Battery charging system and information processing apparatus with reduced power consumption at charges

• US 6,104,163 A
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Kizawa, Satoshi, Komatsu, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Toatley, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US09/342,248
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 320/116, 320/119, 320/124
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence

Abstract

The battery charging system allows a power consumption of an information processing apparatus to be maximally reduced when the system is off. When a charge request signal is output from a microprocessor of one battery, a connection control circuit puts one switch circuit into a open state and the other switch circuit into a closed state. As a result, a Smart Selector operates to start charging the battery whose connection has been detected. When the battery is fully charged and a full charge signal which is an inverted version of a charge request signal is output from the microprocessor, the connection control circuit operate to open the closed switch circuit and to close the opened switch circuit. The Smart Selector is made to recognize that the battery is no longer connected and detects only the other battery, thereby beginning charging to the other battery.

Claims

1. A battery charging system, comprising:

a first battery pack including a processor for outputting a disconnection request signal;

a second battery pack;

a charging device for supplying a power to charge said battery packs;

a switching device including a mechanism for detecting whether or not said battery packs are in a connected state and establishing a connection between either one of said battery packs whose connected state has been detected and said charging device; and

a connection control circuit for disconnectably connecting a first connection terminal of said switching device with reference of which the connection state of said first battery pack is first detected by the said switching device with said first battery pack and for disconnectably connecting a second connection terminal of said switching device with reference of which the connection state of said second battery pack is detected by the switching device after detection concerning said first connection terminal with said second battery pack and for disconnecting said first battery pack connected with said switching device from said switching device when detecting said disconnection request signal from the processor which is integrally mounted in said first battery pack;

wherein the charging object is switched to said second battery pack by prohibiting said switching device from detecting said first battery pack.

2. A battery charging system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first battery pack is an integral type and said second battery pack is an external type.

3. A battery charging system as defined in claim 1, wherein a signal output by said processor for indicating the completion of charging is used as said disconnection request signal.

5. A battery charging system as defined in claim 2, wherein said first battery pack is an integral type and said second battery pack is an external type.

6. A battery charging system as defined in claim 2, wherein a signal output by said processor for indicating the completion of charging is used as said disconnection request signal.

7. A battery charging system as defined in claim 2, wherein a signal output by said processor for indicating the completion of charging is used as said disconnection request signal and a signal outputted by said processor for indicating that charging is being performed is used as said charge request signal.

9. A battery charging system as defined in claim 3, wherein said first battery pack is an integral type and said second battery pack is an external type.

10. A battery charging system as defined in claim 3, wherein a signal output by said processor for indicating the completion of charging is used as said disconnection request signal.

4. A battery charging system comprising:

a charging device for supplying a power to charge battery packs;

a first battery pack including a processor for outputting a charge request signal and a disconnection request signal;

a switching device including a mechanism for detecting whether or not said first battery pack and a second battery pack are connected to said switching device and for connecting either one of said battery packs whose connected state has been detected with said charging device; and

a connection control circuit for disconnectably connecting said switching device with said first battery pack and for disconnectably connecting said switching device with said second battery pack;

wherein said connection control circuit connects said first battery pack with said switching device and disconnects said second battery pack from said switching device when a charge request signal output from the processor included in said first battery pack is detected, and disconnects said first battery pack from said switching device and connects said second battery pack with said switching device when a disconnection request signal output from the processor included in said first battery pack is detected, and

said switching device switches the object to be connected with said charging device from said first battery pack which is now disconnected to said second battery pack and switches the object to be connected with said charging device from said second battery pack which is now disconnected to said first battery pack.

8. A battery charging system comprising:

a charging device for supplying a power to charge battery packs;

a first battery pack including a processor for outputting a disconnection request signal;

a switching device for switching the connection with said charging device from said first battery pack to a second battery pack; and

a connection control circuit for disconnectably connecting said switching circuit with said first battery pack,

wherein said connection control circuit disconnects said first battery pack which has been connected with said switching device from the switching device when a disconnection request signal output from said processor is detected, and said switching device includes a mechanism for detecting whether or not said switching device and said first battery pack are connected, and switches the connection between said charging device and said battery packs on the basis of the detection result from said detecting mechanism.

11. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first battery including a first processor;

a switching device for switching the battery to be charged from said first battery to a second battery; and

a main body including a second processor for controlling said first battery and power supply control means for controlling a power supply to said second processor,

wherein said power supply control means supplies a power to said second processor when said main body is switched on and intercepts a power supply to said second processor when said main body is turned off, and

said switching device switches the battery to be charged from said first battery to said second battery in response to a switch signal transmitted from said first processor.

12. An information processing apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein a signal output from said first processor for changing the indication of an indicator so as to represent the state of being charged or the completion of charge is used as said switch signal.