Battery-powered wireless transmitter

Abstract

To provide a battery-driven radio transmitter capable of smoothly restoring the transmitter from a battery-depletion detection state after battery replacement.SOLUTION: A battery-driven radio transmitter, which uses a battery as a power source and places and transmits various signals on radio waves, comprises: a low-voltage detection unit for detecting that the voltage of the battery drops to a predetermined value or below; a battery cover; a battery-cover opening / closing detection unit for detecting open and close conditions of the battery cover; and a CPU. When the voltage of the battery drops to the predetermined value or below, the low-voltage detection unit inputs a low-voltage detection signal to the CPU, which brings the CPU into a battery-depletion detection state. During the battery-depletion detection state, if the battery cover is opened, the battery-cover opening / closing detection unit detects the opening of the battery cover, and a battery cover open signal is input from the battery-cover opening / closing detection unit to the CPU, current consumption is increased and the CPU is reset to restore from the battery-depletion detection state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery-powered wireless transmitter that transmits various signals using a battery as a power source, and particularly to a technology when the battery voltage drops.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, battery-powered wireless transmitters include those with a built-in human body detection sensor that transmits a detection signal, those that input the detection output of a contact output type wired sensor and transmit a contact state signal, and those that transmit a signal in response to the operation of a push button provided on a device.

[0003] In these battery-powered wireless transmitters, when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value, a battery depletion detection state is entered and a signal including battery depletion information is transmitted by radio wave to a corresponding receiver to notify the timing of battery replacement. Some have this function (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Since the battery voltage varies depending on the ambient temperature and the consumption current, after the battery voltage drops below a predetermined value and a battery depletion detection state is entered, even if the voltage exceeds the predetermined value again, the battery depletion detection state is maintained. When the battery is removed from the battery-powered wireless transmitter during battery replacement, the CPU is reset and the battery depletion detection state is restored.

[0006] However, battery-powered wireless transmitters are designed to operate with low current consumption to achieve long battery life. This has led to a problem where, even after the old battery is removed, the device continues to operate due to the charge stored inside, and the CPU is not reset, preventing it from recovering from the battery depletion detection state, even when a new battery is installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) In order to solve the above problems, the battery-powered wireless transmitter of the present invention is a battery-powered wireless transmitter that uses a battery as a power source and transmits various signals on radio waves, comprising: a low voltage detection unit that detects when the voltage of the battery falls below a preset value; a battery cover; a battery cover open / close detection unit that detects when the battery cover is opened or closed; and a CPU, wherein when the battery cover is opened, the battery cover open / close detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened, and a battery cover open signal is input from the battery cover open / close detection unit to the CPU, and when the voltage of the battery falls below a preset value, When a low voltage detection signal is input to the CPU from the low voltage detection unit, the CPU enters a battery depletion detection state. While the CPU is in the battery depletion detection state, even if the low voltage detection signal from the low voltage detection unit is interrupted, the CPU maintains the battery depletion detection state. While the CPU is in the battery depletion detection state, the battery cover is opened and the battery cover open / close detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened. When the battery cover open / close detection unit inputs the battery cover open signal to the CPU, the current consumption increases, and the battery depletion detection state of the CPU is restored when the CPU is reset.

[0008] (2) In the battery-powered wireless transmitter described in (1), when the low voltage detection signal is input to the CPU during radio signal transmission, it is preferable that the CPU enters a battery depletion detection state.

[0009] (3) In the battery-powered wireless transmitter described in (1) or (2), when the CPU is in the battery depletion detection state, the battery cover is opened and the battery cover opening / closing detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened, and the battery cover opening signal is input from the battery cover opening / closing detection unit to the CPU, it is preferable that the CPU enters a current consumption increase mode and increases the current consumption.

[0010] (4) In the battery-powered wireless transmitter described in (1) or (2), when the CPU is in the battery depletion detection state, the battery cover is opened and the battery cover opening / closing detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened, and the battery cover opening signal is input from the battery cover opening / closing detection unit to the CPU, it is preferable that the CPU increases the current consumption by supplying current to the load connected to the port.

[0011] (5) In the battery-powered wireless transmitter described in (1) or (2), it is preferable that the battery cover opening / closing detection unit detects opening and closing using a switch. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The present invention provides a battery-powered wireless transmitter that recovers without any problems from the battery depletion detection state after battery replacement. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of one embodiment of the battery-powered transmitter of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a wireless system equipped with a battery-powered transmitter of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures.

[0015] Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the battery-powered transmitter of the present invention. The battery-powered transmitter 1 of the present invention consists of a battery cover 11 and a base unit 12. The base unit 12 houses an electronic circuit (not shown), and a battery 101 can be connected to power the electronic circuit. The battery-powered transmitter 1 is operated with the battery cover 11 attached to the base unit 12 and closed, and the battery can be replaced by opening the battery cover 11.

[0016] The switch 109 is provided in the battery cover opening / closing detection unit 104 (not shown), and when the battery cover 11 is attached to the base unit 12 and closed, the switch 109 is pressed by a protrusion (not shown) provided on the battery cover 11.

[0017] When the battery cover 11 is opened, the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 detects that the battery cover 11 has been opened via the switch 109, and outputs a battery cover open signal from the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 to the CPU 103, which will be described later. When the battery cover 11 is closed, the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 detects that the battery cover 11 has been closed via the switch 109, and outputs a battery cover closed signal from the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 to the CPU 103.

[0018] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a wireless system equipped with a battery-powered transmitter. The battery-powered transmitter 1 is powered by a battery 101. When a detection output signal, such as that from a wired sensor with a contact output connected to the contact input unit 105, is input, the CPU 103 processes the detection output signal and transmits it via radio waves from the transmitter unit 106, lights up the indicator light 107, or activates the sound generating unit 108, which is equipped with a buzzer or speaker.

[0019] The radio signal transmitted from the transmitter 106 is received by the receiver 2, and the receiver 2 sends a signal to an alarm device, notification device, etc. (not shown) according to the content of the radio signal.

[0020] In addition, so that the receiver 2 can confirm whether the radio signal is being transmitted normally, the CPU 103 controls the battery-driven transmitter 1 to transmit a periodic transmission signal from the transmission unit 106 on the radio signal at predetermined intervals.

[0021] The low voltage detection unit 102 monitors the voltage of the battery 101, detects that the voltage has dropped below a preset value, and the low voltage detection signal is input from the low voltage detection unit 102 to the CPU 103. The CPU 103 enters the battery depletion detection state. When transmitting signals such as the detection output signal and the periodic transmission signal described above on the radio signal during the battery depletion detection state, the battery depletion signal is also transmitted on the radio signal to notify the receiver 2 of the timing for battery replacement.

[0022] Considering that the voltage of the battery fluctuates due to ambient temperature and load, even if the voltage of the battery exceeds the predetermined value again and the low voltage detection signal from the low voltage detection unit 102 is interrupted, the CPU 103 maintains the battery depletion detection state, and the recovery from the battery depletion detection state is performed when the CPU is reset.

[0023] In the battery depletion detection state, when the battery cover 11 is opened, the switch 109 causes the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 to detect that the battery cover 11 has been opened, and a battery cover open signal is input from the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 to the CPU 103. The CPU 103 shifts from the normal current consumption state to the current consumption increase mode with a large current consumption. After that, when the battery cover 11 is closed, the switch 109 causes the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 to detect that the battery cover 11 has been closed, and a battery cover close signal is input from the battery cover open / close detection unit 104 to the CPU 103. The CPU 103 cancels the current consumption increase mode and returns to the normal current consumption state.

[0024] Battery-powered transmitters are designed to operate with low current consumption to achieve long battery life. If they do not switch to a current consumption increase mode, even if the old battery is removed when attempting to replace it, the device may continue to operate due to the charge stored inside, and the CPU may not be reset when a new battery is installed. However, according to this embodiment, when the battery cover is opened while the battery is low, the device switches to a current consumption increase mode and increases the current consumption. As a result, when the old battery is removed, the charge stored inside the device is depleted and the CPU is reset, allowing the device to recover from the battery low detection state without any problems after battery replacement.

[0025] Furthermore, if the CPU 103 is constantly in a current consumption increase mode regardless of the battery depletion detection state when the battery cover open signal is input to the CPU 103, then when the battery cover 11 is opened during maintenance such as when the device is installed or when settings are changed using the function setting switch 110 on the base unit 12, or when the battery cover 11 is left open for a long time, or when the switch that detects the opening and closing of the cover is broken, unnecessary current will flow, which may significantly reduce the battery life. However, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent this reduction in battery life.

[0026] Similarly, if the device is in a mode that constantly increases current consumption while the battery is low, there is a risk that the battery life will be significantly reduced. However, in this embodiment, this reduction in battery life can be prevented.

[0027] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the CPU 103 may monitor the input of a low voltage detection signal when transmitting a radio signal, and if a low voltage detection signal is input when transmitting a radio signal, it may enter a battery depletion detection state. Since the current consumption increases and the battery voltage drops when transmitting a radio signal, monitoring during radio signal transmission is sufficient, and monitoring during radio signal transmission reduces the processing load on the CPU 103. Alternatively, the CPU 103 may enter a battery depletion detection state if a low voltage detection signal is input to the CPU 103 during a preset number of consecutive radio signal transmissions. Detecting low voltage multiple times consecutively reduces false detections and increases reliability.

[0028] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when a battery cover open signal was input to the CPU 103 from the battery cover open / close detection unit 104, the CPU 103 entered a current consumption increase mode and increased the current consumption. However, the current consumption may also be increased by supplying current to a load such as a resistor connected to a port of the CPU 103.

[0029] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a wired sensor with a contact output was connected to the contact input section 105, but a simple switch or a device with a contact output may also be connected.

[0030] Furthermore, the indicator light 107 in the above embodiment may be omitted, and the sound generating unit 108 may also be omitted.

[0031] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment uses a mechanical switch 109, a magnetic switch such as a reed switch or an electrical switch such as a photointerrupter may also be used.

[0032] Furthermore, although the battery-powered transmitter in the above embodiment is of the contact input type, instead of the contact input unit 105, a battery-powered transmitter equipped with sensors for human body detection, tilt detection, vibration detection, etc., and transmitting detection output signals from the sensors may be used, or a battery-powered transmitter equipped with a push-button switch and transmitting signals corresponding to the operation of the push button may be used.

[0033] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these. It can be implemented in various other forms and is included within the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Battery-powered transmitter 2. Receiver 11. Battery cover 12. Base Unit 101...Battery 102...Low voltage detection unit 103···CPU 104...Battery cover open / close detection unit 105... Contact input section 106...Transmitter 107...Indicator light 108...Sound generation unit 109... Switch 110...Function setting switch

Claims

1. A battery-powered wireless transmitter that uses a battery as a power source and transmits various signals by transmitting them as radio signals, The system comprises a low-voltage detection unit that detects when the voltage of the battery drops below a preset value, a battery cover, a battery cover open / close detection unit that detects when the battery cover is opened or closed, and a CPU. When the battery cover is opened, the battery cover opening / closing detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened, and a battery cover open signal is input from the battery cover opening / closing detection unit to the CPU. If the voltage of the battery drops below a preset value, the low voltage detection unit inputs a low voltage detection signal to the CPU, and the CPU enters a battery depletion detection state. Even if the low voltage detection signal from the low voltage detection unit is interrupted while the CPU is in the battery depletion detection state, the CPU maintains the battery depletion detection state. When the CPU is in the state of battery depletion detection, and the battery cover is opened, and the battery cover opening / closing detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened, and the battery cover opening signal is input from the battery cover opening / closing detection unit to the CPU, the current consumption is increased. The battery depletion detection state of the CPU is characterized by being restored when the CPU is reset. Battery-powered wireless transmitter.

2. In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to claim 1, When transmitting a radio signal, if the low voltage detection signal is input to the CPU, the CPU enters the battery depletion detection state. Battery-powered wireless transmitter.

3. In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to claim 1 or 2, The CPU is in the state of detecting a dead battery when the battery cover is opened and the battery cover opening / closing detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened, and when the battery cover opening / closing detection unit inputs a battery cover open signal to the CPU, the CPU enters a current consumption increase mode and increases the current consumption. Battery-powered wireless transmitter.

4. In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to claim 1 or 2, The CPU is characterized in that, while in the state of battery depletion detection, the battery cover is opened and the battery cover opening / closing detection unit detects that the battery cover has been opened, and when the battery cover opening signal is input from the battery cover opening / closing detection unit to the CPU, the CPU increases the current consumption by supplying current to the load connected to the port. Battery-powered wireless transmitter.

5. In the battery-powered wireless transmitter according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned battery cover opening / closing detection unit is characterized in that opening and closing are detected by a switch. Battery-powered wireless transmitter.

Images