JP2001069236A - Radio communication equipment and method for switching power supply - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the driving time of a computer system from being reduced while maintaining portable convenience. SOLUTION: In the case a power detecting part 222 does not send a detection signal showing that a computer system 103 is driven by using an external power supply 107 to a power controlling part 203 through a detection signal transmission interface 212, this radio communication equipment 101 uses a radio communication equipment built-in battery 204 to be driven due to the switching control of the part 203.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus and a power supply switching method, and more particularly to a radio communication apparatus connected to a computer device such as a personal computer and a power supply switching method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order for a portable computer device such as a notebook computer to perform data communication via wireless communication, a wireless communication device is connected to the computer device via a PCMCIA interface or the like provided in the computer device. It is common. In this case, the wireless communication device generally receives power from the power supply of the computer device via the interface or the like.

[0003]

However, the conventional wireless communication device has the following problems. That is,
A conventional wireless communication device is driven by receiving power from a power supply of a computer device. Therefore, when the computer device is driven by a built-in battery during mobile use, the built-in battery is connected to the computer device and the wireless communication device. Power must be supplied to both. Accordingly, when the computer device performs data communication via wireless communication while using the mobile device, there is a problem that the consumption of the built-in battery increases and the driving time of the computer device decreases.

In recent years, in particular, in order to communicate large-volume data such as images, particularly moving images, a wireless communication device which has a larger circuit scale than conventional wireless communication devices and can perform high-speed data communication has been demanded. However, the power consumption of wireless communication devices tends to increase. Therefore, there is a problem that the driving time of the computer device is further reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a wireless communication device and a power supply switching method capable of preventing a drive time of a computer device from being shortened while maintaining portability. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

A wireless communication device according to the present invention is a wireless communication device connected to a computer device and used as a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device and a power source for driving the wireless communication device. A switching control means for switching between the built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device and the power supply of the computer device is adopted.

In the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention, when the switching control means detects that the computer apparatus uses a battery built in the computer apparatus as a power supply, the switching control means drives the wireless communication apparatus as a power supply for driving the wireless communication apparatus. Configuration using a built-in battery.

The wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention employs a configuration in which the switching control means uses the external power supply as a power supply for driving the wireless communication apparatus when the computer apparatus detects that the external power supply is used as a power supply.

In the wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention, the switching control means may charge a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication apparatus by the external power supply when the computer apparatus detects that the external power supply is used as a power supply. take.

According to these configurations, a dedicated power supply for driving the wireless communication device is provided in the wireless communication device, and when the computer device is driven using the power supply built in the computer device, In addition, since the wireless communication device is driven by using a power supply built in the wireless communication device, the power supply built in the computer device is not used to drive the wireless communication device. Therefore, when the computer device is driven by using a power supply built in the computer device, it is possible to prevent the driving time of the computer device from being shortened even if a wireless communication device is connected to the computer device. . Further, since the wireless communication device has a built-in power supply and can be driven without receiving power supply from an external power supply, the convenience of carrying the wireless communication device is not impaired.

[0011] The wireless communication apparatus of the present invention employs a configuration including an incoming call detecting means for activating a computer device when an incoming data is detected, and a display means for displaying that data has been received.

According to this configuration, the computer device is activated when data is received, so that the power consumption of the computer device can be suppressed. Therefore, when the computer device is driven using a power supply built in the computer device, the driving time of the computer device can be extended.

A wireless communication apparatus according to the present invention includes an incoming call detecting means for activating a computer when an incoming data is detected, and a data processing for processing data relating to at least one of services provided by wireless communication. Means, display means for displaying the contents of the data,
And an input unit for inputting the data.

According to this configuration, since it has a processing function for e-mail and the like in addition to the data transmission / reception function, e-mail can be browsed without activating the computer device. Therefore, when the computer device is driven using a power supply built in the computer device, the driving time of the computer device can be further extended. In addition, since the wireless communication device can be used alone as a portable terminal device, the convenience of the wireless communication device user is improved.

The wireless communication apparatus of the present invention employs a configuration including a connection means for exchanging data and signals with a computer apparatus by wireless.

According to this configuration, since the wireless communication device is connected to the computer device by the non-contact type connection interface, connection / separation between the wireless communication device and the computer device is facilitated, and furthermore, the user of the wireless communication device user can use the wireless communication device. Convenience is improved. Further, since the wireless communication device is connected to the computer device by the non-contact type connection interface, it is possible to avoid a contact failure or the like due to wear of the connection connector, and to improve the reliability of data transmission between the wireless communication device and the computer device. improves.

In the wireless communication device of the present invention, when the computer device is started, the computer device does not use an external power supply as a power source, and the battery built in the computer device has reached a predetermined charge amount. When it is detected that the wireless communication device is not present, a power supply control means for driving the computer device using the built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device is adopted.

According to this configuration, even if the computer device does not use an external power supply as a power source and the battery built in the computer device does not reach a predetermined charge amount, the computer device can be used. Can be driven.

According to the power supply switching method of the present invention, when a computer device is driven by using a battery built in the computer device as a power source of a wireless communication device used by being connected to the computer device, the wireless communication device is connected to the wireless communication device. When the computer device is driven by using an external power supply by using a built-in battery, the external power supply is used.

According to this method, a dedicated power supply for driving the wireless communication device is provided inside the wireless communication device, and when the computer device is driven using a power supply built in the computer device, Since the wireless communication device is driven by using the power supply built therein, the power supply built in the computer device is not used to drive the wireless communication device. Therefore, when the computer device is driven by using a power supply built in the computer device, it is possible to prevent the driving time of the computer device from being shortened even if a wireless communication device is connected to the computer device. . Further, since the wireless communication device has a built-in power supply and can be driven without receiving power supply from an external power supply, the convenience of carrying the wireless communication device is not impaired.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The gist of the present invention is that a dedicated battery for driving a wireless communication device is provided inside a wireless communication device, and the wireless communication device uses the dedicated battery without using a built-in battery of a computer device. It is to drive using.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) The wireless communication apparatus according to the present embodiment has a dedicated power supply for driving the wireless communication apparatus inside the wireless communication apparatus, and the computer apparatus uses a power supply built in the computer apparatus. When the wireless communication device is used for driving, it is driven using a power supply built in the wireless communication device.

Hereinafter, a radio communication apparatus and a power supply switching method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a device configuration diagram for explaining an installation state of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a wireless communication device 101 having an antenna 102 is connected to a portable computer device 103 such as a notebook personal computer and a connection interface 10.
4. Also, the wireless communication device 101
For example, it is used by being fixed to the back of the computer device 103.

The computer device 103 is provided with a battery 105 built in the computer device.
When the power supply 6 is connected, it is driven by the external power supply 107, and when the outlet 106 is not connected, it is driven by the battery 105 built in the computer device.

Next, the configurations of the wireless communication device 101 and the computer device 103 will be described. FIG. 2 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the wireless communication device and the computer device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In the radio communication apparatus 101, the radio section 20
1 performs predetermined radio processing and modulation / demodulation processing on data transmitted and received via the antenna 102.

The control processing unit 202 converts the received data into a data format that can be read by the computer device, transmits the data to the computer device 103, and receives the transmitted data from the computer device 103 and converts the data format. In addition, the control processing unit 202 performs various controls and processes of the wireless communication device 101.

The power supply control unit 203 controls the wireless communication device 101
Performs switching control of the power supply used for driving.
The configuration of the power supply control unit 203 will be described later.

The wireless communication device built-in battery 204 is a power supply dedicated to driving the wireless communication device 101 installed inside the wireless communication device 101.

Wireless communication device 101 and computer device 1
03, a data transmission interface 211, a detection signal transmission interface 212, and a power transmission interface 213.
Consists of Data transmission between the wireless communication device 101 and the computer device 103 is performed via the data transmission interface 211. Through the detection signal transmission interface 212, a detection signal indicating that the computer device 103 is driven using the external power supply device 107 is sent from the computer device 103 to the wireless communication device 101. In addition, the wireless communication device 101 is transmitted from the computer device 103 via the power transmission interface 213.
Is supplied to the power supply.

On the other hand, in the computer device 103,
The information processing unit 221 performs various processes on data transmitted from the wireless communication device 101 via the data transmission interface 211, and
Performs various processes on the data input to the wireless communication device 101 via the data transmission interface 211.
Transmit to

The power supply detecting section 222 is a computer device 1
Power supply switching control is performed by detecting a power supply state to the power supply unit 03 and controlling a switch included in the power supply detection unit 222.

The computer device built-in battery 105 includes:
A power source used to drive the computer device 103 when the outlet 106 is not connected.

Next, the configuration of the power supply control unit 203 will be described. FIG. 3 is a main part block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the power supply control unit in the wireless communication device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In the power supply control unit 203, the charge control unit 3
01 controls the wireless communication device built-in battery 204 to be charged with a predetermined appropriate charge amount.

The changeover switch 302 is connected to the power detector 2
The wireless communication device 101 operates according to a detection signal sent from the wireless communication device 22 and switches a power supply used when the wireless communication device 101 is driven.

Next, the operation of the wireless communication device and the computer device having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG.

In the computer device 103, when the outlet 106 is disconnected and power is not supplied from the external power supply device 107, the power supply detection unit 222 controls the switch of the power supply detection unit 222, and thereby the battery 105 built in the computer device. And the information processing unit 221 so that the information processing unit 221 is driven by the battery 105 built in the computer device. At this time, no detection signal is sent from the power detection unit 222 to the changeover switch 302.

In the wireless communication apparatus 101, when the detection signal is not sent via the detection signal transmission interface 212, the changeover switch 302 is turned on in FIG.
As shown in (a), it switches to the black circle side. Thereby, the wireless communication device built-in battery 204 and the control processing unit 20
When the computer device 103 is driven by the battery 105 built in the computer device, the wireless communication device 101 is driven by using the battery 204 built in the wireless communication device as a power source. To drive the computer built-in battery 10
5 will not be consumed.

On the other hand, the power detection unit 222
06 is connected and detects that power is supplied to the computer device 103 from the external power supply device 107, the detection signal is transmitted to the detection signal transmission interface 212 while the power is supplied from the external power supply device 107. The external power supply 107 is connected to the power transmission interface 213 by controlling the switch included in the power detection unit 222 while sending the signal to the changeover switch 302 via the switch 302.

In this case, the power detection unit 222 connects the external power supply 107 to the information processing unit 221 by controlling a switch of the power detection unit 222, and the information processing unit 221 To be driven by

In the wireless communication apparatus 101, when the detection signal is sent to the changeover switch 302, the changeover switch 302 switches to the white circle side as shown in FIG. 3B. As a result, the power transmission interface 213 and the control processing unit 202 are connected, and when the computer device 103 is supplied with power from the external power supply device 107, the wireless communication device 101
Is also driven by receiving power supply from the external power supply device 107.

Further, the changeover switch 302 is operated as shown in FIG.
When switching to the white circle side as shown in (b), the power transmission interface 213 and the wireless communication device built-in battery 20 are switched.
4 is connected via the charging control unit 301, and the battery 204 with built-in wireless communication is charged by the electric power supplied from the external power supply device 107. At this time, the charge control unit 301
Monitors the amount of charge of the wireless communication device built-in battery 204 and cuts off the power supply to the wireless communication device built-in battery 204 when a predetermined appropriate charge amount is reached.

As described above, according to the radio communication apparatus and the power supply switching method according to the present embodiment, a dedicated power supply for driving the radio communication apparatus is provided inside the radio communication apparatus.
When the computer device is driven using a power supply built in the computer device, the computer device is driven using a power source built in the wireless communication device. Eliminates use of power. Therefore, when the computer device is driven using a power supply built in the computer device,
Even when the wireless communication device is connected to the computer device, it is possible to prevent the drive time of the computer device from being shortened. Further, since the wireless communication device has a built-in power supply and can be driven without receiving power supply from an external power supply, the convenience of carrying the wireless communication device is not impaired.

(Embodiment 2) The wireless communication apparatus according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of Embodiment 1, except that
When the data is received, the computer device is started.

Hereinafter, a radio communication apparatus and a power supply switching method according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

When receiving data via antenna 102, radio section 201 outputs the data to incoming call detection section 401.

When data is output from wireless section 201, incoming call detecting section 401 outputs a signal notifying that wireless communication apparatus 101 has received data to incoming call display section 402, and outputs the output data. Output to the control processing unit 202.

The incoming call display section 402 is a display lamp composed of, for example, an LED, and lights up in response to the above signal. Therefore, the user of the computer device 103
Even when the personal computer 103 is not running, it is possible to recognize that the data has been received.

The user of the computer apparatus 103 recognizes that the wireless communication apparatus 101 has received data by turning on the incoming call display section 402, and presses the push button switch 403 so that the incoming call detecting section 401 The user is instructed to generate a computer device activation signal.

In accordance with the above instruction, the incoming call detection unit 401
A start signal for the computer device is generated, and the start signal is sent to the start signal detecting unit 421 via the start signal transmission interface 411.

If the computer device 103 has not been activated, the activation signal detection section 42 is activated in accordance with the activation signal.
1 starts the computer device 103.

Note that the incoming call detection unit 401 is
The configuration may be such that when the data is output from the computer, the computer device activation signal is automatically generated. In this case, the push button switch 403 becomes unnecessary.

When the computer device does not use an external power source as a power source and the battery built in the computer device does not reach a predetermined charge amount,
The configuration may be such that the computer device is driven using a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device.

In this case, in the computer device 103, when the activation signal detection unit 421 detects the activation signal, the power supply detection unit 222 detects the state of the power supply of the computer device 103. That is, the power detection unit 222 determines whether the computer device 103 is receiving power supply from the external power supply device 107 and whether the charge amount of the computer device built-in battery 105 has reached a predetermined charge amount. investigate. And the computer device 103
Is not supplied with power from the external power supply 107,
If the charge amount of the battery 105 inside the computer device does not reach the predetermined charge amount, the power detection unit 22
2 through the detection signal transmission interface 212,
The detection signal is sent to the power control unit 203. In accordance with the detection signal, the power supply control unit 203 drives the computer device 103 using the battery 204 built in the wireless communication device.

With this configuration, even if the computer device does not use an external power source as a power source and the battery built in the computer device does not reach a predetermined charge amount, The computer device can be driven.

As described above, according to the wireless communication apparatus and the power supply switching method according to the present embodiment, the computer apparatus is activated when data is received, so that the power consumption of the computer apparatus can be reduced. Therefore, when the computer device is driven using a power supply built in the computer device, the driving time of the computer device can be extended.

(Embodiment 3) A wireless communication apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration similar to that of Embodiment 2;
It has a function of processing e-mail and the like in addition to the data transmission / reception function.

Hereinafter, a radio communication apparatus and a power supply switching method according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The same components as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description is omitted.

Upon receiving data via antenna 102, radio section 201 outputs the data to reception processing section 501.

The reception processing unit 501 has, for example, an e-mail reception function. When the data output from the radio unit 201 is an e-mail, the data of the e-mail title and the text are displayed on a liquid crystal screen or the like. In addition to displaying on the configured received content display unit 502, data other than the title and text (for example, data of an attached file, image data pasted on the text of an e-mail, etc.) is output to the control processing unit 202. In addition, when there is data other than the title and the text, the reception processing unit 501 displays the fact on the reception content display unit 502. The wireless unit 20
If the data output from 1 is data other than the e-mail, the reception processing unit 501 displays on the reception content display unit 502 only that the data has been received.

The control processing unit 202 transmits data other than the title and the text to the information processing unit 221 via the data transmission interface 211.

The user of the computer device 103 can check the title and the text of the e-mail on the received content display section 502. Therefore, when data other than the title and the text are not added to the e-mail, It is not necessary to start the computer device 103.

A message indicating that there is data other than the title and text is displayed on the received content display section 502, and the user of the computer device 103 presses the push button switch 403 only when the user wants to process the data. The processing unit 501 is instructed to generate a computer device activation signal.

According to the above instruction, the reception processing unit 501
A start signal for the computer device is generated, and the start signal is sent to the start signal detecting unit 421 via the start signal transmission interface 411.

If the computer device 103 has not been activated, the activation signal detector 42 detects the activation signal in accordance with the activation signal.
1 starts the computer device 103. This makes it possible for the information processing unit 221 to perform processing on data other than the title and the text.

The wireless communication apparatus 101 has a transmission content input unit 503, and the user of the computer device 103 can use the transmission content input unit 503 to activate the title of the e-mail without starting the computer device 103. The text can be directly input to the wireless communication device 101. The data input to the transmission content input unit 503 is output to the control processing unit 202 and processed.

When the wireless communication device 101 has an e-mail processing function, the wireless communication device 101 is connected to the computer
01 alone can perform input / output and transmission / reception of the title and the body of the e-mail, so that the connection interface 104 is an interface detachable from the wireless communication device 101 or the computer device 103, so that the wireless communication device 101 It can also be used as a mobile terminal device dedicated to e-mail.

As described above, according to the radio communication apparatus and the power supply switching method according to the present embodiment, since the apparatus has a processing function for e-mail and the like in addition to the data transmission / reception function, the computer apparatus can be started without starting up. You can browse e-mails. Therefore, when the computer device is driven using the power supply built in the computer device, the driving time of the computer device can be further extended as compared with the second embodiment. In addition, since the wireless communication device can be used alone as a portable terminal device, the convenience of the wireless communication device user is improved.

As in the second embodiment, the computer does not use an external power supply as a power supply, and
When the battery built in the computer device does not reach a predetermined charge amount, the computer device may be driven using the built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device.

(Embodiment 4) A radio communication apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration similar to that of Embodiment 3, except that
It is connected to a computer device by a contactless connection interface.

Hereinafter, a radio communication apparatus and a power supply switching method according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

The wireless communication device 101 and the computer device 103 are provided with a non-contact connection portion 601 which is an interface having no mechanical connection such as a connection connector or the like, and are connected via the non-contact connection portion 601. These non-contact coupling portions 601 are connected to each other using, for example, a weak radio wave, electromagnetic induction, light, or the like as a connection medium.

As described above, according to the wireless communication apparatus and the power supply switching method according to the present embodiment, since the wireless communication apparatus is connected to the computer by the non-contact type connection interface, the wireless communication apparatus and the computer are not connected to each other. Connection / disconnection is easier than in the third embodiment,
Further, the convenience of the user of the wireless communication device is improved. Further, since the wireless communication device is connected to the computer device by the non-contact type connection interface, it is possible to avoid a contact failure or the like due to wear of the connection connector, and to improve reliability of data transmission between the wireless communication device and the computer device. improves.

The wireless communication devices according to the first to fourth embodiments can be used by connecting to a stationary computer device.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to prevent the drive time of the computer device from being shortened while maintaining the convenience of carrying.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a device configuration diagram for explaining an installation state of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a power supply control unit in the wireless communication apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a main block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wireless communication device and a computer device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 203 Power supply control unit 204 Battery with built-in wireless communication device 222 Power supply detection unit 301 Charge control unit 302 Changeover switch 401 Incoming call detection unit 402 Incoming call display unit 403 Push button switch 421 Activation signal detection unit 501 Reception processing unit 502 Received content display unit 503 Transmission contents Input unit 601 Non-contact coupling unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A wireless communication device connected to a computer device for use, comprising a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device, a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device as a power source for driving the wireless communication device, and a computer device. And a switching control unit for switching between the power supply and the power supply. 2. The switching control means uses a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device as a power source for driving the wireless communication device when detecting that the computer device uses a battery built in the computer device as the power supply. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The switching control means according to claim 1, wherein the switching control means uses the external power source as a power source for driving the wireless communication device when the computer device detects that the external power source is used as the power source. Wireless communication device. 4. The switching control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the computer device detects that an external power supply is used as a power supply, the external power supply charges a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device. Wireless communication device. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an incoming call detecting means for activating the computer when an incoming data is detected, and a display means for displaying that the data has been received. The wireless communication device according to any one of the above. 6. An incoming call detecting means for activating a computer when an incoming data is detected, a data processing means for processing data relating to at least one of services provided by wireless communication, 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: display means for displaying contents; and input means for inputting the data.
The wireless communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 7. The wireless communication device according to claim 6, further comprising connection means for wirelessly exchanging data and signals with the computer device. 8. When activating a computer device, the computer device detects that an external power supply is not used as a power source and that a battery built in the computer device has not reached a predetermined charge amount. 8. The wireless communication device according to claim 5, further comprising a power supply control unit that drives a computer device using a built-in battery for driving the wireless communication device. 9. When the computer device is driven using a battery built in the computer device, a battery built in the wireless communication device is used as a power source of the wireless communication device connected to the computer device. And a power supply switching method, wherein the external power supply is used when the computer device is driven using the external power supply.