Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices – circuits – and – Signal converting – shaping – or generating – Particular stable state circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-05
2003-10-07
Cunningham, Terry D. (Department: 2816)
Miscellaneous active electrical nonlinear devices, circuits, and
Signal converting, shaping, or generating
Particular stable state circuit
C368S066000, C368S204000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06630852
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a power-generation detection circuit and, in particular, to power-generation detection for use in an electronic device which is driven by an AC power generated by motion of a rotating weight or motion of a spring. The invention further relates to a semiconductor device in which the power-generation detection circuit is formed. And more in particular an electronic device, having the power-generation detection circuit, which is a timepiece and a power-generation detection method and a power consumption control method for operating the electronic device.
In a compact portable electronic device, such as a wrist watch, it is known to incorporate a power-generation device therein to obtain power for driving the electronic device without a battery. Referring now to
FIG. 15
, there is shown a simplified configuration of an electronic device which incorporates a power-generation device
6
. This portable electronic device includes an electromagnetic power-generation device as the power-generation device
6
. Power-generation device
6
includes a rotating weight
7
that moves in a swinging motion when the electronic device is moved or shaken, a train wheel mechanism
8
for transmitting the rotating motion of rotating weight
7
, a stator
9
and a rotor
10
. When rotor
10
rotates, an electromotive force is generated by an output coil
11
of stator
9
, so that an AC power is output In addition, the AC power output from electromagnetic generator
6
is full-wave rectified by a rectification diode bridge
12
to supply the power to a large-capacity capacitor
13
and a circuit unit
14
of the electronic device. When no power generation is performed by electromagnetic generator
6
, circuit unit
14
is driven by power stored in large-capacity capacitor
13
. For this reason, the portable electronic device can continuously operate circuit unit
14
without a battery.
Because the electronic device described above has no means for detecting the state of power generation supplied from power-generation device
6
, the current consumption of circuit unit
14
is constant regardless of the state of power generation of power-generation device
6
. As a result, power is consumed by circuit unit
14
even while no power is being generated by power-generation device
6
. This may result in large-capacity capacitor
13
being discharged within a short period of time with the possibility of circuit unit
14
stopping completely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is for a power-generation detection circuit for detecting the state of power generation in an electronic device. In accordance with the present invention, a power-generation detection circuit is provided which includes a switching element for performing a switching operation in response to the cycle of an externally generated AC power signal. A capacitor element is coupled to the switch for storing charges depending on the state of the switch, the capacitor element having a discharge path. A discharging element is inserted in the discharging path of the capacitor element for discharging the charges stored in the capacitor element. A voltage detector is coupled to the capacitor element for detecting whether voltage of the capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value.
In an exemplary embodiment, the discharging element of the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention is a resistor element.
In an exemplary embodiment, the discharging element of the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention is a constant-current circuit. The constant-current circuit of the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention includes a constant-current source and a current mirror circuit.
In an exemplary embodiment, the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention includes a current-limiter connected in series with the capacitor element for limiting the charge current of the capacitor element.
In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage detector of the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention is an inverter circuit.
In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage detector of the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention is a Schmidt trigger inverter circuit.
In an exemplary embodiment, the voltage detector of the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention is a comparator circuit.
In an exemplary embodiment, the switching element of the power-generation detection circuit of the present invention is a transistor. The transistor may be a MOS transistor or a bipolar transistor.
In accordance with the present invention, a semiconductor device is provided which includes a switching element for performing a switching operation in response to the cycle of an externally generated AC power signal. A capacitor element is coupled to the switch for storing charges depending on the state of the switch, the capacitor element having a discharge path. A discharging element is inserted in the discharging path of the capacitor element for discharging the charges stored in the capacitor element. A voltage detector is coupled to the capacitor element for detecting whether a voltage of the capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value.
In an exemplary embodiment, the discharging element of the semiconductor device of the present invention is a constant-current source and a current mirror circuit. The current mirror circuit of the semiconductor device of the present invention is a pair of transistors.
In an exemplary embodiment, the switching element of the semiconductor device of the present invention is a transistor. The transistor may be a MOS transistor or a bipolar transistor.
In accordance with the present invention, an electronic device is provided which includes a power-generation device for generating AC power. A power-generation detection circuit, coupled to the power generation device, includes a switching element for performing a switching operation in response to the cycle of AC power generated by the power-generation device; a capacitor element is coupled to the switch for storing charges depending on the switching operation performed by the switching element, the capacitor element having a discharge path; a discharging element is inserted in the discharging path of the capacitor element for discharging the charges stored in the capacitor element, and a voltage detector is coupled to the capacitor element for detecting whether a voltage of the capacitor element exceeds a predetermined value.
In an exemplary embodiment, the power-generation device of the electronic device has a rotating weight for performing swinging motion and a power-generation element for generating electromotive force from the rotating motion of the rotating weight.
In an exemplary embodiment, the power-generation device includes an elastic member on which deformation forces act. A rotating member rotates as a result of a recovery force generated by the elastic member returning to its original shape. A power-generation element generates electromotive force from the rotating motion of the rotating member.
In an exemplary embodiment, the power-generation includes a piezoelectric element which generates electromotive force by a piezoelectric effect when displacement acts on the piezoelectric element.
In accordance with the present invention, an electronic device is provided which includes a power-generation device for generating AC power. A power-generation detection circuit, coupled to the power generation device, includes a switching element for performing a switching operation in response to the cycle of the AC power generated by the power-generation device; a capacitor element, coupled to the switch, stores charges in response to the switching operation performed by the switching element. A discharging element, inserted in the discharging path of the capacitor element, discharges the charges stored in the capacitor element; a voltage detector, coupled to the capacitor element, detects whether a voltage across the capacit
Fujisawa Teruhiko
Iida Kenji
Iijima Yoshitaka
Nakamiya Shinji
Cunningham Terry D.
Seiko Epson Corporation
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Tra Quan
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