Electronic device

Abstract

This electronic device A1 comprises a first battery 1A, a second battery 1B, a load 7, a first path R1, a first switching element 2A, a second path R2, a second switching element 2B, a third switching element 2C, a control unit, and a power generation IC. The second path R2 is connected to a first connection point P1 provided between the first switching element 2A and the load in the first path R1. The electronic device A1 further comprises a third path R3 connecting a second connection point P2 and the power generation IC 5, said second connection point P2 being provided between the first switching element 2A and the load in the first path R1. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce battery troubles and also to simplify a route for generating the internal operation power supply.

Description

electronic equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device.

[0002] Electronic devices powered by batteries are widely used. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional electronic device. The electronic device disclosed in this document is configured as a robotic dust collector. This robotic dust collector includes multiple battery packs, various motors, a drive circuit, multiple switching elements, and a power management MCU. The multiple switching elements switch the conduction state between the multiple battery packs and the drive circuit. The power management MCU controls the switching of the multiple switching elements. The power management MCU operates on an internal operating power supply Vcc generated by a power control unit and a regulator.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-136257

[0004] In the robotic dust collector disclosed in the document, the body diodes included in the switching elements adjacent to each battery pack have a forward current direction toward each battery pack. Therefore, there is a concern that current may unintentionally flow back toward a battery pack if the voltages of the battery packs differ from one another or if an electrical problem occurs. Furthermore, to generate the internal operating power supply Vcc, a dedicated path is provided connecting a connection point between the battery packs and the switching elements to the power supply control unit. A diode is provided in this path to prevent backflow.

[0005] The present invention was conceived in light of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide an electronic device that can reduce battery troubles and simplify the path for generating internal operating power.

[0006] The present invention provides an electronic device comprising: a first battery, a second battery, a load consuming power from the first battery and the second battery, a first path connecting the first battery and the load, a first switching element provided in the first path, a second path electrically interposed between the second battery and the load, a second switching element provided in the second path, a third switching element provided in the first path between the first switching element and the load, a control unit, and a power supply generation IC generating drive power for the control unit, wherein the first switching element is a The second path includes a first body diode whose forward direction is from the first battery to the load, the second switching element includes a second body diode whose forward direction is from the second battery to the load, and the third switching element includes a third body diode whose forward direction is from the load to the first battery. The second path is connected to a first connection point provided between the first switching element and the load in the first path, and further includes a third path connecting a second connection point provided between the first switching element and the load in the first path to the power generation IC.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second path further includes a fourth switching element provided between the second switching element and the load, the fourth switching element including a fourth body diode whose forward direction is from the load to the second battery, the first connection point being provided between the first switching element and the load, and the second connection point being provided between the first switching element and the third switching element.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce battery troubles and simplify the path for generating the internal operating power supply.

[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0010] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc. in this disclosure are used for identification purposes only and are not intended to impose any ranking on their objects.

[0013] 1 shows an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The specific uses and functions of the electronic device A1 of this embodiment are not limited in any way. Examples of the electronic device A1 include a dust collector, a blower, a grass cutter, a branch cutter, and a sprayer.

[0014] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device A1 includes a first battery 1A, a second battery 1B, a first switching element 2A, a second switching element 2B, a third switching element 2C, a first power management MCU 3A, a second power management MCU 3B, a centralized management MCU 4, a power generation IC 5, and a load 7.

[0015] The first battery 1A and the second battery 1B are power sources for the electronic device A1. The specific configurations of the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B are not limited in any way. The first battery 1A and the second battery 1B may be, for example, a battery pack having multiple battery elements. Furthermore, the electronic device A1 may be configured to further include other batteries in addition to the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B. In other words, the electronic device A1 may be configured to include two or more batteries.

[0016] The load 7 performs a predetermined function by consuming power from the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B. The specific configuration of the load 7 is not limited, and examples thereof include various devices that consume power, such as a motor and a heater. In this embodiment, the load 7 includes a first motor drive circuit 7A, a second motor drive circuit 7B, a first motor 8A, and a second motor 8B. The first motor 72A and the second motor 72B appropriately drive other components of the electronic device A1, such as a rotary blade, a fan, wheels, and gears. The first motor drive circuit 71A and the second motor drive circuit 71B are circuits that convert the supplied power into power suitable for driving the first motor 72A and the second motor 72B, for example.

[0017] The electronic device A1 is provided with a first path R1 and a second path R2. The first path R1 connects the first battery 1A and the load 7. The second path R2 is electrically connected between the second battery 1B and the load 7.

[0018] The first switching element 2A is provided between the first battery 1A and the load 7 on the first path R1. There are no particular limitations on the specific configuration of the first switching element 2A, and for example, a MOS-FET may be used. The first switching element 2A is a normally-off MOS-FET that can switch between conduction and isolation of the first path R1. The first switching element 2A includes a first body diode 21A. The forward direction of the first body diode 21A is from the first battery 1A toward the load 7.

[0019] The second switching element 2B is provided on the second path R2 between the second battery 1B and the load 7. There are no particular limitations on the specific configuration of the second switching element 2B, and for example, a MOS-FET may be used. The second switching element 2B is a normally-off MOS-FET that can switch between conduction and isolation of the second path R2. The second switching element 2B includes a first body diode 21A. The forward direction of the first body diode 21A is from the second battery 1B toward the load 7.

[0020] The third switching element 2C is provided on the first path R1 between the first switching element 2A and the load 7. There are no particular limitations on the specific configuration of the third switching element 2C, and for example, a MOS-FET may be used. The third switching element 2C is a normally-off MOS-FET that can switch between conduction and isolation of the first path R1. The third switching element 2C includes a third body diode 21C. The forward direction of the third body diode 21C is from the load 7 toward the first battery 1A.

[0021] The second path R2 is connected to a first connection point P1 provided on the first path R1. The first connection point P1 is provided between the first switching element 2A and the load 7. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first connection point P1 is provided between the first switching element 2A and the third switching element 2C.

[0022] The first power management MCU 3A is connected to the gate terminals G of the first switching element 2A and the third switching element 2C. The first power management MCU 3A controls switching between conduction and non-conduction (insulation) of the first switching element 2A and the third switching element 2C. The first power management MCU 3A may be connected to the first path R1 between the first battery 1A and the first switching element 2A. As a result, the first power management MCU 3A detects, for example, the voltage of the first path R1.

[0023] The second power management MCU 3B is connected to the gate terminal G of the second switching element 2B. The second power management MCU 3B controls switching the second switching element 2B between conductive and non-conductive (insulated) states. The second power management MCU 3B may be connected to the second path R2 between the second battery 1B and the second switching element 2B. Thus, the second power management MCU 3B detects, for example, the voltage of the second path R2.

[0024] Note that the configuration is not limited to one having a first power management MCU 3A and a second power management MCU 3B, and may be, for example, one having a single power management MCU that combines the functions of both the first power management MCU 3A and the second power management MCU 3B.

[0025] The centralized control MCU 4 controls the overall operation of the electronic device A1 and outputs command signals related to the operation control of each component of the electronic device A1 (e.g., the first power supply management MCU 3A, the second power supply management MCU 3B, the first motor drive circuit 71A, and the second motor drive circuit 71B). The centralized control MCU 4 may be connected to a sensor 91 that detects the status of each component of the electronic device A1. The sensor 91 may consist of one or more sensors. The centralized control MCU 4 operates by power supply from, for example, an internal operating power supply Vdd.

[0026] The power supply generation IC5 is an IC that generates the internal operating power supply Vdd using power from the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B. In this embodiment, the power supply generation IC5 is connected to the second connection point P2 of the first path R1 by a third path R3. The second connection point P2 is provided between the first switching element 2A and the third switching element 2C on the first path R1. In the illustrated example, the first connection point P1 and the second connection point P2 are common. A switch 55 may be provided on the third path R3.

[0027] Next, the operation of the electronic device A1 will be described.

[0028] According to this embodiment, the forward direction of the first body diode 21A of the first switching element 2A is from the first battery 1A to the load 7. The forward direction of the second body diode 21B of the second switching element 2B is from the second battery 1B to the load 7. The second path R2 is connected to the first connection point P1 of the first path R1, which is located between the first switching element 2A and the load 7. With this configuration, for example, if the voltage of either the first battery 1A or the second battery 1B drops, current can be prevented from flowing from the other battery to the battery with the dropped voltage, regardless of the switching states of the first switching element 2A and the second switching element 2B. Furthermore, if an electrical problem occurs in any component of the electronic device A1, unintentional reverse current flow toward the first battery 1A or the second battery 1B can be prevented. This reduces problems with the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B.

[0029] The third path R3 connected to the power generation IC 5 is connected to the second connection point P2 on the first path R1. The second connection point P2 is located between the first switching element 2A and the load 7. The forward direction of the first body diode 21A of the first switching element 2A is from the first battery 1A to the load 7 (second connection point P2). The forward direction of the second body diode 21B of the second switching element 2B is from the second battery 1B to the load 7 (second connection point P2). Therefore, regardless of the switching states of the first switching element 2A and the second switching element 2B, power from the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B can be supplied to the power generation IC 5 via the first path R1, the second path R2, the second connection point P2, and the third path R3. Therefore, it is possible to generate the internal operating power supply Vdd without performing operational control to switch the first switching element 2A or the second switching element 2B, and it is possible to operate, for example, the centralized control MCU 4 without switching the first switching element 2A or the second switching element 2B, etc. In this way, the electronic device A1 can simplify the path for generating the internal operating power supply Vdd.

[0030] [Second Embodiment] Figure 2 shows an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, elements that are the same as or similar to those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals. Furthermore, the configurations of the various parts in each embodiment can be combined with each other as appropriate within the scope of not causing technical contradictions.

[0031] The electronic device A2 of this embodiment further includes a fourth switching element 2D, a third connection point P3, a fourth path R4, a first diode 6A, and a second diode 6B in addition to the components of the electronic device A1.

[0032] The fourth switching element 2D is provided on the second path R2 between the second switching element 2B and the load 7. There are no particular limitations on the specific configuration of the fourth switching element 2D, and for example, a MOS-FET may be used. The fourth switching element 2D is a normally-off MOS-FET. The fourth switching element 2D includes a fourth body diode 21D. The forward direction of the fourth body diode 21D is from the load 7 toward the second battery 1B.

[0033] In this embodiment, the first connection point P1 is provided between the third switching element 2C and the load 7 on the first path R1.

[0034] The third path R3 is connected to the second connection point P2 on the first path R1. The second connection point P2 is provided between the first switching element 2A and the third switching element 2C on the first path R1. The fourth path R4 connects the second path R2 and the power generation IC 5. The fourth path R4 is connected to the third connection point P3 on the second path R2. The third connection point P3 is provided between the second switching element 2B and the fourth switching element 2D on the second path R2.

[0035] The first diode 6A is provided on the third path R3 between the second connection point P2 and the power generation IC 5 (switch 55). The direction from the second connection point P2 toward the power generation IC 5 is the forward direction of the first diode 6A. The second diode 6B is provided on the fourth path R4 between the third connection point P3 and the power generation IC 5 (switch 55). The direction from the third connection point P3 toward the power generation IC 5 is the forward direction of the second diode 6B.

[0036] This embodiment also reduces problems with the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B and simplifies the path for generating the internal operating power supply Vdd. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the provision of the fourth switching element 2D enables active switching of the current flowing from the second battery 1B to the load 7. Furthermore, the third path R3 and the fourth path R4 leading to the power generation IC 5 are connected to the second connection point P2 and the third connection point P3. The second connection point P2 is located between the first switching element 2A and the third switching element 2C, and the third connection point P3 is located between the second switching element 2B and the fourth switching element 2D. This allows for appropriate power supply from the first battery 1A and the second battery 1B to the power generation IC 5 and prevents unintended reverse current flow from the second connection point P2 and the third connection point P3 to the first battery 1A, the second battery 1B, etc.

[0037] The electronic device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the specific configuration of each part of the electronic device according to the present invention can be freely designed and modified in various ways.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a first battery; a second battery; a load that consumes power from the first battery and the second battery; a first path connecting the first battery and the load; a first switching element provided in the first path; a second path electrically interposed between the second battery and the load; a second switching element provided in the second path; a third switching element provided in the first path between the first switching element and the load; a control unit; and a power generation IC that generates drive power for the control unit, wherein the first switching element includes a first body diode whose forward direction is from the first battery to the load; the second switching element includes a second body diode whose forward direction is from the second battery to the load; the third switching element includes a third body diode whose forward direction is from the load to the first battery; and the second path is connected to a first connection point provided in the first path between the first switching element and the load, The electronic device further comprises a third path connecting a second connection point provided in the first path between the first switching element and the load and the power generation IC.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a fourth switching element provided between the second switching element and the load in the second path, the fourth switching element including a fourth body diode whose forward direction is from the load to the second battery, the first connection point being provided between the first switching element and the load, and the second connection point being provided between the first switching element and the third switching element.

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