Electronic device

• US 7,508,248 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ablic Inc. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Yoshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DINH THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/494,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 327/530, 327534-538, 327/365, 327376-378, 327/589, 327/390
• US Class Current: 327/365
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

Provided is an electronic device capable of completely interrupting a power source and an electronic circuit when the electronic circuit is not being operated, and reducing power consumed wastefully. In the electronic device including the power source, a switch, and the electronic circuit, the power source and the electronic circuit are electrically interrupted by the switch when the electronic circuit is not being operated. The electronic device further includes a power generation source for converting environmental energy into electric energy, and a switch control circuit driven by the power generation source.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a power source;

an electronic circuit for operating with power of the power source;

a switch circuit connected between the power source and the electronic circuit;

a power generation source for generating power with energy derived from external environment; and

a switch control circuit that is driven with the power of the power generation source, for controlling the switch circuit,

wherein the switch circuit is operated with power from an output terminal of the switch control circuit via a diode.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a booster circuit connected between the power generation source and the switch control circuit.

3. An electronic device according to claim 2, further comprising a detection circuit for monitoring a state of the switch circuit,and controlling an operation of the booster circuit.

4. An electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the detection circuit for detecting an ON state of the switch circuit and stopping the booster circuit.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the switch control circuit further comprises a capacitor and has a function of controlling charge/discharge of the capacitor.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the switch circuit is a latch-type switch circuit;

and

wherein the latch-type switch circuit has a control terminal connected to the output terminal of the switch control circuit ,an input and toggle terminal connected to an output terminal of the power source, and an output terminal connected to an input terminal of the electronic circuit.

7. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the switch circuit is operated with the power from the output terminal of the switch circuit via the diode.

8. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the power generation source converts the energy of any one of light, heat, motion, and an electromagnetic wave into electric energy.