Charging system

Abstract

To provide a configuration capable of executing power supply suitable for charging of a capacitor in a portable terminal without causing restriction by power supply capability of an external power supply.SOLUTION: A charging device 60, used to charge a portable terminal 10 using electric power from an external power supply of a personal computer 2 or the like, includes a secondary sell 82 and a power transmission coil 83 and a power supply control section 81 for executing controlling charging of the secondary cell 82 using electric power from the external power supply and controlling charging of a capacitor 52 in the portable terminal 10 through the power transmission coil 83 using electric power from the secondary cell 82.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system that charges a mobile terminal with a charging device using power from an external power source. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, portable terminals such as portable code readers and portable tag readers are designed for users to carry and use in various locations. Therefore, they house a rechargeable secondary battery in a housing and use the power supplied from the secondary battery to drive various components within the device. Such portable terminals require charging at regular intervals, and a common configuration is to place the terminal on a stationary charging stand or the like to charge the battery when the power runs low. For example, the portable terminal disclosed in Patent Document 1 listed below is configured to charge its battery when placed on a cradle (charging stand) that functions as an external power supply device. In this portable terminal, the full charge voltage value is set to a first voltage value if the non-charging time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, and the full charge voltage value is set to a second voltage value lower than the first voltage value if the non-charging time is shorter than the predetermined time. By appropriately setting the full charge voltage value according to the charging status, deterioration of battery performance is suppressed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-068607 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a charging system using a charging device, capacitors such as electric double layer capacitors (supercapacitors) can be used as the power storage device for mobile devices to shorten the charging time of the mobile devices. Electric double layer capacitors and the like are superior in terms of rapid charging compared to secondary batteries such as lithium ion batteries, so the shorter charging time allows the mobile device to quickly return to an operational state.

[0005] Incidentally, charging devices may receive power for charging mobile devices from a commercial power source or from a personal computer or the like via a USB interface. In such a configuration where the charging device receives power from a limited power source such as a personal computer, the charging device is more susceptible to power limitations, such as current limitations, compared to a configuration where the charging device receives power from a single power source such as a commercial power source. For example, when the personal computer or the like, which serves as the external power source, transitions to standby mode (such as sleep), the current limitations may become even stricter, potentially cutting off the power supply to the charging device. Therefore, in a configuration where the charging device receives power from a limited power source, even if a capacitor excels in rapid charging, depending on the condition of the limited power source, it may not be possible to stably secure power for charging the capacitor, thereby preventing the capacitor's advantages from being fully utilized.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a configuration that can supply power suitable for charging a capacitor in a mobile terminal without being limited by the power supply capacity of an external power source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 of the claims is as follows: A mobile device, a charging device that wirelessly charges the mobile terminal placed in a chargeable state; A charging system comprising: a plurality of information codes each having predetermined information to be instructed to the charging device recorded thereon in an optically readable manner are prepared for each of the predetermined information; The mobile terminal a reading unit that reads the predetermined information from the captured information code; a generating unit that generates an instruction pattern according to the predetermined information read by the reading unit; a power receiving unit capable of receiving power by wireless power transmission; a terminal side detection unit capable of detecting the placement state; a terminal-side control unit that controls the power receiving unit; Equipped with when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placement state, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit with a power transmission request pattern that requests power transmission when the instruction pattern has not been generated by the generation unit, and controls the power receiving unit with the instruction pattern when the instruction pattern has been generated by the generation unit; The charging device is a power transmission unit capable of transmitting power wirelessly; an apparatus-side detector capable of detecting the placement state; an analysis unit that analyzes a pattern received from the power receiving unit via the power transmitting unit when the device-side detection unit detects the placement state; an apparatus-side control unit that performs control in accordance with the analysis result by the analysis unit; Equipped with The device-side control unit controls the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit when the power transmission request pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit, and performs control according to the instruction pattern when the instruction pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Claim 12 In the invention, a charging device that charges a mobile terminal using power from an external power source is provided with an apparatus-side power storage device, a power supply unit for supplying power between the apparatus and the mobile terminal, and an apparatus-side control unit that controls charging of the apparatus-side power storage device using power from the external power source and controlling charging of a capacitor of the mobile terminal via the power supply unit using power from the apparatus-side power storage device.

[0009] As a result, even if the above-mentioned limitations arise because the external power source is a finite power source such as a personal computer, the apparatus-side control unit can charge the capacitor of the portable terminal with power from the apparatus-side power storage device that has been charged in advance using the external power source. In particular, because power supply using the apparatus-side power storage device is not limited by the power supply capacity of the external power source, power supply suitable for charging the capacitor of the portable terminal can be implemented.

[0013] Claim 13In the present invention, the charging device includes a communication control unit that relays communication between the mobile terminal and the host device, thereby enabling communication between the mobile terminal and the host device via the charging device regarding data, setting information, etc. acquired by the mobile terminal.

[0014] Claim 14 As in the invention of the third aspect, the communication control unit may also relay communication between the higher-level device and another charging device or a mobile terminal that is not placed on the charging device.

[0015] Claim 15 In this invention, the charging device communicates wirelessly with at least one of the mobile terminal and the host device, which eliminates the need for contact points for communication, thereby reducing contact failures and improving the device's waterproofing and ease of cleaning.

[0018] Claim 16 In the invention, the portable terminal is a portable information reading terminal capable of reading at least one of information recorded in an information code and information recorded in a wireless tag. In this way, even a portable information reading terminal capable of reading information recorded in an information code and information recorded in a wireless tag can supply power suitable for charging the capacitor.

[0019] Claim 1 In the invention, in the portable terminal, when the terminal-side detection unit detects a placed state, if the generation unit has not generated an instruction pattern, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit with a power transmission request pattern that requests power transmission, and if the generation unit has generated an instruction pattern in accordance with predetermined information read by the reading unit, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit with the instruction pattern. Then, in the charging device, if the analysis unit analyzes the power transmission request pattern, the device-side control unit controls the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit, and if the analysis unit analyzes the instruction pattern, the device-side control unit performs control in accordance with the instruction pattern.

[0020] Typically, when changing the settings of a charging device, such as a cradle that charges a placed mobile terminal, a user operates a key or the like to switch the charging device to setup mode, and then receives setting change data from a host device, such as a personal computer. Therefore, the charging device requires an operating means for switching modes and a means for communicating with the host device. However, because the operating procedure for changing the settings of a charging device differs from the normal operation of a mobile terminal and is performed less frequently, a setting change manual and the installation of a dedicated application program on the host device are required, resulting in a problem of not being able to change the settings easily.

[0021] Therefore, during wireless power transmission, the portable terminal uses the power receiving unit to transmit an instruction pattern including setting changes, etc., to the charging device via the power transmitting unit, using a transmission path for the power transmission request pattern that the portable terminal requests from the charging device. Furthermore, the portable terminal transmits an instruction pattern generated according to predetermined information read from the information code to the charging device as described above. That is, when the portable terminal is placed in a state where an instruction pattern has not been generated, the portable terminal transmits the power transmission request pattern, and when an instruction pattern has been generated, the portable terminal transmits the instruction pattern. In response to this, the charging device receives (analyzes) the power transmission request pattern to control the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit, while receiving (analyzes) the instruction pattern to perform control according to the instruction pattern. This allows instructions such as setting changes to be given to the charging device without instructions from a higher-level device, etc. In particular, simply placing the portable terminal, from which the information code containing the information to be instructed has been read, on the charging device makes it easy to instruct the charging device to change settings, etc.

[0022] Claim 2 As in the invention of the present invention, a pattern for changing the settings of the charging device may be adopted as at least a part of the instruction pattern generated by the generation unit.

[0024] Claim 3In the invention, the portable terminal is provided with a terminal-side wireless communication unit controlled by a terminal-side control unit when communicating wirelessly with the charging device, and the charging device is provided with an apparatus-side wireless communication unit controlled by the apparatus-side control unit when communicating wirelessly with the portable terminal. In the portable terminal, when the terminal-side detection unit detects a placed state and a reconnection instruction pattern for reconnecting after disconnecting the wireless connection has been generated by the generation unit, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the reconnection instruction pattern and controls the terminal-side wireless communication unit to reconnect after disconnecting the wireless connection. In the charging device, when the analysis unit analyzes the reconnection instruction pattern, the apparatus-side control unit controls the apparatus-side wireless communication unit to reconnect after disconnecting the wireless connection.

[0025] Typically, once a mobile terminal and a charging device are wirelessly connected, the wireless connection is maintained unless the mobile terminal is separated from the charging device or an operation to disconnect the wireless connection is performed. Therefore, when the mobile terminal is placed on a different charging device than the previous time, the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the previous charging device is maintained, and the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the charging device may be lost. In such cases, an inexperienced user may not be able to determine at a glance that the wireless connection between the charging device and the mobile terminal is lost, and therefore may not understand why data on the mobile terminal is not being transmitted via the charging device, resulting in a problem of difficulty in reconnecting the wireless connection.

[0026] For this reason, a reconnection instruction pattern for reconnecting after disconnecting the wireless connection is prepared as an instruction pattern generated by reading the information code. When the reconnection instruction pattern is generated in the portable terminal, the power receiving unit is controlled using the reconnection instruction pattern, and the terminal-side wireless communication unit is controlled to reconnect after disconnecting the wireless connection. In response to this, when the reconnection instruction pattern is received (analyzed), the charging device controls the device-side wireless communication unit to reconnect after disconnecting the wireless connection. This allows the reconnection process to be performed simply by placing the portable terminal, for which the information code for the reconnection instruction pattern has been read, on the charging device, without having to check the connection or perform reconnection operations on both the portable terminal and the charging device.

[0027] Claim 4 In the invention, the predetermined information corresponding to the reconnection instruction pattern includes device identification information that identifies the charging device. Then, in the mobile terminal, when the reading unit reads the predetermined information, if the device identification information is included in the predetermined information and the terminal-side determination unit determines that the charging device identified from the device identification information is in a first match state that matches the charging device wirelessly connected by the terminal-side wireless communication unit, the generation unit does not generate the reconnection instruction pattern.

[0028] As a result, when a portable terminal is placed on a charging device that is already wirelessly connected, the first matching state is not determined and a reconnection instruction pattern is not generated, thereby eliminating unnecessary reconnection processing.

[0029] Claim 5 In the invention, the terminal-side control unit controls the terminal-side wireless communication unit to set the charging device identified from the device identification information read from the information code as the reconnection destination, thereby ensuring wireless connection to the charging device with which the user desires wireless connection.

[0032] Claim 6In the invention, the portable terminal includes a terminal-side wireless communication unit controlled by a terminal-side control unit when communicating wirelessly with the charging device, and the charging device includes a device-side wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with a predetermined number of portable terminals and controlled by the device-side control unit when communicating wirelessly with the portable terminals. In the portable terminal, when the terminal-side detection unit detects a placed state and an additional connection instruction pattern for adding a wireless connection is generated by the generation unit, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the additional connection instruction pattern and controls the terminal-side wireless communication unit to establish a wireless connection. In the charging device, when the analysis unit analyzes the additional connection instruction pattern and the charging device is not communicating wirelessly with any portable terminal or is currently connected wirelessly with fewer than the predetermined number of portable terminals, the device-side control unit controls the device-side wireless communication unit to add a wireless connection target, and when the charging device is currently connected wirelessly with the predetermined number of portable terminals, the device-side control unit controls the device-side wireless communication unit not to add a wireless connection target.

[0033] Claim 3 In a configuration in which control is performed to reconnect after disconnecting a wireless connection as in the invention of the present invention, when a mobile terminal that has read an information code for a reconnection instruction pattern is placed on a charging device that can wirelessly communicate with multiple mobile terminals, the wireless connection with other mobile terminals that are wirelessly connected to the charging device will also be disconnected at a timing unintended by the user. On the other hand, the number of mobile terminals that can be wirelessly connected to one charging device is limited, and when many mobile terminals are wirelessly connected to one charging device, there is a problem that the wireless communication quality of each mobile terminal will deteriorate due to resource issues with the charging device.

[0034] For this reason, an additional connection instruction pattern for adding a wireless connection is prepared as an instruction pattern generated by reading the information code. When the additional connection instruction pattern is generated in the portable terminal, the power receiving unit is controlled by the additional connection instruction pattern, and the terminal-side wireless communication unit is controlled to establish a wireless connection. In response to this, when the additional connection instruction pattern is received (analyzed) in the charging device, if the charging device is not in wireless communication with any portable terminal or is wirelessly connected with fewer than a predetermined number of portable terminals, the charging device's wireless communication unit is controlled to add a wireless connection target. As a result, if the charging device has ample resources (a charging device with fewer than the predetermined number of wirelessly connected portable terminals), the additional connection process can be performed simply by placing the portable terminal, for which the information code for the additional connection instruction pattern has been read, on the charging device, without having to check the connection or perform an additional connection operation on both the portable terminal and the charging device.

[0035] Claim 7 In the invention, when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placed state of the portable terminal, if the generation unit has generated a function restriction instruction pattern for restricting predetermined terminal functions of the portable terminal and predetermined device functions of the charging device, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the function restriction instruction pattern and restricts the predetermined terminal functions. In the charging device, if the analysis unit analyzes the function restriction instruction pattern, the device-side control unit restricts the predetermined device functions.

[0036] This makes it possible to restrict specific terminal functions of the mobile terminal and specific device functions of the charging device by simply placing a mobile terminal that has had the information code for the function restriction instruction pattern read on the charging device, without using a setting tool or the like provided in an external device for function restriction.

[0037] Claim 8In the invention, in the portable terminal, when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placed state and the generation unit generates a function restriction instruction pattern while the predetermined terminal function is restricted, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the function restriction instruction pattern and releases the restriction on the predetermined terminal function. In the charging device, when the analysis unit analyzes the function restriction instruction pattern while the predetermined device function is restricted, the device-side control unit releases the restriction on the predetermined device function.

[0038] This allows the restriction on the specified terminal functions of the mobile terminal and the restriction on the specified device functions of the charging device to be released by simply placing the mobile terminal, which has had the information code for the function restriction instruction pattern used during the function restriction read, on the charging device.

[0041] Claim 9 In the invention, the portable terminal includes a terminal-side storage unit that stores one or more captured images captured by the imaging unit at predetermined timing as work history images. When the terminal-side detection unit detects a placed state of the portable terminal, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using a power transmission request pattern if the work history image is not stored in the terminal-side storage unit, and controls the power receiving unit using an image transmission notification pattern if the work history image is stored in the terminal-side storage unit. After that, the work history image is deleted from the terminal-side storage unit upon completion of transmission of the work history image using the terminal-side wireless communication unit. In the charging device, when the analysis unit analyzes the power transmission request pattern, the device-side control unit controls the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit, and when the analysis unit analyzes the image transmission notification pattern, the device-side control unit performs processing to store the work history image received from the portable terminal in the device-side storage unit using the device-side wireless communication unit.

[0042] As a result, even if you realize that you have lost your mobile device after performing the reading operation to read the information code, the work history images captured at predetermined times during the reading operation are stored in the charging device. Therefore, if you lose your mobile device, you can easily determine where you used the mobile device by obtaining and checking the work history images related to the mobile device from the charging device, which can provide clues for finding the lost mobile device.

[0043] Claim 10 As in the invention, the predetermined timing may be set to one or more times based on the time when the decoding unit has successfully decoded the data.

[0044] Claim 11 In the invention, the portable terminal includes a terminal-side storage unit that stores the code type of an information code successfully decoded by the decoding unit as work history information. When the terminal-side detection unit detects a placed state of the portable terminal, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using a power transmission request pattern if the work history information is not stored in the terminal-side storage unit, and controls the power receiving unit using an information transmission notification pattern if the work history information is stored in the terminal-side storage unit. After that, the work history information is deleted from the terminal-side storage unit upon completion of transmission of the work history information using the terminal-side wireless communication unit. When the analysis unit analyzes the power transmission request pattern, the device-side control unit controls the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit. When the analysis unit analyzes the information transmission notification pattern, the device-side control unit performs processing to store the work history information received from the portable terminal in the device-side storage unit using the device-side wireless communication unit.

[0045] As a result, even if a user realizes that the portable terminal has been lost after performing a reading operation to read an information code, the code types of the information codes that were successfully decoded during the reading operation are stored in the charging device as work history information. Therefore, if the portable terminal is lost, the user can easily determine which code type was read by obtaining and checking the work history information related to the portable terminal from the charging device. Since the code type and the work to read the information code are usually linked, the user can easily determine which work was performed from the code type, which is the work history information, and thus obtain clues to find the lost portable terminal.

[0048] Claim 17 In the invention, the mobile terminal includes a load that operates by receiving power supply, a power supply control unit that receives power supply from a charging device and charges a capacitor and supplies power to the load, a first measurement unit that measures a value related to the power consumption consumed by the load, and a second measurement unit that measures a value related to the power supply supplied from the charging device.The power supply control unit controls to reduce the charging power to the capacitor when the measurement value of the first measurement unit is in a predetermined increasing state or when the measurement value of the second measurement unit is in a predetermined decreasing state, and controls to increase the charging power to the capacitor toward a predetermined upper limit value when the measurement value of the first measurement unit has not reached the predetermined increasing state and the measurement value of the second measurement unit has exceeded the predetermined decreasing state.

[0049] As a result, even if fluctuations in the power supplied from the charging device due to the device-side power storage device or fluctuations in the load of the mobile terminal itself occur, the charging power to the capacitor can be appropriately adjusted to ensure system stability. In particular, when the value related to power consumption measured by the first measurement unit has not reached the predetermined increase state and the value related to supplied power measured by the second measurement unit has exceeded the predetermined decrease state, that is, when there is surplus power, the capacitor can be charged so as to utilize the surplus power without waste, thereby minimizing the charging time of the capacitor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0050] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a charging system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the mobile terminal of FIG. 1 is placed on a charging device so as to be chargeable. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view of the mobile terminal of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of the mobile terminal of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the mobile terminal of FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic example of the electrical configuration of the mobile terminal of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the detection unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram illustrating the state of the operation surface when no reading start operation has been performed, and FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram illustrating the state of the operation surface when reading start operation has been performed. [Figure 10] 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic example of the electrical configuration of the charging device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic example of an electrical configuration related to charging of a charging system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 12] 12A and 12B are explanatory diagrams illustrating the charging control of the power supply control unit according to the first embodiment, where FIG. 12A shows the control when the mobile terminal is not placed on the charging device so as to be charged, and FIG. 12B shows the control when the mobile terminal is placed on the charging device so as to be charged. [Figure 13] 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams illustrating charging control of a power supply control unit according to a modified example of the first embodiment, where FIG. 13A shows control when a portable terminal is not placed on a charging device so as to be charged, and FIG. 13B shows control when a portable terminal is placed on a charging device so as to be charged. [Figure 14]14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams illustrating charging control of a power supply control unit according to a second embodiment, in which FIG. 14A shows control when a portable terminal is not placed on a charging device so as to be charged, and FIG. 14B shows control when a portable terminal is placed on a charging device so as to be charged. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a main part of a charging system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 16] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a charging process performed in a mobile terminal in the third embodiment. [Figure 17] Figure 17(A) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the state in which the capacitor of the mobile terminal is charged by power supplied from the charging device, and Figure 17(B) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the state in which the capacitor of the mobile terminal is charged by power generated by the power generation unit. [Figure 18] Figure 18(A) is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the secondary battery of the charging device is charged by surplus power from the power generation unit, and Figure 18(B) is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the supply of surplus power is stopped because the voltage of the secondary battery has exceeded a predetermined voltage. [Figure 19] 10 is a timing chart illustrating an example of time variations in a generated voltage, a capacitor voltage, and a secondary battery voltage in a charging process performed in a mobile terminal. [Figure 20] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a main part of a charging system according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21(A) is an explanatory diagram illustrating an instruction pattern for instructing a change to a power saving mode, FIG. 21(B) is an explanatory diagram illustrating an instruction pattern for instructing a change to a maintenance mode, and FIG. 21(C) is an explanatory diagram illustrating an instruction pattern for instructing a change to a normal operation mode. [Figure 22] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 23] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by a charging device in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 24]FIG. 24(A) is an explanatory diagram illustrating an instruction pattern for instructing a change to the setup mode in a modified example of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 24(B) is an explanatory diagram illustrating an instruction pattern for instructing parameter values ​​to be changed in the setup mode. [Figure 25] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in a modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 26] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by a charging device in a modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 27] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 28] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by a charging device in a modified example of the fifth embodiment. [Figure 29] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in the sixth embodiment. [Figure 30] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by a charging device in a sixth embodiment. [Figure 31] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a main part of a charging system according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 32] Figure 32(A) is an explanatory diagram that schematically explains the state in which the supply power supplied from the charging device is distributed to the load and the capacitor, Figure 32(B) is an explanatory diagram that schematically explains the state in which the supply power has increased compared to Figure 32(A), and Figure 32(C) is an explanatory diagram that schematically explains the state in which the supply power has decreased compared to Figure 32(A). [Figure 33] Figure 33(A) is an explanatory diagram that schematically explains the state in which the supply power from the charging device is distributed to the load and the capacitor, Figure 33(B) is an explanatory diagram that schematically explains the state in which the load has increased compared to Figure 33(A), and Figure 33(C) is an explanatory diagram that schematically explains the state in which the load has decreased compared to Figure 33(A). [Figure 34]13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a power supply control process performed in a mobile terminal in the seventh embodiment. [Figure 35] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in the eighth embodiment. [Figure 36] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by the charging device in the eighth embodiment. [Figure 37] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal when restricting functions in the ninth embodiment. [Figure 38] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by the charging device when restricting functions in the ninth embodiment. [Figure 39] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal when function restrictions are released in the ninth embodiment. [Figure 40] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by the charging device when function restrictions are released in the ninth embodiment. [Figure 41] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal when function restrictions are released in a modified example of the ninth embodiment. [Figure 42] 13 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by the charging device when function restrictions are released in a modified example of the ninth embodiment. [Figure 43] FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic example of the electrical configuration of a charging device according to a tenth embodiment. [Figure 44] 23 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in the tenth embodiment. [Figure 45] 23 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in the tenth embodiment. [Figure 46] 22 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by the charging device in the tenth embodiment. [Figure 47] 23 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern transmission process performed by a mobile terminal in a first modified example of the tenth embodiment. [Figure 48] 23 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of a pattern reception process performed by a charging device in a first modified example of the tenth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of a charging system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The charging system 1 according to this embodiment includes a mobile terminal 10 that requires charging and a charging device 60 that charges the mobile terminal 10 using power from an external power source, and is configured as a system in which charging begins when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In particular, in this embodiment, a portable personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as PC 2), which is a limited power source, is used as one of the external power sources that supplies power to the charging device 60.

[0052] First, the configuration of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. The mobile terminal 10 according to this embodiment is configured as a mobile information reading device that optically reads optical information such as an information code (for example, a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark)).

[0053] 3 to 6, housing 11 constituting the outer shell of mobile terminal 10 is configured to form a storage space for accommodating various electronic components by assembling upper case 20 in which reading opening 21 is formed and lower case 30 in which grip portion 31 to be gripped by a user is formed. Upper case 20 is provided with guide 22 that extends in the direction in which reading opening 21 faces (hereinafter also referred to as forward or forward direction) to make it easier to orient reading opening 21 toward the information code. The top surface of guide 22 is approximately parallel to the combined surface of upper case 20 and lower case 30.

[0054] The lower case 30 is formed so that an assembly part 32, which is assembled to the lower part of the upper case 20 such as the guide 22, and a grip part 31, which constitutes the part of the lower case 30 below the assembly part 32, are integral with each other. The grip part 31 is formed so that there are no grooves or the like on its outer surface, so that it can be easily wiped and disinfected, and the connecting part with the assembly part 32 is also formed so that it is smoothly curved.

[0055] The guide 22 of the upper case 20 and the portion of the lower case 30 that extends forward of the mounting portion 32 form the extension portion 12. The extension portion 12 is a portion that extends in a generally thin plate shape in the direction in which the reading port 21 faces from between the lower edge of the reading port 21 on the grip portion side and the grip portion 31, and a power receiving coil 53 for wireless power transmission is disposed inside the extension portion 12.

[0056] The grip portion 31 is provided with an operation pedestal 33 that smoothly protrudes forward at a position below the guide 22 and that can be touched by fingers while gripping the grip portion 31. The operation pedestal 33 is configured so that the flat surface located at the front functions as an operation surface 34 that distorts when pressed to start a reading process for reading an information code (hereinafter also referred to as a reading start operation). Specifically, the operation pedestal 33 is formed so that the thickness (wall thickness) t of the lower case 30 at the portion that constitutes the operation surface 34 is thinner than the thickness of the lower case 30 at the other portions, in order to make the operation surface 34 more easily distort. For example, when the thickness of the lower case 30 at the other portions is formed to be approximately 1.5 to 2 mm, the thickness t of the lower case 30 at the portion that constitutes the operation surface 34 is formed to be approximately 0.7 to 1.5 mm.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 7 , the mobile terminal 10 includes a control unit 41 including a CPU and the like, a storage unit 42 including a ROM, RAM, non-volatile memory, and the like, an imaging unit 43 configured as a camera equipped with a light-receiving sensor (e.g., a C-MOS area sensor, a CCD area sensor, etc.), an illumination unit 44 that irradiates illumination light toward the imaging field of the imaging unit 43, an operation detection unit 45 that detects a reading start operation on the operation surface 34, a placement detection unit 46 that functions as a terminal-side detection unit that detects a placement state in which the terminal is placed on the charging device 60 so that it can be charged, and a communication unit 47 configured as a communication interface for wireless communication with the personal computer 2 via the charging device 60 or directly with the personal computer 2. At least some of these various electronic components are housed in a housing space formed by the upper case 20 and the lower case 30 of the housing 11. For example, the imaging unit 43 and the illumination unit 44 are housed in the upper case 20 so that the imaging range of the imaging unit 43 is the area forward through the reading port 21, and the illumination unit 44 irradiates illumination light toward the imaging field of view through the reading port 21.

[0058] 8, the operation detection unit 45 is a piezoelectric sensor (piezoelectric element sensor) for detecting distortion occurring on the operation surface 34, and is arranged in a state supported (clamped) by the support plate 35 at a position on the inner surface side of the gripping unit 31 with respect to the operation surface 34. The operation detection unit 45 is configured to output a predetermined operation detection signal to the control unit 41 when the distortion of the operation surface 34 reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, indicating that a reading start operation has been performed.

[0059] 9(A), for example, when the operation surface 34 is not distorted and the distortion detected by the operation detection unit 45 is less than a predetermined value, it is determined that a reading start operation has not been performed on the operation surface 34, and the operation detection signal is not output to the control unit 41. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9(B), when the operation surface 34 is distorted by a predetermined amount or more and the distortion detected by the operation detection unit 45 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it is determined that a reading start operation (see arrow F in FIG. 9(B)) has been performed on the operation surface 34, and the operation detection signal is output to the control unit 41. Note that, for convenience, components housed on the inner surface side of the grip unit 31, except for the operation detection unit 45, are not shown in FIGS. 9(A) and 9(B).

[0060] The control unit 41 is configured to start a reading process using the image of the information code C (see FIG. 7) captured by the imaging unit 43 upon receiving the detection signal from the operation detection unit 45, and to decode the data (predetermined information) recorded in the information code C in this reading process using a predetermined decoding method. The reading results obtained in this reading process are wirelessly transmitted to a higher-level terminal or the like via the communication unit 47 at a predetermined timing. The control unit 41, together with the imaging unit 43, can be an example of a "reading unit" that optically reads predetermined information from the information code.

[0061] Furthermore, a power supply control unit 51 and a capacitor 52 are provided within the housing 11. The power supply control unit 51 has the function of controlling the power supply from the capacitor 52 to each component of the mobile terminal 10 and controlling charging by electromagnetic induction. Under the control of the control unit 41, when an electromotive force is generated in the power receiving coil 53 due to power transmitted from the charging device 60, the power supply control unit 51 performs rectification, smoothing, etc., and supplies power to the capacitor 52, thereby charging the capacitor 52. The capacitor 52 is, for example, an electric double layer capacitor (supercapacitor), which is an electricity storage device that excels in rapid charging of secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries. The power receiving coil 53 is disposed within the extension portion 12 so as to be adjacent to and face a power transmitting coil 83 (described later) of the charging device 60 when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60 via the extension portion 12.

[0062] Next, the configuration of the charging device 60 will be described with reference to the drawings. The charging device 60 according to this embodiment is a stationary charging stand capable of charging a placed mobile terminal 10 using power supplied from an external power source, including not only a single power source such as a commercial power source but also a limited power source such as the above-mentioned personal computer 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the charging device 60 has a housing 61 that forms an outer shell, and a holding section 62 for holding the extension section 12 of the mobile terminal 10 provided on the top of the housing 61, and is configured to charge the placed mobile terminal 10 so that the extension section 12 is held by this holding section 62.

[0063] 10, charging device 60 includes a control unit 71 including a CPU, memory, etc. capable of controlling the entire charging device 60, an operation unit 72, a placement detection unit 73, a communication unit 74, a power supply control unit 81, a secondary battery 82, and a power transmission coil 83. The operation unit 72 has operation buttons, etc., and is configured to provide operation signals to control unit 71 in response to operations of the operation buttons, etc., and control unit 71 performs an operation in response to the operation signals received. The placement detection unit 73 is configured to function as a device-side detection unit that detects a placement state in which mobile terminal 10 is placed so as to be chargeable when held by holding unit 62.

[0064] The communication unit 74 is configured as an interface for wireless or wired data communication with external devices such as the personal computer 2 and the mobile terminal 10, and is configured to perform communication processing in cooperation with the control unit 71. In particular, in this embodiment, the communication unit 74 functions to relay communication between the mobile terminal 10 and the personal computer 2 by being controlled by the control unit 71. More specifically, the communication unit 74 functions to relay communication between the mobile terminal 10, which is connected wirelessly via Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, and the personal computer 2, which is connected via USB. The communication unit 74 and the control unit 71 may correspond to an example of a "communication control unit" that relays communication between the mobile terminal 10 and a higher-level device such as the personal computer 2.

[0065] The power supply control unit 81 is configured to be controlled by the control unit 71 to perform control of charging the secondary battery 82 using power supplied from an external power source, and control of charging the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 using power from the secondary battery 82. In particular, in this embodiment, the power supply control unit 81 functions to switch between control of charging the secondary battery 82 using power supplied from a commercial power source or the like, and control of charging the secondary battery 82 using power supplied from the personal computer 2 or the like via a USB interface, depending on the connection status with the external power source, etc. The power supply control unit 81 can be an example of a "device-side control unit."

[0066] The secondary battery 82 functions as an apparatus-side power storage device, and is, for example, a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery, and is housed within the housing 61 so that the power supply control unit 81 manages the charging state and the like.

[0067] When an AC voltage is supplied to the power transmitting coil 83 in accordance with the control of the power supply control unit 81, the power transmitting coil 83 functions to transmit power to the mobile terminal 10 via the power receiving coil 53 using electromagnetic induction. The power transmitting coil 83 is disposed on the inner surface side of the charging surface 62a that constitutes the bottom surface of the holding unit 62, in order to be adjacent to and facing the power receiving coil 53 in the extension unit 12 held by the holding unit 62. The power transmitting coil 83 can be an example of a "power supply unit" for supplying power to the mobile terminal 10.

[0068] Next, a charging configuration characteristic of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. For example, assume that charging device 60 is connected to PC 2 via a USB interface so that it can supply power. In this connection, if the power supplied via the USB interface is 2.5 W, and charging device 60 is configured to simply supply power from PC 2 directly to mobile terminal 10, even if mobile terminal 10 can receive 5 W, it cannot supply power exceeding 2.5 W. This poses a problem in that the characteristics of capacitor 52, which can be rapidly charged, cannot be fully utilized. Furthermore, for example, if PC 2 transitions to a standby mode or the like, the power supply limit (current limit) becomes even stricter, and there is a risk that the power supply to charging device 60 will be cut off.

[0069] Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to eliminate limitations on charging of the mobile terminal 10 due to the power supply capacity of the external power source, etc., the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 is charged using the power of the secondary battery 82 of the charging device 60, which has been charged in advance using an external power source such as a personal computer 2, as shown in Figure 11.

[0070] Hereinafter, the process performed by the power supply control unit 81 when charging the capacitor 52 using the power of the secondary battery 82 in the case where the personal computer 2 is used as an external power supply will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0071] When the mobile terminal 10 is not placed on the charging device 60 so as to be chargeable (i.e., when there is no load), the power supply control unit 81 controls the charging circuit 81a to charge the secondary battery 82 using the power supplied from the personal computer 2, as shown in Fig. 12(A). The charging circuit 81a is controlled to charge the secondary battery 82 to full charge or to a predetermined charge amount according to a voltage suitable for the secondary battery 82 to be supplied with power.

[0072] 12B , when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60 so as to be chargeable, the power supply control unit 81 controls charging of the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 using both power controlled by the protection circuit 81b using the personal computer 2 as the power supply source and power whose voltage is adjusted by the voltage adjustment circuit 81c using the secondary battery 82 as the power supply source. Each of the protection circuit 81b and the voltage adjustment circuit 81c is provided with a diode for preventing backflow, and the protection circuit 81b and the voltage adjustment circuit 81c are controlled by the control unit 71 so that the combined power of the power from the protection circuit 81b and the power from the voltage adjustment circuit 81c becomes a set power. For example, when the mobile terminal 10 is to be charged at 5 W, the protection circuit 81b and the voltage adjustment circuit 81c are controlled by the control unit 71 so that the combined power becomes 5 W.

[0073] In this way, the power supply control unit 81 is provided with a power combining circuit with backflow prevention, which is made up of a protection circuit 81b and the like for power limitations of the external power supply, thereby suppressing power consumption in the secondary battery 82 and supplying power suitable for charging the mobile terminal 10. Therefore, for example, even if the power supply capacity of the external power is 1 W, the mobile terminal 10 can be quickly charged at 5 W in 3 minutes using power that has been charged in the secondary battery 82 over 15 minutes.

[0074] As described above, in the charging system 1 according to this embodiment, the charging device 60 that charges the mobile terminal 10 using power from an external power source such as a personal computer 2 is provided with a secondary battery 82, a power transmission coil 83, and a power supply control unit 81 that controls charging of the secondary battery 82 using power from the external power source and charging of the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83 using power from the secondary battery 82.

[0075] As a result, even if the above-mentioned restrictions arise because the external power source is a finite power source such as the personal computer 2, the power source control unit 81 can charge the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 with the power of the secondary battery 82 that has been charged in advance using the external power source. In particular, since the power supply using the secondary battery 82 is not limited by the power supply capacity of the external power source, it is possible to implement power supply suitable for charging the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10.

[0076] In particular, the power supply control unit 81 controls the charging of the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83 using both the power from the secondary battery 82 and the power from the external power supply. In this way, by using the power from the external power supply in combination, it is possible to suppress consumption of the secondary battery 82.

[0077] As a modification of this embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the protection circuit 81b may be eliminated, and power from an external power source may be supplied to the mobile terminal 10 via a voltage adjustment circuit 81c. Specifically, when the mobile terminal 10 is not placed on the charging device 60 so as to be chargeable, the power supply control unit 81 controls the charging circuit 81a to charge the secondary battery 82 using power supplied from the personal computer 2, as shown in FIG. 13A. Then, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60 so as to be chargeable, the power supply control unit 81 controls the charging of the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83, with the voltage adjustment circuit 81c adjusting the power supplied from the personal computer 2 and the power supplied from the secondary battery 82, as shown in FIG. 13B. This configuration also allows for power supply suitable for charging the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 while suppressing power consumption of the secondary battery 82.

[0078] In this embodiment, the communication unit 74 and the control unit 71 of the charging device 60 function as a communication control unit that relays communication between the mobile terminal 10 and a higher-level device such as the PC 2. This allows communication between the mobile terminal 10 and the higher-level device via the charging device 60 regarding data, setting information, etc. acquired by the mobile terminal 10.

[0079] Note that the communication unit 74 and the control unit 71 may also relay communication between other charging devices or other mobile terminals that are not placed on them and a higher-level device, taking advantage of the fact that they can communicate with each other in a mesh pattern. That is, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60 that is communicatively connected to the PC 2, the charging device 60 may relay communication between the other charging device and the PC 2, or may relay communication between the PC 2 and other mobile terminals different from the mobile terminal 10.

[0080] In this embodiment, the charging device 60 communicates wirelessly with the mobile terminal 10 using Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication. This eliminates the need for contact points for communication, thereby not only preventing poor contact and the like, but also improving the waterproofing and ease of cleaning of the device. The charging device 60 may also communicate wirelessly using other wireless communication methods, such as a method of superimposing communication by modulating power transmission with the mobile terminal 10. Similarly, the charging device 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with a higher-level device such as the personal computer 2.

[0081] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the charging device 60 supplies power wirelessly to the mobile terminal 10 using the power transmitting coil 83 and the power receiving coil 53. This eliminates contact points during charging, which not only prevents poor contact, but also improves the waterproofness and ease of cleaning of the device. The charging device 60 may also be configured to supply power wirelessly between the charging device 60 and at least one of the mobile terminal 10 and an external power source. This configuration not only prevents poor contact during charging, but also improves the waterproofness and ease of cleaning of the device.

[0082] [Second embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in that the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 is charged using only power from the secondary battery 82. Therefore, components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B), in this embodiment, a power supply control unit 81 performs control to charge a capacitor 52 of a mobile terminal 10 via a power transmission coil 83 using only power from a secondary battery 82.

[0084] Specifically, when the mobile terminal 10 is not placed on the charging device 60 in a manner that allows it to be charged, the power supply control unit 81 controls the charging circuit 81a to charge the secondary battery 82 using the power supplied from the personal computer 2, as shown in Figure 14(A).

[0085] 14(B), the power supply control unit 81 stops charging the secondary battery 82, and controls the charging of the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83 while adjusting the power supplied from the secondary battery 82 by the voltage adjustment circuit 81c. That is, the power supply control unit 81 charges the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 using only the power from the secondary battery 82.

[0086] As described above, in the charging system 1 according to this embodiment, the power supply control unit 81 controls charging of the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83 using only the power from the secondary battery 82. As a result, even if an external power supply such as the personal computer 2 stops supplying power due to sleep or the like, charging of the capacitor 52 of the mobile terminal 10 can be continued using the power from the secondary battery 82. Furthermore, in this state where charging continues, the charging device 60 can be carried and used without being connected to an external power supply. Furthermore, monitoring of the supply capacity of the external power supply, a power combining circuit, and the like can be eliminated.

[0087] In particular, when controlling charging of capacitor 52 of mobile terminal 10 via power transmission coil 83 using only power from secondary battery 82, power supply control unit 81 stops charging of secondary battery 82 using power from an external power supply. This allows input and output related to power of secondary battery 82 to be clearly separated and charging control of secondary battery 82 to be appropriately performed, thereby preventing undercharging, overcharging, and the resulting deterioration of secondary battery 82.

[0088] [Third embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in that the portable terminal includes a power generating unit capable of charging the capacitor 52. Therefore, components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0089] 15, a charging system 1a according to this embodiment employs a mobile terminal 10a instead of the mobile terminal 10 in the above-described charging system 1. The mobile terminal 10a is configured to additionally include a power generation unit 13 in addition to the mobile terminal 10.

[0090] The power generation unit 13 includes a power generation device and a power conversion circuit capable of generating power by a predetermined power generation method, and is configured so that the power generated by the power generation device can be charged into the capacitor 52 at a predetermined voltage value by the power conversion circuit controlled by the power supply control unit 51. Note that possible power generation methods for the power generation device include, for example, a solar power generation method using a solar panel, a power generation method that converts vibrations and shocks into energy, and a power generation method that generates power by manually rotating a dynamo.

[0091] In particular, in this embodiment, in the charging process performed by power supply control unit 51 of mobile terminal 10a when placed on charging device 60, when capacitor 52 is fully charged, the power supply control unit 51 performs processing to charge secondary battery 82 of charging device 60 using the surplus power. Note that power supply control unit 51, which controls charging of secondary battery 82 of charging device 60 using power from capacitor 52, can be an example of a "terminal-side control unit."

[0092] The charging process performed by the power supply control unit 51 of the mobile terminal 10a when the mobile terminal 10a is placed on the charging device 60 will be described below with reference to the drawings. When the mobile terminal 10a is placed on the charging device 60 so that it can be charged, and the charging process is started by the power supply control unit 51, first, in the determination process shown in step S101 of Fig. 16, it is determined whether or not the generated voltage Vgen by the power generation unit 13 exceeds the predetermined voltage V1. Here, if the generated voltage Vgen is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage V1 (No in S101), as described in the first embodiment and the like, the capacitor 52 is charged by the power supplied from the charging device 60 via the power receiving coil 53 (S103: see Fig. 17(A) and state A in Fig. 19).

[0093] Thereafter, when the generated voltage Vgen exceeds the predetermined voltage V1 (Yes in S101), the voltage of the capacitor 52 (hereinafter also referred to as the capacitor voltage Vcap) exceeds the predetermined voltage V2, and thus it is determined in the determination process of step S105 whether or not surplus power is being generated. Here, if the capacitor voltage Vcap is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage V2 (No in S105), surplus power is not being generated, and therefore the capacitor 52 is charged using the power generated by the power generation unit 13 (S107: see state B in FIGS. 17(B) and 19). Note that when the power supply control unit 51 charges the capacitor 52 using the power of the power generation unit 13, the power shortage may be compensated for by power supplied from the charging device 60.

[0094] Then, when it is determined that surplus power is being generated because the capacitor 52 is fully charged and the capacitor voltage Vcap has exceeded the predetermined voltage V2 (Yes in S105), a determination is made in step S109 as to whether the voltage Vbat of the secondary battery 82 has exceeded the predetermined voltage V3. The voltage Vbat of the secondary battery 82 is received from the charging device 60, and if this voltage Vbat is less than the predetermined voltage V3 (No in S109), the surplus power is supplied to the charging device 60 via the power receiving coil 53, and the secondary battery 82 of the charging device 60 is charged with this surplus power (S111: see FIGS. 18(A) and state C in FIG. 19). Note that the power supply control unit 51 may supply power to the capacitor 52 to maintain the capacitor voltage Vcap when charging the secondary battery 82 of the charging device 60 using power from the power generation unit 13.

[0095] When the supply of surplus power causes the voltage Vbat of the secondary battery 82 to exceed the predetermined voltage V3 (Yes in S109), the power supply via the power receiving coil 53 is stopped (see FIG. 18(B) and state D in FIG. 19).

[0096] As described above, in the charging system 1a according to this embodiment, the mobile terminal 10a is provided with the power generation unit 13 that charges the capacitor 52 with generated power, and the power supply control unit 51 that controls charging of the secondary battery 82 of the charging device 60 using power from the capacitor 52. This allows the mobile terminal 10a to secure power by a method other than power supply from the charging device 60, which not only contributes to power saving throughout the system but also allows it to be used when the battery runs out or in the event of a disaster. In particular, since surplus power from the mobile terminal 10a can be supplied to the charging device 60, it is possible to reserve more power than can be stored in the capacitor 52.

[0097] [Fourth embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the secondary battery of the charging device is eliminated and a setting change is instructed from the mobile terminal to the charging device using a transmission path of the power transmission request pattern to the charging device. Therefore, components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0098] Typically, when changing settings on a charging device, such as a cradle that charges a placed mobile terminal, a user operates a key to switch the charging device to setup mode, and then receives setting change data from a host device, such as a personal computer. This requires the charging device to have a mode-switching operation means and a means for communicating with the host device. However, because the operating procedure for changing settings on a charging device differs from the normal operation of a mobile terminal and is infrequent, it requires a setting change manual and the installation of a dedicated application program on the host device, making it difficult to change settings. For example, after connecting the charging device to a personal computer (dedicated personal computer) with a dedicated application program installed, operations corresponding to the settings to be changed must be performed on both the dedicated computer and the charging device, resulting in cumbersome operations. Furthermore, if a configuration requires the use of a dedicated personal computer capable of data communication with the charging device, the lack of such a dedicated personal computer makes it impossible to even issue a setting change command to the charging device.

[0099] Therefore, in the charging system 1b according to this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 20 , during wireless power transmission, the mobile terminal 10 uses the power receiving coil 53 to transmit a predetermined instruction pattern, including a setting change, to the charging device 60b via the power transmitting coil 83, using a transmission path for the power transmission request pattern that the mobile terminal 10 requests the charging device 60b. This allows the charging device 60b to be instructed to change the settings without requiring the dedicated PC described above. Note that the charging device 60b according to this embodiment is configured such that the secondary battery 82 is eliminated from the charging device 60 described above. In addition, in this embodiment, the power receiving coil 53 can correspond to an example of a "power receiving unit," and the power transmitting coil 83 can correspond to an example of a "power transmitting unit."

[0100] The transmission path of the power transmission request pattern has been conventionally used for wireless power transmission, and is a path for transmitting a pattern consisting of ON / OFF signals to the power supply control unit 81 of the charging device 60b via the power transmission coil 83 by the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51 of the mobile terminal 10 when a power transmission request is made.

[0101] For this reason, in this embodiment, an instruction pattern to be transmitted to the charging device 60b using the transmission path is prepared for each setting change item to be instructed to the charging device 60b. Examples of the setting change items described above are assumed to be a power saving mode, a maintenance mode (a mode for equipment repair), and a normal operation mode. When instructing a change to the power saving mode, an instruction pattern Pa1 consisting of a 1-second ON signal, a 1-second OFF signal, a 1-second ON signal, and a 1-second OFF signal can be used as the instruction pattern transmitted using the transmission path, as exemplified in FIG. 21(A). When instructing a change to the maintenance mode, an instruction pattern Pa2 consisting of a 2-second ON signal, a 1-second OFF signal, a 2-second ON signal, and a 1-second OFF signal can be used as the instruction pattern, as exemplified in FIG. 21(B). When instructing a change to the normal operation mode, an instruction pattern Pa3 consisting of a 1-second ON signal, a 2-second OFF signal, a 1-second ON signal, and a 2-second OFF signal can be used as the instruction pattern, as exemplified in FIG. 21(C).

[0102] In particular, in this embodiment, by having the mobile terminal 10 read an information code C in which predetermined information is recorded, an instruction pattern corresponding to the read predetermined information is generated in the mobile terminal 10. Therefore, a plurality of information codes C in which predetermined information to be instructed to the charging device 60b is recorded are prepared for each piece of predetermined information. For example, when the mobile terminal 10 reads an information code Ca1 in which information for generating an instruction pattern Pa1 is recorded, the instruction pattern Pa1 is generated (see FIG. 21(A)). When the mobile terminal 10 reads an information code Ca2 in which information for generating an instruction pattern Pa2 is recorded, the instruction pattern Pa2 is generated (see FIG. 21(B)). When the mobile terminal 10 reads an information code Ca3 in which information for generating an instruction pattern Pa3 is recorded, the instruction pattern Pa3 is generated (see FIG. 21(C)). This makes it easy to instruct the mobile terminal 10 on the instruction pattern to be transmitted to the charging device 60b.

[0103] Hereinafter, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b when changing the settings of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0104] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the control unit 41 starts the pattern transmission process, the imaging unit 43 is enabled to capture an image of the imaging range through the reading port 21 (S201 in FIG. 22), and a known decoding process is performed on the captured image to decode the captured information code C (S203). If the decoding fails because the information code C is not captured (No in S205), a determination is made in step S209 as to whether the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable. Here, if it is determined that the mobile terminal 10 is not placed on the charging device 60b based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 46 (No in S209), the state in which the mobile terminal 10 is captured by the imaging unit 43 through the reading port 21 is maintained.

[0105] Then, when the portable terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable, and it is determined that the portable terminal 10 is in a placed state based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 46 (Yes in S209), a pattern transmission process shown in step S211 is performed. If the information code C is not successfully decoded as described above, the above-mentioned power transmission request pattern is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. This starts a process for charging the portable terminal 10 by the charging device 60b that has received the power transmission request pattern.

[0106] On the other hand, for example, by pointing the reading port 21 at an information code Ca1 in which information for changing the setting to the power saving mode is recorded, the information code Ca1 is imaged (S201), and if the decoding process for the imaged image is successful (Yes in S205), an instruction pattern generation process shown in step S207 is performed. In this process, a process for generating an instruction pattern corresponding to the information read from the information code C is performed. The control unit 41 that performs the above instruction pattern generation process can be an example of a "generation unit."

[0107] After the instruction pattern is generated in this manner, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S209), in the pattern transmission process of step S211, the instruction pattern generated in the instruction pattern generation process is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power control unit 51. If the information code Ca1 is successfully decoded as described above, an instruction pattern Pa1 for the power saving mode is generated, and this instruction pattern Pa1 is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53. This makes it possible to instruct the charging device 60b to change its setting to the power saving mode.

[0108] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the control unit 71 starts the pattern reception process, it determines in the determination process of step S301 in Fig. 23 whether or not the mobile terminal 10 is in a placed state where it is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable. Here, if it is determined that the mobile terminal 10 is in a placed state based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 73 (Yes in S301), a pattern analysis process shown in step S303 is performed, and a process for analyzing the pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 is performed. Note that the control unit 71 that performs the process for analyzing the received pattern may correspond to an example of an "analysis unit."

[0109] Next, in a determination process shown in step S305, it is determined whether the analyzed pattern is the above-mentioned instruction pattern. Here, if the analyzed pattern is the above-mentioned instruction pattern (Yes in S305), a setting change process shown in step S307 is performed, and a setting change is made according to the analyzed instruction pattern. For example, as described above, if instruction pattern Pa1 is received via the power transmitting coil 83 and analyzed, the control unit 71 changes the setting to the power saving mode according to this analyzed instruction pattern Pa1. Note that in this embodiment, the control unit 71 that performs the setting change process can correspond to an example of an "apparatus-side control unit" that performs control according to the analyzed instruction pattern (analysis result).

[0110] On the other hand, if the analyzed pattern is the above-mentioned power transmission request pattern (No in S305), the charging process shown in step S309 is performed, and the power supply control unit 81 performs processing to charge the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83.

[0111] As described above, in charging system 1b according to this embodiment, when the placement detection unit 46 detects a placed state in mobile terminal 10, if no instruction pattern has been generated, power supply control unit 51 controls power receiving coil 53 with a power transmission request pattern that requests power transmission, and if an instruction pattern has been generated in accordance with predetermined information read from information code C, power supply control unit 51 controls power receiving coil 53 with the instruction pattern. In charging device 60b, if the power transmission request pattern is analyzed, power supply control unit 81 controls power transmitting coil 83 to charge mobile terminal 10, and if the instruction pattern is analyzed, control according to the instruction pattern is performed by control unit 71.

[0112] This allows instructions such as setting changes to be given to the charging device 60b without instructions from a higher-level device, etc. In particular, it is only necessary to place the mobile terminal 10, which has read the information code C recording the information to be instructed, on the charging device 60b, and therefore it is possible to easily instruct the charging device 60b to change settings, etc.

[0113] The instruction pattern generated according to the information read from the information code C is not limited to the pattern for changing the settings of the charging device 60b as described above, but may also be a pattern for issuing a specific instruction to the charging device 60b that is different from changing the settings.

[0114] As a modification of this embodiment, a pattern for changing a parameter value related to the settings of the charging device 60b may be employed as at least a part of the instruction pattern generated according to the information read from the information code C. Specifically, for example, an instruction pattern Pa4 as shown in FIG. 24(A) may instruct switching to the setup mode, and an instruction pattern Pa5 as shown in FIG. 24(B) may instruct a parameter value to be changed in the setup mode according to the length of the instruction pattern (number of ON / OFF cycles). Such a pair of instruction patterns Pa4 and Pa5 may be generated by having the mobile terminal 10 read one information code Ca4 recording corresponding predetermined information.

[0115] Below, in a modified example of this embodiment, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b when issuing an instruction to change a parameter value in the setup mode will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0116] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. By pointing the reading port 21 at the information code Ca4, an image of the information code Ca4 is captured (S201 in FIG. 25). If the captured image is successfully decoded (Yes in S205), the pair of instruction patterns Pa4 and Pa5 described above is generated in an instruction pattern generation process shown in step S207. Thereafter, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S209), the instruction pattern Pa4 generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51 in a first pattern transmission process shown in step S213. Then, in a second pattern transmission process shown in step S215, the instruction pattern Pa5 generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of the instruction pattern Pa4. This makes it possible to instruct the charging device 60b to change its setting to the setup mode and to specify parameter values ​​to be changed in the setup mode.

[0117] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S301 of FIG. 26), a process for analyzing a pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 is performed (S303). If the analyzed pattern is the instruction pattern described above (Yes in S305), a setting change is performed according to the analyzed instruction pattern (S307). Then, in a determination process shown in step S311, it is determined whether the analyzed instruction pattern is a pattern requiring a change of a parameter value. Here, if the instruction pattern Pa4 has been analyzed, the determination in step S311 is Yes, and a parameter value change process shown in step S313 is performed. In this process, an instruction pattern Pa5 received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 after the predetermined time has elapsed is analyzed, and the parameter value instructed in the setup mode is changed according to the instruction pattern Pa5.

[0118] In this way, in the modification of the present embodiment, not only can it be possible to issue a setting change instruction such as a mode change to charging device 60b, but it is also possible to easily issue an instruction to change a parameter value when the mode is changed. Note that the instruction pattern for changing the parameter value does not necessarily have to be transmitted a predetermined time after the transmission of the instruction pattern for changing the mode, but may also be transmitted immediately after the instruction pattern for changing the mode, for example.

[0119] In this embodiment and the modified examples, the mobile terminal 10 is not limited to being configured to have a capacitor 52 as the terminal-side power storage device, but may also be configured to have a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery as the terminal-side power storage device.

[0120] [Fifth embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The fifth embodiment differs from the fourth embodiment mainly in that a reconnection instruction for wireless communication is given from the mobile terminal to the charging device using a transmission path of the power transmission request pattern for the charging device. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for components that are substantially the same as those in the fourth embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0121] Typically, once a mobile terminal and a charging device are wirelessly connected, the wireless connection is maintained unless the mobile terminal is separated from the charging device to disable the wireless connection or an operation to disconnect the wireless connection is performed. Therefore, when a mobile terminal is placed on a charging device different from the previous one, the wireless connection between the mobile terminal and the previous charging device is maintained, and the mobile terminal and the charging device on which the mobile terminal is placed may become wirelessly disconnected. For example, if mobile terminal A that was placed on charging device A in a wirelessly connected state is removed from charging device A, a predetermined operation is performed, and then the mobile terminal is placed on another charging device B, and the wireless connection between mobile terminal A and charging device A is maintained, the mobile terminal A will lose its wireless connection to charging device B on which it is placed.

[0122] In such a case, an inexperienced user cannot determine at a glance that the placed charging device B and the mobile terminal A are not wirelessly connected, and therefore cannot grasp the reason why data, etc. of the mobile terminal A is not being transmitted via the placed charging device B, which results in the problem of having difficulty in reconnecting the wireless connection.

[0123] Therefore, in this embodiment, an instruction pattern for reconnecting after disconnecting a wireless connection (hereinafter also referred to as a reconnection instruction pattern) is prepared as one of the instruction patterns generated by reading an information code. This reconnection instruction pattern is generated using an ON / OFF pattern different from the instruction patterns (Pa1 to Pa4) for changing settings described above, and an information code (hereinafter also referred to as a reconnection code) in which information for generating this reconnection instruction pattern is recorded is prepared in advance.

[0124] In the mobile terminal 10, when a reconnection instruction pattern is generated, the power receiving coil 53 is controlled in accordance with the reconnection instruction pattern, and the communication unit 47 is controlled to disconnect the wireless connection and then reconnect. In response to this, in the charging device 60b, when a reconnection instruction pattern is received (analyzed), the communication unit 74 is controlled to disconnect the wireless connection and then reconnect.

[0125] As a result, the reconnection process can be performed simply by placing the mobile terminal 10, from which the information code for the reconnection instruction pattern has been read, on the charging device 60b, without having to check the connection or perform a reconnection operation on both the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b. Note that the communication unit 47 can correspond to an example of a "terminal-side communication unit," and the communication unit 74 can correspond to an example of a "device-side communication unit."

[0126] Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b in order to reconnect the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b when placed will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0127] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. By pointing the reading port 21 at the above-mentioned reconnection code, the reconnection code is captured (S201 in FIG. 27), and if the decoding process for the captured image is successful (Yes in S205), the above-mentioned reconnection instruction pattern is generated in the instruction pattern generation process shown in step S207.

[0128] Thereafter, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S209), in the pattern transmission process shown in step S211, the reconnection instruction pattern generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. Because the reconnection instruction pattern has been transmitted in this manner, the determination result in step S217 is Yes, and the reconnection process shown in step S219 is performed. In this process, wireless communication using the communication unit 47 is temporarily disconnected, and then wireless pairing is performed, thereby performing a process to reconnect with the nearest wirelessly capable device, i.e., the charging device 60b.

[0129] Next, the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b in a chargeable manner (Yes in S301 of FIG. 28), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 (S303). If the analyzed pattern is the reconnection instruction pattern described above (Yes in S305), the determination result in step S315 is Yes, and a reconnection process shown in step S317 is performed. In this process, wireless communication using the communication unit 74 is temporarily disconnected, and then wireless pairing is performed, thereby performing a process to reconnect with the nearest wirelessly capable device, i.e., the placed mobile terminal 10.

[0130] As described above, in charging system 1b according to this embodiment, mobile terminal 10 is provided with communication unit 47 as a terminal-side wireless communication unit controlled by control unit 41 when communicating wirelessly with charging device 60b, and charging device 60b is provided with communication unit 74 as a device-side wireless communication unit controlled by control unit 71 when communicating wirelessly with mobile terminal 10. In mobile terminal 10, when the placement detection unit 46 detects a placed state and a reconnection instruction pattern for reconnecting after disconnecting the wireless connection has been generated (Yes in S217), control unit 41 controls power supply control unit 51 to control power receiving coil 53 according to the reconnection instruction pattern and controls communication unit 47 to reconnect after disconnecting the wireless connection. In charging device 60b, when the reconnection instruction pattern is analyzed (Yes in S315), control unit 71 controls communication unit 74 to reconnect after disconnecting the wireless connection.

[0131] This allows the reconnection process to be performed simply by placing the mobile terminal 10, which has had the reconnection code that serves as the information code for the reconnection instruction pattern, on the charging device 60b, without having to check the connection or perform reconnection operations on both the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b.

[0132] [Sixth embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that the reconnection destination is specified using device identification information that identifies the charging device 60b. Therefore, the same components as those in the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0133] In this embodiment, the predetermined information recorded in the reconnection code corresponding to the reconnection instruction pattern includes device identification information that identifies charging device 60b. In mobile terminal 10, the predetermined information read from the captured reconnection code includes the device identification information, and if the charging device 60b identified from this device identification information matches the charging device wirelessly connected by communication unit 47, the reconnection instruction pattern is not generated. As a result, when mobile terminal 10 is placed on charging device 60b that is already wirelessly connected, the reconnection instruction pattern is not generated.

[0134] Then, if the charging device 60b identified from the read device identification information does not match the charging device wirelessly connected by the communication unit 47, the control unit 41 controls the communication unit 47 to set the charging device 60b identified from this device identification information as the reconnection destination. This ensures a reliable wireless connection to the charging device 60b with which the user desires to connect wirelessly.

[0135] Furthermore, by generating a reconnection instruction pattern in the mobile terminal 10 so that the corresponding device identification information can be analyzed, the charging device 60b performs a reconnection process when the charging device 60b matches the charging device identified from the device identification information analyzed from the reconnection instruction pattern. In this embodiment, the reconnection code in which the device identification information is recorded is attached to the outer surface of the charging device 60b identified from the device identification information.

[0136] Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b in order to reconnect the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b when placed will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0137] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. By pointing the reading port 21 at a reconnection code affixed to the outer surface or the like of the charging device 60b, an image of the reconnection code is captured (S201 in FIG. 29). If the decode process for the captured image is successful (Yes in S205), a determination process shown in step S221 is performed. In this determination process, the read information includes the device identification information, and it is determined whether the charging device 60b identified from the device identification information is in a state matching the charging device wirelessly connected via the communication unit 47 (hereinafter also referred to as a connected state). Note that the connected state in which the charging device 60b identified from the device identification information matches the charging device wirelessly connected via the communication unit 47 corresponds to an example of a "first matched state," and the control unit 41 performing the determination process shown in step S221 above may correspond to an example of a "terminal-side determination unit."

[0138] Here, if the read information does not include the device identification information, or if the charging device 60b identified from the device identification information does not match the charging device wirelessly connected by the communication unit 47, a determination of No is made in step S221, and the processing from step S207 onwards is performed. In particular, if the charging device 60b identified from the read device identification information does not match the charging device wirelessly connected by the communication unit 47, a reconnection instruction pattern is generated in the instruction pattern generation processing of step S207 described above so that the corresponding device identification information can be analyzed by the charging device 60b.

[0139] Then, when the reconnection instruction pattern generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51 (Yes in S211 and S217), in the reconnection process shown in step S219, the control unit 41 controls the communication unit 47 to set the charging device 60b identified from the device identification information as the reconnection destination.

[0140] On the other hand, if the read information includes the device identification information and the charging device 60b identified from this device identification information is in a connected state that matches the charging device that is already wirelessly connected by the communication unit 47, the result of step S221 is determined to be Yes, and the pattern transmission process ends without generating an instruction pattern.

[0141] Next, the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the portable terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S301 of FIG. 30), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the portable terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 (S303). If the analyzed pattern is the reconnection instruction pattern described above (Yes in S305, Yes in S315), a determination process shown in step S319 is performed. In this determination process, it is determined whether the charging device 60b is in a state that matches the charging device identified from the device identification information acquired when analyzing the reconnection instruction pattern (hereinafter also referred to as an instruction matching state). Note that the instruction matching state in which the charging device 60b matches the charging device identified from the device identification information analyzed from the reconnection instruction pattern corresponds to an example of a "second matching state," and the control unit 71 performing the determination process shown in step S319 above may correspond to an example of an "apparatus-side determination unit."

[0142] Here, if the charging device 60b matches the charging device identified from the device identification information analyzed from the reconnection instruction pattern and is therefore determined to be in an instruction matching state (Yes in S319), the reconnection processing shown in step S317 above is performed.

[0143] On the other hand, if it is determined that the charging device 60b is not in an instruction matching state because it is different from the charging device identified from the device identification information analyzed from the reconnection instruction pattern (No in S319), the above-mentioned reconnection process is not performed and the pattern reception process ends.

[0144] As described above, in charging system 1b according to the present embodiment, the predetermined information recorded in the reconnection code corresponding to the reconnection instruction pattern includes device identification information that identifies charging device 60b. When the predetermined information is read by mobile terminal 10, if the predetermined information includes device identification information and it is determined that charging device 60b identified from the device identification information is in a connected state (first matching state) that matches the charging device wirelessly connected by communication unit 47 (Yes in S221), the reconnection instruction pattern is not generated.

[0145] As a result, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b that is already wirelessly connected, it is not determined that the mobile terminal 10 is in the connected state and a reconnection instruction pattern is not generated, so unnecessary reconnection processing can be eliminated.

[0146] Furthermore, in the reconnection process, the communication unit 47 is controlled to set the charging device 60b identified from the device identification information read from the reconnection code as the reconnection destination, thereby ensuring wireless connection to the charging device 60b with which the user desires to wirelessly connect.

[0147] The reconnection instruction pattern is generated so that the corresponding device identification information can be analyzed. In charging device 60b, when the reconnection instruction pattern is analyzed and it is determined that charging device 60b is in an instruction matching state (second matching state) that matches the charging device identified from the device identification information analyzed from the reconnection instruction pattern (Yes in S319), communication unit 74 is controlled to disconnect the wireless connection and then reconnect.

[0148] This prevents erroneous reconnection to a previously wirelessly connected mobile terminal that is not in a placed state, thereby ensuring a reliable wireless connection between the placed mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b.

[0149] [Seventh embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The seventh embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the charging power to the capacitor is adjusted in consideration of fluctuations in the power supplied from the charging device and fluctuations in the load of the mobile terminal itself. Therefore, components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0150] The power supply control unit 51 of the mobile terminal 10c according to this embodiment has input and output functions related to power, with specific examples of the input functions being power stabilization and circuit protection functions, and specific examples of the output functions being charging control for the capacitor 52 and power supply functions for the load 54 (see FIG. 31). That is, the power supply control unit 51 functions to receive power supply from the charging device 60, charge the capacitor 52, and supply power to the load 54. Here, the load 54 that operates upon receiving power supply in the mobile terminal 10c may be, for example, a reading process that optically reads an information code or the like, or a wireless communication process related to the reading result, etc.

[0151] The simplest configuration for configuring an output from the input to the capacitor 52 and load 54 is to interpose the capacitor 52 as a buffer between the input and the load 54, and the capacitor 52 can absorb fluctuations in the load 54 and fluctuations in the input power supply. However, with this configuration, if the capacitor 52 is empty, it will not be possible to start operating the load 54 until it is charged to a certain level. This problem manifests itself as a waiting time the larger the capacitance of the capacitor 52.

[0152] For this reason, the charging system 1c according to this embodiment employs a configuration in which a circuit is provided in the power supply control unit 51 that directly connects the input power supply source and the output load 54 without going through the capacitor 52, thereby causing the load 54 to operate simultaneously with the start of charging of the capacitor 52. In this configuration, when a certain level of power supply can be secured from the power supply source, it can be considered that the system should be designed so that the capacitor 52 is charged with power obtained by subtracting the expected power of the load 54.

[0153] However, if the load 54 of the mobile terminal 10c fluctuates and becomes light, there is a disadvantage in that the surplus power is not utilized. In particular, in this embodiment, the charging device 60, which serves as the power supply source for the mobile terminal 10c, supplies power using power from the secondary battery 82. Therefore, the supply power P1 is prone to fluctuate, and the power supply capacity decreases when the remaining battery charge of the secondary battery 82 becomes low. Therefore, to ensure the stability of the charging system, it is preferable to set the charging power for the capacitor 52 to a value obtained by subtracting the maximum power of the load 54 from the minimum power supply capacity of the charging device 60. On the other hand, even if the load 54 of the mobile terminal 10c fluctuates and becomes light as described above, and there is a surplus in the supply power P1, if the charging power for the capacitor 52 is set to a relatively small value, the charging time will be long.

[0154] Therefore, in this embodiment, a value relating to the power consumption P2 consumed by the load 54 and a value relating to the power supply P1 supplied from the charging device 60 are measured, and the charging power to the capacitor 52 is controlled based on these measured values, thereby ensuring the stability of the charging system while minimizing the charging time of the capacitor.

[0155] 31 , the power supply control unit 51 is provided with a current measurement unit 55 that measures a load current Io supplied to the load 54 as a value related to the power consumption P2 consumed by the load 54, and a voltage measurement unit 56 that measures a received voltage Vo from the charging device 60 as a value related to the supplied power P1 supplied from the charging device 60. Then, in the power supply control process performed by the power supply control unit 51, the charging current Icap to the capacitor 52 is adjusted based on the measurement value of the current measurement unit 55 and the measurement value of the voltage measurement unit 56, thereby controlling the charging power to the capacitor 52. The current measurement unit 55 that measures the load current Io as a value related to the power consumption P2 consumed by the load 54 corresponds to an example of a "first measurement unit," and the voltage measurement unit 56 that measures the received voltage Vo as a value related to the supplied power P1 supplied from the charging device 60 may correspond to an example of a "second measurement unit."

[0156] For example, as shown in FIG. 32(A), assume a state in which supply power P1 supplied from charging device 60 is distributed by power supply control unit 51 to load 54 and capacitor 52 at a predetermined ratio. In this state, if supply power P1 supplied from charging device 60 tends to increase from the state shown in FIG. 32(A), power supply control unit 51 controls to increase charging current Icap in order to utilize surplus power, as shown in FIG. 32(B). On the other hand, if supply power P1 supplied from charging device 60 tends to decrease from the state shown in FIG. 32(A), power supply control unit 51 controls to decrease charging current Icap, as shown in FIG. 32(C). Therefore, in the power supply control process, when receiving voltage Vo for supply power P1 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage threshold Vset, supply power P1 is considered to be in a predetermined decreased state (supply power decreased state), and the charging current Icap is decreased by a certain value, as described below.

[0157] Also, as shown in FIG. 33(A), assume that the power supply control unit 51 distributes the supply power P1 from the charging device 60 to the load 54 and the capacitor 52 at a predetermined ratio. In this state, when the load 54 increases from the state shown in FIG. 33(A), the power supply control unit 51 controls the charging current Icap to decrease, as shown in FIG. 33(B). On the other hand, when the load 54 decreases from the state shown in FIG. 33(A), the power supply control unit 51 controls the charging current Icap to increase, as shown in FIG. 33(C), in order to utilize surplus power. Therefore, in the power supply control process, when the load current Io related to the power consumption P2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined current threshold Iset, the power consumption P2 is considered to be in a predetermined increasing state (power consumption increasing state), and the charging current Icap is decreased by a certain value, as described below.

[0158] The power supply control process performed by the power supply control unit 51 to ensure the stability of the charging system while minimizing the charging time of the capacitor as described above will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10c is placed on the charging device 60 so that it can be charged, and the power supply control unit 51 starts the power supply control process, first, in the determination process shown in step S401 of Fig. 34, it is determined whether the power consumption P2 is in a predetermined increased state. Here, if the load current Io is less than the predetermined current threshold Iset, it is determined that the power consumption P2 has not reached the predetermined increased state, and the determination in step S401 is No.

[0159] If it is determined that the power consumption P2 has not reached the predetermined increase state, a determination is made in step S403 as to whether the supply power P1 is in a predetermined decrease state. If the power receiving voltage Vo exceeds the predetermined voltage threshold Vset, it is determined that the supply power P1 has exceeded the predetermined decrease state, and the determination in step S403 is No.

[0160] Then, in the determination process shown in step S405, it is determined whether the charging current Icap is less than a predetermined upper limit value Imax. If the charging current Icap is less than the predetermined upper limit value Imax, the determination in step S405 is Yes, and the charging current increasing process shown in step S407 is performed. In this process, the charging current Icap is set to increase by a predetermined value ΔIstep. That is, if the power consumption P2 has not reached a predetermined increasing state and the supplied power P1 has exceeded a predetermined decreasing state, the charging current Icap is controlled to increase toward the predetermined upper limit value Imax. By increasing the charging current Icap in this way, the charging speed of the capacitor 52 can be improved.

[0161] As described above, when the stepwise increase in the charging current Icap is repeated and the increased charging current Icap becomes equal to or exceeds the predetermined upper limit value Imax (No in S405), the charging current increase process is not performed and the process from step S401 is performed.

[0162] Thereafter, when the load current Io becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined current threshold Iset due to the portable terminal 10c performing a process such as reading an information code, it is determined that the power consumption P2 is in a predetermined increased state (power consumption increased state) (Yes in S401), and the charging current reduction process shown in step S409 is performed. Also, when the remaining battery capacity of the secondary battery 82 becomes low and the power receiving voltage Vo becomes equal to or less than the predetermined voltage threshold Vset, it is determined that the supply power P1 is in a predetermined decreased state (supply power reduced state) (Yes in S403), and the charging current reduction process shown in step S409 is performed.

[0163] In the charging current reduction process of step S409, the charging current Icap is set to be reduced by a predetermined value ΔIstep. That is, when the power consumption P2 is in a predetermined increasing state or the supply power P1 is in a predetermined decreasing state, control is performed to reduce the charging current Icap.

[0164] As described above, in the charging system 1c according to this embodiment, the mobile terminal 10c includes a load 54 that operates upon receiving power supply, a power supply control unit 51 that receives power supply from the charging device 60 to charge the capacitor 52 and supply power to the load 54, a current measurement unit 55 that measures a load current Io related to the power consumption P2 consumed by the load 54, and a voltage measurement unit 56 that measures a received voltage Vo related to the supplied power P1 supplied from the charging device 60. The power supply control process performed by the power supply control unit 51 controls to reduce the charging current Icap so as to reduce the charging power to the capacitor 52 when the power consumption P2 is in a predetermined increasing state (power consumption increasing state) or the supplied power P1 is in a predetermined decreasing state (supply power decreasing state), and controls to increase the charging current Icap so as to increase the charging power to the capacitor 52 toward a predetermined upper limit value when the power consumption P2 has not reached the predetermined increasing state and the supplied power P1 has exceeded the predetermined decreasing state.

[0165] As a result, even if fluctuations in power supply P1 from charging device 60 due to secondary battery 82 functioning as the device-side power storage device or load fluctuations in the mobile terminal itself occur, the charging power to capacitor 52 is appropriately adjusted, ensuring system stability. In particular, when power consumption P2 has not reached the predetermined increase state and power supply P1 exceeds the predetermined decrease state, that is, when there is surplus power, capacitor 52 can be charged so as to utilize the surplus power without waste, thereby minimizing the charging time of capacitor 52.

[0166] The characteristic configuration of this embodiment, which adjusts the charging power to the capacitor 52 taking into account fluctuations in the power P1 supplied from the charging device 60 and fluctuations in the load of the mobile terminal itself, can also be applied to other embodiments.

[0167] [Eighth embodiment] Next, a charging system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The eighth embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment in that an additional connection instruction for wireless communication is given from the mobile terminal to the charging device using a transmission path of the power transmission request pattern for the charging device. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for components that are substantially the same as those in the fifth embodiment, and their description will be omitted.

[0168] Generally speaking, when Bluetooth communication is adopted as the wireless connection method, the connection configuration is configured in a network topology called a star configuration. This is a configuration in which multiple devices are connected to one host device, such as a host personal computer connected to multiple devices such as a wireless mouse, wireless keyboard, and wireless headphones. A typical Bluetooth device can disconnect and reconnect the wireless connection with the host by operating the device's power button or re-pairing button. Similarly, the host device can also disconnect the wireless connection by operating a GUI or other interface. In contrast, since the charging device 60b does not have a GUI or operation buttons, it cannot directly disconnect the wireless connection. However, it is possible to instruct disconnection and reconnection by operating the mobile terminal using the reconnection instruction pattern described above.

[0169] However, in a configuration in which the wireless connection is disconnected using the reconnection instruction pattern and then reconnected, when a mobile terminal 10 that has read the information code for the reconnection instruction pattern is placed on a charging device 60b that can wirelessly communicate with multiple mobile terminals 10, the wireless connection between the charging device 60b and the other mobile terminals 10 that are wirelessly connected will also be disconnected at a timing not intended by the user. Also, if the location of the mobile terminal 10 is unknown, disconnecting the connection will result in losing the means to search for the location of the mobile terminal 10.

[0170] On the other hand, even if a charging device 60b capable of wireless communication with multiple mobile terminals 10 is employed, the number of mobile terminals 10 that can be wirelessly connected to one charging device 60b is limited, and when many mobile terminals 10 wirelessly connect to one charging device 60b, there is a problem that the resource limitations of the charging device 60b result in a decrease in the quality of wireless communication between each mobile terminal 10. Also, depending on the type of work in which the mobile terminal 10 is used, one-to-one wireless connection may be required.

[0171] Therefore, in the charging system 1b according to this embodiment, an instruction pattern for adding a wireless connection (hereinafter also referred to as an additional connection instruction pattern) is prepared as one of the instruction patterns generated by reading the information code. This additional connection instruction pattern is generated with an ON / OFF pattern different from the instruction pattern for changing settings and the reconnection instruction pattern described above, and an information code (hereinafter also referred to as an additional connection code) in which information for generating this additional connection instruction pattern is recorded is prepared in advance. In particular, in this embodiment, the predetermined information recorded in the additional connection code includes device identification information for identifying the charging device 60b.

[0172] In the mobile terminal 10, when an additional connection instruction pattern is generated, the power receiving coil 53 is controlled by the additional connection instruction pattern, and the communication unit 47 is controlled to establish a wireless connection with the placed charging device 60b.

[0173] The charging device 60b of this embodiment is configured to be capable of simultaneously communicating wirelessly with a predetermined number of mobile terminals 10. When the charging device 60b receives (analyzes) an additional connection instruction pattern, if the charging device 60b is not communicating wirelessly with any mobile terminal 10 or is currently wirelessly connected with fewer than the predetermined number of mobile terminals 10, the communication unit 74 is controlled to add a wireless connection target, and if the charging device 60b is currently wirelessly connected with the predetermined number of mobile terminals 10, the communication unit 74 is controlled not to add a wireless connection target.

[0174] As a result, if the charging device 60b has sufficient resources (the charging device 60b in which the number of wirelessly connected mobile terminals 10 is less than the predetermined number), the additional connection process can be performed simply by placing the mobile terminal 10, from which the information code for the additional connection instruction pattern has been read, on the charging device 60b, without having to check the connection or perform an additional connection operation on both the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b. Note that the communication unit 47 can correspond to an example of a "terminal-side communication unit", and the communication unit 74 can correspond to an example of a "device-side communication unit".

[0175] Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b in order to additionally connect the placed mobile terminal 10 to the charging device 60b with spare resources will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0176] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. By pointing the reading port 21 at the above-mentioned additional connection code, the additional connection code is imaged (S201 in Figure 35), and if the decoding process for the imaged image is successful (Yes in S205), and the charging device 60b identified from the device identification information of the additional connection code does not match the charging device wirelessly connected by the communication unit 47 (No in S221), the above-mentioned additional connection instruction pattern is generated in the instruction pattern generation process shown in step S207.

[0177] Thereafter, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b in a chargeable state (Yes in S209), in a pattern transmission process shown in step S211, the additional connection instruction pattern generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. Because the additional connection instruction pattern has been transmitted in this manner (No in S217, Yes in S223), an additional connection process shown in step S225 is performed. In this process, wireless communication using the communication unit 47 is temporarily disconnected, and then wireless pairing is performed, thereby performing a process to additionally connect to the nearest wirelessly capable device, i.e., the charging device 60b.

[0178] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S301 of FIG. 36), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 (S303). If the analyzed pattern is the additional connection instruction pattern described above (Yes in S305, No in S315, Yes in S321) and the charging device 60b is in an instruction match state that matches the charging device identified from the device identification information acquired when analyzing the additional connection instruction pattern (Yes in S323), a determination is made in step S325 as to whether the number of wirelessly connected mobile terminals 10 (number of connections) is the predetermined number.

[0179] Here, if there is no wireless communication with any mobile terminal 10 or if there is wireless connection with less than the predetermined number of mobile terminals 10, the result of step S325 is determined to be No, and additional connection processing shown in step S327 is performed. In this processing, additional wireless pairing is performed using the communication unit 74 without temporarily disconnecting wireless communication, thereby performing processing to wirelessly connect to the mobile terminal 10 so as to add a wireless connection target.

[0180] For example, assume that charging device A is already wirelessly connected to portable terminal a. In this case, by placing portable terminal a, which has read the additional connection code containing device identification information that identifies charging device A, on charging device A, the wireless connection between portable terminal a and charging device A is maintained.

[0181] Also, for example, assume that charging device A is not wirelessly connected to any mobile terminal and mobile terminal a is not wirelessly connected to any charging device. In this case, by placing mobile terminal a, which has read the additional connection code containing device identification information that identifies charging device A, on charging device A, mobile terminal a is wirelessly connected to charging device A because charging device A does not enter a connection state that exceeds the predetermined number.

[0182] Also, for example, assume that charging device A is not wirelessly connected to any mobile terminal, and mobile terminal a is wirelessly connected to charging device B. In this case, by placing mobile terminal a, which has read the additional connection code containing device identification information that identifies charging device A, on charging device A, mobile terminal a, whose wireless connection with charging device B has been cut off, is wirelessly connected to charging device A.

[0183] Also, for example, assume that charging device A is wirelessly connected only to portable terminal b, and portable terminal a is not wirelessly connected to any charging devices. In this case, by placing portable terminal a, which has read the additional connection code containing device identification information that identifies charging device A, on charging device A, portable terminal a is wirelessly connected so as to be added to charging device A without exceeding the predetermined number of connections with charging device A.

[0184] Also, for example, assume that charging device A is wirelessly connected only to portable terminal b, and portable terminal a is wirelessly connected to charging device B. In this case, by placing portable terminal a, which has read the additional connection code containing device identification information that identifies charging device A, on charging device A, the charging device A will not be in a connection state exceeding the predetermined number, and portable terminal a, which has been wirelessly disconnected from charging device B, will be wirelessly connected to charging device A so that it can be added to charging device A.

[0185] On the other hand, if the charging device 60b is already wirelessly connected to a predetermined number of mobile terminals 10, the determination in step S325 is Yes, and the pattern reception process ends without performing the additional connection process. For example, if the predetermined number is set to "3" and three mobile terminals 10 are already wirelessly connected (Yes in S325), the additional connection process is not performed, and the state in which the placed mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b are not wirelessly connected is maintained. Note that if the pattern reception process ends without performing the additional connection process even when a mobile terminal 10 that has read the additional connection code is placed, a notification unit (not shown) such as an LED provided in the charging device 60b may be used to notify the user that wireless communication with the placed mobile terminal 10 is not possible because a predetermined number of mobile terminals 10 are already wirelessly connected.

[0186] As described above, in the charging system 1b according to this embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 includes the communication unit 47 as a terminal-side wireless communication unit controlled by the control unit 41 when communicating wirelessly with the charging device 60b, and the charging device 60b is capable of communicating wirelessly with a predetermined number of mobile terminals 10 and includes the communication unit 74 as a device-side wireless communication unit controlled by the control unit 41 when communicating wirelessly with the mobile terminals 10. When the placement detection unit 46 of the mobile terminal 10 detects a placed state and an additional connection instruction pattern for adding a wireless connection has been generated, the control unit 41 controls the power supply control unit 51 to control the power receiving coil 53 using the additional connection instruction pattern and also controls the communication unit 47 to establish a wireless connection. In charging device 60b, when the additional connection instruction pattern is analyzed (Yes in S321), if there is no wireless communication with any mobile terminal 10 or if wireless connections are in progress with less than the predetermined number of mobile terminals 10 (No in S325), control unit 71 controls communication unit 74 to add wireless connection targets (S327), and if wireless connections are in progress with the predetermined number of mobile terminals 10 (Yes in S325), control unit 71 controls communication unit 74 not to add wireless connection targets.

[0187] As a result, if the charging device 60b has sufficient resources (the charging device 60b has fewer mobile terminals 10 connected wirelessly than the predetermined number), the additional connection process can be performed simply by placing the mobile terminal 10, which has had the information code for the additional connection instruction pattern read, on the charging device 60b, without having to check the connection or perform additional connection operations on both the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b.

[0188] [Ninth embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ninth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that a function restriction instruction is sent from a mobile terminal to a charging device using a transmission path of a power transmission request pattern to the charging device. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used to designate components that are substantially the same as those in the fifth embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0189] Typically, the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b are easily portable, making them easy to carry and use. However, they can easily be stolen. For this reason, certain terminal functions of the mobile terminal 10 and certain device functions of the charging device 60b may be temporarily restricted to suspend operation. When restricting functions in this manner, settings related to the restriction of the functions of the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b may be individually configured using a setting tool utilizing a communication device of an external device such as a personal computer. Such configuration, unlike normal user operations (e.g., reading an information code or charging a mobile terminal), requires not only operation while referring to an operation manual but also the use of a dedicated setting tool for the external device. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is not easy to pause and resume operation. Furthermore, even if an operation manual and setting tool are prepared, inexperienced users may have difficulty operating them, which may hinder operation. The predetermined terminal functions of the mobile terminal 10 to be restricted include, for example, reading information codes (excluding function restriction codes and function restriction release codes), wireless communication, and charging, and the predetermined device functions of the charging device 60b to be restricted include, for example, charging and wireless communication.

[0190] Therefore, in the charging system 1b according to this embodiment, an instruction pattern (hereinafter also referred to as a function restriction instruction pattern) for temporarily restricting a predetermined terminal function of the mobile terminal 10 and a predetermined device function of the charging device 60b is prepared as one of the instruction patterns generated by reading the information code. This function restriction instruction pattern is generated in an ON / OFF pattern different from the above-mentioned instruction pattern for changing settings, reconnection instruction pattern, additional connection instruction pattern, etc., and an information code (hereinafter also referred to as a function restriction code) in which information for generating this function restriction instruction pattern is recorded is prepared in advance.

[0191] In the mobile terminal 10, when the function restriction instruction pattern is generated in a state where the predetermined terminal function is not restricted, the power receiving coil 53 is controlled by the function restriction instruction pattern and the predetermined terminal function is restricted. In addition, in the mobile terminal 10, when the function restriction instruction pattern is generated in a state where the predetermined terminal function is restricted, the power receiving coil 53 is controlled by the function restriction instruction pattern and the restriction on the predetermined terminal function is lifted.

[0192] In the charging device 60b, when the function restriction instruction pattern is received (analyzed) using the transmission path of the power transmission request pattern as described above while the predetermined device function is not restricted, a function restriction start pattern indicating that function restriction will be started using the transmission path of the power transmission request pattern is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10, and the predetermined device function is restricted. Also, in the charging device 60b, when the function restriction instruction pattern is received (analyzed) while the predetermined device function is restricted, a function restriction release pattern indicating that function restriction will be released using the transmission path of the power transmission request pattern is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10, and the restriction on the predetermined device function is released. The function restriction start pattern and function restriction release pattern are transmitted (transmitted) as patterns consisting of ON / OFF signals to the power supply control unit 51 of the mobile terminal 10 via the power receiving coil 53 by the power transmitting coil 83 controlled by the power supply control unit 81 of the charging device 60b.

[0193] As a result, by simply placing the mobile terminal 10, which has had the function restriction code read, on the charging device 60b, it is possible to restrict predetermined terminal functions of the mobile terminal 10 and predetermined device functions of the charging device 60b. Then, by simply placing the mobile terminal 10, which has had the same function restriction code read, on the charging device 60b while the functions are restricted, it is possible to release the restrictions on the predetermined terminal functions and the predetermined device functions.

[0194] Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b when a predetermined terminal function of the mobile terminal 10 and a predetermined device function of the charging device 60b are temporarily restricted, respectively, will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0195] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. By pointing the reading port 21 at the above-mentioned function restriction code, the function restriction code is captured (S201 in Figure 37), and if the decoding process for the captured image is successful (Yes in S205), the above-mentioned function restriction instruction pattern is generated in the instruction pattern generation process shown in step S207.

[0196] Thereafter, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S209), in a pattern transmission process shown in step S211, the function restriction instruction pattern generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. When the function restriction instruction pattern is transmitted in this manner (Yes in S227), a pattern analysis process shown in step S229 is performed, in which a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the charging device 60b via the power receiving coil 53.

[0197] Then, since the charging device 60b has started function restriction as described above, if the analyzed pattern is the function restriction start pattern described above (Yes in S231), the function restriction process shown in step S233 is performed, the specified terminal function is restricted, and the pattern transmission process ends.

[0198] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S301 of FIG. 38), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83 (S303). If the analyzed pattern is the function restriction instruction pattern described above (Yes in S305, Yes in S329), a function restriction start pattern transmission process shown in step S331 is performed. In this process, the function restriction start pattern is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10 using the power transmission coil 83 controlled by the power supply control unit 81. Then, a function restriction process shown in step S333 is performed, the predetermined device functions are restricted, and the pattern reception process ends.

[0199] Next, with reference to the drawings, we will explain the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b when the above-mentioned specified terminal functions and specified device functions are each restricted and these function restrictions are released.

[0200] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. By pointing the reading port 21 of the mobile terminal 10 in a function-restricted state at the above-mentioned function restriction code, the function restriction code is captured (S201 in Figure 39), and if the decoding process for the captured image is successful (Yes in S205), the above-mentioned function restriction instruction pattern is generated in the instruction pattern generation process shown in step S207.

[0201] Thereafter, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S209), a function restriction instruction pattern has been generated (Yes in S227), and therefore, in a pattern transmission process shown in step S211, the function restriction instruction pattern generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. Subsequently, a pattern analysis process shown in step S229 is performed, in which a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the charging device 60b via the receiving coil 53.

[0202] Then, since the charging device 60b releases the function restriction as described above, if the analyzed pattern is the function restriction release pattern described above (Yes in S235), the function restriction release process shown in step S237 is performed, the restriction on the predetermined terminal function is released, and this pattern transmission process ends. On the other hand, if an information code different from the function restriction code is captured, the analyzed pattern is not a function restriction instruction pattern (No in S227), and the function restriction release process described above is not performed, and this pattern transmission process ends.

[0203] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10 in a function-restricted state is placed on the charging device 60b in a function-restricted state (Yes in S301 of FIG. 40), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83 (S303). If the analyzed pattern is the above-mentioned function restriction instruction pattern (Yes in S329), a function restriction release pattern transmission process shown in step S335 is performed. In this process, the function restriction release pattern is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10 using the power transmission coil 83 controlled by the power supply control unit 81. Next, a function restriction release process shown in step S337 is performed, the restriction on the predetermined device function is released, and the pattern reception process ends. On the other hand, if the analyzed pattern is not the function restriction instruction pattern (No in S329), the function restriction release process is not performed, and the pattern transmission process ends.

[0204] As described above, in charging system 1b according to the present embodiment, when mobile terminal 10 detects a placed state by placement detector 46, if a function restriction instruction pattern for restricting predetermined terminal functions of mobile terminal 10 and predetermined device functions of charging device 60b has been generated, control unit 41 controls power receiving coil 53 by power supply controller 51 using the function restriction instruction pattern and restricts the predetermined terminal functions. In charging device 60b, when the function restriction instruction pattern is analyzed, control unit 71 restricts the predetermined device functions.

[0205] This makes it possible to restrict predetermined terminal functions of the mobile terminal 10 and predetermined device functions of the charging device 60b by simply placing the mobile terminal 10, which has had the function restriction code read, on the charging device 60b, without using a setting tool or the like provided in an external device for function restriction.

[0206] In particular, in the mobile terminal 10, when the placement detection unit 46 detects a placed state, if a function restriction instruction pattern has been generated in a state in which the predetermined terminal function is restricted, the control unit 41 controls the power receiving coil 53 using the function restriction instruction pattern via the power supply control unit 51, and the restriction on the predetermined terminal function is lifted. In the charging device 60b, if a function restriction instruction pattern is analyzed in a state in which the predetermined device function is restricted, the control unit 71 lifts the restriction on the predetermined device function.

[0207] This allows the restriction on the specified terminal functions of the mobile terminal 10 and the restriction on the specified device functions of the charging device 60b to be released by simply placing the mobile terminal 10, which has had the function restriction code used during the function restriction read, on the charging device 60b.

[0208] As a modification of this embodiment, in order to further improve security, when releasing the function restriction state of the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b, in addition to reading the function restriction code, it may be necessary to read an information code for releasing the function restriction (hereinafter also referred to as the function restriction release code) that can be read only by an authorized user who is permitted to use the mobile terminal 10 and the charging device 60b. The function restriction release code may be an information code displayed on a medium used by an authorized user, such as a QR code attached to an employee ID card and recording information that identifies the user (employee).

[0209] For this reason, an instruction pattern (hereinafter also referred to as a function restriction release permission pattern) is prepared to be generated to permit the release of the above-mentioned function restriction when both the function restriction code and the function restriction release code are read. This function restriction release permission pattern is generated as an ON / OFF pattern different from the above-mentioned instruction patterns for setting change, reconnection instruction pattern, additional connection instruction pattern, function restriction instruction pattern, etc.

[0210] Hereinafter, in a modified example of this embodiment, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b when the above-mentioned specified terminal functions and specified device functions are each restricted and these function restrictions are released will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0211] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When an authorized user points the reading port 21 of the mobile terminal 10 in a function-restricted state at the function restriction code and then at the function restriction release code, or points it at the function restriction release code and then at the function restriction release code, and the captured function restriction code and function restriction release code are successfully decoded (Yes in S205a in Figure 41), the above-mentioned function restriction release permission pattern is generated in the instruction pattern generation process shown in step S207.

[0212] Thereafter, when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b so as to be chargeable (Yes in S209), a function restriction release permission pattern has been generated (Yes in S227a), and therefore, in a pattern transmission process shown in step S211, the function restriction release permission pattern generated as described above is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. Subsequently, a pattern analysis process shown in step S229 is performed, in which a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the charging device 60b via the power receiving coil 53.

[0213] Then, since the charging device 60b removes the function restriction as described above, if the analyzed pattern is the function restriction removal pattern described above (Yes in S235), the function restriction removal process shown in step S237 is performed, the restriction on the specified terminal function is removed, and this pattern transmission process ends.

[0214] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10 in a function-restricted state is placed on the charging device 60b in a function-restricted state (Yes in S301 of FIG. 42), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83 (S303). If the analyzed pattern is the function restriction release permission pattern described above (Yes in S329a), the process from step S335 onwards is performed, the function restriction release pattern is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10, and the restriction on the predetermined device function is released.

[0215] In this way, in the mobile terminal 10, when the placement detection unit 46 detects the placed state, if the function restriction release permission pattern has been generated while the predetermined terminal function is restricted, the control unit 41 controls the power supply control unit 51 to control the power receiving coil 53 with the function restriction release permission pattern and releases the restriction on the predetermined terminal function. In the charging device 60b, if the function restriction release permission pattern is analyzed while the predetermined device function is restricted, the control unit 71 releases the restriction on the predetermined device function.

[0216] As a result, a third party who does not have both the function restriction code and the function restriction release code cannot release the restriction on the above-mentioned specified terminal function of the mobile terminal 10 and the restriction on the above-mentioned specified device function of the charging device 60b, thereby improving security regarding the release of function restrictions.

[0217] The function restriction release code may be read by the mobile terminal 10 together with the function restriction code even during function restriction. In this case, when both the function restriction code and the function restriction release code are read, a function restriction instruction pattern is generated and transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 to the charging device 60b, so that reading of both the function restriction code and the function restriction release code can be made an essential requirement for function restriction as well.

[0218] Furthermore, when releasing the function restriction, the mobile terminal 10 is not limited to transmitting to the charging device 60b a function restriction release permission pattern generated by reading both the function restriction code and the function restriction release code, but the pattern generated by reading the function restriction code and the pattern generated by reading the function restriction release code may be transmitted separately.

[0219] [Tenth embodiment] Next, a charging system according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The tenth embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment mainly in that the charging device 60b stores information that can be used as a clue to find the lost mobile terminal 10. Therefore, components that are substantially the same as those in the fifth embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0220] Typically, mobile terminal 10 is easy to carry and therefore portable and convenient to use, but there is a problem of it being lost due to being left behind. In particular, mobile terminal 10, which has been made compact to enhance portability, is more likely to be lost because it is difficult to notice if it is left behind, compared to a charging device 60, for which there is less demand for miniaturization. For this reason, it is possible to perform reading operations while constantly checking the location of mobile terminal 10 using a dedicated tool on a host device such as a server, but this requires setting up the dedicated tool, which reduces work efficiency.

[0221] Therefore, in the charging system 1b according to this embodiment, one or more captured images captured by the imaging unit 43 of the mobile terminal 10 at a predetermined timing are stored in the charging device 60b as work history images. Specifically, assuming that a specific mobile terminal 10 and charging device 60b are used as a pair, captured images captured within a predetermined period before and after the successful decoding (for example, five seconds before and five seconds after the successful decoding) are temporarily stored as work history images in the storage unit 42 of the mobile terminal 10, and the work history images are transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 to the charging device 60b during charging and stored in the storage unit 75 (see FIG. 43 ) of the charging device 60b. The storage unit 42 may correspond to an example of a "terminal-side storage unit," and the storage unit 75 may correspond to an example of a "device-side storage unit."

[0222] As a result, when the user realizes that the mobile terminal 10 is lost, the user can obtain clues for searching for the lost mobile terminal 10 by obtaining and checking the work history image related to the mobile terminal 10 from the storage unit 75 of the charging device 60b. For example, if a specific location is shown in one of the work history images obtained from the storage unit 75 of the charging device 60b, the vicinity of the specific location can be set as the search location for the mobile terminal 10.

[0223] Hereinafter, in this embodiment, when a work history image is transmitted from the mobile terminal 10 to the charging device 60b, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0224] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. When the control unit 41 starts the pattern transmission process, first, the initial setting process shown in step S501 of Fig. 44 is performed, whereby a decode success flag F, which will be described later, is cleared to F = 0, and a temporarily stored image and a work history image, which will be described later, are erased (cleared) from the storage unit 42. Next, when the imaging unit 43 is ready to capture an image of the imaging range through the reading port 21 (S503), this captured image is stored in the storage unit 42 as a temporarily stored image (S505).

[0225] Next, in the determination process of step S507, it is determined whether the work history image can be transmitted. In this embodiment, if the decode success flag F is set to F=1 and the predetermined period has elapsed since the decoding was successful, it is determined that the work history image can be transmitted. Therefore, if the decode success flag F=0 or if the predetermined period has not elapsed since the decoding was successful, the determination is No in step S507. Then, if the information code is not captured (No in S513) and it is determined that the device is not placed based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 46 (No in S521), the process is repeated from the image capture process, and the state in which the information code can be read is maintained. Furthermore, even if an image resembling an information code is captured (Yes in S513) but decoding in the decoding process shown in step S515 fails (No in S517), the process is repeated from the image capture process, and the state in which the information code can be read is maintained. Note that the control unit 41 that performs the decoding process may correspond to an example of a "decoding unit" that decodes the information code included in the captured image.

[0226] Thereafter, an image of the information code is captured (Yes in S513), and if the decoding is successful (Yes in S517), the decode success flag F is turned on and set to F=1 (S519). If it is determined that the device is not in the placed state (No in S521), the process is repeated from the image capture process, and the captured image after the decoding is successful is stored in the storage unit 42 as a temporarily stored image (S505). At this time, if the predetermined period has not elapsed since the successful decoding, it is determined that the work history image cannot be transmitted (No in S507) even if the decode success flag F is turned on and set to F=1.

[0227] Subsequently, when the predetermined period has elapsed since the decoding was successful, the decoding success flag F is turned on and set to F=1. Therefore, it is determined that the work history images can be transmitted (Yes in S507), and the work history image setting process shown in step S509 is performed. In this process, all images stored in the storage unit 42 as temporarily stored images are set as work history images to be transmitted to the charging device 60b. Therefore, if the predetermined period is, for example, 5 seconds, multiple images (10 captured images if one captured image is generated per second) captured during the 5 seconds before and 5 seconds after the decoding was successful and stored in the storage unit 42 as temporarily stored images are set as work history images. During this storage process, the temporarily stored images and the previously generated work history image are erased (cleared) from the storage unit 42. Note that in the work history image setting process, all images stored in the storage unit 42 as temporarily stored images are not necessarily set as work history images, and some temporarily stored images captured at predetermined intervals may be set as work history images.

[0228] Next, after the decode success flag F is cleared and set to F=0 (S511), if it is determined that the device is not in the placed state (No in S521), the process starts again from the image capture process. After that, if an information code different from the previous one is successfully decoded (Yes in S517), and the predetermined period has elapsed since the successful decoding, it is determined that the work history image can be transmitted (Yes in S507), a new work history image is set, and the temporarily stored image and the previously set work history image are erased from the storage unit 42 (S509).

[0229] On the other hand, if it is determined that the device is in the placed state based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 46 (Yes in S521), a determination is made in step S523 of FIG. 45 as to whether or not a work history image is stored in the storage unit 42. Here, if a work history image is stored in the storage unit 42 as described above (Yes in S523), an image transmission notification pattern transmission process shown in step S525 is performed. In this process, an image transmission notification pattern for notifying the charging device 60b that a work history image will be transmitted is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. Thereafter, a pattern analysis process shown in step S527 is performed, in which a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the charging device 60b via the receiving coil 53.

[0230] Then, when a reception permission pattern, which will be described later, is received from the charging device 60b via the power receiving coil 53 (Yes in S529), a work history image transmission process shown in step S531 is performed. In this process, the work history image stored in the storage unit 42 is transmitted to the charging device 60b by wireless communication via the communication unit 47. During this transmission process, the transmitted work history image is erased (cleared) from the storage unit 42.

[0231] Furthermore, when it is determined that the mobile terminal 10 is in the placed state based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 46 (Yes in S521), and if the work history image is not stored in the storage unit 42 (No in S523), a power transmission request pattern transmission process is performed in step S533, and the above-mentioned power transmission request pattern is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the power receiving coil 53 controlled by the power supply control unit 51. This starts a process for charging the mobile terminal 10 by the charging device 60b that has received the power transmission request pattern.

[0232] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the mobile terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b in a function-limited state (Yes in S601 of FIG. 46), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 (S603). If the analyzed pattern is the image transmission notification pattern described above (Yes in S605), a reception permission pattern transmission process shown in step S607 is performed. In this process, a reception permission pattern indicating a state in which the charging device 60b is able to receive work history images is transmitted to the mobile terminal 10 via the power receiving coil 53 by the power transmitting coil 83 controlled by the power supply control unit 81 of the charging device 60b. Thereafter, in a work history image storage process shown in step S609, the work history images received from the mobile terminal 10 via the communication unit 74 as described above are stored in the storage unit 75.

[0233] On the other hand, if the analyzed pattern is the above-mentioned power transmission request pattern (No in S605), the charging process shown in step S611 is performed, and the power supply control unit 81 performs processing to charge the mobile terminal 10 via the power transmission coil 83.

[0234] As described above, in the charging system 1b according to this embodiment, the mobile terminal 10 includes a storage unit 42 that stores, as work history images, a plurality of images captured by the imaging unit 43 at predetermined timings within a predetermined period based on the time of successful decoding. In the mobile terminal 10, when the placement detection unit 46 detects a placement state, the control unit 41 controls the power receiving coil 53 with the power transmission request pattern if the work history image is not stored in the storage unit 42, and controls the power receiving coil 53 with the image transmission notification pattern if the work history image is stored in the storage unit 42. After that, the work history image is erased from the storage unit 42 upon completion of transmission of the work history image using the communication unit 47. In the charging device 60b, when the power transmission request pattern is analyzed, the control unit 71 controls the power transmission coil 83 to charge the power receiving coil 53 via the power supply control unit 81, and when the image transmission notification pattern is analyzed, the control unit 71 performs processing to store the work history image received from the mobile terminal 10 in the memory unit 75 using the communication unit 74 via the power supply control unit 81.

[0235] As a result, even if the user realizes that the mobile terminal 10 is lost after performing the reading operation of reading the information code, the work history images captured at predetermined times during the reading operation are stored in the charging device 60b. Therefore, when the mobile terminal 10 is lost, the user can easily determine where the mobile terminal 10 was used by obtaining and checking the work history images related to the mobile terminal 10 from the charging device 60b, thereby obtaining clues for finding the lost mobile terminal 10.

[0236] It is not necessary that all captured images captured at a predetermined timing within a predetermined period based on the time of successful decoding are stored in the memory unit 42 as work history images; for example, one or more captured images captured at other predetermined timings, such as within a predetermined period, may be stored in the memory unit 42 as work history images.

[0237] As a first modification of the present embodiment, on the premise that there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 10 will be placed on any of the charging devices 60b arranged in the multiple areas, the information that is stored in the charging device 60b and serves as a clue for searching for the lost mobile terminal 10 is not limited to being an operation history image consisting of one or more captured images taken by the imaging unit 43, but may also be a terminal ID that serves as terminal identification information for distinguishing and identifying the mobile terminal 10 from other mobile terminals 10. It is assumed that the terminal ID is recorded in the storage unit 42 in advance.

[0238] Specifically, in mobile terminal 10, when the placement detection unit 46 detects the placement state, control unit 41 causes power supply control unit 51 to control power receiving coil 53 with a terminal identification information notification pattern that requests power transmission and notifies wireless transmission of the terminal ID of the mobile terminal, and then transmits the terminal ID to charging device 60b using communication unit 47. In charging device 60b, when the terminal identification information notification pattern is analyzed, control unit 71 causes power supply control unit 81 to control power transmitting coil 83 to charge power receiving coil 53, and performs processing to store the terminal ID received from mobile terminal 10 in storage unit 75 using communication unit 74.

[0239] As a modified example of this embodiment, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 and the pattern reception process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b when the mobile terminal 10 is placed on one of the charging devices 60b located in each of the multiple areas will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0240] First, the pattern transmission process performed by the control unit 41 of the mobile terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the control unit 41 starts the pattern transmission process, in the determination process shown in step S701 of FIG. 47, it is determined whether or not the mobile terminal 10 is in a placed state where it is placed on the charging device 60b, and the determination of No is repeated until it is determined that the mobile terminal 10 is in a placed state based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 46.

[0241] When the portable terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b and it is determined that the portable terminal 10 is in the placed state based on the detection result of the placement detection unit 46 (Yes in S701), a terminal identification information notification pattern transmission process shown in step S703 is performed. In this process, in addition to a charging request, a terminal identification information notification pattern for notifying the charging device 60b that a terminal ID will be transmitted is transmitted to the charging device 60b using the receiving coil 53 controlled by the power control unit 51. Thereafter, a pattern analysis process shown in step S705 is performed, in which a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the charging device 60b via the receiving coil 53. When a reception permission pattern is received from the charging device 60b via the receiving coil 53 (Yes in S707), a terminal ID transmission process shown in step S709 is performed. In this process, the terminal ID stored in the storage unit 42 is transmitted to the charging device 60b via the communication unit 47 by wireless communication.

[0242] Next, the pattern receiving process performed by the control unit 71 of the charging device 60b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the portable terminal 10 is placed on the charging device 60b in a function-limited state (Yes in S801 of FIG. 48), a process is performed to analyze the pattern received from the portable terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83 (S803). If the analyzed pattern is the above-described terminal identification information notification pattern (Yes in S805), a reception permission pattern transmission process shown in step S807 is performed. In this process, a reception permission pattern indicating a state in which the charging device 60b is able to receive a terminal ID is transmitted to the portable terminal 10 via the power receiving coil 53 by the power transmitting coil 83 controlled by the power supply control unit 81 of the charging device 60b. Thereafter, in a terminal ID storage process shown in step S809, the terminal ID received from the portable terminal 10 via the communication unit 74 as described above is stored in the storage unit 75. Then, a charging process shown in step S811 is performed, in which the power supply control unit 81 performs a process to charge the portable terminal 10 via the power transmitting coil 83.

[0243] As a result, even if the loss of the mobile terminal 10 is noticed after a predetermined task is performed, the terminal ID (terminal identification information) is stored in one of the charging devices 60b at the timing when the mobile terminal 10 is charged during the task. Therefore, by checking when and in which charging device 60b the terminal ID of the lost mobile terminal 10 is stored on a server or the like managing each charging device 60b, it is possible to easily know when and where the mobile terminal 10 is being charged, thereby obtaining clues for finding the lost mobile terminal 10.

[0244] As a second modification of this embodiment, instead of the work history image, the code type of the successfully decoded information code may be used as the work history information. In this configuration, assuming that the code types of the successfully decoded information codes are sequentially stored in the storage unit 42 as the work history information, when the placement state is detected, if the work history information is stored in the storage unit 42, the power receiving coil unit 53 is controlled with an information transmission notification pattern that notifies the transmission of the work history information. Then, upon completion of transmission of the work history information using the communication unit 47, the work history information is deleted from the storage unit 42. In the charging device 60b, when the power transmission request pattern is analyzed, the control unit 71 controls the power transmitting coil 83 to charge the power receiving coil 53 using the power supply control unit 81. When the information transmission notification pattern is analyzed, the control unit 71 performs processing to store the work history information received from the mobile terminal 10 by the power supply control unit 81 using the communication unit 74 in the storage unit 75.

[0245] As a result, even if the user realizes that the mobile terminal 10 is lost after performing a reading operation to read an information code, the code types of the information codes that were successfully decoded during the reading operation are stored in the charging device 60b as work history information. Therefore, when the mobile terminal 10 is lost, the user can easily determine which code type of the information code was read by obtaining and checking the work history information related to the mobile terminal 10 from the charging device 60b. For example, since the code type is usually associated with the work that reads the information code, such as an incoming goods inspection work if the code type is an ITF code and a blood transfusion work if the code type is an ISBT128 code, the user can easily determine which work was performed from the code type, which is the work history information, and thus can obtain clues for finding the lost mobile terminal 10.

[0246] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be embodied as follows, for example. (1) The present invention is not limited to being employed in the charging system 1 that charges the above-described portable terminal 10. For example, the present invention may be employed in a charging system that charges a portable information reading terminal that can read at least one of information recorded in an information code and information recorded in a wireless tag and has a capacitor as a terminal-side power storage device. The present invention may also be employed in a charging system that charges a portable information reading terminal that has a capacitor as a terminal-side power storage device and can realize other functions. Even a portable information reading terminal configured in this manner can supply power suitable for charging its capacitor.

[0247] (2) In the above first to third and seventh embodiments and modified examples, the charging device 60 is not limited to being configured to include a secondary battery 82 as the device-side power storage device, and may be configured to include, for example, a capacitor such as an electric double layer capacitor (supercapacitor) as the device-side power storage device.

[0248] (3) In the fourth to sixth embodiments and the modified examples, the mobile terminal 10 is not limited to being configured to include a capacitor 52 as the terminal-side power storage device, but may be configured to include, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery as the terminal-side power storage device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0249] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c...Charging system 2...PC (external power supply) 10, 10a, 10c...Mobile devices 13...Power generation section 41...Control unit (reading unit, terminal side determination unit, decoding unit) 42...Memory unit (terminal side memory unit) 43...imaging unit (reading unit) 46...Placement detection unit (terminal side detection unit) 47...Communication unit (terminal side communication unit) 51...Power supply control unit (terminal side control unit) 52...Capacitor 53... Receiving coil (receiving unit) 54...Load 55...Current measurement unit (first measurement unit) 56...Voltage measurement unit (second measurement unit) 60,60b…Charging device 71...Control unit (communication control unit, analysis unit, device side determination unit) 73...Placement detection unit (device side detection unit) 74...Communication unit (communication control unit, device-side communication unit) 75…Storage unit (device side storage unit) 81...Power supply control unit (device side control unit) 82... Secondary battery (device-side power storage device) 83...Transmitting coil (power supply unit, power transmission unit) C, Ca1~Ca4...Information code Pa1~Pa5...Instruction patterns

Claims

1. A mobile device, a charging device that wirelessly charges the mobile terminal placed in a chargeable state; A charging system comprising: a plurality of information codes each having predetermined information to be instructed to the charging device recorded thereon in an optically readable manner are prepared for each of the predetermined information; The mobile terminal a reading unit that reads the predetermined information from the captured information code; a generating unit that generates an instruction pattern according to the predetermined information read by the reading unit; a power receiving unit capable of receiving power by wireless power transmission; a terminal side detection unit capable of detecting the placement state; a terminal-side control unit that controls the power receiving unit; Equipped with when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placement state, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit with a power transmission request pattern that requests power transmission when the instruction pattern has not been generated by the generation unit, and controls the power receiving unit with the instruction pattern when the instruction pattern has been generated by the generation unit; The charging device is a power transmission unit capable of transmitting power wirelessly; an apparatus-side detector capable of detecting the placement state; an analysis unit that analyzes a pattern received from the power receiving unit via the power transmitting unit when the device-side detection unit detects the placement state; an apparatus-side control unit that performs control in accordance with the analysis result by the analysis unit; Equipped with The device-side control unit controls the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit when the power transmission request pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit, and performs control according to the instruction pattern when the instruction pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit.

2. The charging system according to claim 1 , wherein a pattern for changing a setting of the charging device is adopted as at least a part of the instruction pattern generated by the generation unit.

3. the portable terminal includes a terminal-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the terminal-side control unit when wirelessly communicating with the charging device; the charging device includes an apparatus-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the apparatus-side control unit when wirelessly communicating with the mobile terminal, a reconnection instruction pattern for reconnecting after disconnecting a wireless connection is adopted as at least a part of the instruction pattern generated by the generation unit; when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placed state and, if the reconnection instruction pattern has been generated by the generation unit, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the reconnection instruction pattern and controls the terminal-side wireless communication unit to disconnect the wireless connection and then reconnect; 3. The charging system according to claim 1, wherein, when the reconnection instruction pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit, the device-side control unit controls the device-side wireless communication unit to disconnect the wireless connection and then reconnect.

4. the predetermined information corresponding to the reconnection instruction pattern includes device identification information that identifies the charging device, The mobile terminal a terminal-side determination unit that, when the predetermined information read from the information code by the reading unit includes the device identification information, determines whether or not a charging device identified from the device identification information is in a first matched state that matches the charging device wirelessly connected by the terminal-side wireless communication unit; 4. The charging system according to claim 3, wherein the generation unit does not generate the reconnection instruction pattern when the terminal-side determination unit determines that the first matching state has occurred when the predetermined information is read by the reading unit.

5. The charging system according to claim 4, characterized in that the terminal-side control unit controls the terminal-side wireless communication unit so as to set the charging device identified from the device identification information read from the information code as the reconnection destination.

6. the portable terminal includes a terminal-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the terminal-side control unit when wirelessly communicating with the charging device; the charging device is capable of wirelessly communicating with a predetermined number of the portable terminals and includes an apparatus-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the apparatus-side control unit when wirelessly communicating with the portable terminals; an additional connection instruction pattern for adding a wireless connection is adopted as at least a part of the instruction pattern generated by the generation unit; when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placed state and, if the additional connection instruction pattern has been generated by the generation unit, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the additional connection instruction pattern and controls the terminal-side wireless communication unit to establish a wireless connection; The charging system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, when the analysis unit analyzes the additional connection instruction pattern, if the device is not in wireless communication with any of the portable terminals or is currently wirelessly connected to less than the specified number of portable terminals, the device-side control unit controls the device-side wireless communication unit to add a wireless connection target, and if the device is currently wirelessly connected to the specified number of portable terminals, the device-side control unit controls the device-side wireless communication unit not to add a wireless connection target.

7. a function restriction instruction pattern for restricting a predetermined terminal function of the portable terminal and a predetermined device function of the charging device is adopted as at least a part of the instruction pattern generated by the generation unit; when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placed state and, if the function restriction instruction pattern has been generated by the generation unit, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the function restriction instruction pattern and restricts the predetermined terminal function; The charging system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the device-side control unit restricts the predetermined device function when the function restriction instruction pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit.

8. when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placement state and, if the generation unit has generated the function restriction instruction pattern while the predetermined terminal function is restricted, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit using the function restriction instruction pattern and releases the restriction on the predetermined terminal function; 8. The charging system according to claim 7, wherein the device-side control unit releases the restriction on the predetermined device function when the analysis unit analyzes the function restriction instruction pattern while the predetermined device function is restricted.

9. a mobile terminal that optically reads the information code; a charging device that wirelessly charges the mobile terminal placed in a chargeable state; A charging system comprising: The mobile terminal an imaging unit that images the information code; a decoding unit that decodes the information code included in the image captured by the imaging unit; a terminal-side storage unit that stores one or more captured images captured by the imaging unit at a predetermined timing as work history images; a power receiving unit capable of receiving power by wireless power transmission; a terminal side detection unit capable of detecting the placement state; a terminal-side control unit that controls the power receiving unit; a terminal-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the terminal-side control unit when wirelessly communicating with the charging device; Equipped with when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placement state, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit with a power transmission request pattern that requests power transmission when the work history image is not stored in the terminal-side storage unit, and controls the power receiving unit with an image transmission notification pattern that notifies the user that the work history image will be transmitted when the work history image is stored in the terminal-side storage unit, and then erases the work history image from the terminal-side storage unit upon completion of transmission of the work history image using the terminal-side wireless communication unit; The charging device is a power transmission unit capable of transmitting power wirelessly; an apparatus-side detector capable of detecting the placement state; an analysis unit that analyzes a pattern received from the power receiving unit via the power transmitting unit when the device-side detection unit detects the placement state; an apparatus-side control unit that performs control in accordance with the analysis result by the analysis unit; a device-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the device-side control unit when communicating wirelessly with the mobile terminal; a device-side storage unit; Equipped with A charging system characterized in that the device-side control unit controls the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit when the power transmission request pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit, and performs processing to store the work history image received from the mobile terminal in the device-side memory unit using the device-side wireless communication unit when the image transmission notification pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit.

10. 10. The charging system according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined timing is set to one or more times based on the time when the decoding unit has successfully decoded the signal.

11. a mobile terminal that optically reads the information code; a charging device that wirelessly charges the mobile terminal placed in a chargeable state; A charging system comprising: The mobile terminal an imaging unit that images the information code; a decoding unit that decodes the information code included in the image captured by the imaging unit; a terminal-side storage unit in which the code type of the information code successfully decoded by the decoding unit is stored as work history information; a power receiving unit capable of receiving power by wireless power transmission; a terminal side detection unit capable of detecting the placement state; a terminal-side control unit that controls the power receiving unit; a terminal-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the terminal-side control unit when wirelessly communicating with the charging device; Equipped with when the terminal-side detection unit detects the placement state, the terminal-side control unit controls the power receiving unit with a power transmission request pattern that requests power transmission when the work history information is not stored in the terminal-side storage unit, and controls the power receiving unit with an information transmission notification pattern that notifies that the work history information will be transmitted when the work history information is stored in the terminal-side storage unit, and then erases the work history information from the terminal-side storage unit upon completion of transmission of the work history information using the terminal-side wireless communication unit; The charging device is a power transmission unit capable of transmitting power wirelessly; an apparatus-side detector capable of detecting the placement state; an analysis unit that analyzes a pattern received from the power receiving unit via the power transmitting unit when the device-side detection unit detects the placement state; an apparatus-side control unit that performs control in accordance with the analysis result by the analysis unit; a device-side wireless communication unit that is controlled by the device-side control unit when communicating wirelessly with the mobile terminal; a device-side storage unit; Equipped with A charging system characterized in that the device-side control unit controls the power transmitting unit to charge the power receiving unit when the power transmission request pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit, and performs processing to store the work history information received from the mobile terminal in the device-side memory unit using the device-side wireless communication unit when the information transmission notification pattern is analyzed by the analysis unit.

12. a mobile terminal having a capacitor as a terminal-side power storage device; a charging device that charges the mobile terminal using power from an external power source; A charging system comprising: The charging device is an apparatus-side power storage device; a power supply unit for supplying power to the mobile terminal; an apparatus-side control unit that controls charging of the apparatus-side power storage device by using power from the external power supply and controls charging of the capacitor of the mobile terminal via the power supply unit by using power from the apparatus-side power storage device; Equipped with the charging device wirelessly supplies power to the mobile terminal; the device-side control unit includes a charge circuit and a voltage adjustment circuit that are controlled to charge the device-side power storage device to full charge or a predetermined charge amount in accordance with the device-side power storage device using power from the external power supply, and controls charging of the capacitor of the portable terminal via the power supply unit using the power of the device-side power storage device whose voltage has been adjusted by the voltage adjustment circuit; the apparatus-side power storage device is a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery, The charging system is characterized in that the external power source is a limited power source different from a commercial power source.

13. The charging system according to claim 12, wherein the charging device includes a communication control unit that relays communication between the mobile terminal and a host device.

14. 14. The charging system according to claim 13, wherein the communication control unit also relays communication between the host device and another charging device or a mobile terminal that is not placed on the charging device.

15. 15. The charging system according to claim 13, wherein the charging device wirelessly communicates with at least one of the mobile terminal and the host device.

16. The charging system according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the portable terminal is a portable information reading terminal capable of reading at least one of information recorded in an information code and information recorded in a wireless tag.

17. The mobile terminal a load that operates by receiving power supply; a power supply control unit that receives power supplied from the charging device, charges the capacitor, and supplies power to the load; a first measuring unit that measures a value related to power consumption consumed by the load; a second measurement unit that measures a value related to the power supplied from the charging device; Equipped with The power supply control unit The charging system according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that when the measurement value of the first measurement unit is in a predetermined increasing state or when the measurement value of the second measurement unit is in a predetermined decreasing state, control is performed to reduce the charging power to the capacitor, and when the measurement value of the first measurement unit has not reached the predetermined increasing state and the measurement value of the second measurement unit has exceeded the predetermined decreasing state, control is performed to increase the charging power to the capacitor toward a predetermined upper limit value.

Images