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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A vending machine for charging a secondary battery of a mobile phone
is provided with a plurality of charging blocks, each conforming
to a specification of a mobile phone and a secondary battery of
the mobile phone, for charging plural kinds of secondary batteries
used in plural kinds of mobile phones, charging time selection buttons
for instructing a charging time corresponding to each of the plurality
of charging blocks, lock/unlock mechanism for locking/unlocking
a key on a door provided in each of the plurality of charging blocks,
a stocker for receiving at least one coin and/or at least one banknote,
a calculator for calculating an amount of money of said coin and/or
bill which have been received in the stocker, and a charging control
circuit for controlling each of the plurality of charging blocks
to charge a secondary battery of a mobile phone attached in one
of the plurality of charging blocks, in accordance with the amount
of money calculated by the calculator and the charging time instructed
by the selection buttons.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vending machine for charging a secondary battery of a mobile
phone, comprising:
a plurality of charging means, each conforming to a specification
of a mobile phone and a secondary battery of the mobile phone, for
charging plural kinds of secondary batteries used in plural kinds
of mobile phones;
instruction means for instructing a charging time corresponding
to each of said plurality of charging means;
lock/unlock means for locking/unlocking a key on a door provided
in each of said plurality of charging means;
reception means for receiving at least one coin and/or at least
one banknote;
calculation means for calculating an amount of money of said coin
and/or bill which have been received in said reception means; and
charging control means for controlling each of said plurality of
charging means to charge a secondary battery of a mobile phone attached
in one of said plurality of charging means, in accordance with the
amount of money calculated by said calculation means and the charging
time instructed by said instruction means.
2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said calculation
means includes:
comparison means for comparing the amount of money of said coin
and/or banknote received in said reception means with an amount
of money equivalent to the charging time instructed by said instruction
means and outputting a compare result; and
change control means for controlling to make change in accordance
with the comparison result from said comparison means.
3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said
plurality of charging means includes:
a quick charger conforming to a predetermined type of mobile phone
and a predetermined type of secondary battery, for quickly charging
the secondary battery attached to the corresponding charging means;
and
display means for displaying status of charging operation of said
quick charger.
4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein
said quick recharger includes at least two electrodes through which
the electric power is to be supplied to the secondary battery, and
positions of said electrodes, a shape of each of said electrodes
and a charging voltage of said quick charger are uniquely defined
according to a specification of said mobile phone and said secondary
battery attached thereto.
5. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein said display
means includes a plurality of LEDs (light emitting devices), each
of which lights in a different color, and is turned on in accordance
with progress of charging operation.
6. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein
said plurality of secondary batteries include at least Ni--Cd battery,
Ni--MH battery and Li-ION battery.
7. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein said charging
control means includes:
sensing means for sensing whether or not the door in said charging
means is locked by said lock/unlock means and for outputting a sensing
result; and
start control means for controlling start of charging the secondary
battery of the mobile phone which has been attached in said charging
means in accordance with the sensing result from said sensing means.
8. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein said quick
charger includes:
a holder for holding an electric contact with electrodes of said
secondary battery:
a voltmeter for measuring a terminal voltage of said secondary
battery;
a differentiation circuit for measuring a change rate in time of
the terminal voltage;
a constant current charging circuit for quickly charging the secondary
battery;
a first comparator for comparing the terminal voltage measured
by said voltmeter with a predetermined charging voltage defined
for the secondary battery;
a second comparator for measuring the change rate in time of the
terminal voltage measured by said differentiation circuit with a
predetermined threshold;
a register for setting the predetermined threshold; and
a controller for performing control in accordance with the comparison
results by said first and second comparators such that charging
operation in said constant current charging circuit is halted before
the secondary battery reaches full-charged condition.
9. The vending machine according to claim 8, wherein
said controller further performs control such that charging operation
is halted when it is determined that the secondary battery reaches
within a range from approximately 60% to approximately 90% of the
full-charged condition.
10. The vending machine according to claim 8, wherein
said second comparator employs a value very close to "0"
as the predetermined threshold.
11. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein said quick
charger includes:
a holder for holding an electric contact with electrodes of the
secondary battery:
measuring means for measuring a terminal voltage of said secondary
battery;
comparison means for comparing the terminal voltage measured by
said first measuring means with a predetermined limited voltage
defined for said secondary battery;
charging means for quickly charging the secondary battery; and
charging control means for performing control in accordance with
the comparison results by said comparison means such that charging
operation in said charging means is halted when it is determined
in accordance with the comparison result by said comparison means
that the terminal voltage exceeds to a predetermined limited voltage
before the secondary battery reaches full-charged condition.
12. The vending machine according to claim 11, wherein
said predetermined limited voltage is defined within a range from
approximately 60% to approximately 90% of the maximum charging voltage
defined for said secondary battery.
13. A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery, comprising:
a holder for holding an electric contact with electrodes of the
secondary battery:
first measuring means for measuring a terminal voltage of said
secondary battery;
second measuring means for measuring a change rate in time of the
terminal voltage;
charging means for quickly charging the secondary battery;
a first comparison means for comparing the terminal voltage measured
by said first measuring means with a predetermined charging voltage
defined for the secondary battery;
a second comparison means for comparing the change rate in time
of the terminal voltage measured by said second measuring means
with a predetermined threshold; and
charging control means for performing control in accordance with
the comparison results by said first and second comparing means
such that charging operation in said charging means is halted before
the secondary battery reaches full-charged condition.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
said charging means includes a constant current charging circuit
for quickly charging the secondary battery.
15. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:
a register for setting the predetermined threshold.
16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
said first measuring means includes a voltmeter, and said second
measuring means includes a differentiation circuit.
17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
said charging control means performs control such that charging
operation is halted when it is determined in accordance with the
comparison result by said first comparison means that the terminal
voltage exceeds the predetermined charging voltage.
18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
said second comparison means employs a value very close to "0"
as the predetermined threshold.
19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
said secondary batteries include at least Ni--Cd battery, Ni--MH
battery and Li-ION battery.
20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
said charging control means performs control such that charging
operation is halted when it is determined that the secondary battery
reaches within a range from approximately 60% to approximately 90%
of the full-charged condition.
21. A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery, comprising:
a holder for holding an electric contact with electrodes of the
secondary battery:
measuring means for measuring a terminal voltage of said secondary
battery;
comparison means for comparing the terminal voltage measured by
said first measuring means with a predetermined limited voltage
defined for said secondary battery;
charging means for quickly charging the secondary battery;
charging control means for performing control in accordance with
the comparison results by said comparison means such that the charging
operation in said charging means is halted before the secondary
battery reaches full-charged condition.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein
said charging means includes a constant current charging circuit
for charging at a constant current.
23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein
said measurement means includes a voltmeter.
24. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein
said secondary batteries include at least Ni--Cd battery, Ni--MH
battery and Li-ION battery.
25. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein
said charging operation is halted when it is determined that the
terminal voltage measured by said measuring means reaches approximately
60% to 90% of the maximum charged voltage defined for said secondary
battery.
26. A vending system composed of at least one first unit which
includes a plurality of charging means, each conforming to a specification
of a mobile phone and a secondary battery of the mobile phone, for
charging plural kinds of secondary batteries used in plural kinds
of mobile phones, and a second unit which performs charging control
on each of the plurality of charging means, comprising:
first extension means for electrically connecting at most a first
predetermined number of the first units to the second unit; and
second extension means for mechanically connecting plural number
of sets, each composed of the first predetermined number of the
first units and one second unit, with each other.
27. The system according to claim 26, wherein
said second unit includes:
display means for displaying a guidance concerning with the charging
operation with respect to each of said plurality of charging means;
instruction means for instructing a charging time corresponding
to each of said plurality of charging means;
lock/unlock means for locking/unlocking a key on a door provided
in each of said plurality of charging means; and
output means for outputting an information for unlocking the key
on the door.
28. The system according to claim 27, wherein
said display means includes an LCD liquid crystal device,
said instruction means includes ten keys, and
said output means includes a printer.
29. The system according to claim 27, wherein
said second unit further includes:
reception means for receiving at least one coin and/or at least
one banknote;
calculation means for calculating an amount of money of said coin
and/or bill which have been received in said reception means; and
change control means for calculating a change based on the amount
of money calculated by said calculation means and the charging time
instructed by said instruction means, and controlling change return
in accordance with the calculation result if necessary.
30. The system according to claim 26, wherein
said plurality of secondary batteries include at least Ni--Cd battery,
Ni--MH battery and Li-ION battery.
31. The system according to claim 26, wherein
each of said plurality of charging means in said first unit includes
LEDs, each of which lights in a different color, and is turned on
in accordance with progress of charging operation.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine for charging
a secondary battery of a mobile phone, a vending system composed
of at least one first unit which includes a plurality of charging
apparatus, each for charging a secondary battery (so called "rechargeable
battery") of a mobile phone and a second unit for performing
charging control, and a charging apparatus used in a vending machine
or vending system for charging a secondary battery of a mobile phone.
In recent years, a variety of mobile phones (including a cellular
phone or personal handy phone) are widely spread and used by many
people. A maximum continuous waiting time and/or a maximum continuous
talking time of respective mobile phones is usually preset in accordance
with the capacity of an installed secondary battery in the mobile
phone. Accordingly, it is needed to charge the secondary battery
due to the lack of the remaining capacity thereof when the mobile
phone is used for a long time.
Conventionally, in order to charge a secondary battery of a mobile
phone, the mobile phone's holder must take back it to his( or her)
office or his( or her) home and set it on a dedicated charger, such
as a desk-type quick charger.
There are many kinds of secondary batteries which are attached
or installed as a power source to a mobile phone, a portable electric
device such as an electric notebook, and a laptop-type personal
computer. Among them, a nickel-cadmium (Ni--Cd) battery, a nickel-metalhydride
(Ni--MH) battery and a lithium-ion (Li-ION) battery are generally
used. Since each type of secondary batteries has unique charging
characteristics, a dedicated charging apparatus must be provided
for each corresponding secondary battery.
For example, the Ni--Cd battery and Ni--MH battery have characteristics
such that the temperature of the secondary battery will suddenly
rise up and the terminal voltage of the secondary battery will suddenly
change when the secondary battery reaches full-charged condition
or overcharged condition. Accordingly, it is necessary to incorporate
a charge control circuit into the charging apparatus, for adequately
controlling the charging operation for a the secondary battery.
On the other hand, a Li-ION battery as a secondary battery is usually
charged by a charging apparatus employing a constant current and
constant voltage charging method. Accordingly, it is necessary to
control the charging apparatus such that the constant current charge
is switched to a constant voltage charge when the terminal voltage
of the Li-ION battery reaches the rated charging voltage. Therefore,
it is necessary to design the charging apparatus to minimize the
detection error of the terminal voltage of the Li-ION battery. Furthermore,
it is required to precisely detect the full-charged (or 100% charged)
condition in the Li-ION battery, in order to prevent it from catching
fire or giving out smoke, due to the overcharge thereof.
As clearly understood from the above description, the conventional
charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery is designed,
assuming that a full-charge must be performed. Furthermore, many
charge control techniques for preventing an occurrence of an accident
due to overcharging have been proposed.
Depending on charging operation circumstances, a mobile phone's
holder must take back it to his (or her) office or his (or her)
home in order to charge the completely or partially discharged secondary
battery of the mobile phone. In other words, this means that, if
it is difficult or impossible to take back a mobile phone to an
office or home, it is impossible to charge the secondary battery
of a mobile phone and the holder is not able to use a mobile phone
any more.
To cope with the above problem, the holder must carry another secondary
battery, which has been fully charged, in his (or her) attache case
or hand bag. It would be, however, troublesome to carry the extra
secondary battery due to its volume and weight.
From the viewpoint of a portable electric device such as a mobile
phone, when a secondary battery of a portable electric device has
been completely consumed and it becomes to be necessary to recharge
the secondary battery, the user does not always require that the
secondary battery be fully charged up. For example, when a mobile
phone's holder is out with the mobile phone, and the secondary battery
of the mobile phone has been completely consumed, there is a case
where the holder has to urgently use the mobile phone although it
is necessary to recharge the secondary battery. In such a case,
it would be good enough if the holder is able to use the mobile
phone for only five(5) or ten(10) minutes by quickly recharging
the secondary battery. That is to say, it would be sufficient to
not fully (100%) but partially (several tens % of full-charged condition)
charge the secondary battery in such a manner that the holder can
use the mobile phone for a short time.
Taking the above into consideration, it is desirable to have a
vending machine which provides a quick charger conveniently to charge
a secondary battery of a portable electric device so as to make
the device operable for a short period of time when an user carries
the device outdoors and the secondary battery runs out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, therefore, has as its principal object to
provide a vending machine for conveniently charging an empty secondary
battery of a mobile phone, when a holder of the mobile phone carries
outdoors, without taking back it to his/her office or home.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, the foregoing
object is attained by providing a vending machine for charging a
secondary battery of a mobile phone, which comprises a plurality
of charging means, each conforming to a specification of a mobile
phone and a secondary battery of the mobile phone, for charging
plural kinds of secondary batteries used in plural kinds of mobile
phones; instruction means for instructing a charging time corresponding
to each of the plurality of charging means; lock/unlock means for
locking/unlocking a key on a door provided in each of the plurality
of charging means; reception means for receiving at least one coin
and/or at least one banknote; calculation means for calculating
an amount of money of the coin and/or banknote which have been received
in the reception means; and charging control means for controlling
each of the plurality of charging means to charge a secondary battery
of a mobile phone attached in one of the plurality of charging means,
in accordance with the amount of money calculated by the calculation
means and the charging time instructed by the instruction means.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention as
described above, when a mobile phone's holder finds charging means
suitable for his/her own mobile phone from a plurality of charging
means, each conforming to a specification of a mobile phone and
a second battery of the mobile phone, attaches the mobile phone
to the charging means, inserts an appropriate amount of coin or
banknote into reception means, instructs his/her desired charging
time from instruction means, and locks the charging means by lock/unlock
means, the machine calculates the amount of received coin or banknote,
controls the charging means in accordance with the calculated amount
and the instructed time such that the charging means charges the
secondary battery of the mobile phone attached to the charging means.
It is preferred in the first aspect in the present invention that
the calculation means includes comparison means for comparing the
amount of money of the coin and/or banknote received in the reception
means with an amount of money equivalent to the charging time instructed
by the instruction means; and change control means for controlling
to make change in accordance with the comparison result from the
comparison means.
It is preferred in the first aspect of the present invention that
each of the plurality of charging means includes a quick charger
conforming to a predetermined type of mobile phone and a predetermined
type of secondary battery, for quickly charging the secondary battery
attached to the corresponding charging means; and display means
for displaying status of charging operation of the quick charger.
It is preferred in the first aspect of the present invention that
the quick charger includes at least two electrodes through which
the electric power is to be supplied to the secondary battery, and
positions of said electrodes, a shape of each of the electrodes
and a charging voltage of the quick charger are uniquely defined
according to a specification of the mobile phone and the secondary
battery attached thereto.
It is preferred in the first aspect of the present invention that
the display means includes a plurality of LEDs (light emitting devices),
each of which lights in a different color, and is turned on in accordance
with progress of charging operation.
It is preferred in the first aspect of the present invention that
the plurality of secondary batteries include at least a Ni--Cd battery,
a Ni--MH battery and a Li-ION battery.
It is preferred in the first aspect of the present invention that
the charging control means includes sensing means for sensing whether
or not the door in the charging means is locked by the lock/unlock
means, and start control means for controlling start of charging
the secondary battery of the mobile phone which has been attached
in the charging means in accordance with the sensing result from
the sensing means.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the quick charger
may include a holder for holding an electric contact with the electrodes
of the secondary battery, a voltmeter for measuring a terminal voltage
of the secondary battery, a differentiation circuit for measuring
a change rate in time of the terminal voltage, a constant current
charging circuit for quickly charging the secondary battery, a first
comparator for comparing the terminal voltage measured by the voltmeter
with a predetermined charging voltage defined for the secondary
battery, a second comparator for measuring the change rate in time
of the terminal voltage measured by the differentiation circuit
with a predetermined threshold, a register for setting the predetermined
threshold, and a controller for performing control in accordance
with the comparison results by the first and second comparators
such that charging operation in the constant current charging circuit
is halted before the secondary battery reaches full-charged condition.
It is preferred in the first aspect of the present invention that
the controller further performs control such that charging operation
is halted when it is determined in accordance with the comparison
result by the first comparator that the measured terminal voltage
exceeds a predetermined charged voltage. More preferably, when the
determination is made, the secondary battery reaches within a range
from approximately 60% to 90% of the full-charged condition.
It is preferred in the first aspect of the present invention that
the second comparator employs a value very close to "0"
as the predetermined threshold.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the quick charger
may also include a holder for holding an electric contact with electrodes
of the secondary battery, measuring means for measuring a terminal
voltage of the secondary battery, comparison means for comparing
the terminal voltage measured by the measuring means with a predetermined
limited voltage defined for the secondary battery, charging means
for quickly charging the secondary battery, and charging control
means for performing control in accordance with the comparison results
by the comparison means such that charging operation in the charging
means is halted before the secondary battery reaches full-charged
condition.
More preferably, in the above-constructed quick charger of the
first aspect of the present invention, the predetermined limited
voltage is defined within a range from approximately 60% to approximately
90% of the maximum charging voltage defined for the secondary battery.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a charging
apparatus capable of quickly charging a secondary battery of a portable
electric device to the extent that the portable electric device
becomes operable for the time being.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the foregoing
object is attained by providing a charging apparatus for charging
a secondary battery, which comprises a holder for holding an electric
contact with electrodes of the secondary battery, first measuring
means for measuring a terminal voltage of the secondary battery,
second measuring means for measuring a change rate in time of the
terminal voltage, charging means for quickly charging the secondary
battery, a first comparison means for comparing the terminal voltage
measured by the first measuring means with a predetermined charging
voltage defined for the secondary battery, a second comparison means
for comparing the change rate in time of the terminal voltage measured
by the second measuring means with a predetermined threshold, and
charging control means for performing control in accordance with
the comparison results by the first and second comparators such
that charging operation in the charging means is halted before the
secondary battery reaches full-charged condition.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention as
described above, in charging a secondary battery held by a holder,
a terminal voltage of the secondary battery and a change rate in
time of the terminal voltage are measured, the measured terminal
voltage is compared with a predetermined charging voltage defined
for the secondary battery, the measured change rate in time of the
terminal voltage is further compared with a predetermined threshold.
And, control is performed in accordance with these comparison results
such that the charging operation is halted before the secondary
battery reaches full-charged condition.
It is preferred in the second aspect of the present invention that
the charging means includes a constant current charging circuit
for quickly charging the secondary battery at a constant current,
a voltmeter for measuring a terminal voltage of the secondary battery,
and a differentiation circuit for measuring a change rate in time
of the terminal voltage.
It is preferred in the second aspect of the present invention that
the apparatus further comprises a register for setting the predetermined
threshold.
It is preferred in the second aspect of the present invention that
the charging control means performs control such that charging operation
is halted when it is determined in accordance with the comparison
result by the first comparison means that the terminal voltage exceeds
the predetermined charging voltage.
It is preferred in the second aspect of the present invention that
the second comparison means employs a value very close to "0"
as the predetermined threshold.
It is preferred in the second aspect of the present invention that
the secondary batteries include at least a Ni--Cd battery, a Ni--MH
battery and a Li-ION battery.
It is preferred in the second aspect of the present invention that
the charging control means performs control such that the charging
operation is halted when it is determined that the secondary battery
reaches within a range from approximately 60% to 90% of the full-charged
condition.
According to a third aspect of he present invention, the foregoing
object is attained by providing a charging apparatus for charging
a secondary battery, which comprises a holder for holding an electric
contact with electrodes of the secondary battery, measuring means
for measuring a terminal voltage of the secondary battery, comparison
means for comparing the terminal voltage measured by the measuring
means with a predetermined limited voltage defined for the secondary
battery, charging means for quickly charging the secondary battery,
and charging control means for performing control in accordance
with the comparison results by the comparison means such that charging
operation in the charging means is halted before the secondary battery
reaches full-charged condition.
In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention as
described above, when a secondary battery held in a holder is charged,
a terminal voltage of the secondary battery is measured, and control
is performed such that the charging operation is halted before the
measured terminal voltage reaches a maximum charged voltage.
It is preferred in the third aspect of the present invention that
the charging means includes a constant current charging circuit
for charging at a constant current.
It is preferred in the third aspect of the present invention that
the measurement means includes a voltmeter.
It is preferred in the third aspect of the present invention that
the secondary batteries include at least a Ni--Cd battery, a Ni--MH
battery and a Li-ION battery.
It is preferred in the third aspect of the present invention that
the charging operation is halted when it is determined that the
terminal voltage measured by the measuring means reaches approximately
60% to 90% of the maximum charged voltage defined for the secondary
battery.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide
a vending system which can flexibly change charging capability in
accordance with the needs in the installation site.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the foregoing
object is attain by providing a vending system composed of at least
one first unit which includes a plurality of charging means, each
conforming to a specification of a mobile phone and a secondary
battery of the mobile phone, for charging plural kinds of secondary
batteries used in plural kinds of mobile phones, and a second unit
which performs charging control on each of the plurality of charging
means, which comprises first extension means for electrically connecting
at most a first predetermined number of the first units to the second
unit, and second extension means for mechanically connecting plural
number of sets, each composed of the first predetermined number
of the first units and one second unit, with each other.
It is preferred in the fourth aspect of the present invention that
the second unit includes display means for displaying a guidance
concerning with the charging operation with respect to each of the
plurality of charging means, instruction means for instructing a
charging time corresponding to each of the plurality of charging
means, lock/unlock means for locking/unlocking a key on a door provided
in each of the plurality of charging means, and output means for
outputting an information for unlocking the key on the door.
It is preferred in the fourth aspect of the present invention that
the display means includes an LCD (liquid crystal device), the instruction
means includes ten-keys, and the output means includes a printer.
It is preferred in the fourth aspect of the present invention that
the second unit further includes reception means for receiving at
least one coin and/or at least one banknote, calculation means for
calculating an amount of money of the coin and/or bill which have
been received in the reception means, and change control means for
calculating a change based on the amount of money calculated by
the calculation means and the charging time instructed by the instruction
means, and controlling change return in accordance with the calculation
result if necessary.
It is preferred in the fourth aspect of the present invention that
the plurality of secondary batteries include at least a Ni--Cd battery,
a Ni--MH battery and a Li-ION battery.
It is preferred in the fourth aspect of the present invention that
each of the plurality of charging means in the first unit includes
LEDs, each of which lights in a different color, and is turned on
in accordance with progress of charging operation.
The invention is particularly advantageous since a mobile phone's
holder can conveniently charge his/her own mobile phone by installing
a vending machine according to the present invention at a public
place such as a station, shopping mall, and hotel. If the vending
machine is available, even though a secondary battery of a mobile
phone runs out due to longtime operation, the holder can conveniently
use the machine near by, and can recharge the secondary battery.
As a result of this, the holder becomes free from carrying around
an extra battery package.
Also, charging operation according to the present invention enables
a portable electric device employing a secondary battery as a power
source to be operable for the time being even though the charging
operation does not fulfill 100% charge. Since the charging operation
does not perform full-charge, it is not necessary for a charging
apparatus performing the charging operation to incorporate complicated
charging control which takes into consideration overcharge, and
overheat and firing due to the overcharge. Thus, this contributes
to simplifying the construction of circuit in the charging apparatus.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention
and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vending machine for charging
a secondary battery of a mobile phone according to a typical embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the vending machine shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal arrangement of
a mobile phone storage room where a door of a charging block is
opened;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of
the vending machine shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of
a charging unit 100;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of
a quick charger 150;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a general operation procedure for
the vending machine;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart describing an operation of a main unit 50
of the vending machine;
FIG. 9 is a flow chart describing a change calculation processing
executed in the main unit 50;
FIG. 10 is a flow chart describing a charging operation in a charging
unit 100;
FIGS. 11A and 11B are a chart and a graph, each showing a charging
characteristics of a Ni--Cd battery or Ni--MH battery;
FIG. 12 is a graph showing a charging characteristics of Li-ION
battery;
FIG. 13 is a flow chart describing a charging operation of the
quick charger 150 shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 14 is a front view of a vending machine where an electric
lock system is applied to the door;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a vending system according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 16A and 16B are perspective views showing a mechanism of
a unit connection of the vending system shown in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an electrical construction of
the vending system shown in FIG. 15; and
FIG. 18 is a flow chart describing a general operation of the vending
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment
of a vending machine according to the present invention will be
given with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vending machine of the present embodiment
is provided for selling electric power which is used to charge a
mobile phone. The mobile phone is comprised of a phone body and
a secondary battery which is detachably attached to the phone body.
The secondary battery is of a Ni--Cd (nickel-cadmium) type in the
present embodiment and set to be chargeable. It should be noted
that the secondary battery could be of Nickel-metalhydride type
or Lithium-ion type and the like.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine is provided with a box-shaped
casing 1 which is set to independently stand on a floor or ground
by means of four legs 2 arranged at four corners, respectively,
at the bottom of the casing 1. The vending machine is further provided
with a plurality of, ten(10) in the present embodiment, charge blocks
3 on the front surface of the casing 1 wherein it is arranged as
five(5) charge blocks 3 on the upper row and the remaining five
(5) charge blocks 3 on the lower row.
The vending machine is still further provided with a coin inlet
slot 4 at the front surface of the casing 1 and just below the lower
row of the charge block 3 and on the right side and through which
at least one coin is to be inserted into the casing 1, a coin return
lever 5 arranged on the left side of the coin inlet slot 4 and a
coin return port 6 arranged on the lower side of the coin inlet
slot 4. It should be noted that a bank note inlet slot may be placed
instead of or adding to the coin inlet slot 4.
Each of charge blocks 3 is constructed so that it is able to charge
a secondary battery in a condition where it is attached to the phone
body of the mobile phone. Furthermore, the charge block 3 is constructed
to conform to a specification of a mobile phone and/or secondary
battery. Accordingly, a notice board or plate 8 is attached to the
front surface of each charge blocks 3 to explain what sort or kind
and maker of the mobile phone can be charged by that block, as shown
in FIG. 3. By looking at the notice board or plate 8, a mobile phone
holder can find out the adaptable charge block 3 in which the mobile
phone could be charged.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the right side of a door 7 of each
charge block 3, there is provided an operation panel 9 on which
a block selection switch 10, a door open key 11, and four(4) charge
time selection buttons 12, arranged vertically. The charge time
selection buttons 12 are provided to set a charge time, which the
mobile phone holder wishes.
More in detail, once the uppermost button of the charge time selection
buttons 12 has been depressed, three (3) minutes of the charge time
will be set; once the second button from the uppermost one has been
depressed, five (5) minutes of the charge time will be set; once
the third button 12 from the uppermost one has been depressed, ten(10)
minutes of the charge time will be set; and once the lowermost button
12 has been depressed, fifteen(15) minutes of charge time will be
set.
Above the door 7, there is arranged a charge lamp 14 indicating
whether or not the block 3 is in a charging operation stand-by status,
in a charging status, or in a charge completion status.
The door 7 is swingably connected to the left edge of each charge
block 3 through upper and lower hinges 15. Inside the door 7, a
phone storage room 16 in which the mobile phone will be attached
is arranged in the charge block 3. When the door 7 is opened, the
phone storage room 16 will be exposed.
The lock/unlock of the door 7 provided at the front opening 16a
of the phone storage room 16 is accomplished by the key 11. The
key 11 and a latch 13 which is provided to a central part of the
side edge of the door 7 constitute a lock mechanism for locking/unlocking
the door 7.
On the bottom of the phone storage room 16, there is provided a
charge holder 17 on which a mobile phone with the secondary battery
to be charged will be placed. Where the mobile phone is placed to
the charge holder 17, two charge terminals equipped to the bottom
of the secondary battery is set to be contacted (or electrically
connected) to two electrodes of the charge holder 17 which are arranged
on the bottom thereof.
Now, the description of the electric construction of the vending
machine will be given with reference to FIG. 4.
As shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine is provided with a main
unit 50 for controlling the total operation of the machine and administrating
the delivery and receipt of money, ten(10) charging units 100, 200,
300, . . . 1000 corresponding to the ten(10) charging blocks 3,
respectively, a power unit 60 for to supplying an electric power
to the main unit 50 and all of the charging units 100, 200, 300,
. . . 1000, and CPU bus 70 for electrically and mutually connecting
the main unit 50 and the charging units 100, 200, 300, . . . 1000.
Accordingly, main unit 50 and the charging units 100, 200, 300,
. . . 1000 constitute a so-called master/slave relationship.
On the other hand, each of the charging units 100, 200, 300, .
. . 1000 has both a standby mode and an active mode, wherein the
charging units normally remain on standby mode. On the standby mode,
the electric power is supplied to one part of the construction,
thereby limiting the consumption of the electric power by the vending
machine. If it is necessary to execute a charging operation, the
mode of the charging units 100, 200, 300 . . . 1000 will be switched
from the standby mode to the active mode under the control of the
main unit 50.
It should be noted that the charging units 100, 200, 300 . . .
1000 basically employ a common construction except for the shape
of the holder to which the mobile phone is to be attached, position
of the electrodes and a charging voltage, etc.
The aforesaid main unit 50 includes a CPU (central processing unit)
51 for controlling the total operation of the vending machine and
administrating the delivery and receipt of money, a ROM 52 for storing
a control program to be executed by the CPU 51, a RAM 53 to be used
as a working area for the control program which is executed in the
CPU 51, a coin receptor 54 for temporarily receiving the coin which
has been inserted through the coin inlet slot 4, a coin stocker
54a for stocking the coin, a coin discriminator 55 for discriminating
a truth/false of the coin inserted through the coin inlet slot 4,
and a change stocker 56 for stocking coins for change.
The coin temporally stocked in the coin receptor 54 will be returned
to the coin return port 6 when it is discriminated as a false coin,
and an unacceptable (for example, a foreign) coin, or when the return
lever 5 has been operated. If it is necessary to make change, the
change will be discharge to the coin return port 6.
Next, the description of the charging unit 100 (200, 300 . . .
1000) will be given with reference to FIG. 5.
The charging unit 100 is constructed in such a manner that it received
a command from the CPU 51 of the main unit 70 through the CPU bus
70 thereby executing the charging operation.
As shown in FIG. 5, the charging unit 100 is constructed to include
a CPU 110 for controlling the operation thereof, a ROM 115 for storing
a control program to be executed by the CPU 110, a RAM 120 to be
used as a working area for the control program which is executed
in the CPU 110, a timer 130 for setting the charging time, an interface
(I/F) 140 for electrically connecting the CPU 110 with a peripherals
as described later, a quick charger 150 for charging the secondary
battery of the mobile phone by means of a constant current system,
a holder 160 to which the mobile phone is to be attached, a unit
switch (SW) 170 for propagating the selection result from the charging
block selection switch 10 to the CPU 110 through the interface (I/F)
140, a key sensor 180 for propagating the sensing result about the
lock/unlock operation by the key 11 to the CPU 110 through the interface
(I/F) 140, a selection switch 190 for propagating the charging time
selected by the charging time selection buttons 12 to the CPU 110
through the interface (I/F) 140 and the charging lamp 14 for displaying
the charging condition.
The charging lamp 14 includes a green LED (light emitting device)
14G for emitting a green color light, yellow LED 14Y for emitting
a yellow color light and a red LED 14R for emitting a red color
light. These LEDs are set to light according to the transition of
the charging operation.
The holder 160 is provided with at least a positive (+) electrode
161 and a negative (-) electrode 162 which are set to be contacted
or electrically connected to two terminals of the secondary battery
of the mobile phone, respectively, when the mobile phone is attached
to the holder 160.
Actually, as a secondary battery, there are many sorts of battery
such as a nickel-cadmium (Ni--Cd) battery, a nickel-metalhydride
(Ni--MH) battery and a lithium-ion (Li-ION) battery, and there are
several operational or discharge voltages of the mobile phone such
as 3.0 (V), 3.6 (V), 6.0 (V), and 7.2 (V), etc.
Additionally, the secondary battery is attached to the mobile phone
in a form of a battery package with 3.6(V) where three (3) Ni--Cd
battery cells, a nominal voltage of each of which is set to be 1.2
(v), are connected in a series; or a battery package with 3.6 (V)
where a single Li-ION battery cell, a nominal voltage of which is
set to be 3.6 (V), is connected; or a battery package with 7.2 (V)
where two(2) Li-ION battery cells are connected in a series. In
the battery package, a protection circuit is usually provided so
that the charging voltage thereof is set to be relatively high,
for example, 5.5 (V) even though the discharge voltage thereof is
set to be 3.6 (V).
Furthermore, positions of the electrodes 161 and 162, the shape
of each of the electrodes 161 and 162 are uniquely defined according
to a specification of the mobile phone, the type of the secondary
battery of the mobile phone.
For these reasons, the position and shape of the electrodes in
the holder 160 and the charging voltage and the charging current
in the quick charger 150 are set to conform to the specification
of the secondary battery or the battery package attached to the
specific mobile phone. Accordingly, the position and shape of the
electrodes and the charging voltage and current are different for
each charging units, however, the electric construction and the
charging system of the quick charger 150 is common to the other
quick charger.
Next, the detailed description of the quick charger 150 will be
given with reference to FIG. 6. The quick charger 150 is constructed
so as to execute charging control with the constant current system.
As shown in FIG. 6, the quick charger 150 includes a control circuit
151 for controlling the charging operation, an interface (I/F) 152
for inputting and outputting control signals for communicating between
the control circuit 151 and the CPU 110, a constant current charging
circuit 153 for charging the secondary battery with the constant
current, a voltmeter 154 for measuring the terminal voltage (V)
of the secondary battery, a differentiation circuit (DIFF) 155 for
measuring a change rate in time (dV/dt) of the terminal voltage,
a register (REG) 156 in which a threshold value (TH) to be utilized
to compare the change rate in time (dV/dt) is set and stored, and
a comparator (COMP) 157 for comparing the change rate in time (dV/dt)
with the threshold value (TH).
Also, as shown in FIG. 5, a reference numeral 158 indicates the
secondary battery to be charged, a reference character CMD denotes
a charging start command signal from the CPU 110, STR shows a charging
start notification signal to the CPU 110 and CMP designates a charging
completion signal to CPU 110.
The comparator (COMP) 157 is set to output a comparison result
signal (RST) as the value thereof is "1" in a case where
the change rate of time (dV/dt) is equal to the threshold value
(TH), that is, dV/dt=TH, while output the RST as the value thereof
is "0" in a case where the change rate of time (dV/dt)
is larger that the threshold value (TH), that is, dV/dt>TH. If
the value of a timer signal (TMR) is "1", this indicates
that the charging time selected by the charging time selection buttons
12 has not yet reached time-out condition. On the other hand, if
the value of the TMR is "0", this indicates that the charging
time reached the time-out condition.
Next, the brief description of the operation of the vending machine
will be given with reference to flow charts of FIGS. 7 through 10.
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the summary of the operation of the
vending machine in view of an operation of the mobile phone holder,
basically.
As shown in FIG. 7, the mobile phone holder inserts a coin through
the coin inlet slot 4 in a step S10, and search for the charging
block 3 suitable for charging the secondary battery of the mobile
phone he or she possesses. Then, the mobile phone holder depresses
the charging block selection switch 10 of the charging block 3,
which he or she desires, from all switches 10 in a step S15. Thereafter,
The mobile phone holder opens the door 7 of the corresponding charging
block 3 in a step S20, attaches the mobile phone to the charging
holder 17 of the corresponding charging block 3 in a step S25, and
depresses a charging time selection button 12, which corresponds
to the charging time he or she desires and which is allowed in view
of amount of money of the coin inserted through the slot 4 in a
step S30.
The mobile phone holder closes the door 7 and then locks the door
7 by key 11 in a step S35. When the door 7 is locked, the charging
operation is started in a step S40. Note that if the mobile phone
holder temporally leaves the vending machine during the charging
operation, the key 11 may be taken along.
When the door 7 is locked by the key 7 in the step S35, a calculation
of a change is executed in a step S50, based on an amount of money
of the coin which has been inserted through the slot 4 and the charging
time selected by the selection switches 12 while the charging operation
is started concurrently in the step S40. The detail of the change
calculation will be described with reference to FIG. 9.
Note that a term for calculation of the change is shorter than
that for the charging operation. Accordingly, if it is determined
that there is no change in a step S55 after the change calculation,
the process will go to a step S45 to detect whether or not the charging
operation is to be halted or completed. On the other hand, if it
is determined that there is a change in the step S55, the process
will go to a step 60 to make change and discharge the change to
the coin return port 6, and go to the step S45, and then wait for
the completion of the charging operation in the step S40.
In the step S45, when it is determined that the charging operation
is completed or halted, the process will go to a step S65 for insertion
of the key 11 and unlocking of the door 7. Then, the door 7 is opened
in a step S70 and finally the mobile phone with the secondary battery
of which the charging operation is completed is detached from the
holder 17 in a step S75.
Hereinafter, the detailed description of the operation of each
component of the vending machine will be given with reference to
flow charts of FIGS. 8 through 10. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for showing
the operation of the main unit 50 of the vending machine, FIG. 9
is a flowchart for describing the operation of the change, and FIG.
10 is a flowchart for showing the charging operation in the charging
unit.
In the main unit 50, at first, it is waited for inserting the coin
in a step S100 as shown in FIG. 8. If it is determined that the
coin is inserted through the coin inlet slot 4, it is determined
that whether the coin is true or false by the coin discriminator
55 in a step S105. When it is determined that the coin is true in
the step S105, the process will go to a step S110. On the other
hand, when it is determined that the coin is false or unacceptable
in the step S105, the process will go to a step S115 to return the
coin to the coin return port 6 and then return to the step S100.
In the step S110, the amount of money (M) which has been inserted
through the slot 4 is calculated. Then, certain lamps, which correspond
to the amount of money of the inserted coin(s), among all lamps
which are provided for all the charging time selection buttons 12
are turned on in a step S120. For example, suppose that the four(4)
selection buttons 12 correspond to 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes, respectively,
and these four(4) charging time charges correspond to 50, 100, 150,
300 yens, respectively. If one coin for 50 yens is inserted, the
lamp corresponding to 5 minutes is only turned on among all the
lamps, while if 150 yens are inserted, the lamps corresponding to
5, 10 and 15 minutes are turned on among all the lamps.
After the step S120, it is detected that whether or not the return
lever 5 is operated in a step S125. If it is determined that the
return lever 5 is operated in the step S125, the process will return
to the step S115 to return the coin to the return port 6. On the
other hand, if it is determined that the return lever 5 is not operated
in the step S125, the process will go to a step S130.
In the step S130, it is detected whether or not anyone of the charging
block selection switches 10 is depressed. If it is determined that
none of the switches 10 is depressed in the step S130, the process
will return to the step S125. On the other hand, if it is determined
that one of the switches 10 is depressed in the step S130, the process
will go to a step S135 to detect that which is the charging block
3 where the selection switch 10 is depressed. Then, the charging
unit 100 of the charging block 3 detected in the step S130 is caused
to be activated, that is, set in the active mode in a step S140.
Then, the charging operation is executed in the charging unit 100
in the active mode in a step S145. The detail of the charging operation
will be described later with reference to FIG. 10.
After the step S145, it is waited that a start trigger signal for
the change calculation, which will be described later in detail,
is received in a step S150. If it is determined that the start trigger
signal is received in the step S150, the process will go to a step
S155 to execute the change calculation and the change discharge.
Now, the detailed description of the operation of the change calculation
and the change discharge in the step S155 will be given with reference
to flow chart of FIG. 9.
As shown in FIG. 9, an amount of money (Mo) is determined from
the charging time selected by the charging time selection buttons
12 in a step S200. For example, if the button 12 for indicating
15 minutes of the charging time is selected, the amount of money
(Mo) is set to be 150 yens (Mo=150 yens). Then, a comparison between
the converted amount of money (Mo) and the inserted amount of money
(M) in a step S205 is made. Then, it is determined whether or not
M-Mo>0 in a step S210.
If it is determined that the inserted amount of money (M) is equal
to the converted amount of money (Mo) (that is, M=Mo) in the step
S210, the process will go to a step S215 to determine that there
is no change and then return to the main routine shown in FIG. 8.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the inserted amount
of money (M) is larger than the converted amount of money (Mo) (that
is, M>Mo), the difference between M and Mo is defined as a change
and make change or discharge the change from the change stocker
56 to the coin return port 6 in a step S220 and then the process
will return to the main routine shown in FIG. 8.
As shown in FIG. 8 again, it is waited that the door 7 is unlocked
in a step S160. More specifically, in the step S160, it is waited
for receiving a door open signal from the charging unit 100 now
on use in the CPU 51. If it is determined that the door 7 is unlocked
in the step S160, the process will go to a step S165 to return the
mode of the charging unit 100, the door 7 of which is unlocked,
from the active mode to the stand-by mode. In this time, the charging
lamp 14 is turned off.
In the aforementioned processes, the main unit 50 can execute the
processes of the steps S135 to S165 for a plurality of charging
units 100 (200, 300, . . . 1000) in parallel.
Next, the description of the charging operation of one of the charging
units will be given with reference to flowchart of FIG. 10. It is
a matter of course that the same charging operation will be executed
in another charging units. The charging unit 100 is set to be usually
in the stand-by mode as mentioned above and waiting for receiving
the active command from the CPU 51 of the main unit 50.
At first, it waits to receive the active command from the CPU 51
in a step S300. When it is determined that the active command is
received from the CPU 51 in the step S300, the process will go to
a step S305 to cause the charging unit 100 be in the active mode.
Accordingly, the electric power is supplied to each component of
the charging unit 100 thereby being enable condition (status) for
charging operation.
Then, it waits for the mobile phone to be attached to the holder
160 in a step S310. When it is determined that the mobile phone
is correctly attached to the holder 160 and two electrodes of the
secondary battery equipped to the mobile phone are contacted to
the terminals 161 and 162, respectively, the process will go to
a step S315 to turn on the red LED 14R of the charge lamp 14. Accordingly,
the mobile phone holder is informed that the preparation of the
charging operation is completed.
Then, it waits for anyone of the charging time selection buttons
12 to be depressed in a step S320. When it is determined that one
of the selection buttons 12 is depressed in the step S320, the process
will go to a step S325 to wait that the door 7 is locked by the
key 11. When it is determined that the door 7 is locked in the step
S325, the key sensor 180 detects this lock and the process will
go to a step S330 to send forth the start trigger signal for the
change calculation to the CPU 51 of the main unit 50. Accordingly,
it starts to calculate the change in the main unit 50, as indicated
in the step S155 shown in FIG. 8.
Then, the charging time is set in accordance with the selection
by the selection button 12 in a step S335. The charging operation
is started by the quick charger 150 in a step S340. Furthermore,
the charging lamp 14 is switched from the lighting of the red LED
14R to the lighting of the yellow LED 14Y in a step S345. Accordingly,
it informs the mobile phone holder that the charging operation is
now being executed or the secondary battery is now being charged.
Then, it waits for the completion of the charging operation or
the charging time set on the timer to be expired in steps S350 and
S355. When it is determined that the charging operation is completed
or the charging time has expired, the process will go to a step
S360. The charging lamp 14 is switched from the lighting of the
yellow LED 14Y to the lighting of the green LED 14G in the step
S360. Accordingly, it informs the mobile phone holder that the charging
operation for the secondary battery of the mobile phone is halted
or completed.
Next, the description of the charging operation of the quick charger
150 will be given with reference to the charging characteristics
of the secondary battery shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B and 12 and the
flowchart of FIG.
At first, the charging characteristics of the secondary battery
will be described.
FIGS. 11A and 11B show a table and a graph, respectively, each
for indicating the charging characteristics of the alkali-secondary
battery such as Ni--Cd or Ni--MH battery with a nominal voltage
of 1.2 (V). Note that these figures are shown in Japanese Patent
Publication Laid-Open No. 7-312229.
From FIGS. 11A and 11B, it is seen that the battery voltage (that
is, terminal voltage) will be suddenly raised up from a termination
voltage (about 1.2 to 1.3 (V)) around a region near substantially
0% of a charged electricity amount according to the elapse of the
charging time. The charged electricity amount will increase according
to the elapse of the charging time and then the change rate in time
of the battery voltage will be decreased.
Then, the change rate in time of the battery voltage will be substantially
zero(0) around a region near substantially 60% of the charged electricity
amount. Furthermore, the battery voltage of the secondary battery
will increase again according to the further increase of the charged
electricity amount. Finally, the battery voltage will saturate at
a predetermined value when the charged electricity amount exceeds
100% and then decrease a little. It should be noted that it will
require about 35 minutes for 60% charging condition (that is, 60%
of the charged electricity amount).
FIG. 12 indicates the charging characteristics of the Li-ION secondary
battery with a nominal voltage of 3.6 (V) where it is charged by
a constant current/constant voltage charging system, disclosed by
"NIKKEI ELECTRONICS", on page 108, issued on Nov. 28,
1995.
From FIG. 12, it is seen that the battery voltage will be suddenly
raised up from a termination voltage (for example, about 2.5 to
3.2 (V)) around a region near substantially 0% of a charged electricity
amount according to the elapse of the charging time. The charged
electricity amount will increase according to the elapse of the
charging time and then the change rate in time of the battery voltage
will be decreased.
Then, it will be seen that the charged electricity amount will
reach about 60% at a timing when the charging system is switched
from the constant current system to the constant voltage system,
that is, the terminal voltage of the secondary battery reaches the
predetermined charged voltage (for example, about 4.1 to 4.2 (V))
and the change rate in time of the terminal voltage becomes to be
very small (or near to zero(0)) It should be noted that it will
require about 36 minutes for 60% charging condition (that is, 60%
of the charged electricity amount).
From the above description, it is necessary to watch the terminal
voltage of the secondary battery on charging and the change rate
in time of the terminal voltage thereof if 60% of charging should
be substantially accomplished even though the secondary battery
is Ni--Cd battery or Ni--MH battery or Li-ION battery. When the
terminal voltage reaches the predetermined charging voltage or the
change rate in time of the terminal voltage becomes very small,
the charging operation should be halted.
Note that it is unnecessary in the present embodiment to accomplish
the conventional precise control to charge the secondary battery
in order to prevent the secondary battery from producing fire and/or
fuming due to the overcharge to the secondary battery since only
enough charge to the secondary battery of about 60% is provided.
Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the construction of the
charging circuit would be advantageously simpler than that of a
conventional one.
Next, the description of the charging control procedure in the
control circuit 151 of the quick charger 150 which utilizes the
line of thinking described just above will be given with reference
to the flowchart of FIG. 13. Here, it is assumed that the mobile
phone with the secondary battery is correctly attached to the holder
160 and the two electrodes of the secondary battery are contacted
or electrically connecting to two terminals 161 and 162 of the holder
160. Furthermore, it is assumed that a battery indicator of the
mobile phone indicates that the electric power of the secondary
battery is completely consumed and that the terminal voltage of
the secondary battery has dropped to the termination voltage, in
the following control procedure.
The control circuit 151 receives the charging start command signal
(CMD) from the CPU 110 through the interface (I/F) 152 in a step
S400 and then receives the timer signal (TMR), the value of which
is set to "1", that is, a timer-on(TMR-ON) signal, from
the CPU 110 in a step S405.
After the step S405, the terminal voltage of the secondary battery
which is attached to the holder 160 is measured as an initial value
in a step S410 and then the threshold value (TH) is set to the register
(REG) in a step S415. It should be noted that the threshold value
(TH) is very small, near zero(0), and stored in ROM of the control
circuit 151 with considering to the sort of the secondary battery
which is capable of being charged by the quick charger 150 and its
charging characteristics. The charging voltage (Vo) of the secondary
battery is also stored in the ROM.
The control circuit 151 sends forth the charging start notification
signal (STR) to the CPU 110 in a step S420. Note that the CPU 110
controls the yellow LED 14Y of the charging lamp 14 to be turned
on for indicating that it is executing the charging operation, upon
receiving the signal (STR).
The control circuit 151 then controls the constant current charging
circuit 153 to start the charging of the secondary battery with
the constant current in a step S425. In a following step S430, it
is detected that whether or not the timer signal (TMR), the value
of which is set to "0", that is, timer-off (TMR-OFF) signal,
is received from the CPU 110. In other words, in the step S430,
it is determined whether or not a time-out notice is issued by the
CPU 110. When it is determined that the timer-off (TMR-OFF) signal
is received from the CPU 110 in the step S430, the process will
go to a step S455 to halt or complete the charging operation. On
the other hand, when it is determined that the timer-off (TMR-OFF)
signal is not received from the CPU 110 in the step S430, the process
will go to a step S435.
In the step S435, the terminal voltage (V) of the secondary battery
is measured by means of the voltmeter 154. Then, it is determined
whether or not the measured terminal voltage (V) exceeds a charged
voltage (Vo) defined for the secondary battery in a step S440. When
it is determined that the measured terminal voltage (V) is larger
than the charged voltage (Vo), that is, V>Vo in the step S440,
the process will go to the step S455 to halt the charging operation.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the measured terminal
voltage (V) is equal to or smaller than the charged voltage (Vo),
that is, V.ltoreq.Vo in the step S440, the process will go to a
step S445. In the step S445, a change rate in time (dV/dt) of the
terminal voltage (V) is measured by means of the differentiation
circuit (DIFF) 155. Then, the comparator (COMP) 157 compares the
change rate in time (dV/dt) with the threshold value (TH) set in
the register (REG) 156 in a step S450.
If it is determined that the change rate in time (dV/dt) is larger
than the threshold value (TH) in the step S450, the process will
return to the step S425 to continue the charging operation since
the terminal voltage (V) still continues to raise up and the charged
electricity amount has not reached the 60% point.
If it is determined that the change rate in time (dV/dt) is equal
to or smaller than the threshold value (TH) in the step S450, the
process will go to the step S455 to halt the charging operation
in the constant current charging circuit 153 since the terminal
voltage (V) stops to raise up and the charged electricity amount
has reached 60%.
Finally, the control circuit 151 sends forth the charging completion
signal (CMP) to the CPU 110 to complete the charging operation in
a step S460. Note that the CPU 110 controls the green LED 14G of
the charging lamp 14 to be turned on for indicating that the charging
operation has been completed, upon receiving the signal (CMP).
It should be noted that the term "completion of charging"
does not mean 100% charged condition (or full charged condition)
but means about 60% charged condition, in the present embodiment.
It should be further noted that the vending machine according to
the present invention may be placed in any public places, such as
station precincts, underground markets, hotels, and shopping centers,
etc.
According to the present embodiment, even though the charge of
a secondary battery of the mobile phone has been completely or partially
consumed and unable to be used, the mobile phone holder can charge
the secondary battery outdoors, using the vending machine of the
present invention installed in public places.
Further in the present embodiment, it is possible to halt the charging
operation even if the charging condition of the secondary battery
has not reached the full charged condition but to about 60% charged
condition, by monitoring the terminal voltage (V) of the secondary
battery and the change rate in time of the terminal voltage (dV/dt),
and comparing these values with the predetermine value or threshold
value. Accordingly, it is unnecessary in the present embodiment
to accomplish the conventional precise control to charge the secondary
battery in order to prevent the secondary battery from producing
fire and/or fuming due to the overcharge to the secondary battery
since it is charged to about 60% of the full-charge electricity
amount. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the construction
of the charging circuit can be advantageously simpler than that
of a conventional one.
Still further in the present embodiment, the charging operation
may be halted when it is determined that the charged electricity
amount of the secondary battery has reached about 60% by monitoring
the accumulated charged energy from the terminal voltage (V) of
the secondary battery now on charged, the change rate in time (dV/dt)
of the terminal voltage (V), the charging current in the constant
current charging circuit 153 and the charging time, wherein if the
secondary battery to be charged is a type in which the terminal
voltage will fall to the termination voltage when the secondary
battery is completely consumed or discharged by 100%.
Furthermore in the present embodiment, the positions and shape
of the electrodes of the holder 160, the charging voltage and charging
current in the quick charger 150 are conforming to the specification
of the secondary battery or battery package equipped to the specific
mobile phone. Accordingly, it is possible to experimentally determine
the relationship between the charged voltage and the charged electricity
amount by obtaining the charging characteristics of the secondary
battery or battery package to be equipped to the mobile phone by
an experimental method. If it is possible to experimentally obtain
the relationship between the charged voltage and the charged electricity
amount, the charging operation may be halted when it is determined
that the terminal voltage reaches a predetermined value which is
set to be lower than the maximum charged voltage defined for the
secondary battery (e.g., a limited voltage) by only detecting or
monitoring the terminal voltage of the secondary battery. In this
case, it is preferred to halt the charging operation when it is
determined that the terminal voltage measured by the voltmeter reaches
approximately 60% to 90% of the maximum charged voltage defined
for the secondary battery.
Accordingly, the mobile phone holder can charge the secondary battery
which has been completely or partially consumed such that it is
unusable, by using the vending machine of the present invention,
placed in public spaces in a short time or easily, even though it
is not charged 100%. It is possible to urgently use the mobile phone
even though the secondary battery has not been fully or 100% charged,
in a condition where the mobile phone holder does not have a replacement
secondary battery.
From the description above, the present invention has an advantage
that the mobile phone holder can lightheartedly use the mobile phone
or charge the discharged secondary battery without possessing a
replacement secondary battery, using the vending machine according
to the present invention, settled in many places such as public
places.
It should be noted that the quick charger employs a constant current
charging system, however the present invention is not limited to
employ such a constant current charging system but may employ a
variable current charging system wherein a magnitude of the charging
current is increased according to a charging time elapses in order
to avoid a bad influence to the secondary battery by the quick charging
operation. In this case, the magnitude of the charging current is
applied to the secondary battery in an initial stage of the charging
operation, then is gradually raised up in a mid stage thereof, and
raised up to a high value in a final stage thereof.
Further, it is very advantageous in the present embodiment wherein
a basic design of an electric circuit in the quick charger can be
standardized over different types of secondary battery to be charged
although the charging voltage (Vo), the charging current and the
threshold value (TH) for watching the change rate in time (dV/dt)
of the terminal voltage must be set differently according to the
type of the secondary battery or the battery package.
On the other hand, it is required that the vending machine should
correspond to many types of mobile phones or secondary batteries.
According to the present invention, it is very advantageous to the
vending machine because the basic design of the quick charger can
be standardized over different types of secondary batteries, thereby
contributing to reduce a manufacturing and/or developing cost of
the vending machine.
Having described a specific embodiment of the vending machine,
the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and it is
believed obvious that modification and variation of the present
invention is possible in light of the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the vending
machine is provided for charging the mobile phone. The present invention,
however, is not limited to such an application but may charge the
secondary battery for other portable electric devices, such as an
electric notebook, a laptop-type personal computer and a portable
facsimile device, etc.
Still further in the present embodiment, the door 7 is locked/unlocked
by means of the key 11. The present invention, however, is not limited
to such a construction but may lock/unlock the door 7 by means of
an electric key as described later as one modification of the preferred
embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a front view of a charging block of one modification
of the vending machine of the aforesaid embodiment according to
the present invention wherein an electric lock system including
a ten-key keyboard is applied to the door 7.
As shown in FIG. 14, on the operation panel 9 which is arranged
on the right side of the door 7, a ten-key operational section 27
is provided instead of the key 11 in the aforesaid embodiment. A
correction key (C) 29 arranged to the ten-key operational section
27 is provided for correcting a secret code input by using numeral
keys 28. Thus, the input error to the secret code is corrected and
the operator can input the secret code again.
In the ten-key operational section 27, the secret code of four
digits, for example, is input through the numeral keys 28. When
the input key (IN) 30 is depressed after input of the secret code,
the secret code is registered in the control circuit and at the
same time the door 7 is electrically locked and the charging operation
to the secondary battery of the mobile phone is started.
After a completion of the charging operation, the operator must
input the secret code, which has been already registered, through
the numeral keys 28. When the secret code is input, the door 7 is
unlocked when the input secret code coincides with the registered
secret code, thereby accessing the mobile phone with the secondary
battery just charged from the vending machine, while the door 7
is opened.
It should be noted that the vending machine may equip a printer
in front of the casing 1, for printing the secret code which the
operator registered through the ten-key operational section 27.
As the printer is equipped to the vending machine, it is possible
to avoid an inconvenience where the operator forgets the secret
code.
[ANOTHER EMBODIMENT]
It would be clear from the aforementioned description to the preferred
embodiment that it is useful and advantageous for the mobile phone
holder to provide a vending machine to the public place in accordance
with the spread of many sorts of mobile phones. In this case, it
is very useful and advantageous for the mobile phone holder when
he or she doesn't possess a replacement secondary battery in his
or her bag or case and he or she must urgently charge the discharged
secondary battery which is attached to the mobile phone to use it.
However, note that the necessities to install the vending machine
for charging the secondary battery of the mobile phone are widely
different from each other according to the installation sites. That
is to say, it would be strongly necessary to install a lot of vending
machines each for charging the secondary battery of a plurality
of mobile phones or a large capacity to a place where many mobile
phone holders concentrate. On the other hand, it would be sufficient
to install at least one vending machine with small capacity to a
place where a small number of mobile phone holders gather. Furthermore,
the needs for installing a vending machine even to the same place
will change as a time passes.
In view of the circumstances described above, the description will
be given to a vending system for charging a secondary battery of
a mobile phone of the other embodiment in which it can flexibly
correspond to the needs to install the vending machine, with reference
to FIGS. 15 through 18, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a vending system for charging
a secondary battery of a mobile phone of the present embodiment.
In FIG. 15, it is shown that the vending system includes two maximum
configuration sets.
The vending system of the present embodiment includes at least
one charging set each composed of a basic control unit 1100 for
performing control of supplying electric power, a total construction
of the system, administrating the communication between a system
user and the system, and four(4) extension charging units 1200,
1300, 1400 and 1500 at most. Each of the extension charging units
1200, 1300. 1400 and 1500 can accommodate four (4) mobile phones
into different compartments, respectively, and charge the secondary
battery of the accommodated mobile phone. Note that it is a matter
of course that the single charging set of the vending system includes
a basic control unit and at least one extension charging unit.
That is to say, the minimum configuration of the charging set includes
a basic control unit 1100 and a single extension charging unit 1200.
The other extension charging units 1300, 1400, 1500 can be further
added or connected to the extension charging unit 1200 which has
already been included, while combination of the basic control unit
1100 and four(4) extension charging units 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500
constitute the maximum configuration of the charging set. Accordingly,
the maximum configuration of the charging set has a charging capability
to charge up sixteen(16) mobile phones.
Further, the maximum configuration of the charging set can be added
or connected to the other charging set including the maximum configuration,
with separators 1660 sandwiched therebetween as shown in FIG. 15.
Namely, a plurality of charging sets are arbitrary connected to
each other and installed while the adjacent ones are mechanically
coupled through the separators 1600.
In the vending system, all units (that is, the basic control unit
and extension charging unit) are electrically connected through
cables (not shown). On the other hand, a mechanical connection between
units in the vending system or between charging sets are accomplished
by two pairs of U-shaped metal fixtures 1250 and 1260; and 1270
and 1280, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 16A, the upper portions of
the extension charging units 1200 and 1400 are mechanically connected
through the pair of metal fixtures 1270 and 1280, with both legs
of the metal fixture 1270 being inserted into an opening 1210 formed
to the upper surface of the unit 1200 and an opening 1410 formed
to the upper surface of the unit 1400, respectively, while both
legs of the metal fixture 1280 being inserted into an opening 1220
formed to the upper surface of the unit 1200 and an opening 1420
formed to the upper surface of the unit 1400, respectively. On the
other hand, as shown in FIG. 16B, the lower portions of the extension
charging units 1200 and 1400 are mechanically connected through
the pair of metal fixtures 1250 and 1260, with both legs of the
metal fixture 1250 being inserted into an opening 1230 formed to
the under surface of the unit 1200 and an opening 1430 formed to
the under surface of the unit 1400, respectively, while both legs
of the metal fixture 1260 being inserted into an opening 1240 formed
to the under surface of the unit 1200 and an opening 1440 formed
to the under surface of the unit 1400, respectively.
Note that, in FIG. 16B, the reference numerals 1450 and 1460 indicate
U-shaped connector for extension of the charging set.
The basic control 1100 includes a LCD (liquid crystal display)
1101 for displaying a message or guidance for operating the system,
a ten-key 1102 through which a variety of instructions relating
the charging operation are input, a printer 1103 for outputting
the system user a necessary information to draw or detach the mobile
phone with charged secondary battery from the system after the charging
operation, a coin inlet slot 4, a coin return lever 5 and a coin
return port 6. It should be noted that it is possible to provide
a banknote inlet slot (not shown) in order to receive a banknote.
Each of the extension charging units 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500
is constructed so as to accommodate a mobile phone and to be able
to charge the secondary battery of the mobile phone, which has an
interchangeability with respect to the charging system, among mobile
phones which are put on the market. Accordingly, on the door 7 which
is provided to the front of each of the compartments of the extension
charging units, there is attached a notice board or plate 8 on which
a plurality of compatible mobile phone names are described. By looking
the notice board or plate 8, the system user or mobile phone holder
can find the suitable compartment in which his or her secondary
battery can be charged.
On the bottom of the compartment, there is provided a mobile phone
holder or charge holder (not shown) to which the mobile phone with
empty secondary battery to be charged is attached. Note that of
the secondary battery of the mobile phone has two electrodes on
the bottom thereof and the charge holder has two terminals on the
upper surface thereof, and the electrodes are set to be contacted
or electrically connected to two terminals, respectively, when the
mobile phone is attached to the charge holder.
The door 7 of each of the compartments of the extension charging
units is set to be locked/unlocked by means of an electric lock
system under control from the basic control unit 1100.
As shown in FIG. 15 again, above each of the compartments, there
is arranged a charge lamp 1201 for indicating any of a charging
operation stand-by status, a charging status, or a charge completion
status. Below each of the compartments, there is attached or adhered
a label 1202 on which a discrimination number for specifying the
compartment is described.
The charging lamp 1201 includes a green LED for emitting a green
color light, a yellow LED for emitting a yellow color light and
a red LED for emitting a red color light. These LEDs are set according
to the transition of the charging operation. That is, the green
LED is turned on when the charge completion is indicated, the yellow
LED is turned on when the charging is indicated and the red LED
is turned on when the charging operation stand-by is indicated.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram for showing the structure of the vending
system of the present embodiment, in which like reference numerals
or characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the
figures thereof.
As shown in FIG. 17, the vending system is provided with the basic
control unit 1100, four(4) extension charging units 1200, 1300,
1400 and 1500 each having a compartment 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2400
and a power unit 60 for supplying an electric power to the basic
control unit 1100 and extension charging units 1200, 1300, 1400
and 1500.
In the vending system, the basic control unit 1100 and the extension
charging unit 1200 are electrically and mutually connected with
each other by means of a CPU bus 70 and the basic control unit 1100
and the remaining extension charging units 1300, 1400 and 1500 are
electrically and mutually connected by means of an extension unit
interface (I/F) 58. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to include the
extension unit interface (I/F) 58 where the system is constituted
by the minimum configuration, that is, includes the extension charging
unit 1200 solely. In other words, it is necessary to add the extension
unit interface (I/F) if the extension charging unit or units 1300,
1400 and 1500 are additionally connected to the extension charging
unit 1200.
The CPU 51 provided to the basic control unit 1100 is constructed
to perform control the lock/unlock of the door 7 of each of the
compartments of the extension charging units 1200, 1300, 1400 and
1500 electrically.
Accordingly, basic control unit 1100 and the extension charging
units 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500 constitute a so-called master/slave
relationship. On the other hand, each of the extension charging
units 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500 has both of standby mode and active
mode, wherein the extension charging units normally remain on standby
mode. On the standby mode, the electric power is supplied to one
part of the unit, thereby restraining the consumption of the electric
power. If it is necessary to execute the charging operation, the
mode of the extension charging units 1200, 1300, 1400 and 1500 will
be switched from the standby mode to the active mode under the control
of the basic control unit 1100.
The basic control unit 1100 includes an interface (I/F) 57 for
connecting with the LCD 1101, the ten-key 1102 and the printer 1103
with CPU 51 as well as the extension unit interface (I/F) 58.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the charging operation in the vending
system of the present embodiment, in which like reference numerals
or characters designate the same or similar steps throughout the
figures thereof.
As shown in FIG. 18, when the mobile phone holder inserts a coin
through the coin inlet slot 4 in a step S10, the guidance for using
the vending system is displayed and indicated on the LCD 1101 in
a step S12. According to the guidance displayed on the LCD 1101,
the system user or the mobile phone holder searches a compartment
suitable for charging the secondary battery of the mobile phone
he or she possesses, among all compartments. Then, the mobile phone
holder inputs the discrimination number, corresponding to the compartment
he or she finds, through the ten-key 1102 in a step S16. At that
time, the mobile phone holder depresses "#" key in the
ten-key 1101 after the input of the discrimination number in order
to inform the CPU 51 the completion of the input operation. Corresponding
to the input of the "#", the CPU 51 controls the door
7 to unlock electrically in a step S17. Thereafter, The mobile phone
holder opens a door 7 of the corresponding compartment in a step
S20, attaches the mobile phone to the charge holder 17 of the corresponding
compartment in a step S25, and closes the door 7. If the mobile
phone is correctly attached to the charge holder, the red LED is
turned on in the charging lamp 1201.
The mobile phone holder then inputs a charging time (for example,
5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes) which he or she desires and which is allowed
in view of amount of money of the coin inserted through the slot
4, by means of the ten-key 1102, according to the guidance of the
LCD 1101 and then inputs a secret code of four(4) digits in a step
S31. For example, if the mobile phone holder wishes to input "30
minutes" as a charging time and "1234" as a secret
code, he or she inputs "30*" and then "1234#"
from the ten-key 1101.
When the key "#" is input from the ten-key 1101, the
door 7 is then automatically locked by key 11 in a step S36. When
the door 7 is locked, the charging operation is started in a step
S40. Note that the yellow LED is turned on in the charging lamp
1201 during the charging operation.
When the door 7 is locked by the key 7 in the step S36, the printer
1103 prints out the discrimination number and the secret code for
unlocking the door 7 in a step 49 while the charging operation is
started in the step S40 concurrently.
When the print-out operation is completed in the step S49, a calculation
of change is executed in a step S50, based on an amount of money
in a coin which has been inserted through the slot 4 and the charging
time selected in the step 31.
Note that a term for calculation of the change is usually shorter
than that for the charging operation. Accordingly, if it is determined
that there is no change in a step S55 after the change calculation,
the process will go to a step S45 to detect whether or not the charging
operation is halted or completed. On the other hand, if it is determined
that there is a change in the step S55, the process will go to a
step 60 to make change and discharge the change to the coin return
port 6, and go to the step S45, and then wait for the completion
of the charging operation in the step S40.
In the step S45, when it is determined that the charging operation
is completed or halted, the green LED is turned on in the charging
lamp 1201 and the process will go to a step S66. In the step S66,
the mobile phone holder inputs the discrimination number for indicating
the compartment now on use and the secret code of four(4) digits
for unlocking the door 7 by means of the ten-key 1102. When the
discrimination number input in the step S16 and the secret code
input in the step S31 are coincided to the discrimination number
and the secret code input in the step S66, respectively, the door
7 is unlocked electrically under the control of the CPU 51. Then,
the door 7 is opened in a step S70 and finally the mobile phone
with the secondary battery of which the charging operation is completed
is detached from the charge holder in a step S75.
Thereafter, when the door 7 is closed, the door 7 is automatically
and electrically locked under the control of the CPU 51.
According to the present embodiment, it can be provided a vending
system which can flexibly correspond to the needs for settle the
vending machine and adjust the charging capability thereof due to
add or reduce the extension charging unit or units.
In the description of the present embodiment, each of the extension
charging units can charge four(4) secondary batteries concurrently
and each of the charging sets can equip four(4) extension charging
units, accordingly can charge sixteen(16) secondary batteries concurrently,
however, the present invention is not limited to such a number,
but the extension charging unit is possible to charge five(5) or
more secondary batteries by including more compartments and the
charging set is possible to include five(5) or more extension charging
units.
Further in the description of the present embodiment, the secret
code is set by the system user or mobile phone holder, however,
the present invention is not limited to such a construction but
it is possible to issue a secret code from the vending system, printing
the secret code by the printer 1103.
Still further in the description of the above embodiments, the
charging block or the compartment is at room temperature, however,
the present invention is not limited to such a construction but
it is possible to equip an air conditioner in the machine or the
unit for controlling the temperature in the charging block or the
compartment to a constant temperature in view of the discharge characteristics
of the secondary battery depending on the temperature thereof.
Furthermore in the description of the above embodiments, the door
7 of each of the charging blocks or compartments is provided with
the lock mechanism mechanically or electrically, the present invention
is not limited to such a construction but it is possible to eliminate
the lock mechanism from the door 7 if the installation site of the
vending machine is safe.
Still furthermore in the above embodiments, the charging operation
will be executed during a charging time which conforms to the amount
of money of the inserted coin, however, the present invention is
not limited to such a construction but it is possible to charge
the secondary battery during a charging time which is set by the
mobile phone holder and clear off the deficit if it exists when
the mobile phone is detached from the vending machine after the
completion of the charging operation.
As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit of essential characteristics thereof,
the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive,
since the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended
claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes
that fall within meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalence
of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to embraced by the
claims. |