Electronic apparatus and battery check method

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic apparatus which detects a remaining level of a battery used as a power supply, comprising a current detection unit configured to detect a current value flowing through a circuit of the electronic apparatus, a voltage detection unit configured to detect a voltage value of the battery, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a voltage value of the battery when a consumption current of the electronic apparatus is a predetermined consumption current, based on current values and voltage values detected by the current detection unit and the voltage detection unit, respectively, in a plurality of states different in the consumption current of the electronic apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic apparatus comprising:
 a current measuring unit that measures a current flowing from a battery to the electronic apparatus;   a voltage measuring unit that measures a voltage of the battery;   a detection unit that detects, using a first current value; a second current value, a first voltage value, and a second voltage value, a remaining level of the battery; and   a control unit that controls a switch unit to disconnect between the battery and a load unit of the electronic apparatus if a current measured by the current measuring unit is equal to or larger than a predetermined value,   wherein the switch unit is connected between the battery and the load unit,   wherein the first current value is measured by the current measuring unit if the electronic apparatus is in a first state,   the second current value is measured by the current measuring unit if the electronic apparatus is in a second state,   the first voltage value is measured by the voltage measuring unit if the electronic apparatus is in the first state, and   the second voltage value is measured by the voltage measuring unit if the electronic apparatus is in the second state, and   wherein the second state is different from the first state.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first current value is less than the second current value. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the switch unit to connect between the battery and the load unit if a current measured by the current measuring unit is less than the predetermined value. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, if a current measured by the current measuring unit is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the control unit controls the switch unit to disconnect between the battery and the load unit after a predetermined time elapses. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the current measuring unit is used for detecting whether or not an abnormal current flows to the electronic apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the detection unit detects the remaining level using a resistance of the battery, and   the resistance of the battery is detected based on the first current value, the second current value, the first voltage value, and the second voltage value.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first state is a state that a predetermined load unit-of the electronic apparatus is not operated, and the second state is a state that the predetermined load unit is operated. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic apparatus includes a digital camera. 
     
     
         9 . A control method for controlling an electronic apparatus, the control method comprising:
 measuring a current flowing from a battery to the electronic apparatus;   measuring a voltage of the battery;   detecting, using a first current value, a second current value, a first voltage value, and a second voltage value, a remaining level of the battery; and   controlling a switch unit to disconnect between the battery and a load unit of the electronic apparatus if a measured current is equal to or larger than a predetermined value,   wherein the switch unit is connected between the battery and the load unit,   wherein the first current value is measured if the electronic apparatus is in a first state,   the second current value is measured if the electronic apparatus is in a second state,   the first voltage value is measured if the electronic apparatus is in the first state, and   the second voltage value is measured if the electronic apparatus is in the second state,   wherein the second state is different from the first state.   
     
     
         10 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first current value is less than the second current value. 
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 9 , further comprising
 controlling the switch unit to connect between the battery and the load unit if a measured current is less than the predetermined value.   
     
     
         12 . The control method according to  claim 9 , further comprising
 controlling the switch unit to disconnect between the battery and the load unit after a predetermined time elapses if a measured current is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.   
     
     
         13 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein a measured current is used for detecting whether or not an abnormal current flows to the electronic apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The control method according to  claim 9 , further comprising
 detecting the remaining level using a resistance of the battery,   wherein the resistance of the battery is detected based on the first current value, the second current value, the first voltage value, and the second voltage value.   
     
     
         15 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first state is a state that a predetermined load unit of the electronic apparatus is not operated, and the second state is a state that the predetermined load unit is operated. 
     
     
         16 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the electronic apparatus includes a dig