Portable electronic device

• US 5,787,054 A
• Filed: 08/09/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group), Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Chiaki, Yasukawa, Naoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US08/694,719
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/203, 368/204, 368/276, 368/281, 368/282
• US Class Current: 368/204
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/02 Component assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data

Abstract

To achieve a multiple function portable electronic device providing improved ease of use by enabling the operation of selected functions to be sustained even while replacing the battery, switch end 190 is pushed out from battery housing hole 509 to one side by battery 59 when battery 59 is loaded, and is pushed by spring member 197 into battery housing hole 509 inside watch case 11 of the wristwatch-type pulse wave measuring device when battery 59 is removed from battery housing hole 509 after removing the battery cover. Switch end 190 thus automatically inputs the terminal voltage of a backup capacitance element from signal input terminal 510 to the IC. This causes the wristwatch-type pulse wave measuring device to switch from the normal operating mode to an energy conservation mode. Switch end 190 is a conductive plate 19 of which at least one part is a spring member with a chamfer 195 contacting side edge 591 of battery 59, and is used to establish an electrical connection between battery 59 and the capacitance element.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising a device body having a housing;

a circuit board disposed in said housing;

a main energy source housed in said housing;

an auxiliary energy source electrically connected in parallel to said main energy source;

a cover for selectively opening and closing said housing, wherein said main energy source is removable when said cover is opened;

a switching mechanism detachably coupled to said main energy source for being in a first state when said main energy source is housed in said housing and in a second state when said main energy source is absent from said housing; and

a controller for controlling said portable electronic device in accordance with one of the first and second states of said switching mechanisms

wherein said switching mechanism comprises a switch end for being in electrical connection with said auxiliary energy source,

wherein said switch end contacts an input terminal of said circuit board when the main energy source is removed from said housing to provide said input terminal a signal to said controller corresponding to a voltage of said auxiliary energy source for indicating that the main energy source is absent from said housing in the second state,

wherein said switch end is disconnected from said input terminal when the main energy source is housed in said housing in the first state,

wherein said switch end selectively connects with and disconnects from said input terminal such that the switch end is forced into said housing when said main energy source is removed from said housing, and is pushed out from said housing by said main energy source when said main battery is housed in said housing,

wherein said switch end comprises an extension of a conductive plate electrically connecting said auxiliary energy source and said main energy source housed in said housing,

wherein said extension comprises a spring member projecting into said housing,

wherein said switch end comprises a chamfer facing an opening of said housing arranged in a peripheral area of said housing,

wherein said switch end is pushed to a side from said housing by a side edge of said main energy source contacting said chamfer when said main energy source is inserted into said housing, and

wherein said switch end moves from the side into said housing to contact said input terminal when said main energy source is removed from said housing.

2. A portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said device body executes a plurality of operations, and wherein said controller comprises a mode switching means for switching from a normal operating mode to an energy conservation mode in which a portion of the plurality of operations executed by said device body are stopped when said switching mechanism determines that said main energy source is absent from said housing.

3. A portable electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a piezoelectric element for emitting an audible alarm;

step-up means for providing an appropriate voltage to said piezoelectric element; and

wherein said controller comprising a mode switching means for switching from a normal mode in which energy is supplied to said step-up means to an energy conservation mode in which energy is not supplied to said step-up means when said switching mechanism determines that said main energy source is absent from said housing.

4. A portable electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor unit having an optical emitter and a receptor for facing a finger surface;

a cable for inputting the optical detection result of said receptor from said sensor unit to said device body;

display unit;

a data processor disposed in said device body for obtaining pulse information for display on said display unit in accordance with the optical detection result of said receptor; and

wherein said controller comprises a mode switching means for switching from a normal mode in which said data processor processes the pulse information to an energy conservation mode in which said data processor does not process the pulse information, when said switching mechanism determines that said main energy source is absent from said housing.

5. A portable electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying various information;

step-up means for providing an appropriate voltage to display information on said display unit; and

wherein said controller comprising mode switching means for switching from a normal mode in which energy is supplied from said main energy source to said step-up means to an energy conservation mode in which energy is not supplied to said step-up means when said switching mechanism determines that said main energy source is absent from said housing.

6. A portable electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying various information;

voltage detection means for detecting a voltage of said main energy source housed in said housing; and

wherein said controller comprises mode switching means for switching to a mode displaying a detection result from said voltage detection means on said display after said main energy source is inserted in said housing in accordance with said switching mechanism.