic device with battery depletion detection function" described in the claims. In this embodiment, the electronic device refers to an electronic device that runs on a battery. In particular, it is possible to think of an electronic device that requires relatively infrequent battery replacement, that is, one that consumes little power but operates for a long period of time, or one that is used relatively infrequently. Specifically, the electronic device is, for example, a stationary monitoring device, an alarm device, or a mobile measuring device, an inspection device, etc. Although such electronic devices require infrequent battery replacement, it is necessary to avoid a situation in which the battery runs out without being noticed and the device becomes unusable. The odor detection device 1 according to this embodiment is configured to notify the user of the battery depletion before the battery runs out and the device becomes unusable.

Figure 1 is a block diagram of an odor detection device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The odor detection device 1 includes a battery 10, a microcontroller 11, a sensor unit 12, an alarm unit 13, and a communication unit 14. The microcontroller 11 (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer 11), the sensor unit 12, the alarm unit 13, and the communication unit 14 all operate using power supplied from the battery 10. The minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer 11 is lower than the minimum operating voltage of the sensor unit 12.

Battery 10 may be a disposable battery (primary battery) or a rechargeable battery (secondary battery). The power-generating material contained in battery 10 and the external shape of battery 10 are also not limited. Types classified according to the power-generating material include, for example, lithium ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, lithium manganese dioxide batteries, and silver oxide batteries. Types classified according to shape include, for example, button batteries, coin batteries, and cylindrical batteries.

The microcomputer 11 controls the entire odor detection device 1. The control function of the microcomputer 11 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software (details will be described later).

The microcomputer 11 detects whether the battery 10 is depleted from the operating status of the sensor unit 12, and notifies the battery 10 when it detects that the battery 10 is depleted. Specifically, the microcomputer 11 generates a notification signal to notify the battery 10 of depletion when it is no longer able to acquire a signal from the sensor unit 12. Details of how the microcomputer 11 detects the battery 10 being depleted will be described later. The generated notification signal is transmitted to the notification unit 13. The generated notification signal may also be transmitted to the outside via the communication unit 14. The microcomputer 11 is one form of the "control unit" described in the claims.

The sensor unit 12 is a sensor that detects odors. The sensor unit 12 outputs an output signal that is the result of the detection to the microcomputer 11. The sensor unit 12 can be any odor sensor or gas sensor using known technology. For example, the sensor unit 12 can be a sensor using a metal oxide semiconductor using tin oxide, zinc oxide, indium oxide, or the like, an organic semiconductor such as polypyrrole or polyacetylene, a quartz oscillator, a CMOS, or the like. The sensor unit 12 is configured to be capable of communicating information with the microcomputer 11. The sensor unit 12 is one form of the "electronic circuit unit" described in the claims.

In this embodiment, the electronic circuit unit refers to an electronic circuit configured to perform a predetermined function as a whole. Specifically, in addition to the sensor unit 12 in this embodiment, various sensors such as a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and an illuminance sensor can be mentioned. The various sensors may be modules equipped with an A/D converter that converts analog output into digital output. Furthermore, the odor detection device 1 may be equipped with an A/D converter that converts analog output from the various sensors into digital values. When the odor detection device 1 is equipped with an A/D converter, this A/D converter can be considered as an electronic circuit unit.

The notification unit 13 notifies various information. For example, the notification unit 13 is basically provided to notify the detection of a specific odor when a specific odor is detected. However, in this embodiment, the notification unit 13 can obtain a notification signal generated by the microcomputer 11 when the microcomputer 11 detects the depletion of the battery 10 and notify the depletion of the battery. The notification method is arbitrary, and for example, the notification unit 13 notifies the depletion of the battery 10 by light, sound, display, etc. Specifically, for example, the notification unit 13 notifies the depletion of the battery 10 by at least one of turning on a lamp, emitting an alarm sound, and displaying a warning on a display panel. Note that it is preferable to make the manner in which the detection of a specific odor is notified different from the manner in which the depletion of the battery 10 is detected.

When the odor detection device 1 is placed near a person who requires care, the notification by the notification unit 13 is useless if there is no caregiver nearby. For this reason, it is preferable that the notification signal be sent by the communication unit 14 described below to a management system placed in a remote monitoring room or the like. The notification unit 13 is an auxiliary component for when there is a caregiver nearby.

The communication unit 14 communicates information with the outside, that is, transmits and receives data with the outside. For example, the communication unit 14 is basically provided to transmit information to the outside when a specific odor is detected. However, in this embodiment, the notification unit 13 can transmit to the outside a notification signal generated by the microcomputer 11 to notify the outside that the battery 10 is depleted. The communication with the outside may be performed by wired communication or wireless communication. For example, the communication unit 14 transmits information (notification signal) to an external management system via the Internet. When the external management system receives the notification signal, it activates a notification function and notifies the administrator (user) that the battery 10 is depleted. As described above, the method of notification is arbitrary.

Under normal circumstances, information that a specific odor has been detected from the odor detection device 1 is sent to the management system, and the manager provides care to the person in need of care. On the other hand, when information that the battery 10 has been depleted is sent to the management system, the manager replaces the battery 10.

Next, a method for the microcontroller 11 to detect battery depletion will be described. Figure 2 is a connection circuit diagram of the battery 10, microcontroller 11, and sensor unit 12 according to the first embodiment, and a graph showing the relationship between the minimum operating voltages of the microcontroller 11 and the sensor unit 12. As shown in 2001 in Figure 2, the microcontroller 11 and the sensor unit 12 are connected in parallel to the battery 10 by the power line 16. The microcontroller 11 and the sensor unit 12 are connected by a signal line 17 so that they can communicate information.

As shown in 2002 of FIG. 2, if the operating voltage range of the microcontroller 11 is from v1 to v2 and the operating voltage range of the sensor unit 12 is from v3 to v4, the minimum operating voltage v1 of the microcontroller 11 is lower than the minimum operating voltage v3 of the sensor unit 12. For example, if the rated electromotive force of the battery 10 is 3.0 V, the minimum operating voltage v1 of the microcontroller 11 is set to 2.5 V and the minimum operating voltage v3 of the sensor unit 12 is set to 2.8 V. Note that the magnitude relationship between the maximum operating voltage v2 of the microcontroller 11 and the maximum operating voltage v4 of the sensor unit 12 is not particularly limited.

Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the battery depletion detection method according to the first embodiment. First, in step S10, the microcomputer 11 acquires a signal from the sensor unit 12 (acquisition step). Next, in step S12, the microcomputer 11 determines whether or not a signal that is the result of odor detection has been acquired from the sensor unit 12. If it is determined in step S12 that the microcomputer 11 has acquired a signal (step S12: YES), the process returns to step S10. If it is determined in step S12 that the microcomputer 11 has not acquired a signal (step S12: NO), the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the microcomputer 11 generates an alarm signal to notify the user that the battery 10 is depleted (generation step). Next, in step S16, the microcomputer 11 transmits the generated alarm signal. The destination of the alarm signal is the alarm unit 13. The microcomputer 11 may also transmit the alarm signal to an external management system via the communication unit 14. When the alarm unit 13 and the management system receive the alarm signal, they notify the user that the battery 10 is depleted by using light, sound, display, etc.

The timing at which the microcontroller 11 acquires a signal from the sensor unit 12 may be either periodically or continuously. When acquiring the signal periodically, the microcontroller 11 may periodically access the sensor unit 12 to acquire data. The microcontroller 11 may also send a data request signal to the sensor unit 12, causing the sensor unit 12 to transmit a data signal.

By using the above-described method for detecting battery depletion, the microcontroller 11 generates a notification signal to notify the user that the battery 10 is depleted when it is no longer able to acquire a signal from the sensor unit 12. The microcontroller 11 may also transmit the generated signal to the notification unit 13 and an external management system.

As shown in 2002 of FIG. 2, the minimum operating voltage v1 of the microcomputer 11 is lower than the minimum operating voltage v3 of the sensor unit 12. Therefore, when the electromotive force of the battery 10 falls below v3 due to depletion of the battery 10, the operation of the sensor unit 12 stops, but the microcomputer 11 can operate while the electromotive force is greater than v1. Therefore, when the microcomputer 11 is no longer able to obtain a signal from the sensor unit 12, it is determined that the electromotive force of the battery 10 has fallen below v3, and it can be determined that the battery 10 has been depleted. At this point, a notification signal is generated to notify the depletion of the battery 10, and the notification signal is further transmitted to a specified location, so that the depletion of the battery 10 can be notified. Generally, the electromotive force of the battery 10 gradually decreases as it is discharged, so that both the microcomputer 11 and the sensor unit 12 do not become inoperable at the same time. The administrator can replace the battery 10 while the microcomputer 11 is operating.

When the sensor unit 12 outputs a digital signal, it is sufficient to output the digital output to the microcontroller 11 as is. However, when the sensor unit 12 outputs an analog signal, it is preferable to provide an A/D converter (not shown) that converts the analog signal into a digital signal. When the sensor unit 12 outputs an analog signal, even if the electromotive force of the battery 10 becomes less than the minimum operating voltage of the sensor unit 12, a meaningless analog signal may be output from the sensor unit 12. In that case, there is a risk that the microcontroller 11 will determine that it has acquired a signal from the sensor unit 12. In other words, when the signal output by the sensor unit 12 is a digital signal, the microcontroller 11 can correctly determine whether or not it has acquired a signal from the sensor unit 12.

In this case, as described above, the A/D converter can function as an electronic circuit unit. In other words, the minimum operating voltage of this A/D converter is set higher than the minimum operating voltage of the microcontroller 11. When it becomes impossible to obtain output from the A/D converter, the microcontroller 11 can generate a notification signal to notify the user that the battery 10 is depleted.

The odor detection device 1 having the above configuration can detect the depletion of the battery 10 without using a dedicated circuit component for detecting the depletion of the battery 10. Then, a signal is generated to notify that the battery 10 has been depleted, and can be transmitted to the notification unit 13 and an external management system.

(Embodiment 2)
In the above-described first embodiment, when the sensor unit 12 becomes inoperable and no longer outputs a signal, a notification is given that the battery 10 is depleted. However, by providing a plurality of electronic circuit units with different minimum operating voltages, it is possible to prevent the sensor unit 12 from losing its function (interruption of the output signal).

Figure 4 is a block diagram of an odor detection device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The odor detection device 2 includes a battery 20, a microcontroller 21 (hereinafter referred to as the microcomputer 21), a first sensor unit 22, a second sensor unit 23, an alarm unit 24, and a communication unit 25. The microcomputer 21, the first sensor unit 22, the second sensor unit 23, the alarm unit 24, and the communication unit 25 all operate using power supplied from the battery 20. These elements are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described here.

As shown in 5001 of FIG. 5, the microcomputer 21, the first sensor unit 22, and the second sensor unit 23 are connected in parallel to the battery 20 by a power line 26. The microcomputer 21 and the first sensor unit 22 are connected by a signal line 27 so that they can communicate information. The microcomputer 21 and the second sensor unit 23 are connected by a signal line 28 so that they can communicate information.

As shown in 5002 of FIG. 5, if the minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer 21 is v1, the minimum operating voltage of the first sensor unit 22 is v3, and the minimum operating voltage of the second sensor unit 23 is v5, the minimum operating voltage v1 of the microcomputer 21 is lower than the minimum operating voltage v5 of the second sensor unit 23. The minimum operating voltage v5 of the second sensor unit 23 is higher than the minimum operating voltage v3 of the first sensor unit 22. However, the importance of the first sensor unit 22 is higher than the importance of the second sensor unit 23. The magnitude relationship between the minimum operating voltages of the microcomputer 21 and the first sensor unit 22 is not limited. The magnitude relationship between the maximum operating voltages of the microcomputer 21, the first sensor unit 22, and the second sensor unit 23 is also not particularly limited.

The importance of the first sensor unit 22 is higher than that of the second sensor unit 23. In other words, it is desirable to avoid interruption of the output signal from the first sensor unit 22, but it is acceptable for the output signal from the second sensor unit 23 to be interrupted temporarily. In this case, by setting v1<v5 and v3<v5, it is possible to detect depletion of the battery 20 without interruption of the output of the first sensor unit 22.

Specifically, the microcomputer 21 generates a notification signal when it is no longer able to acquire a signal from the second sensor unit 23. When the battery 20 is depleted and its electromotive force falls below v5, the second sensor unit 23 stops operating, and the microcomputer 21 is no longer able to acquire a signal from the second sensor unit 23. However, even at that point, the microcomputer 21 and the first sensor unit 22 continue to operate, and the microcomputer 21 is able to acquire a signal output from the first sensor unit 22. At this point, the microcomputer 21 notifies the administrator that the battery 20 is depleted, and the administrator can replace the battery 20 without interrupting the output signal from the first sensor unit 22.

As described above, the device includes a first sensor unit 22 and a second sensor unit 23 (multiple electronic circuit units), and the minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer 21 (control unit) is set lower than the minimum operating voltage of the second sensor unit 23, which is the least important of the first sensor unit 22 and the second sensor unit 23. The microcomputer 21 generates an alarm signal when it is no longer able to acquire a signal from the second sensor unit 23, which is the least important. With this configuration, it is possible to detect the depletion of the battery 20 without using a dedicated circuit component for detecting the depletion of the battery 20.

Furthermore, the minimum operating voltage of the second sensor unit 23, which is the least important of the first sensor unit 22 and the second sensor unit 23, is higher than the minimum operating voltage of the other first sensor unit 22. With this configuration, it is possible to notify the consumption of the battery 20 without stopping the operation of the first sensor unit 22, which is the most important. Note that the number of electronic circuit units (sensor units, etc.) is not limited to two as exemplified in this embodiment, and can be any number.

[Software implementation example]
The configuration of the microcomputers 11 and 21 may be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be realized by software. In the latter case, each function of the microcomputers 11 and 21 is realized by, for example, a computer that executes instructions of a program P, which is software.

An example of such a computer (hereinafter referred to as computer C) is shown in Figure 6. Computer C has at least one processor C1 and at least one memory C2. Memory C2 stores a program P for operating computer C as microcomputers 11 and 21. In computer C, processor C1 reads and executes this program P from memory C2 to realize each function of microcomputers 11 and 21.

The processor C1 may be, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an FPU (Floating point number Processing Unit), a PU (Physics Processing Unit), a microcontroller, or a combination of these. The memory C2 may be, for example, a flash memory, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a combination of these.

The computer C may further include a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program P during execution and for temporarily storing various data. The computer C may further include a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from other devices. The computer C may further include an input/output interface for connecting input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse, and/or output devices such as a display and a printer.

The program P can also be recorded on a non-transitory, tangible recording medium M that can be read by the computer C. Such a recording medium M can be, for example, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, or a programmable logic circuit. The computer C can obtain the program P via such a recording medium M. The program P can also be transmitted via a transmission medium. Such a transmission medium can be, for example, a communications network or broadcast waves. The computer C can also obtain the program P via such a transmission medium.

〔summary〕
The electronic device with battery depletion detection function of aspect 1 of the present invention comprises a control unit powered by a battery and an electronic circuit unit powered by the battery, wherein the minimum operating voltage of the control unit is lower than the minimum operating voltage of the electronic circuit unit, and the control unit generates an alarm signal to notify of battery depletion when it is no longer able to obtain a signal from the electronic circuit unit.

With the above configuration, an electronic device with a battery depletion detection function can detect battery depletion without using a dedicated circuit component for detecting battery depletion.

In the electronic device with battery depletion detection function according to aspect 2 of the present invention, the electronic device may include a plurality of the electronic circuit units, and the minimum operating voltage of the control unit may be lower than the minimum operating voltage of the least important electronic circuit unit among the plurality of electronic circuit units, and the control unit may generate the notification signal when it becomes unable to acquire a signal from the least important electronic circuit unit.

The above configuration makes it possible to detect battery depletion without losing the functionality of highly important electronic circuit units.

In the electronic device with battery depletion detection function according to aspect 3 of the present invention, the minimum operating voltage of the least important electronic circuit unit among the plurality of electronic circuit units may be higher than the minimum operating voltage of the other plurality of electronic circuit units.

With the above configuration, it is possible to detect battery depletion when it becomes impossible to obtain a signal from the least important electronic circuit unit.

In the electronic device with a battery depletion detection function according to aspect 4 of the present invention, the electronic circuit unit may be a sensor or an A/D converter.

The above configuration makes it possible to detect battery depletion in an electronic device that uses commonly used electronic circuit units such as a sensor or an A/D converter without using dedicated circuit components for detecting battery depletion.

The electronic device with a battery depletion detection function according to aspect 5 of the present invention may be provided with a communication unit that transmits information via the Internet.

With the above configuration, the detection of battery depletion can be transmitted to an external management system.

The battery depletion detection method according to aspect 6 of the present invention is a battery depletion detection method for an electronic device that is powered by a battery, and includes an acquisition step in which a control unit acquires a signal from an electronic circuit unit, and a generation step in which a notification signal is generated when the control unit is unable to acquire the signal in the acquisition step, and the minimum operating voltage of the control unit is lower than the minimum operating voltage of the electronic circuit unit.

The above configuration makes it possible to detect battery depletion without using dedicated circuit components for detecting battery depletion.

[Additional Notes]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1, 2...Odor detection device, 10, 20...Battery, 11, 21...Control unit (microcomputer), 12, 22, 23...Sensor unit (electronic circuit unit), 13, 24...Notification unit, 14, 25...Communication unit, 16, 26...Power line, 17, 27, 28...Communication line

Claims (6)

A control unit that operates using a battery;
an electronic circuit unit operated by the battery,
the minimum operating voltage of the control unit is lower than the minimum operating voltage of the electronic circuit unit,
the control unit generates a notification signal to notify the user of a battery being depleted when the control unit is unable to acquire a signal from the electronic circuit unit.
1. An electronic device with a battery depletion detection function. The electronic device with battery depletion detection function according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the electronic circuit units, the minimum operating voltage of the control unit being lower than the minimum operating voltage of the least important electronic circuit unit among the plurality of electronic circuit units, and the control unit generating the notification signal when it is no longer possible to obtain a signal from the least important electronic circuit unit. The electronic device with battery depletion detection function according to claim 2, wherein the minimum operating voltage of the least important electronic circuit unit among the plurality of electronic circuit units is higher than the minimum operating voltage of the other plurality of electronic circuit units. The electronic device with battery depletion detection function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electronic circuit unit is a sensor or an A/D converter. An electronic device with a battery depletion detection function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a communication unit that transmits information via the Internet. A method for detecting battery exhaustion in a battery-operated electronic device, comprising:
The control unit operated by the battery ,
acquiring a signal from the electronic circuit unit operated by the battery ;
a generating step of generating a notification signal for notifying a battery consumption when the signal cannot be acquired in the acquiring step,
The minimum operating voltage of the control unit is lower than the minimum operating voltage of the electronic circuit unit.
A method for detecting battery depletion.

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