Electronic equipment having display device for displaying lifetime of power source

• US 5,065,084 A
• Filed: 07/03/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Oogita, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Heyman, John S.
• Application Number:
  US07/547,217
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 377/16, 377/15, 377/32, 377/112, 340/636, 307/296.3, 368/9, 368/10, 368/203, 368/204, 368/244, 368/251, 320/48
• US Class Current: 320/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• 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 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electronic equipment using a battery as an energizing power source includes a display unit, a signal generator for generating operation clocks while the electronic equipment is being actuated, a counter for measuring the number of the clocks, a calculator for calculating an operating time of the battery based upon the result of the counting operation by the counter, an estimating unit for estimating a consumption state of the battery based upon the result of the calculation by the calculator, and an informing unit for making the display unit display beforehand the expiration of the lifetime of the battery based upon the result of the estimation by the estimating unit.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment using a battery as an energizing power source, comprising:

a display unit;

signal generating means for generating operation clocks while the electronic equipment is being actuated;

counting means for measuring the number of the clocks;

calculating means for calculating an operating time of the battery based upon the result of the counting operation by the counting means;

timer means for measuring the total actual time for which the battery has been held in said equipment;

means responsive to said timer means and said calculating means for determining the total off time in which said electronic equipment is unactuated;

estimating means responsive to said calculating means and said means for determining for estimating a consumption state of the battery based upon the result of the calculation by the calculating means and the determination of off time; and

informing means responsive to said estimating means for causing said display unit to display beforehand the expiration of the lifetime of the battery based upon the result of the estimation by the estimating means wherein said estimating means estimates a consumption state of the battery based upon current outputted from the battery while said electronic equipment is actuated and unactuated.

2. An electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said counting means is reset by an exchange of the battery.

3. An electronic equipment according to claim 1, wherein said timer means is reset by an exchange of the battery.