Battery pack and charger with memory having operating permission and image data recording means

• US 7,449,863 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tashiro, Kei
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akim Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muralidar; Richard V
• Application Number:
  US10/839,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20050017679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/107, 320/112, 348/372, 396277-278, 396297-300, 396/539
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00038 using passive battery identification means, e.g. resistors or capacitors identification by mechanical connections H02J7/0045
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery pack that includes a data storage unit capable of storing data processed with an electronic device and a data control unit for controlling reading, writing, deleting, and duplicating of data in the data storing unit. A data communication unit for transmitting and receiving data controlled by the data control unit. A charger includes a data communication unit for transmitting and receiving data with the battery pack via a communication terminal and a data operating unit for sending control signals instructing data reading, writing, deleting, and duplicating of data in the data storage unit of the battery pack via the data communication unit. A data reproducing unit for reproducing the data obtained via the data communication unit. This provides a simple battery pack which can record data handled by an electronic device to which the battery pack is mounted, and a charger enabling easy operating of the recorded data.

Claims

1. A battery pack for providing power and for storing user data, comprising:

a connection terminal connecting to electronic equipment to supply electric power thereto, and connecting to a charger;

a communication terminal for communicating with said electronic equipment and said charger;

storage means for storing said user data processed by said electronic equipment, said storage means being large enough to store image data;

data control means for controlling reading processing, writing processing, deleting processing, and duplication processing of said user data with regard to said data storage means, based on control signals from said electronic equipment or said charger; and

data communication means for transmitting and receiving said user data via said communication terminal under control of said data control means;

wherein said storage means, said data control means, and said data communication means are built within said battery pack,

wherein when communicating with said electronic equipment and said charger, the battery pack communicates information regarding data recording compatibility, mode information, operating permission information,

wherein the information regarding data recording compatibility comprises information indicating whether the battery pack is data recording compatible,

wherein the mode information indicates whether the data recording compatibility is enabled, and storage capacity information.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means storing information relating to electric power capacity of the battery pack and data processed by said electronic equipment.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein said data communication means transmit information relating to the electric power capacity of the battery pack via said communication terminal.

4. A charger for charging a battery pack with data storage means for storing user data processed by electronic equipment, said charger comprising:

a connection terminal for charging said battery pack;

a communication terminal for communicating with said battery pack;

data communication means for transmitting and receiving said user data to and from said battery pack via said communication terminal;

the user data including image data;

operating means for transmitting control signals for instructing reading processing, writing processing, deleting processing, and duplication processing of said user data to said data storage means of said battery pack, via said data communication means; and

data reproducing means for reproducing said user data obtained via said data communication means,

wherein when communicating with said electronic equipment and said charger, the battery pack communicates information regarding data recording compatibility, mode information, operating permission information,

wherein the information regarding data recording compatibility comprises information indicating whether the battery pack is data recording compatible,

wherein the mode information indicates whether the data recording compatibility is enabled, and storage capacity information.

5. A charger for charging a battery pack with data storage means for storing user data processed by electronic equipment, said charger comprising:

a connection terminal for charging said battery pack;

a communication terminal for communicating with said battery pack;

data communication means for transmitting and receiving said user data to and from said battery pack via said communication terminal;

user data including image data;

operating means for transmitting control signals for instructing reading processing, writing processing, deleting processing, and duplication processing of said user data to said data storage means of said battery pack, via said data communication means; and

data output means for outputting said user data obtained via said data communication means,

wherein when communicating with said electronic equipment and said charger, the battery pack communicates information regarding data recording compatibility, mode information, operating permission information,

wherein the information regarding data recording compatibility comprises information indicating whether the battery pack is data recording compatible,

wherein the mode information indicates whether the data recording compatibility is enabled, and storage capacity information.

6. A charger for charging a battery pack with data storage means for storing user data processed by electronic equipment, said charger comprising:

a connection terminal for charging said battery pack;

a first communication terminal for communicating with said battery pack;

a second communication terminal for communicating with an information processing device adapted to control reading processing, writing processing, deleting processing, and duplication processing of said user data with regard to said data storage means of said battery pack;

user data including image data;

first data communication means for transmitting and receiving said user data to and from said battery pack via said first communication terminal;

second data communication means for transmitting and receiving said user data via said second communication terminal; and

data operating control means for controlling transmission and reception of said user data between said battery pack and said information processing device via said first and second communication means,

wherein when communicating with said electronic equipment and said charger, the battery pack communicates information regarding data recording compatibility, mode information, operating permission information,

wherein the information regarding data recording compatibility comprises information indicating whether the battery pack is data recording compatible,

wherein the mode information indicates whether the data recording compatibility is enabled, and storage capacity information.

7. A method for providing power and for storing user data in a battery pack, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting the battery pack to electronic equipment to supply electric power;

communicating said user data with said electronic equipment and a charger;

storing said user data processed by said electronic equipment, said storing capable of storing image data; and

controlling reading processing, writing processing, deleting processing, and duplication processing of said user data based on control signals from said electronic equipment and said charger,

wherein when communicating with said electronic equipment and said charger, the battery pack communicates information regarding data recording compatibility, mode information, operating permission information,

wherein the information regarding data recording compatibility comprises information indicating whether the battery pack is data recording compatible,

wherein the mode information indicates whether the data recording compatibility is enabled, and storage capacity information.