Apparatus and method for changing bus line address for a detachable battery unit

• US 6,310,460 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Takagi, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/618,843
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 320/106, 702/63
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A bus line address changing apparatus for use in an electronic instrument including a plurality of battery unit attaching sections configured to accommodate a plurality of battery units respectively composed of at least one battery. A bus line receives a communication signal from at least one battery unit. A body side controller receives the communication signal from the at least one battery unit via the bus line. A bus line address storing device stores a plurality of bus addresses allocated for and corresponding to the plurality of battery unit attaching sections. In addition, a bus address selecting and setting device is provided to select and set one of bus addresses according to the battery unit attaching section when the battery unit is attached to the electronic instrument and electrically connected to the bus line.

Claims

1. A bus line address changing apparatus for use in an electronic instrument including a plurality of battery unit attaching sections configured to accommodate a plurality of battery units each respectively composed of at least one battery, comprising:

a bus line configured to receive a communication signal from at least one battery unit;

a body side controller configured to receive the communication signal from the at least one battery unit via the bus line;

a bus line address storing device configured to store a plurality of bus addresses allocated for and corresponding to the plurality of battery unit attaching sections; and

,

a bus address selecting and setting device configured to select and set one of the plurality of bus addresses according to the battery unit attaching section when the battery unit is attached and electrically connected to the bus line.

2. A bus line address changing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bus address selecting and setting device includes a detecting device provided in each battery unit and configured to detect at least one of a voltage or a current differently set in the electronic instrument corresponding to each battery attaching section, and a selecting device configured to select one of the bus addresses corresponding to the detected voltage or current.

3. A bus line address changing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of battery units includes at least first and second batteries.

4. A bus line address changing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bus address storing device is provided in each battery unit.

5. A bus line address changing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of battery units respectively includes a communication controller configured to transmit the communication signal with a selected and set bus address to the body side controller.

6. A bus line address changing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of battery units respectively includes a battery charge detecting device configured to detect a remaining battery charge, and said battery information includes the remaining battery charge.

7. An electronic instrument including a plurality of battery unit attaching sections configured to accommodate a plurality of battery units each respectively composed of at least one battery, comprising:

a bus line configured to receive a communication signal from at least one battery unit;

a body side controller configured to receive the communication signal from the at least one battery unit via the bus line; and

a bus line address changing device including a bus line address storing member configured to store a plurality of bus addresses allocated for and corresponding to the plurality of battery unit attaching sections, and including a bus address selecting and setting member configured to select and set one of the plurality of bus addresses according to the battery unit attaching section when the battery unit is attached and electrically connected to the bus line.

8. An electronic instrument according to claim 7, wherein said bus address selecting and setting device includes a detecting device provided in each battery unit and configured to detect at least one of a voltage or current differently set in the electronic instrument corresponding to each battery attaching section, and a selecting device configured to select one of the bus addresses corresponding to the detected voltage or current.

9. An electronic instrument according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of battery units include at least first and second batteries.

10. An electronic instrument according to claim 7, wherein said bus address storing device is provided in each battery unit.

11. An electronic instrument according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of battery units respectively includes a communication controller configured to transmit the communication signal with a selected and set bus address to the body side controller.

12. An electronic instrument according to claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of battery units respectively includes a battery charge detecting device configured to detect a remaining battery charge, and said battery information includes the remaining battery charge.

13. A bus line address changing method for use in an electronic instrument, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of battery unit attaching sections configured to accommodate a plurality of battery units respectively composed of at least one battery;

providing a bus line configured to receive a communication signal from at least one battery unit;

providing a body side controller configured to receive the communication signal from the at least one battery unit via the bus line;

providing a bus line address storing device configured to store a plurality of bus addresses allocated for and corresponding to the plurality of battery unit attaching sections; and

,

providing a bus address selecting and setting device configured to select and set one of the plurality of bus addresses according to the battery unit attaching section when the battery unit is attached and electrically connected to the bus line.

14. A bus line address changing method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing a detecting device in each battery unit configured to detect at least one of a voltage or a current differently set in the electronic instrument corresponding to each battery attaching section; and

providing a selecting device configured to select one of the bus addresses corresponding to the detected voltage or current.

15. A bus line address changing method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:

providing a communication controller configured to transmit the communication signal with a selected and set bus address to the body side controller in each battery unit.

16. A bus line address changing method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing a battery charge detecting device configured to detect a remaining battery charge; and

,

including the remaining battery charge in said battery information.

17. An address changing apparatus for use in an electronic instrument including a plurality of battery unit attaching sections configured to accommodate a plurality of battery units each respectively composed of at least one battery, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting a communication signal from at least one battery unit to the electronic instrument;

means for receiving the communication signal from the at least one battery unit via the transmitting means;

address storing means for storing a plurality of addresses allocated for and corresponding to the plurality of battery unit attaching sections; and

,

address selecting and setting means for selecting and setting one of the plurality of addresses according to the battery unit attaching section when the battery unit is attached and electrically connected to the transmitting means.

18. An address changing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said address selecting and setting means includes detecting means provided in each battery unit for detecting at least one of a voltage or a current differently set in the electronic instrument corresponding to each battery attaching section, and selecting means for selecting one of the bus addresses corresponding to the detected voltage or current.

19. An address changing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said address storing means are provided in each battery unit.

20. An address changing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each of said plurality of battery units respectively includes communication-controlling means for transmitting the communication signal with a selected and set address to the communication signal receiving means.

21. An address changing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said battery units respectively include battery charge detecting means for detecting a remaining battery charge, and said battery information includes the remaining battery charge.