Abstract:
A battery comprising a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator; wherein, the battery management information is at least either available device information on a device which can use the battery or chargeable charger information on a charger which can charge the battery.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
   The present application claims priority upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-313723 filed on Oct. 29, 2002, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
   NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
   A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a battery, a device, and a charger. 
   2. Description Of Related Art 
   Devices, such as electronic devices, household electrical appliances, and small machine tools including power tools, can contain batteries (battery packs) for supplying operating power to device bodies. In such a device, a mechanism for detecting the voltage of a battery to notify a user of battery management information including the residual capacity, life, or the like of the battery is incorporated. Moreover, a charger also utilizes the voltage of a battery as the battery management information when the charger charges the battery. Such battery management information can be obtained from a charge/discharge management device mainly constituted by a microcomputer incorporated in a battery (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2000-350371 ( FIG. 9 )). 
   However, as described in the aforementioned related art, for acquiring the battery management information, the microcomputer is incorporated in the battery (battery pack). Therefore, this becomes an obstacle to miniaturization and price reduction of the battery. 
   On the other hand, charge/discharge characteristics and capacities of batteries differ depending on a manufacturer even if the batteries are of the same standard, and differ depending on lots even if the batteries have been fabricated by the same manufacturer, and therefore have minute individual variations due to slight non-uniformity in manufacturing even if the batteries are from the same lot. Moreover, even if batteries have the same shape, they may be batteries of different types (e.g., a nicad battery and a nickel metal hydride battery). Furthermore, batteries of a pirated copy, which are not authorized products of manufacturers, can be on the market. In addition, charge/discharge characteristics and capacities of batteries change depending on the time length from shipment until the batteries are actually used and the condition of storage section. Further, the charge/discharge characteristics and capacities of the batteries change during the repetition of charge and discharge after the batteries have actually started being used. 
   As described above, when batteries having different charge/discharge characteristics and capacities are loaded into a device or a charger to be discharged or charged, it is not at all sufficient to capture only voltages of the batteries as battery management information to be used on the device or charger side. 
   Specifically, devices and chargers are required to be precisely adjusted for discharge or charge operations in order to make the most of the performance of batteries. In addition, there are cases where desirable batteries for devices and chargers are assumed in advance, and therefore it is also necessary to detect the case where unexpected batteries have been loaded. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One aspect of the present invention is a battery comprising a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator; wherein, the battery management information is at least either available device information on a device which can use the battery or chargeable charger information on a charger which can charge the battery. 
   Another aspect of the present invention is a battery comprising a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator; wherein, the battery management information is at least either discharged device history information on a device into which the battery has discharged or charger history information on a charger which has charged the battery. 
   Yet another aspect of the present invention is a battery comprising a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator; wherein, the battery management information is at least either battery identification information which a device inherently gives to the battery used by the device or battery identification information which a charger inherently gives to the battery charged by the charger. 
   Further aspect of the present invention is a device into which a battery discharges, the battery having a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator, wherein discharged device history information on the device into which the battery has discharged is supplied as the battery management information to the battery via the communicator. 
   Further aspect of the present invention is a device into which a battery discharges, the battery having a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator, wherein the device supplies battery identification information inherent to the battery as the battery management information to the battery via the communicator. 
   Further aspect of the present invention is a charger for charging a battery having a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator, wherein charger history information on the charger which has charged the battery is supplied as the battery management information to the battery via the communicator. 
   Further aspect of the present invention is a charger for charging a battery having a storage section for storing battery management information transmitted/received to/from outside through a communicator, wherein the charger supplies battery identification information inherent to the battery as the battery management information to the battery via the communicator. 
   Features and objects of the present invention other than the above will become clear by reading the description of the present specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram showing a battery and a device (main set) or a charger according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a circuit block diagram of the battery and the device (main set) or the charger according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing a table of battery management data according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   At least the following matters will be made clear by the description in the present specification and the description of the accompanying drawings. 
   In a battery according to the present embodiment, the following can be adopted. 
   The discharged device history information is supplied from the device in which the battery discharges through the communication section. 
   Moreover, the charger history information is supplied from the charger which charges the battery through the communication section. 
   Basic Configuration 
   A conceptual diagram of a battery (pack), a device, and a charger according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . A battery  100  has a simple configuration in which no microcomputer is incorporated and which has a communication function and a memory. On the other hand, each of a device  200  and a charger  300  has a microcomputer  400  incorporated therein. The microcomputer  400  transmits/receives data relating to battery management information (hereinafter referred to as “battery management data”) to/from the memory  130  on the battery  100  side. The microcomputer  400  controls the operation of charge or discharge based on the battery management data received from the battery  100  side. On the other hand, the battery  100  stores the battery management data received from the microcomputer  400  side into a memory. Moreover, by electrically connecting mutual plus terminals (“+” in this drawing) and mutual minus terminals (“−”in this drawing) of the battery  100 , the device  200 , and the charger  300 , a charge/discharge path is thereby established. 
   A circuit block diagram of a concrete example of the battery  100 , the device  200 , and the charger  300  having the microcomputer  400  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The battery  100  includes a communication control circuit  110  and a serial-parallel converter  120  (“S/P” in this drawing) as a communication section. Further, the battery  100  includes the memory  130  as a storage section for the battery management data. Between the memory  130  and the communication control circuit  110 , an address decoder  140  (“AD” in this drawing) and a register  150  are provided. 
   On the other hand, as is well known, the microcomputer  400  of the device  200  and the charger  300  includes a CPU  410 , a serial-parallel converter  420  (“S/P” in this drawing), a memory  430 , and the like. The battery management data is stored in the memory  430 . Moreover, the serial-parallel converter  120  on the battery  100  side and the serial-parallel converter  420  on the device  200  and charger  300  side are connected through a serial bus  500 . 
   In the above-described configuration, the battery management data is transmitted/received between the memory  130  on the battery  100  side and the memory  430  of the device  200  or the charger  300 . The microcomputer  400  stores the battery management data received from the battery  100  side in the memory  430 , and controls the operation of charge or discharge based on this battery management data as well. On the other hand, the battery  100  stores the battery management data received from the microcomputer  400  side into the memory  130 . 
   The battery management data includes information relating to the history of charge and discharge for a plurality of times in the past. Specifically, the information is on the time and voltage at the start of each charge or discharge and the time and voltage at the end thereof. The battery management data further includes various types of information other than the information relating to the history of charge and discharge. Examples based on the contents of the battery management data will be described. 
   Information on Available Device or Charger 
   At the time of shipment from a manufacturer, the battery management data stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100  includes information (hereinafter referred to as “available device information”) for identifying a device  200  which can use the battery. That is, as shown in a table of the battery management data of  FIG. 3 , data relating to the available device information is stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100 . Moreover, as shown in the table (at the bottom two rows) of the battery management data of  FIG. 3 , the battery management data also includes data relating to charge characteristics and discharge characteristics of the battery in addition to data relating to the available device information. 
   When the battery  100  is actually loaded into a device  200 , the device  200  reads the data relating to the available device information and the discharge characteristic data from the memory  130  of the battery  100 . The device  200  checks whether the read data relating to the available device information corresponds to the device itself or not. That is, the microcomputer  400  of the device  200  reads its own device ID stored in its own memory  430 , and checks whether the device ID matches the data relating to the available device information on the battery  100  side or not. If the result of the check shows that the data matches, the battery  100  is enabled to be used in the device  200 . On the contrary, if the data does not match, the battery  100  is disabled for use in the device  200 . Moreover, the device  200  can precisely adjust the discharge of the battery based on the acquired discharge characteristic data. 
   In addition, at the time of shipment from the manufacturer, the battery management data stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100  includes information (hereinafter referred to as “chargeable charger information”) for identifying the charger  300  which can charge the battery. That is, as shown in the table (at the bottom two rows) of the battery management data of  FIG. 3 , data relating to the chargeable charger information is stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100 . 
   Then, when the battery  100  is actually loaded into a charger  300 , the charger  300  reads the data relating to the chargeable charger information and the charge characteristic data from the memory  130  of the battery  100  as described earlier. The charger  300  checks whether the read data relating to the chargeable charger information corresponds to the charger itself or not. That is, the microcomputer  400  of the charger  300  reads its own charger ID stored in its own memory  430 , and checks whether the charger ID matches the data relating to the chargeable charger information on the battery  100  side or not. If the result of the check shows that the data matches, the battery  100  is enabled to be used in the charger  300 . On the contrary, if the data does not match, the battery  100  is disabled for use in the charger  300 . Moreover, the charger  300  can precisely adjust the charge of the battery based on the acquired charge characteristic data. Note that the chargeable charger information may be an ID merely identifying the type of the battery. 
   According to the present example, the battery management data relating to an available device and a chargeable charger is stored on the battery side. This makes it possible to identify an available device and a chargeable charger for each battery. 
   Concerning the charge/discharge characteristics and capacities of batteries, even if the batteries are of the same shape but of different types or even if differences arise depending on a manufacturer, lots, or manufacturing variability, the charge/discharge characteristics and capacity inherent to the loaded battery can be presumed by checking the correspondence with the battery management data. Accordingly, the discharge and charge of the battery can be accurately adjusted. 
   Furthermore, for a battery of a pirated version, which is not an authorized product, discharge can be made impossible in a device and charge can be also inhibited by checking the matching of the battery management data. 
   History Information on Used Device or Charger 
   First, when the battery  100  is loaded into a device  200  and used, the device  200  transmits (supplies) the battery management data to the battery  100 . The battery management data is data relating to history information (discharged device history information) on devices into which the battery  100  has been loaded and has discharged, and is stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100 . To cite an example of the battery management data of the discharged device history information, as shown in the table (at the top three rows) of the battery management data of  FIG. 3 , a serial number is used as data capable of identifying each device  200 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the battery management data includes data indicating the date and time of discharge and the state of discharge as discharge information, in addition to the serial number of device  200 . Every time the battery  100  is loaded and discharges into a device  200 , the battery management data is stored and accumulated in the memory  130 . 
   When the battery  100  is loaded anew into a device  200 , the device  200  reads the battery management data of the discharged device history information from the memory  130  of the battery  100 . Based on the battery management data, the device  200  acquires history information as to what devices  200  the battery  100  was used by in the past. Based on the history information, the device  200  judges whether the device  200  will actually use the battery  100  as a power source for operation or not, and controls discharge. 
   Meanwhile, when the battery  100  is loaded into a charger  300  and charged, the charger  300  transmits (supplies) the battery management data to the battery  100 . The battery management data is data relating to history information (charger history information) on chargers  300  into which the battery  100  has been loaded and from which the battery  100  has been charged, and is stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100 . To cite an example of the battery management data of the charger history information, as shown in the table (at the top three rows) of the battery management data of  FIG. 3 , a serial number is used as data capable of identifying each charger  300 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the battery management data includes data indicating the date and time of charge and the state of charge as charge information, in addition to the serial numbers of chargers  300 . Every time the battery  100  is loaded into a charger  300  and charged, the battery management data is stored and accumulated in the memory  130 . 
   When the battery  100  is loaded anew into a charger  300 , the charger  300  reads the battery management data of the charger history information from the memory  130  of the battery  100 . Based on the battery management data, the charger  300  acquires history information on what chargers  300  the battery  100  was used by in the past. Based on the history information, the charger  300  determines whether the charger  300  actually charges the battery  100  or not, and controls charge. 
   According to the present example, history information relating to devices into which a battery was discharged in the past and history information relating to chargers from which the battery was charged in the past are stored in the battery side. This enables devices and chargers to acquire past history information relating to the battery. 
   Therefore, even if the charge/discharge characteristics and capacity of a battery change during the repetition of charge and discharge after the battery has actually started being used, the devices and the chargers can precisely adjust the discharge and charge of the battery based on the history information. Moreover, the devices and the chargers also can enable or disable charge and discharge based on the acquired history information. 
   Identification Information Inherent to Battery Given by Device or Charger 
   First, when the battery  100  is loaded into a device  200  and used, the device  200  transmits (supplies) the battery management data to the battery  100 . The battery management data is data relating to battery identification information which is inherently given to the battery  100  used by the device  200 , and is stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100 . To cite an example of the battery management data of the battery identification information, as shown in the table (at the top three rows) of the battery management data of  FIG. 3 , the serial number of the device  200  into which the battery is loaded and an arbitrary number (“N” in this drawing) are used as data capable of identifying each battery  100 . The battery management data includes data indicating the date and time of discharge and the state of discharge. Every time the battery  100  is loaded and discharges into a device  200 , the battery management data is stored and accumulated in the memory  130 . 
   When the battery  100  is loaded anew into a device  200 , the device  200  reads the battery management data of the battery identification information from the memory  130  of the battery  100 . Based on the battery management data, the device  200  can distinguish whether the device  200  has used the battery  100  in the past or not. In addition, the device  200  can acquire history information as to what other devices  200  used the battery  100  in the past. Based on the battery identification information, the device  200  judges whether the device  200  will actually use the battery  100  as a power source for operation or not, and controls discharge. 
   Meanwhile, when the battery  100  is loaded into a charger  300  and charged, the charger  300  transmits (supplies) the battery management data to the battery  100 . The battery management data is data relating to battery identification information which is inherently given to the battery  100  used by the charger  300 , and is stored in the memory  130  of the battery  100 . To cite an example of the battery management data of the battery identification information, as shown in the table (at the top three rows) of the battery management data of  FIG. 3 , the serial number of the charger  300  into which the battery is loaded and an arbitrary number (“N” in this drawing) are used as data capable of identifying each battery  100 . The battery management data includes data indicating the date and time of charge and the state of charge. Every time the battery  100  is loaded into a charger  300  and charged, the battery management data is stored and accumulated in the memory  130 . 
   When the battery  100  is loaded anew into a charger  300 , the charger  300  reads the battery management data of battery identification information from the memory  130  of the battery  100 . Based on the battery management data, the charger  300  can distinguish whether the charger  300  has used the battery  100  in the past or not. In addition, the charger  300  can acquire history information on what other chargers  300  the battery  100  has been charged by in the past. Based on the battery identification information, the charger  300  judges whether the charger  300  will actually charge the battery  100  or not, and controls charge. 
   According to the present example, identification information which a device inherently gives to a battery used by the device and identification information which a charger inherently gives to the battery charged by the charger are stored on the battery side. Based on the identification information, devices and chargers can acquire past history information of charge and discharge inherent to the loaded battery. Accordingly, the devices and the chargers can more precisely adjust the discharge and charge of the battery. Moreover, the devices and the chargers also can enable or disable charge and discharge based on the acquired history information. 
   OTHER EXAMPLES 
   Devices within the scope of the present invention are not limited to electronic devices but may include ones in which a battery of the present invention can be used, such as machine tools including power tools, home electric appliances, and the like. 
   Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from spirit and scope of the inventions as defined by the appended claims. 
   According to the present invention, miniaturization and price reduction of a battery can be achieved. Moreover, an available device and a chargeable charger can be identified for each battery. Furthermore, the discharge and charge of a battery can be precisely adjusted.