Wireless communication device, signal control method, and signal control program

Abstract

This wireless communication device (1) comprises: a carrier signal amplification circuit (16) that amplifies a carrier signal; a current detection circuit (13) that detects a current supplied from a battery (20) to the carrier signal amplification circuit (16); a battery information acquisition unit (101) that acquires information indicating the number of charges / discharges of the battery (20); and an amplification voltage calculation unit (103) that calculates, on the basis of the number of charges / discharges of the battery (20) acquired by the battery information acquisition unit (101), an amplification voltage for compensating for a loss of voltage due to the internal resistance of the battery (20). The carrier signal amplification circuit (16) amplifies the carrier signal using the current detected by the current detection circuit (13) and the amplification voltage calculated by the amplification voltage calculation unit (103).

Description

Wireless communication device, signal control method, and signal control program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication device, a signal control method, and a signal control program.

[0002] Various techniques for controlling signals transmitted in wireless communication have been proposed. As an example of such a technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a transmission output control device that provides two directional couplers between a power amplifier circuit and a load circuit, and detects traveling waves and reflected waves to control output.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-202604

[0004] However, the directional coupler included in the transmission output control device disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a large board installation area and is therefore not suitable for installation in a portable wireless communication device. To reduce the size of wireless communication devices, it is conceivable to control output by feeding back and controlling the current value flowing in a circuit that amplifies the transmission power. However, when a battery is used as the power source for such wireless communication devices, there is a problem in that the carrier signal cannot be amplified to the desired level if the battery's output voltage decreases due to an increase in internal resistance caused by deterioration.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a wireless communication device, a signal control method, and a signal control program that are capable of maintaining the output of a carrier signal even when the battery deteriorates.

[0006] A wireless communication device capable of using a battery as a power source according to the present disclosure includes a carrier signal amplifier circuit that amplifies a carrier signal; a current detection circuit that detects the current supplied from the battery to the carrier signal amplifier circuit; a battery information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged; and an amplified voltage calculation unit that calculates an amplified voltage that compensates for voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery based on the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged acquired by the battery information acquisition unit, and the carrier signal amplifier circuit amplifies the carrier signal using the current detected by the current detection circuit and the amplified voltage calculated by the amplified voltage calculation unit.

[0007] The signal control method performed by the wireless communication device according to the present disclosure includes: acquiring information indicating the number of times a battery that supplies power to the wireless communication device is charged and discharged; calculating an amplification voltage that compensates for voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery based on the number of times the battery is charged and discharged; and amplifying the carrier signal transmitted from the wireless communication device using the current supplied from the battery to a carrier signal amplifier circuit that amplifies the carrier signal and the calculated amplification voltage.

[0008] The signal control program according to the present disclosure causes a computer to perform the following steps: acquiring information indicating the number of times a battery that supplies power to a wireless communication device is charged and discharged; calculating an amplification voltage that compensates for voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery based on the number of times the battery is charged and discharged; and outputting an amplification control signal that amplifies the carrier signal transmitted from the wireless communication device using the current supplied from the battery to a carrier signal amplifier circuit that amplifies the carrier signal and the calculated amplification voltage.

[0009] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide a wireless communication device, a signal control method, and a signal control program that are capable of maintaining the output of a carrier signal even when the battery has deteriorated.

[0010] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless communication device and a battery pack according to the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit diagram of a wireless communication device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an internal resistance identification table according to a first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functions of a arithmetic device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing executed by a arithmetic device according to the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an internal resistance identification table according to a second embodiment; and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an internal resistance identification table according to a third embodiment.

[0011] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a wireless communication device 1 and a battery pack 2 according to the present disclosure. The battery pack 2 includes a battery 20 and a battery management unit 21.

[0012] The battery 20 is a device that supplies power to the wireless communication device 1. The battery 20 is made up of one or more battery cells.

[0013] The battery management device 21 is a device that monitors and controls the battery 20. A specific example of the battery management device 21 is a battery management integrated circuit (IC). Specifically, the battery management device 21 monitors the number of times the battery 20 is charged and discharged, and provides information indicating the number of times the battery 20 is charged and discharged as battery information to the wireless communication device 1.

[0014] The wireless communication device 1 is a wireless communication device that transmits and receives various signals and is powered by a battery 20. The wireless communication device 1 includes a calculation unit 10, a storage unit 11, a digital-to-analog (D / A) converter 12, a current detection circuit 13, an amplification control circuit 14, a carrier signal supply circuit 15, a carrier signal amplification circuit 16, and an antenna 17.

[0015] The arithmetic device 10 is a device that performs overall control of the wireless communication device 1. Specific examples of the arithmetic device 10 include processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The arithmetic device 10 executes a program stored in the storage device 11 to perform a method defined by the program. Note that, in other embodiments, the functions performed by the arithmetic device 10 may also be performed by an integrated circuit such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). These devices correspond to computers.

[0016] The storage device 11 stores various data such as programs executed by the arithmetic device 10, data processed by the arithmetic device 10, and an internal resistance identification table. The internal resistance identification table is a data table for identifying the current internal resistance value of the battery 20. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal resistance identification table according to the first embodiment. In the internal resistance identification table, the number of times the battery 20 has been charged and discharged is registered in association with the estimated internal resistance value of the battery 20. The internal resistance of the battery 20 increases as the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged increases. Note that the values ​​shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and various values ​​may be used depending on the performance of the battery.

[0017] The D / A converter 12 is a circuit element that converts a digital signal into an analog signal. The D / A converter 12 converts the digital signal provided from the arithmetic device 10 into an analog signal and supplies it to the amplification control circuit 14. When the D / A converter 12 receives an amplification control signal from the arithmetic device 10 to amplify the carrier signal, the D / A converter 12 supplies an analog signal (also referred to as an amplification control signal) having a voltage indicated by the received amplification control signal to the amplification control circuit 14.

[0018] The current detection circuit 13 is a circuit that detects the current supplied from the battery 20 to the carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 .

[0019] The amplification control circuit 14 is a circuit that controls the amplification factor of the carrier wave in the carrier signal amplifier circuit 16. Specifically, the amplification control circuit 14 controls the amplification factor in the carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 based on the amplification control signal received from the D / A converter and the current value detected by the current detection circuit 13.

[0020] The carrier signal supply circuit 15 is a circuit that supplies the amplification control circuit 14 with a carrier signal for transmitting a signal to be transmitted.

[0021] The carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 is a circuit that amplifies the carrier signal supplied from the carrier signal supply circuit 15. The carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 transmits the amplified carrier signal to an antenna 17.

[0022] The antenna 17 is a device that transmits the amplified carrier signal received from the carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 .

[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit diagram of the current detection circuit 13, the amplification control circuit 14, the carrier signal supply circuit 15, and the carrier signal amplification circuit 16 provided in the wireless communication device 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0024] The current detection circuit 13 and the amplification control circuit 14 include a plurality of resistors including a resistor 130, and operational amplifiers 141 and 142. The operational amplifier 141 detects the current from the battery 20 based on the voltage drop caused when the current supplied from the battery 20 flows through the resistor 130, and supplies a detection signal to the operational amplifier 142. The resistor 130, the operational amplifier 141, and resistors 131, 132, 133, and 136 connected to the operational amplifier 141 function as the current detection circuit 13. The operational amplifier 142 combines the amplification control signal supplied from the D / A converter 12 with the detection signal supplied from the operational amplifier 141, and supplies the combined signal (hereinafter referred to as the "combined signal") to the carrier signal amplification circuit 16. The operational amplifier 142 and resistors 134 and 135 connected to the operational amplifier 142 function as the amplification control circuit 14.

[0025] The carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 includes insulated gate field effect transistors (MOSFETs: Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors) 161 and 162, a plurality of capacitors, a plurality of coils, and a plurality of resistors. Note that the carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 may include other amplifier elements, such as bipolar transistors, instead of MOSFETs. Furthermore, the numbers of amplifier elements, capacitors, coils, and resistors are not limited to those shown in FIG. 2 and may be any number.

[0026] MOSFETs 161 and 162 amplify the carrier signal supplied from carrier signal supply circuit 15 in accordance with their gate voltages. The amplification factor of the carrier signal is determined by the drain currents of MOSFETs 161 and 162. This drain current varies depending on the gate voltages of MOSFETs 161 and 162. The gate voltages of MOSFETs 161 and 162 are controlled by the voltage of a composite signal supplied from operational amplifiers 141 and 142 to the gate terminals of MOSFETs 161 and 162. This composite signal includes an amplification control signal. Therefore, the amplification factor of carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 is determined by the amplification control signal supplied from D / A converter 12, which controls the gate voltage, and the current detected by current detection circuit 13, which corresponds to the drain current.

[0027] 4 is a block diagram showing the functions of the arithmetic device 10. The arithmetic device 10 includes a battery information acquisition unit 101, an internal resistance specification unit 102, an amplified voltage calculation unit 103, and a control signal output unit 104.

[0028] The battery information acquisition unit 101 acquires battery information from the battery management unit 21. In this embodiment, the battery information acquisition unit 101 acquires information indicating the number of times the battery 20 has been charged and discharged, as the battery information.

[0029] The internal resistance specifying unit 102 specifies the current internal resistance value of the battery 20. Specifically, the internal resistance specifying unit 102 specifies the internal resistance value of the battery 20 corresponding to the number of times of charging and discharging acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 101, based on an internal resistance specifying table (see FIG. 3 ) which is information in which the number of times of charging and discharging of the battery 20 is associated with the internal resistance value.

[0030] The amplified voltage calculation unit 103 calculates an amplified voltage V that compensates for the voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery 20. Ｃ Specifically, the amplified voltage calculation unit 103 calculates the amplified voltage V Ｃ Calculate. Here, V is the default output voltage value of the D / A converter 12 when the internal resistance value of the battery 20 is 0. The default output voltage value is a voltage value that can achieve a desired amplification level of the carrier wave when the battery 20 is not deteriorated. The desired amplification level is an amplification level that achieves a carrier wave that complies with standards such as power transient response standards during ramping during burst transmission and standards for leakage power of adjacent channels. R is the internal resistance value of the battery 20 identified by the internal resistance identification unit 102. a is a positive constant previously determined through experiments or simulations.

[0031] The control signal output unit 104 outputs a control signal for controlling the amplification factor of the carrier signal. Specifically, the control signal output unit 104 outputs a control signal for controlling the amplification factor of the carrier signal. Ｃ The amplifier outputs an amplification control signal indicating

[0032] 5 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the arithmetic device 10. The processing shown in FIG.

[0033] In step S1, the battery information acquisition unit 101 acquires battery information indicating the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery 20. In step S2, the internal resistance identification unit 102 identifies the internal resistance value of the battery 20 corresponding to the number of charge / discharge cycles acquired in step S1 based on an internal resistance identification table. In step S3, the amplified voltage calculation unit 103 calculates the amplified voltage V identified in step S2. Ｃ In step S4, the control signal output unit 104 calculates the amplified voltage V calculated in step S3. Ｃ The amplifier outputs an amplification control signal indicating the above to the D / A converter 12, and the process of FIG. 5 ends.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, the battery information acquisition unit 101 acquires information indicating the number of times the battery 20 has been charged and discharged. Next, the internal resistance identification unit 102 identifies the internal resistance value of the battery 20 corresponding to the acquired number of times the battery 20 has been charged and discharged, based on information associating the number of times the battery 20 has been charged and discharged with the internal resistance value of the battery 20. Next, the amplified voltage calculation unit 103 calculates an amplified voltage that compensates for the voltage loss due to the identified internal resistance of the battery 20, and the control signal output unit 104 outputs the calculated amplified voltage V Ｃ Then, the amplification control circuit 14 determines the amplification factor of the carrier signal based on the amplification control signal and the current detected by the current detection circuit 13.

[0035] By adopting this configuration, even if the battery 20 deteriorates and the output voltage drops, the computing device 10 can estimate the current internal resistance value of the battery 20. The carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 then amplifies the carrier signal using the amplified voltage that compensates for the voltage loss due to the estimated current internal resistance and the current detected by the current detection circuit 13. Therefore, even if the battery deteriorates and the internal resistance increases, the output of the carrier signal can be maintained. As a result, a wireless communication device that complies with standards for power transient response during ramping during burst transmission and standards for adjacent channel leakage power can be realized.

[0036] Second Embodiment In a second embodiment, the battery information acquiring unit 101 of the computing device 10 acquires, as battery information, information indicating the measured temperature of the battery 20 in addition to information indicating the number of times the battery 20 has been charged and discharged. The internal resistance identifying unit 102 identifies the internal resistance value of the battery corresponding to the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged and the measured temperature acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 101, based on an internal resistance identifying table in which the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged, the temperature of the battery, and the internal resistance value of the battery are associated with each other.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an internal resistance identification table according to this embodiment. In the internal resistance identification table according to this embodiment, the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery 20, the measured temperature of the battery 20, and the internal resistance value of the battery 20 are registered in association with each other. The internal resistance of the battery 20 decreases as the measured temperature of the battery 20 increases. The internal resistance identification unit 102 refers to this internal resistance identification table and identifies the internal resistance value of the battery corresponding to the number of charge / discharge cycles and the measured temperature acquired by the battery information acquisition unit 101. Note that the values ​​shown in FIG. 6 are merely examples, and various values ​​may be used depending on the performance of the battery.

[0038] By adopting this configuration, the computing device 10 can estimate the internal resistance value based not only on the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery 20 but also on the measured temperature of the battery 20, thereby improving the accuracy of estimating the internal resistance value. The computing device 10 calculates an amplified voltage that compensates for the voltage loss due to the estimated internal resistance, thereby enabling a more appropriate amplified voltage to be calculated. As a result, the carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 can more appropriately amplify the carrier signal.

[0039] In a third embodiment, the battery information acquiring unit 101 of the computing device 10 acquires, as battery information, information indicating the measured voltage of the battery 20 in addition to information indicating the number of times the battery 20 has been charged and discharged. The internal resistance identifying unit 102 identifies the internal resistance value of the battery corresponding to the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged and the measured voltage acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 101, based on an internal resistance identifying table in which the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged, the voltage of the battery, and the internal resistance value of the battery are associated with each other.

[0040] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an internal resistance identification table according to this embodiment. In the internal resistance identification table according to this embodiment, the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery 20, the measured voltage of the battery 20, and the internal resistance value of the battery 20 are registered in association with each other. The internal resistance of the battery 20 increases as the measured voltage of the battery 20 increases. The internal resistance identification unit 102 refers to this internal resistance identification table and identifies the internal resistance value of the battery corresponding to the number of charge / discharge cycles and the measured voltage acquired by the battery information acquisition unit 101. Note that the values ​​shown in FIG. 7 are merely examples, and various values ​​may be used depending on the performance of the battery.

[0041] By adopting this configuration, the computing device 10 can estimate the internal resistance value not only from the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery 20 but also from the measured voltage of the battery 20, thereby improving the accuracy of estimating the internal resistance value. The computing device 10 calculates an amplified voltage that compensates for the voltage loss due to the estimated internal resistance, thereby enabling a more appropriate amplified voltage to be calculated. As a result, the carrier signal amplifier circuit 16 can more appropriately amplify the carrier signal.

[0042] <Modifications> In the above-described embodiments, the internal resistance specifying unit 102 specifies the internal resistance value of the battery based on the battery information acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 101, and the amplified voltage calculating unit 103 calculates the amplified voltage based on the specified internal resistance value. However, in other embodiments, the internal resistance specifying unit 102 may be omitted. Specifically, the amplified voltage calculating unit 103 may calculate the amplified voltage based on the battery information acquired by the battery information acquiring unit 101. In this case, instead of the internal resistance specifying tables of FIGS. 3 , 6 , and 7 , a data table in which battery information and amplified voltages are associated may be used. The amplified voltage calculating unit 103 can refer to this data table to specify the amplified voltage corresponding to the battery information.

[0043] In the above example, the program can be stored and provided to a computer using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROMs, programmable ROMs (PROMs), erasable PROMs (EPROMs), flash ROMs, and RAMs). The program may also be provided to a computer by various types of transitory computer-readable media. Examples of transitory computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The transitory computer-readable media can provide the program to a computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire or optical fiber, or via a wireless communication path.

[0044] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0045] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-20091, filed February 14, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0046] The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, wireless communication devices and the like.

[0047] 1: Wireless communication device 10: Arithmetic unit 101: Battery information acquisition unit 102: Internal resistance specification unit 103: Amplified voltage calculation unit 104: Control signal output unit 11: Storage device 12: D / A converter 13: Current detection circuit 14: Amplification control circuit 15: Carrier signal supply circuit 16: Carrier signal amplification circuit 17: Antenna 2: Battery pack 20: Battery 21: Battery management unit

Claims

1. A wireless communication device that can use a battery as a power source, comprising: a carrier signal amplifier circuit that amplifies a carrier signal; a current detection circuit that detects the current supplied from the battery to the carrier signal amplifier circuit; a battery information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged; and an amplified voltage calculation unit that calculates an amplified voltage that compensates for voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery based on the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged acquired by the battery information acquisition unit, wherein the carrier signal amplifier circuit amplifies the carrier signal using the current detected by the current detection circuit and the amplified voltage calculated by the amplified voltage calculation unit.

2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the battery information acquisition unit further acquires information indicating a measured temperature of the battery, and the amplified voltage calculation unit calculates the amplified voltage based on the number of charge / discharge cycles and the measured temperature acquired by the battery information acquisition unit.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the battery information acquisition unit further acquires information indicating a measured voltage of the battery, and the amplified voltage calculation unit calculates the amplified voltage based on the number of charge / discharge cycles and the measured voltage acquired by the battery information acquisition unit.

4. A signal control method executed by a wireless communication device, comprising: acquiring information indicating the number of times a battery that supplies power to the wireless communication device is charged and discharged; calculating an amplification voltage that compensates for voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery based on the number of times the battery is charged and discharged; and amplifying a carrier signal transmitted from the wireless communication device using the current supplied from the battery to a carrier signal amplifier circuit that amplifies the carrier signal and the calculated amplification voltage.

5. A signal control program that causes a computer to execute the following steps: acquiring information indicating the number of times a battery that supplies power to a wireless communication device has been charged and discharged; calculating an amplification voltage that compensates for voltage loss due to the internal resistance of the battery based on the number of times the battery has been charged and discharged; and outputting an amplification control signal that amplifies the carrier signal transmitted from the wireless communication device using the current supplied from the battery to a carrier signal amplifier circuit that amplifies the carrier signal and the calculated amplification voltage.

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