INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20110006905A1
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Masuda, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 8,325,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• 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: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to a charging electric power generating device; a switch that is disposed between the rechargeable battery and the charging electric power generating device; an electric power measuring unit that measures electric power produced by the charging electric power generating device; and a charge controller that controls the switch to be turned OFF when the electric power measured by the electric power measuring unit is smaller than a first electric power threshold.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to a charging electric power generating device;

a switch that is disposed between the rechargeable battery and the charging electric power generating device;

an electric power measuring unit that measures electric power produced by the charging electric power generating device; and

a charge controller that controls the switch to be turned OFF when the electric power measured by the electric power measuring unit is smaller than a first electric power threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging electric power generating device comprises a solar cell.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an indicator,

wherein the charge controller operates to;

(a) turn OFF the indicator and turn ON the switch when the electric power is equal to or larger than the first electric power threshold and smaller than a second electric power threshold that is higher than the first electric power threshold while a charging operation is not completed;

(b) turn ON the indicator and the switch when the electric power is equal to or larger than the second electric power threshold while the charging operation is not completed; and

(c) turn OFF the indicator and the switch when the charging operation is completed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a display unit,

wherein the charge controller controls the display unit to display a predetermined indication when the electric power is changed from a value that is equal to or larger than the second electric power threshold to a value that is smaller than the second electric power threshold while the charging operation is not completed.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an indicator;

a rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to a first charging electric power generating device and a second charging electric power generating device;

a first switch that is disposed between the rechargeable battery and the first charging electric power generating device;

a second switch that is disposed between the rechargeable battery and the second charging electric power generating device;

an electric power measuring unit that measures first electric power produced by the first charging electric power generating device; and

a charge controller that operates to;

(a) turn ON the indicator and the second switch when a second electric power is supplied from the second charging electric power generating device while charging operation of the rechargeable battery is not completed;

(b) turn OFF the indicator and the first switch when the first electric power is smaller than a first electric power threshold while charging operation of the rechargeable battery is not completed and while the second electric power is not being supplied;

(c) turn OFF the indicator and turn ON the first switch when the first electric power is equal to or larger than the first electric power threshold and smaller than a second electric power threshold that is higher than the first electric power threshold while the charging operation is not completed and while the second electric power is not being supplied; and

(d) turn ON the indicator and the first switch when the electric power is equal to or larger than the second electric power threshold while the charging operation is not completed and while the second electric power is not being supplied.

6. The apparatus of claim 5,

wherein the first charging electric power generating device comprises a solar cell, and

wherein the second charging electric power generating device comprises a battery charger that converts a commercial power source to the second electric power for charging the rechargeable battery.

7. The apparatus of claim 5,

wherein the first electric power threshold is equal to or smaller than electric power that is consumed the indicator being turned ON.

8. The apparatus of claim 5,

wherein the second electric power threshold is equal to electric power supplied from the second charging electric power generating device.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprises:

a display unit,

wherein the charge controller further operates to;

(e) control the display unit to display a predetermined indication when the first charging electric power is changed from a value that is equal to or larger than the second electric power threshold to a value that is smaller than the second electric power threshold while the charging operation is not completed and while the second electric power is not being supplied from the second charging electric power generating device; and

(f) turn OFF the indicator, the first switch and the second switch when the charging operation is completed.

10. A method for charging a rechargeable battery electrically provided in an information processing apparatus and connected to a charging electric power generating device through a switch, the method comprising:

measuring electric power produced by the charging electric power generating device; and

controlling the switch to be turned OFF when the electric power is smaller than a first electric power threshold.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the charging electric power generating device comprises a solar cell.

12. The method of claim 10,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises an indicator, and

wherein the method further comprises:

(a) turning OFF the indicator and turning ON the switch when the electric power is equal to or larger than the first electric power threshold and smaller than a second electric power threshold that is higher than the first electric power threshold while a charging operation is not completed;

(b) turning ON the indicator and the switch when the electric power is equal to or larger than the second electric power threshold while the charging operation is not completed; and

(c) turning OFF the indicator and the switch when the charging operation is completed.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises a display unit, and

wherein the method further comprises:

controlling the display unit to display a predetermined indication when the electric power is changed from a value that is equal to or larger than the second electric power threshold to a value that is smaller than the second electric power threshold while the charging operation is not completed.