Electronic apparatus, feed switch controlling method and feed switch setting method for electronic apparatus

• US 20040212345A1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Koji, Ninomiya, Ryoji, Ozeki, Akihiro, Fujimoto, Takashi, Hibi, Kenji, Kumagai, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 7,485,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007188 the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The power supply controller serves to distribute electric power to each part of the electronic apparatus for operation, and the electric power can be fed from the AC power source, the fuel cell unit and the secondary battery unit. The power supply controller transmits the data signal indicating from which of the AC power source, the fuel cell unit and the secondary battery unit, the electricity is fed, to the CPU via the built-in register. The CPU displays the use status of the AC power source, the fuel cell unit and the secondary battery unit on the LCD via the display controller.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a first battery unit having a fuel cell configured to supply power to the main body;

a second battery unit having a secondary battery configured to supply power to the main body; and

a control unit configured to determine which of the first battery unit and the second battery unit, the power should be supplied, in accordance with a condition of the main body.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops supplying the power from the first battery unit and switches to supplying the power from the second battery unit, when the second battery unit is mounted while supplying the power from the first battery unit.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops supplying the power from the second battery unit and switches to supplying the power from the first battery unit, when the first battery unit is mounted while supplying the power from the second battery unit.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first battery unit has a detachable tank which stores a fuel of the fuel cell, and

the control unit stops supplying the power from the second battery unit and switches to supplying the power from the first battery unit, when the tank is mounted in the first battery unit while supplying the power from the second battery unit.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first battery unit has a detachable tank which stores a fuel for the fuel cell, and

the control unit switches to supplying the power from the second battery unit, when the tank is removed from the first battery unit while supplying the power from the first battery unit.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display control unit configured to display which of the first battery unit and the second battery unit, the power is supplied.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display control unit displays whether or not the second battery unit is being charged by power generated by the fuel cell.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power input unit configured to input external power, and

wherein the control unit activates the electronic apparatus with the power input unit when it is possible to input the external power by the power input unit at activation of the electronic apparatus.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power input unit configured to input external power; and

a display control unit configured to display from which of the first battery unit, the second battery unit and the power input unit, the power is supplied.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the display control unit displays whether or not the second battery unit is being charged with the external power input by the power input unit.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first battery unit has a detachable tank which stores a fuel of the fuel cell, and

the display control unit displays information as to whether or not the tank is mounted, and an amount of the fuel remaining in the tank.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power input unit configured to input external power from outside, and

wherein the control unit stops supplying the power from the first battery unit or the second battery unit and switches to supplying the external power from the power input unit, when it becomes possible to input the external power by the power input unit while being supplied from the first battery unit or the second battery unit.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit configured to detect whether or not the main body is placed in a stable condition, and

the control unit causes the second battery unit to supply power to the electronic apparatus when it is detected that the main body is placed in an unstable condition.

14. A method of supply switch control for an electronic apparatus having a first battery unit equipped with a fuel cell, a second battery unit equipped with a secondary battery, and being operable on power supplied from the first battery unit or the second battery unit, comprising:

switching from which of the first battery unit and the second battery unit, the power should be supplied, in accordance with a condition.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

displaying, on a display unit equipped in the electronic apparatus, that the power is supplied from which of the first battery unit and the second battery unit.

16. A method of supply switch control for an electronic apparatus having a first battery unit equipped with a fuel cell, a second battery unit equipped with a secondary battery, and being operable on power supplied from the first battery unit or the second battery unit, comprising:

setting from which of the first battery unit and the second battery unit, the power should be supplied, for each of operation conditions of the electronic apparatus or conditions where the electronic apparatus is placed.