APPARATUS USING A BATTERY

• US 20090164153A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An apparatus using a battery includes a receiving unit, a determination unit and a calculation unit. The receiving unit receives a dischargeable capacity, a first voltage and a second voltage from the battery. The first voltage is used to display the end of an available time and the second voltage is used to carry out a low power operation. The determination unit determines whether the first voltage is less than the second voltage. The calculation unit corrects the dischargeable capacity and calculates the available time based on the corrected dischargeable capacity, if the determination unit determines that the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

Claims

1. An apparatus using a battery, comprising:

a receiving unit that receives a dischargeable capacity, a first voltage and a second voltage from the battery, the first voltage being used to display the end of an available time and the second voltage being used to carry out a low power operation;

a determination unit that determines whether the first voltage is less than the second voltage; and

a calculation unit that corrects the dischargeable capacity and calculates the available time based on the corrected dischargeable capacity, if the determination unit determines that the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates the available time based on the dischargeable capacity, if the determination unit determines that the first voltage is not less than the second voltage.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a camera.

4. A method for controlling an apparatus using a battery, comprising:

receiving a dischargeable capacity, a first voltage and a second voltage from the battery, the first voltage being used to display the end of an available time and the second voltage being used to carry out a low power operation;

determining whether the first voltage is less than the second voltage;

correcting the dischargeable capacity; and

calculating the available time based on the corrected dischargeable capacity, if the determination step determines that the first voltage is less than the second voltage.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

calculating the available time based on the dischargeable capacity, if the determination step determines that the first voltage is not less than the second voltage.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus includes a camera.