Charging/discharging apparatus and method, power supplying device and method, power supplying systems and method, program storing medium, and program

• US 20040027093A1
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Hideyuki, Tashiro, Kei, Takeshita, Toshio, Murata, Kiyotaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,615,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00043 using switches, contacts or markings, e.g. optical, magnetic or barcode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

In the present invention, a battery pack type discriminating or deciding concave portion (131) is formed at a position corresponding to a battery pack type deciding switch (214) of an SQ battery pack (1) and when the SQ battery pack (1) is set, the battery pack type deciding switch (214) is avoided to be pressed by a bottom (115) of the SQ battery pack (1) owing to the concave portion (131). In this way, as the switch (214) is avoided to be pressed, it is recognized that the set battery pack is an SQ battery pack (1) under charging. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to identify battery packs among different charging modes and charging can be performed in a proper charging mode.

Claims

1. A charging/discharging apparatus comprising:

a receiving terminal for receiving power from a power supplying apparatus,

a position controlling portion for controlling a relative position with said power supplying apparatus such that said receiving terminal is connected with a supplying terminal to which said power supplying apparatus supplies power, and

a setting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode.

2. A charging/discharging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said power supplying mode comprises a superquick mode or a quick mode.

3. A charging/discharging apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a current value for supplying power in said superquick mode is larger than that in said quick mode.

4. A power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus provided with a setting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode, comprising:

setting portion detecting means for detecting presence or absence of said setting portion,

identifying means for identifying a power supplying mode in accordance with a detection result obtained by said setting portion detecting means, and

power supplying means for supplying said power to said charging/discharging apparatus from a supplying terminal in said power supplying mode identified by said identifying means.

5. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said power supplying mode comprises a superquick mode or a quick mode.

6. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a current value for supplying power in said superquick mode is larger than that in said quick mode.

7. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising attaching detecting means for detecting whether or not said charging/discharging apparatus is attached, characterized in that

said setting portion detecting means detects presence or absence of said setting portion at the timing before it is detected that said charging/discharging apparatus is attached by said attaching detecting means.

8. A power supplying method of a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus provided with a setting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode, comprising:

a setting portion detecting step for detecting presence or absence of said setting portion,

an identifying step for identifying a power supplying mode in accordance with a detection result of the processing in said setting portion detecting step, and

a power supplying step for supplying said power to said charging/discharging apparatus from a supplying terminal in said power supplying mode identified by the processing in said identifying step.

9. A program storing medium in which a computer readable program for controlling a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus provided with a setting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode is stored, comprising:

a setting portion detection controlling step for controlling detection of presence or absence of said setting portion,

an identification controlling step for controlling identification of a power supplying mode in accordance with a detection result of the processing in said setting portion detecting step, and

a power supply controlling step for controlling supply of said power to said charging/discharging apparatus from a supplying terminal in said power supplying mode identified by the processing in said identification controlling step.

10. A program for making a computer control a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus provided with a setting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode wherein said program executes:

a setting portion detection controlling step for controlling detection for presence or absence of said setting portion,

an identification controlling step for controlling identification of a power supplying mode in accordance with a detection result of the processing in said setting portion detection controlling step, and

a power supply controlling step for controlling supply of said power to said charging/discharging apparatus from a supplying terminal in said power supplying mode identified by the processing in said identification controlling step.

11. A power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus, characterized in that

said charging/discharging apparatus is provided with a receiving terminal for receiving power from said power supplying apparatus, a position controlling portion for controlling a relative position with said power supplying apparatus such that said receiving terminal is connected with a supplying terminal to which said power supplying apparatus supplies power, and a setting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode;

and

said power supplying apparatus is provided with setting portion detecting means for detecting presence or absence of said setting portion, identifying means for identifying a power supplying mode in accordance with a detection result obtained by said setting portion detecting means, and power supplying means for supplying said power to said charging/discharging apparatus from a supplying terminal in said power supplying mode identified by said identifying means.

12. A charging/discharging apparatus for receiving power from a power supplying apparatus, comprising:

receivable power supplying mode storing means for storing the information showing a receivable power supplying mode, and

transmitting means for transmitting the information showing said power supplying mode stored by said receivable power supplying mode storing means to said power supplying apparatus.

13. A charging/discharging apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said power supplying mode comprises a superquick mode or a quick mode.

14. A charging/discharging apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that a current value for receiving power in said superquick mode is larger than that in said quick mode.

15. A charging/discharging apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

a receiving terminal for receiving power from said power supplying apparatus,

a position controlling portion for controlling a relative position with said power supplying apparatus such that said receiving terminal is connected with a supplying terminal to which said power supplying apparatus supplies power, and

a setting portion at said position controlling portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode at said position controlling portion depending on presence or absence of said position controlling portion.

16. A charging/discharging method of a charging/discharging apparatus for receiving power from a power supplying apparatus, comprising:

a receivable power supplying mode storing step for storing the information showing a receivable power supplying mode, and

a transmitting step for transmitting the information showing said power supplying mode stored by the processing in said receivable power supplying mode storing step to said power supplying apparatus.

17. A program storing medium in which a computer readable program for controlling a charging/discharging apparatus which receives power from a power supplying apparatus is stored, comprising:

a receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step for controlling storage of the information showing a receivable power supplying mode, and

a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of said information showing the power supplying mode stored by the processing in said receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step to said power supplying apparatus.

18. A program for making a computer control a charging/discharging apparatus for receiving power from a power supplying apparatus wherein said program executes:

a receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step for controlling storage of a receivable power supplying mode, and

a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of the information showing the power supplying mode stored by the processing in said receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step to said power supplying apparatus.

19. A power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus, comprising:

receivable power supplying mode receiving means for receiving the information showing a receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus, and

power supplying means for supplying power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received from said receivable power supplying mode receiving means.

20. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that said power supplying mode comprises a superquick mode or a quick mode.

21. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that a current value for supplying power in said superquick mode is larger than that in said quick mode.

22. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 19, in case of supplying power to said charging/discharging apparatus provided with a setting portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode, further comprising:

setting portion detecting mans for detecting presence or absence of said setting portion; and

identifying means for identifying said power supplying mode in accordance with a detection result obtained by said setting portion detecting means;

characterized in that when the power supplying mode received by said receivable power supplying mode receiving means is matched with said power supplying mode identified by said identifying means, said power supplying means supplies said power to said charging/discharging apparatus in said matched power supplying mode.

23. A power supplying method of a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus, comprising:

a receivable power supplying mode receiving step for receiving the information showing a receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus, and

a power supplying step for supplying power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode receiving step.

24. A program storing medium wherein a computer readable program for controlling a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus is stored, comprising:

a receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step for controlling reception of the information showing a receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus, and

a power supply controlling step for controlling supply of power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step.

25. A program for making a computer control a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus wherein said program executes:

a receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step for controlling reception of the information showing a receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus, and

a power supply controlling step for controlling supply of power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step.

26. A power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus, characterized in that

said charging/discharging apparatus is provided with receivable power supplying mode storing means for storing the information showing a receivable power supplying mode, and transmitting means for transmitting said information showing the power supplying mode stored by said receivable power supplying mode storing means to said power supplying apparatus;

and

said power supplying apparatus is provided with receivable power supplying mode receiving means for receiving the information showing a receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying means for supplying power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received by said receivable power supplying mode receiving means.

27. A power supplying system according to claim 26, characterized in that

said power supplying mode comprises a superquick mode or a quick mode.

28. A power supplying system according to claim 27, characterized in that

a current value for supplying power in said superquick mode is larger than that in said quick mode.

29. A power supplying system according to claim 26, characterized in that

said charging/discharging apparatus is further provided with a receiving terminal for receiving power from said power supplying apparatus, a position controlling portion for controlling a relative position with said power supplying apparatus such that said receiving terminal is connected with a supplying terminal to which said power supplying apparatus supplies power, and a setting portion at the position controlling portion for setting a receivable power supplying mode depending on presence or absence of said position controlling portion;

said power supplying apparatus is further provided with setting portion detecting means for detecting presence or absence of said setting portion, and identifying means for identifying said power supplying mode in correspondence with a detection result obtained by said setting portion detecting means; and

said power supplying means supplies said power to said charging/discharging apparatus in the matched power supplying mode when said power supplying mode received by said receivable power supplying mode receiving means is matched with said power supplying mode identified by said identifying means.

30. A power supplying method of a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus, characterized in that

a charging/discharging method of said charging/discharging apparatus comprises a receivable power supplying mode storing step for storing the information showing a receivable power supplying mode, and a transmitting step for transmitting said information showing the power supplying mode stored by the processing in said receivable power supplying mode storing step to said power supplying apparatus;

and

a power supplying method of said power supplying apparatus comprises a receivable power supplying mode receiving step for receiving the information showing a receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying step for supplying power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode receiving step.

31. A program storing medium wherein a computer readable program for controlling a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus is stored, characterized in that

the program for controlling said charging/discharging apparatus comprises a receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step for controlling storage of the information showing a receivable power supplying mode, and a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of the information showing the power supplying mode stored through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step;

and

the program for controlling said power supplying apparatus comprises a receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step for controlling reception of the information showing a receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus, and a power supply controlling step for controlling supply of power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step.

32. A program for making a computer control a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus characterized in that

said program makes said computer which controls said charging/discharging apparatus executes a receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step for controlling storage of the information showing a receivable power supplying mode, and a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of the information showing the information showing the power supplying mode stored through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode storage controlling step to said power supplying apparatus;

and

said program makes said computer which controls said power supplying apparatus executes a receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step for controlling reception of the information showing receivable power supplying mode from said charging/discharging apparatus, and a power supply controlling step for controlling supply of power to said charging/discharging apparatus in correspondence with said power supplying mode received through the processing in said receivable power supplying mode reception controlling step.

33. A charging/discharging apparatus for receiving power from a power supplying apparatus, comprising:

temperature measuring means for measuring an own internal temperature, and

transmitting means for transmitting said internal temperature data measured by said temperature measuring means to said power supplying apparatus.

34. A charging/discharging method of a charging/discharging apparatus for receiving power from a power supplying apparatus, comprising:

a temperature measuring step for measuring an own internal temperature, and

a transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data measured in said temperature measuring step to said power supplying apparatus.

35. A program storing medium wherein a computer readable program for controlling a charging/discharging apparatus which receives power from a power supplying apparatus is stored, comprising:

a temperature measurement controlling step for controlling an own internal temperature, and

a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of said internal temperature data measured in said temperature measurement controlling step to said power supplying apparatus.

36. A program for making a computer control a charging/discharging apparatus which receives power from a power supplying apparatus wherein said program executes:

a temperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement of an own internal temperature, and

a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of said internal temperature data measured in said temperature measurement controlling step to said power supplying apparatus.

37. A power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus,

temperature measuring means for measuring an own internal temperature, and

power supplying mode changing means for changing power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus based on said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received by said receiving means or said own temperature data measured by said temperature measuring means.

38. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that

said power supplying mode changing means changes the current mode to a power supplying mode which supplies power at a small current when said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received by said receiving means are out of a predetermined set temperature range.

39. A power supplying apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that

said power supplying mode changing means stops the supply of power when the temperature data measured by said temperature measuring means are out of a predetermined set temperature range.

40. A power supplying method of a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus, comprising:

a receiving step for receiving internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus,

a temperature measuring step for measuring an own internal temperature, and

a power supplying mode changing step for changing power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus based on said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in said receiving step or the own temperature data measured through the processing in said temperature measuring step.

41. A program storing medium wherein a computer readable program for controlling a power supplying apparatus which supplies power to a charging/discharging apparatus is stored, comprising:

a reception controlling step for controlling reception of internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus,

a temperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement of an own internal temperature, and

a power supplying mode change controlling step for controlling change of power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus based on the internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in said reception controlling step or the own temperature data measured through the processing in said temperature measurement controlling step.

42. A program for making a computer control a power supplying apparatus for supplying power to a charging/discharging apparatus wherein said program executes:

a reception controlling step for controlling reception of internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus,

a temperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement of an own internal temperature, and

a power supplying mode change controlling step for controlling change of power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus based on the internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in said reception controlling step or the own temperature data measured through the processing in said temperature measurement controlling step.

43. A power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus, characterized in that

said charging/discharging apparatus is provided with charging/discharging apparatus temperature measuring means for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus, and transmitting means for transmitting the internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus measured by said charging/discharging apparatus temperature measuring means to said power supplying apparatus;

and

said power supplying apparatus is provided with receiving means for receiving said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus, power supplying apparatus temperature measuring means for measuring an internal temperature of said power supplying apparatus, and power supplying mode changing means for changing power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus in accordance with said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received by said receiving means or said internal temperature data of said power supplying apparatus measured by said power supplying apparatus temperature measuring means.

44. A power supplying system according to claim 43, characterized in that

said power supplying mode changing means changes the present mode to a power supplying mode which supplies power at a small current when said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received by said receiving means are out of a predetermined temperature range.

45. A power supplying system according to claim 43, characterized in that

said power supplying mode changing means stops the supply of power when the temperature data measured by said power supplying apparatus temperature measuring means are out of a predetermined temperature range.

46. A power supplying method of a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus, characterized in that

the charging/discharging method of said charging/discharging apparatus comprises a charging/discharging apparatus temperature measuring step for measuring an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus, and a transmitting step for transmitting said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus measured through the processing in the charging/discharging apparatus temperature measuring step to said power supplying apparatus;

and

the power supplying method of said power supplying apparatus comprises a receiving step for receiving said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus, and a power supplying mode changing step for changing power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus based on said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in said receiving step or said internal temperature data of said power supplying apparatus measured through the processing in said power supplying apparatus temperature measuring step.

47. A program storing medium wherein a computer readable program for controlling a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus is stored, characterized in that

the program for controlling said charging/discharging apparatus comprises a charging/discharging apparatus temperature measurement controlling step for controlling the internal temperature measurement of said charging/discharging apparatus, and a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus measured through the processing in said charging/discharging apparatus temperature measurement controlling step to said power supplying apparatus;

and

the program for controlling said power supplying apparatus comprises a reception controlling step for controlling reception of said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus, a power supplying apparatus temperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement of the internal temperature of said power supplying apparatus, and a power supplying mode change controlling step for controlling change of power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus in accordance with said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in said reception controlling step or said internal temperature data of said power supplying apparatus measured through the processing in said power supplying apparatus temperature measurement controlling step.

48. A program for making a computer control a power supplying system comprising a charging/discharging apparatus and a power supplying apparatus characterized in that

said program makes said computer which controls said charging/discharging apparatus executes a charging/discharging apparatus temperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement of an internal temperature of said charging/discharging apparatus, and a transmission controlling step for controlling transmission processing of the internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus to said power supplying apparatus;

and

said program makes said computer which controls said power supplying apparatus executes a reception controlling step for controlling reception of said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus transmitted from said charging/discharging apparatus, a power supplying apparatus temperature measurement controlling step for controlling measurement of the internal temperature of said power supplying apparatus, and a power supplying mode change controlling step for controlling change of power supplying modes of the power to be supplied to said charging/discharging apparatus based on said internal temperature data of said charging/discharging apparatus received through the processing in said reception controlling step or said internal temperature data of said power supplying apparatus measured through the processing in said power supplying apparatus temperature measurement controlling step.