Power-generation detection circuit for use in an electronic device and power-generation detection method and power consumption control method for use in connection therewith
First Claim
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1. A power-generation detection circuit, for detecting the generation of AC power from an external power-generation device comprising:
- a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of said externally generated AC power;
a capacitor element coupled to said switching element for storing charges in response to said switching operation of said switching element;
a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element; and
a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value, and outputting a power generation detection signal for switching a circuit into a power save mode when said voltage across said capacitor does not exceed said predetermined value.
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Abstract
A power-generation detection circuit for detecting a power-generation state by an AC voltage supplied from a power-generation device including a capacitor, and switching element, a resistor, and an inverter circuit which controls the charging of the capacitor by a power-generation device. The switching element is switched by the AC voltage from the power-generation device. The voltage of the capacitor is detected by the inverter circuit thereby performing power-generation detection.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A power-generation detection circuit, for detecting the generation of AC power from an external power-generation device comprising:
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a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of said externally generated AC power; a capacitor element coupled to said switching element for storing charges in response to said switching operation of said switching element; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element; and a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value, and outputting a power generation detection signal for switching a circuit into a power save mode when said voltage across said capacitor does not exceed said predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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4. A power-generation detection circuit, for detecting the generation of AC power from an external power-generation device comprising:
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a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of said externally generated AC power; a capacitor element coupled to said switching element for storing charges in response to said switching operation of said switching element; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element, wherein said discharging element is a constant-current circuit;
said constant-current circuit including a constant-current source and a current mirror circuit; anda voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value.
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12. A semiconductor device for detecting the generation of AC power from an external power-generation device, comprising:
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a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of said externally generated AC power; a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to a switching operation performed by said switching means; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element; and a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting that a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value, and outputting a power generation detection signal for switching a circuit into a power save mode when said voltage across said capacitor does not exceed said predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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13. A semiconductor device for detecting the generation of AC power from an external power-generation device, comprising:
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a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of said externally generated AC power; a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to a switching operation performed by said switching means; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element, said discharging element being a constant-current source and a current mirror circuit; and a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting that a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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18. An electronic device, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power; and a power-generation detection circuit comprising; a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device; a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to the switching operation of said switching element; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element; and a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value, and outputting a power generation detection signal for switching a circuit into a power save mode when said voltage across said capacitor does not exceed said predetermined value.
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19. An electronic device, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power said power-generation device including a rotating weight mounted to perform a swinging motion, and a power-generation element generating electromotive force from said motion of said rotating weight; and a power-generation detection circuit comprising; a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device; a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to the switching operation of said switching element; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element; and a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value.
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20. An electronic device, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power, said power-generation device including a deformable elastic member, a rotating element driven by the elastic member for rotating in response to a recovery force generated by said elastic member and returning to an original shape from deformation, and a power-generation element, coupled to said rotating element, and generating electromotive force in response to rotating motion of said rotating element; and a power-generation detection circuit comprising; a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device, a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to the switching operation of said switching element; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element; and a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value.
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21. An electronic device, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power said power-generation device including a piezoelectric element which generates electromotive force by a piezoelectric effect in response to a force applied to said piezoelectric element; and a power-generation detection circuit comprising; a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device, a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to the switching operation of said switching element; a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element, along a discharging path of said capacitor element, and discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element; and a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage across said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value.
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22. An electronic device, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power; a power-generation detection circuit having a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device;
a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to the switching operation performed by said switching element;
a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element in a discharging path of said capacitor element;
a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage of said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value and providing an output indicative of the voltage of the capacitor element; and
a control circuit coupled to said voltage detector and controlling power consumption of said electronic device in response to said output, and outputting a power generation detection signal for switching a circuit into a power save mode when said voltage across said capacitor does not exceed said predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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23. An electronic device, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power; a power-generation detection circuit having a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device;
a capacitor element coupled to said switching element and storing charges in response to the switching operation performed by said switching element;
a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element in a discharging path of said capacitor element;
a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage of said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value and providing an output indicative of the voltage of the capacitor element; and
a control circuit coupled to said voltage detector and controlling power consumption of said electronic device in response to said output, and said control circuit determines that said power-generation device is not performing power generation when a voltage across said capacitor element is not more than the predetermined value and reduces power consumption of said device in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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26. A timepiece, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power; a power-generation detection circuit having a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device;
a capacitor element coupled to said switching element for storing charges in response to a switching operation performed by said switching element;
a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element in a discharging path of said capacitor element for discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element;
a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage of said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value and providing an output indicative of the voltage of the capacitor element, and outputting a power generation detection signal for switching a circuit into a power save mode when said voltage across said capacitor does not exceed said predetermined value; anda timer circuit counting time operatively coupled to said capacitor to be powered thereby.
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27. A timepiece, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power; a power-generation detection circuit having a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device;
a capacitor element coupled to said switching element for storing charges in response to a switching operation performed by said switching element;
a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element in a discharging path of said capacitor element for discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element;
a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage of said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value and providing an output indicative of the voltage of the capacitor element; anda timer circuit counting time operatively coupled to said capacitor to be powered thereby, wherein said timepiece is a wrist watch having a housing and said power-generation device, said power-generation detection circuit, and said timer circuit are disposed in said housing.
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28. A timepiece, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power; a power-generation detection circuit having a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device;
a capacitor element coupled to said switching element for storing charges in response to a switching operation performed by said switching element;
a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element in a discharging path of said capacitor element for discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element;
a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage of said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value and providing an output indicative of the voltage of the capacitor element; anda timer circuit counting time operatively coupled to said capacitor to be powered thereby, wherein said timepiece is a pocket watch having a housing and said power-generation device, said power-generation detection circuit, and said timer circuit are disposed in said housing.
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29. A timepiece, comprising:
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a power-generation device generating AC power; a power-generation detection circuit having a switching element coupled to said power-generation device and performing a switching operation in response to a cycle of the AC power generated by said power-generation device;
a capacitor element coupled to said switching element for storing charges in response to a switching operation performed by said switching element;
a discharging element coupled to said capacitor element in a discharging path of said capacitor element for discharging the charges stored in said capacitor element;
a voltage detector coupled to said capacitor element and detecting whether a voltage of said capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value and providing an output indicative of the voltage of the capacitor element; anda timer circuit counting time operatively coupled to said capacitor to be powered thereby wherein said timepiece is a table clock having a housing and said power-generation device, said power-generation detection circuit, and said timer circuit are disposed in said housing.
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30. A power-generation detection method for determining whether AC power is being generated from an external power-generation device, the method comprising the steps of:
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charging a capacitor element in response to a cycle of the externally generated AC power; discharging said capacitor element when charging of said capacitor element is not performed; determining the voltage across said capacitor element; and monitoring the voltage across said capacitor element to determine whether the voltage exceeds a predetermined voltage indicating that power generation is being performed, and outputting a power generation detection signal for switching a circuit into a power save mode when said voltage across said capacitor does not exceed said predetermined value.
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31. A power consumption control method for reducing the power consumption of a circuit unit, said circuit unit coupled to an external power-generation unit, said power-generation unit generating AC power, the method comprising the steps of:
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charging a capacitor element in response to a cycle of the externally generated AC power; discharging said capacitor element when charging of said capacitor element is not performed; determining the voltage across said capacitor element; monitoring the voltage across said capacitor element to determine whether the voltage does not exceed a predetermined voltage indicating that power generation is not being performed; and reducing power consumption of the circuit unit when no power generation is being performed. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification