Battery capacity display device and camera

• US 8,040,430 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Ogawa, Hidehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEBRIEL, SELAM T
• Application Number:
  US10/890,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20050013604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,651 Days
• Field of Search: 348/208.15, 348/211.13, 348/333.02, 348/333.04, 348/372, 348/331.13, 348/231.3, 320/132, 320/149, 320/106, 320/112, 320/136, 320/134, 345/211
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC

Abstract

A battery capacity display device for an electronic apparatus, includes: a nonvolatile storage unit that stores information related to a remaining capacity in a rechargeable battery output from a battery module having the rechargeable battery and an arithmetic operation unit that calculates the information related to the remaining capacity in the rechargeable battery based upon a value of an electrical current flowing to the rechargeable battery; a display unit that displays the remaining capacity in the rechargeable battery based upon the information related to the remaining capacity; and a display control unit that controls the display unit so as to display the remaining capacity based upon the information related to the remaining capacity stored at the storage unit at least until the information related to the remaining capacity is output from the battery module following a startup of the electronic apparatus.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus to which a battery module is detachable, power being supplied from the battery module to the electronic apparatus while the battery module is installed in the electronic apparatus, the battery module having a rechargeable battery and an arithmetic operation unit that calculates information related to a remaining capacity in the rechargeable battery based on a value of an electrical current flowing to the rechargeable battery, the electronic apparatus comprising:

a connection unit that is configured to connect the battery module and receive the information related to the remaining capacity in the rechargeable battery;

a control unit that receives the information related to the remaining capacity in the rechargeable battery output from the battery module via the connection unit;

a nonvolatile storage unit that is provided in the electronic apparatus in which the battery module is installed, the nonvolatile storage unit storing the information related to the remaining capacity received by the control unit, and holding latest information related to the remaining capacity, which has been stored right before a power supply stops, even after the power supply stops;

a display unit that displays the remaining capacity in the rechargeable battery based upon the information related to the remaining capacity; and

a display control unit that controls the display unit so as to display the remaining capacity, in a normal remaining capacity display mode, based upon the latest information related to the remaining capacity stored at the nonvolatile storage unit at least until the information related to the remaining capacity is output from the battery module following a startup of the electronic apparatus, and controls the display unit so as to perform a display in a display mode that is different from the normal remaining capacity display mode if the battery module is replaced with another battery module.

2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the information related to the remaining capacity includes the remaining capacity itself or a discharged capacity in the rechargeable battery.

3. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the battery module outputs the latest information related to the remaining capacity over a predetermined time interval; and

the display unit displays the remaining capacity in the rechargeable battery based upon the latest information related to the remaining capacity.

4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the startup includes a startup effected in an operation OFF state and a startup effected in a power saving operation state.

5. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the display control unit controls the display unit to perform a display different from a display of the remaining capacity when the electronic apparatus having been operating on a current supplied from an external source is switched to operate on a current supplied from the battery module, at least until the information related to the remaining capacity is output from the battery module following the switch-over.

6. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photographing unit that allows a new photographing operation at least until the information related to the remaining capacity is output from the battery module following the startup.

7. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photographing unit that disallows a new photographing operation at least until the information related to the remaining capacity is output from the battery module following the startup.

8. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the display mode of the display control unit that is different from the normal remaining capacity mode is a display mode that causes the display unit to perform a flashing display.