Charge control apparatus for use with electronic equipment

Claim 2

A quick charge control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second detector means includes means for detecting a voltage at an output side of the charging circuit and comparing the voltage with a predetermined value, and the second detector means detects whether or not the secondary battery is situated on the basis of the result of the comparison.

Claim 3

A quick charge control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identifying means supervises the voltage of the secondary battery and detects a drop in the voltage by a predetermined value from a maximum value.

Claim 4

A charge control system for use with electronic equipment, the charge control system comprising: (a) a power switch provided on the main unit of the electronic equipment; (b) a secondary battery situated in a removable fashion in the main unit of the electronic equipment; (c) an adapter for supplying external electric power to the main unit of the electronic equipment; (d) a charging circuit for supplying a charging current for quick charge use to the secondary battery by the use of an external power source; (e) first detector means for detecting the ON-OFF status of the power switch; (f) second detector means for detecting the situated status of the secondary battery; (g) identifying means for making a judgment of the completion of charge; (h) third detector means for detecting the connecting condition between the adaptor and the main unit of electronic equipment; (i) flag control means for receiving signals from the second and third detector means and the identifying means, and causing a charge inhibition flag to be set when the quick charge is completed and to be reset when the secondary battery is removed or when the adaptor is removed; and (j) charge control means for controlling the charging circuit dependent on the output of the first, second and third detector means and the status of the charge inhibition flag, and the charge control means effecting the control in such a manner as to commence the quick charge with the secondary battery is situated, the main power switch off, and the charge inhibition flag being reset.

Claim 5

A charge control system according to claim 4, wherein the second and the third detector means are composed of a single comparator means for detecting a voltage at the output side of the charging circuit and comparing the voltage with a predetermined value, and the second and the third detector means detect the removable of the secondary battery and the disconnection of the adaptor from the main unit of the electronic equipment on the basis of the result of the comparator means.

Claim 6

A charge control system according to claim 5, wherein the identifying means supervises the voltage of the secondary battery, and detects a drop in the voltage by a predetermined value from a maximum value.

Claim 7

A charge control system according to claim 4, wherein the charging circuit is provided in the same block where the adaptor is situated.

Claim 8

A charge control system according to claim 7, further comprising a switch for switching between the power supply to the main unit of the electronic equipment through the adaptor and the supply of a quick charging current from the charging circuit, and the charging control means controls the switching operation of this switch.

Claim 9

A charge control system according to claim 8, further comprising trickle charging means for supplying a micro charging current to the secondary battery with the adapter supplying power to the main unit of the electronic equipment.