Battery pack

• US 6,806,684 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Infrontia Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuyama, Hirotsugu
• Primary Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US10/351,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/112, 320/145, 320/162, 320/138, 323/906, 307/18, 307/19, 307/20, 307/21, 307/22, 307/46, 307/48, 307/64, 307/66, 307/85, 307/86, 307/150, 307/151, 307/152
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

A chargeable battery or a battery pack stores electrical energy, and supplies the electrical energy to a portable terminal device connected to the battery pack. A display device of the battery pack derives a value of a current flowing through a sensor which is connected to the chargeable battery. The display device derives the remaining amount of electrical energy stored in the chargeable battery, by adding up the derived current value. The display device includes a plurality of photodiodes, and shows the remaining amount of electrical energy stored in the chargeable battery, by lighting up corresponding number of photodiodes corresponding to the derived remaining amount.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a chargeable battery which provides electrical energy;

a resistor circuit connected to said battery;

a connection to an external power source that provides electrical energy;

a solar panel that converts light energy into electrical energy;

a power source interface connected to said solar panel and to said connection to an external power source, said power source interface providing electrical power from one of said solar panel and said connection to an external power source to said battery to charge said battery;

a microcomputer which derives a remaining amount of electrical energy available from said battery by adding current flowing through said resistor circuit; and

a first display which shows the remaining amount derived by said microcomputer.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said first display includes a plurality of light emitting elements, and wherein a number of said light emitting elements illuminated corresponds to the remaining amount derived by said microcomputer.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1,

wherein said microcomputer derives a first level of electrical energy supplied from said solar panel, and further comprising a second display which shows the first level derived by said microcomputer.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein said second display includes a plurality of light emitting elements, and wherein a number of said light emitting elements illuminated corresponds to the first level.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said battery pack is connectable to an external device, and when connected to said external device, supplies electrical energy from one of said battery, said solar panel, and said connection to an external power source to said external device;

and

wherein when electrical energy is supplied from one of said solar panel and said connection to an external power source to said external device, said battery is charged with electrical energy from the one of said solar panel and said connection to an external power source.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5,

wherein said microcomputer specifies which of said battery, said solar panel, and said connection to an external power source is a supply source of electrical energy which is supplied to said external device;

and

further comprising a third display which shows the supply source specified by said microcomputer.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein said microcomputer determines whether said battery is charged or not, and in a case where determining that said battery is not charged, specifies said battery as the supply source.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7,

wherein said microcomputer derives a first level of electrical energy supplied from said solar panel and derives a second level of electrical energy supplied from said connection to an external power source,

wherein said microcomputer determines which of said first level and said second level is higher than the other in a case where it determines that said battery is charged, specifies said solar panel as the supply source in a case where it determines that said first level is higher, and specifies said connection to an external power source as the supply source in a case where it determines that said second level is higher.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein:

said third display includes a first light emitting element which indicates that the supply source is said battery, a second light emitting element which indicates that the supply source is said solar panel, and a third light emitting element which indicates that the supply source is said connection to an external power source, and

said microcomputer lights up said first light emitting element in a case where it specifies said battery as the supply source, lights up said second light emitting element in a case where it specifies said solar panel as the supply source, and lights up said third light emitting element in a case where it specifies said connection to an external power source as the supply source.

10. A battery pack comprising:

a chargeable battery which provides electrical energy;

a solar panel that converts light energy into electrical energy;

a connection to an external source of electrical energy;

an interface that connects said battery to a one of said solar panel and said connection that provides a greater amount of electrical energy, to charge said battery;

a microcomputer which derives a remaining amount of electrical energy available from said battery by adding current flow to and from said battery; and

a first display which shows the remaining amount derived by said microcomputer.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein said microcomputer determines a level of electrical energy supplied by said solar panel, and further comprising a plurality of light emitting elements, wherein a number of said light emitting elements illuminated corresponds to said level.