Patent Publication Number: US-2011057807-A1

Title: Portable device, display method, and display program

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to portable devices, display methods, and display programs. More specifically, the present invention generally relates to a portable device driven by a battery unit including a rechargeable battery which can be charged or discharged, a display method by the portable device, and a display program. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Recently, portable devices, driven by a battery unit including a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, are in the course of being spread. It is a normal practice that a monitoring IC or the like configured to monitor a state of the battery unit provided in the portable device is provided in the portable device so that safety in use of the portable device is secured. If an abnormality is generated in the battery unit, the abnormality can be detected by the monitoring IC or the like. A portable phone configured to detect an abnormality of the battery and report it is discussed in, for example, Patent Document 1. 
     [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-78250   
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems To Be Solved By The Invention 
     However, according to the above-discussed related art, only battery abnormalities due to degradation or the like of the battery are detected. Therefore, the status of a portable device main body is not connected to a timing of detection of the battery abnormality. Therefore, in a case where an impact or the like is provided to the portable device due to some reason so that the abnormality of the battery is generated due to this impact, the battery abnormality may not be immediately detected so that the battery having a problem may be continuously used. 
     MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention may provide a novel and useful portable device, display method, and display program solving one or more of the problems discussed above. 
     More specifically, the embodiments of the present invention may provide a portable device configured to immediately detect the battery abnormality when the impact is applied to the portable device main body so as to report the battery abnormality, a display method, and a display program. 
     One aspect of the present invention may be to provide a portable device driven by a battery unit including a rechargeable battery which can be charged and discharged, the portable device including an impact detecting part configured to detect an impact applied to the portable device; an abnormality determining part configured to determine whether an abnormality is generated in the battery unit based on status information indicating the status of the battery unit; and a display control part configured to control displaying by a displaying device of the portable device, wherein the abnormality determining part determines whether the abnormality is generated in the battery unit in a case where the impact is detected by the impact detecting part; and the display control part performs the displaying indicating the abnormality of the battery unit in a case where the abnormality determining part determines that the battery unit is abnormal. 
     The portable device may further include a monitoring part configured to monitor the status of the battery unit and obtain the status information of the battery unit, wherein the abnormality determining part refers to the status information obtained by the monitoring part so as to determine whether the abnormality is generated in the battery unit. 
     The monitoring part may include an electric current detecting part configured to detect an electric current flowing in the battery unit; a voltage detecting part configured to detect a voltage of the battery unit; a temperature detecting part configured to detect a temperature of the battery unit; and an internal short circuit detecting part configured to detect an internal short circuit of the battery unit. 
     The battery unit and the monitoring part may be included in a battery pack provided in the portable device. 
     Another aspect of the present invention may be to provide a display method of a portable device, the portable device being driven by a battery unit including a rechargeable battery which can be charged and discharged, the display method including an impact detecting step of detecting an impact applied to the portable device; an abnormality determining step of determining whether an abnormality is generated in the battery unit based on status information indicating the status of the battery unit; and a display control step of controlling displaying by a displaying device of the portable device, wherein, in the abnormality determining step, whether the abnormality is generated in the battery unit is determined in a case where the impact is detected in the impact detecting step; and the displaying indicating the abnormality of the battery unit is performed in the display control step in a case where it is determined that the battery unit is abnormal in the abnormality determining step. 
     Other aspect of the present invention may be to provide a display program performed in a portable device, the portable device being driven by a battery unit including a rechargeable battery which can be charged and discharged, the program making the portable device execute a method, the method including an impact detecting step of detecting an impact applied to the portable device; an abnormality determining step of determining whether an abnormality is generated in the battery unit based on status information indicating the status of the battery unit; and a display control step of controlling displaying by a displaying device of the portable device, wherein, in the abnormality determining step, whether the abnormality is generated in the battery unit is determined in a case where the impact is detected in the impact detecting step; and the displaying indicating the abnormality of the battery unit is performed in the display control step in a case where it is determined that the battery unit is abnormal in the abnormality determining step. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to immediately detect the battery abnormality when the impact is applied to the portable device main body so as to report the battery abnormality. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing an example of a hardware structure of a portable device  100  of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view for explaining a functional structure of the portable device  100  of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a view for explaining a battery pack  200  provided in the portable device  100 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing an example of a hardware structure of a monitoring IC  220 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view for explaining a functional structure of the monitoring IC  220 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart for explaining operations of the portable device  100  of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing a first example of a screen displayed by a displaying device  12  of the portable device  100 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing a second example of a screen displayed by a displaying device  12  of the portable device  100 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing a third example of a screen displayed by a displaying device  12  of the portable device  100 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     In the present invention, when an impact applied to a portable device main body is detected, information indicating a status of the battery unit is referred to. Whether an abnormality is generated in the battery unit is detected by this information. In a case where the abnormality of the battery unit is detected, a message or the like indicating the abnormality is displayed by a displaying device so that the battery abnormality is immediately detected and the battery abnormality is reported. 
     EMBODIMENTS 
     A description is given below, with reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 9 , of embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 1  is a view showing an example of a hardware structure of a portable device  100  of the embodiments of the present invention. 
     The portable device  100  includes an operating device  11 , a displaying device  12 , a drive device  13 , an auxiliary storage device  14 , a memory device  15 , a computing processing device  16 , and a communication device  17  connected to each other via a bus B. 
     The operating device  11  is configured to operate the portable device  100 . Various kinds of signals are input so that the portable device  100  is operated. More specifically, the operating device  11  has operations buttons or the like such as an electric power key or ten keys. The displaying device  12  is, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like. A guide screen whereby operations of the portable device  100  are guided, a progress status of a process implemented by the portable device  100 , or the like is displayed on the displaying device  12 . By the communication device  17 , the portable device  100  can communicate with other portable devices, base stations, or the like. More specifically, the communication device  17  performs a process or the like for transmitting or receiving data from, for example, an antenna provided at the portable device  100 . 
     The display program of the embodiments of the present invention is at least a part of various programs whereby the portable device  100  is controlled. The display program is provided by, for example, distribution of a recording medium  18  where the display program is stored or receipt of the display program via the communication device  17 . The recording medium  18 , such as a memory card, where the display program is recorded is readable by the portable device  100 . 
     In addition, if the recording medium  18  where the display program is recorded is set in the drive device  13 , the display program is installed from the recording medium  18  into the auxiliary storage device  14  via the drive device  13 . The display program received by the communication device  17  is installed into the auxiliary storage device  14 . 
     In addition to the installed display program, necessary files, data or the like are stored in the auxiliary storage device  14 . The memory device  15  reads out and loads the display program from the auxiliary storage device  14  at the time of starting the portable device  100 . In addition, the computing process device  16  realizes various kinds of processes discussed below by using the display program loaded in the memory device  15 . 
     Next, a functional structure of the portable device  100  of the embodiment is discussed with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a view for explaining the functional structure of the portable device  100  of the present invention. 
     A battery pack  200  is mounted in the portable device  100  of the embodiment. Electric power is supplied from a battery unit  210  of the battery pack  200  so that the portable device  100  is operated. Details of the battery pack  200  are discussed below. 
     The portable device  100  of the embodiment includes an impact detecting part  110 , a status information referring part  120 , an abnormality determining part  130 , and a display control part  140 . In the portable device  100 , when the impact is detected by the impact detecting part  110 , status information of the battery unit  210  obtained by a monitoring IC  220  in the battery pack  200  is referred to by the status information referring part  120 . In addition, the abnormality determining part  130  determines whether an abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  based on the received information status. In a case where it is determined that an abnormality is generated, the display control part  140  makes the displaying device  12  display information about the generation of the abnormality. 
     Details of a function of each of parts of the portable device  100  are discussed next. 
     The impact detecting part  110  of the embodiment includes an acceleration detecting part  111 , a moving distance measuring part  112 , and an image determining part  113 . 
     The acceleration detecting part  111  is configured to detect acceleration, for example, when the portable device  100  moves. In addition, the acceleration detecting part  111  is configured to detect impacts applied to the portable device  100 , for example, when the portable device  100  falls. The acceleration detecting part  111  of the embodiment determines that an impact is applied to the portable device  100  in a case where a detected acceleration is equal to or greater than a designated value or in a case where impact is detected when the portable device  100  falls. 
     The moving distance measuring part  112  is configured to measure a moving distance and a moving time of the portable device  100  by, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) function and others provided in the portable device  100 . The acceleration detecting part  111  of the embodiment determines that an impact is applied to the portable device  100 , for example, in a case where the moving distance at the designated moving time of the portable device  100  measured by the moving distance measuring part  112  is equal to or greater than a designated value. 
     The image determining part  113  is configured to make an imaging means such as a camera provided in the portable device  100  always work so that images are taken, and to measure the moving distance of the portable device  100  based on the taken images. The impact detecting part  110  of the embodiment determines that an impact is applied to the portable device  100 , for example, in a case where it is determined by the image determining part  113  that the images taken show movement of a distance equal to or greater than a designated distance for a time equal to or greater than a designated time. 
     The impact detecting part  110  of the embodiment may detect the impact applied to the portable device  100  by using any of the above-mentioned acceleration detecting part  111 , moving distance measuring part  112 , and image determining part  113 . In this case, it may be determined that the impact is applied to the portable device  100  when the impact is detected by all of the above-mentioned acceleration detecting part  111 , moving distance measuring part  112 , and image determining part  113 . It may be determined that the impact is applied to the portable device  100  when the impact is detected by one of the above-mentioned acceleration detecting part  111 , moving distance measuring part  112 , and image determining part  113 . 
     The impact detecting part  110  of the embodiment may include one or two among the acceleration detecting part  111 , the moving distance measuring part  112 , and the image determining part  113 . The impact detecting part  110  of the embodiment may detect that the impact is applied to the portable device  100 . 
     The status information referring part  120  is configured to refer to status information of the, battery unit  210  obtained by the monitoring IC  220  of the battery pack  200 . The status information in this embodiment is, for example, information indicating a voltage of the battery unit  210 , information indicating an electric current of the battery unit  210 , information indicating a resistance value of the battery unit  210 , information indicating a temperature of the battery unit  210 , information indicating whether an internal short circuit of the battery unit  210  is detected, or the like. Details of obtaining of the status information of the battery unit  210  by the monitoring IC  220  are discussed below. 
     The abnormality determining part  130  is configured to determine whether an abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  based on the status information referred to by the status information referring part  120 . 
     More specifically, the abnormality determining part  130  determines that the abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  in a case where, for example, the voltage, the electric current, the resistance value, or the temperature of the battery unit  210  included in the referred to status information is out of the designated range having been set in advance. In addition, the abnormality determining part  130  determines that the abnormality is generated in a case where the internal short circuit of the battery unit  210  is detected. 
     The display control part  140  is configured to control displaying by the displaying device  12 . The display control part  140  of this embodiment makes the displaying device  12  display a message indicating generation of the abnormality, a message encouraging exchange of the battery pack  200 , or the like, for example, when the abnormality determining part  130  determines that the abnormality is generated. 
     Here, before operations of the portable device  100  of this embodiment are discussed, the battery pack  200  provided in the portable device  100  is discussed. 
       FIG. 3  is a view for explaining the battery pack  200  provided in the portable device  100 . The battery pack  200  includes the battery unit  210  where plural rechargeable batteries (secondary batteries)  211 , such as lithium-ion batteries, are connected. Although the rechargeable batteries  211  are connected in series to the battery unit  210  in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this structure. 
     The battery pack  200  includes the monitoring IC  220 , and a protecting IC  230  provided between a cathode terminal  212  and an anode terminal  213  and the battery unit  210 . The cathode terminal  212  and the anode terminal  213  are configured to connect the portable device  100  where the battery pack  200  is provided. 
     The monitoring IC  220  is configured to monitor the status of the battery unit  210  and obtain the status information of the battery unit  210 . In addition, when receiving the referred to information of the status information from the portable device  100 , the monitoring IC  220  provides the obtained status information to the portable device  100 . 
     The monitoring IC  220  includes an electric power source terminal VDD, a standard electric potential terminal VSS, a voltage detecting terminal VBAT 1 , a pair of electric current detecting terminals VRSP and VRSM, and a communication terminal SIO. The monitoring IC  220  receives, via the electric power source terminal VDD, a voltage regulated from the battery voltage at the protecting IC  230 . The standard electric potential terminal VSS is connected to an anode of the battery unit  210 . 
     The monitoring IC  220  can detect an output voltage of the battery unit  210  via the voltage detecting terminal VBAT 1  connected to the cathode of the battery unit  210 . The electric current detecting terminal VRSM is connected to the anode of the rechargeable battery  211  and connected to the electric current detecting terminal VRSP via a resistor R 11  at an outside of the monitoring IC  220 . 
     The monitoring IC  220  is configured to detect charge or discharge electric current, namely an electric current flowing through the external resistor R 11  via the electric current detecting terminals VRSP and VRSM. In addition, the monitoring IC  220  of this embodiment is configured to detect an internal short circuit of the battery unit  210 . The communication terminal SIO is connected to an external connection  214  used for communicating with the portable device  100 . The monitoring IC  220  of this embodiment is configured to communicate with the portable device  100  via the communication terminal SIO and the protecting IC  230 . Details of the monitoring IC  220  are discussed below. 
     The protecting IC  230  is configured to protect the battery pack  200  from excessive charge and excessive discharge. The protecting IC  230  includes terminals DOUT and COUT connected to gates of MOS transistors M 11  and M 22  configured to block charge and discharge of the battery pack  200 . When the excessive discharge or an excessive electrical current is detected, the protecting IC  230  blocks the MOS transistor M 11  by making the DOUT output be at a low level. When the excessive charge is detected by an excessive charge detecting circuit, the protecting IC  230  blocks the MOS transistor M 12  by making the COUT output be at a low level. 
     Next, details of the monitoring IC  220  are discussed with reference to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 4  is a view showing an example of a hardware structure of the monitoring IC  220 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the monitoring IC  220  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  221 , a sensor part  222 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  223 , an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM)  224 , and a serial interface (I/F)  225 . 
     The CPU  221  is configured to control each of the parts of the monitoring IC  220 . The sensor part  222  is configured to detect a voltage, an electric current, and a temperature of the battery unit  210 . In the ROM  223 , a program configured to be implemented so that the CPU  221  controls the parts of the monitoring IC  220  is stored. In the EEPROM  224 , information is stored, such as parameters of the voltage, the electric current, and the temperature of the battery unit  210  detected by the sensor part  222 . The serial I/F  225  is configured to communicate with the portable device  100  via the communication terminal SIO. The CPU  221 , the sensor part  222 , the ROM  223 , the EEPROM  224 , and the serial I/F  225  are connected to each other by a bus  226  so that data and a program can be exchanged among them. 
     In addition, the sensor part  222  includes a temperature sensor circuit  222   a,  a voltage sensor circuit  222   b,  an electric current sensor circuit  222   c,  a multiplexer  222   d,  and an analog-digital (A/D) converting circuit  222   e.    
     The temperature sensor circuit  222   a  is configured to detect a temperature of the battery unit  210 . The voltage sensor circuit  222   b  is configured to detect an output voltage of the battery unit  210  via the voltage detecting terminal VABT 1  connected to the battery unit  210 . The electric current circuit  222   c  is configured to detect an electric current flowing through the external resistor R 11 , namely a charge or discharge electric current of the battery unit  210 , via the electric current detection terminals VRSP and VRSM. The outputs of the temperature sensor circuit  222   a,  the voltage sensor circuit  222   b,  and the electric current circuit  222   c  are connected to the multiplexer  222   d  and are output as a single signal by the multiplexer  222   d.  The A/D converting circuit  222   e  is configured to convert the signal output by the multiplexer  222   d  from analog to digital. 
       FIG. 5  is a view for explaining a functional structure of the monitoring IC  220 . In this embodiment, the functional structure of the monitoring IC  220  illustrated in  FIG. 5  is realized by a specific program stored in the ROM  223  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The monitoring IC includes an electric current value obtaining part  231 , a voltage value obtaining part  232 , a timer part  233 , a short circuit detecting part  234 , a storage control part  235 , and a communicating part  236 . 
     The electric current value obtaining part  231  is configured to obtain an electric current value detected by the electric current circuit  222   c.  The voltage value obtaining part  232  is configured to obtain a voltage value detected by the voltage sensor circuit  222   b.  The timer part  223  is configured to detect time by a timer function installed in the monitoring IC  220 . 
     The short circuit detecting part  234  is configured to detect an internal short circuit in the battery unit  210  by the electric current value obtained by the electric current value obtaining part  231 , the voltage value obtained by the voltage value obtaining part  232 , and the timer function by the timer part  233 . More specifically, in a case where the electric current value obtained by the electric current value obtaining part  231  is equal to or smaller than a designated value, the short circuit detecting part  234  stores the voltage value obtained by the voltage value obtaining part  232  by the storage control part  235 . After a designated time passes in the state where the electric current value is equal to or smaller than the designated value, the voltage is obtained again by the voltage value obtaining part  232 . In a case where a difference between the obtained voltage value and the stored voltage value is equal to or greater than a designated value, the internal short circuit is detected. 
     The storage control part  235  is configured to store a parameter (status information), such as the electric current value obtained by the electric current value obtaining part  231  or the voltage value obtained by the voltage value obtaining part  232 , in, for example, the EEPROM  224  or the like. The communicating part  236  is configured to communicate with the portable device  100  where the battery pack  200  is installed. 
     Next, operations of the portable device  100  of this embodiment are discussed.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the portable device  100  of this embodiment. 
     In the portable device  100 , if impact applied to the portable device  100  is detected by the impact detecting part  110  in step S 61 , a process goes to step S 62 . The impact applied to the portable device  100  is, for example, impact at the time when the portable device  100  falls or impact when the portable device  100  hits an obstacle. In step S 62 , the display control part  140  makes the displaying device  12  display that the impact is detected. 
     Examples of a screen displayed by the displaying device  12  of the portable device  100  are illustrated in  FIG. 7  through  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 7  is a view showing a first example of a screen displayed by the displaying device  12  of the portable device  100 . In step S 62 , the display control part  140  makes the displaying device  12  display, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a message indicating that the impact is detected. In addition, the display control part  140  may make the displaying device  12  display that an abnormality determination, where whether the abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  is determined, is started. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 6 , the process goes to step S 63  after step S 62  so that the status information referring part  120  in the portable device  100  refers to the status information of the battery pack  200 . More specifically, the status information referring part  120  refers to the status information stored in the EEPROM  224  or the like of the monitoring IC  220  in the battery pack  200 . 
     The process goes to step S 64  after step S 63 . The abnormality determining part  130  determines whether abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  based on the referred to status information. More specifically, the abnormality determining part  130  determines that the abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  if the voltage value, the electric current value or the temperature of the battery unit  210  included in the referred to status information is out of the designated preset range. 
     In this embodiment, for example, items of the status information referred to by the status information referring part  120  may be preset. In this case, the abnormality determining part  130  determines whether the status information of the items are out of the designated range. More specifically, for example, if the status information referred to by the status information referring part  120  is set as the voltage value of the battery unit  210 , the abnormality determining part  130  determines that the abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  when the voltage value of the battery unit  210  is out of the designated range. 
     In this embodiment, for example, if all of the items of the status information referred to by the status information referring part  120  are out of the designated range, the abnormality determining part  130  may determine that the abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210 . For example, in a case where the status information referred to by the status information referring part  120  is the voltage value, the electric current value and the temperature of the battery unit  210 , the abnormality determining part  130  may determine that the abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  when the voltage value, the electric current value and the temperature of the battery unit  210  are out of the designated ranges. 
     In the portable device  100  of this embodiment, information regarding a designated range is stored in, for example, the auxiliary storage device  14 . The designated range here means a range of the voltage value, a range of the electric current value, or a range of the temperature whereby the status of the battery unit  210  is determined as normal. 
     The status information of this embodiment includes information indicating whether an internal short circuit of the battery unit  210  is detected. In the battery pack  200  of this embodiment, when the short circuit detecting part  234  detects the internal short circuit of the battery unit  210  by the monitoring IC  220 , the storage control part  235  stores the information indicating the detection of the internal short circuit of the battery unit  210  in the EEPROM  224  or the like. 
     The abnormality determining part  130  determines that the abnormality is generated in the battery unit  210  even in a case where the information indicating the detection of the internal short circuit of the battery unit  210  is included in the status information referred to by the status information referring part  120 . 
     If it is determined that the abnormality is detected in the battery unit  210  in step S 64 , the process goes to step S 65 . In step S 65 , the display control part  140  makes the displaying device  12  display that the abnormality is detected in the battery unit  210 . The process goes to step S 66  after step S 65 , so that the display control part  140  further makes the displaying device  12  display a screen encouraging the exchange of the battery pack  200 . 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing a second example of a screen displayed by the displaying device  12  of the portable device  100 . An example of a screen indicating abnormality is detected at the battery unit  210  is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The display control part  140  makes, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the displaying device  12  display a message where the abnormality is detected at the battery unit  210 .  FIG. 9  is a view showing a third example of a screen displayed by the displaying device  12  of the portable device  100 . An example of a screen encouraging exchange of the battery pack  200  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The display control part  140  makes, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the displaying device  12  display a message encouraging exchange of the battery pack  200 . 
     In this embodiment, as discussed above, when the impact is applied to the portable device  100 , the abnormality of the battery unit  210  can be immediately detected and reported to the user or the like. Accordingly, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a state where the battery unit  210  having a problem is continuously used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent generation of an accident, due to continuous use of the battery having a problem, in advance. Hence, it is possible to improve safety in the use of the portable device  100 . 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority or inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is applicable to a portable device driven by a battery unit including a rechargeable battery which can be charged or discharged, a display method by the portable device, and a display program. 
     This International Patent Application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-184228 filed on Jul. 15, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           12  displaying device 
           100  portable device 
           110  impact detecting part 
           120  status information referring part 
           130  abnormality determining part 
           140  display control part 
           200  battery pack 
           210  battery unit 
           220  monitoring IC