# US 2020/0401096 A1 · Power supply control device and communication device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401096 A1 - Document ID: US20200401096A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/014,719 - Filed: 2020-09-08 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-28 - Assignees: Fujitsu Limited - Applicants: Fujitsu Limited - Inventors: Hiroyuki SATO; Hiroyuki NAKAMOTO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401096A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G05B 2219/2639: Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low - H01H 37/00: Thermally-actuated switches - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A power supply control device includes: a power generator that converts energy into power; an environmental sensor that detects a state of an ambient environment; and a controller that controls an operation timing of a functional circuit that operates upon receipt of power supplied from the power generator based on the state of the ambient environment detected by the environmental sensor. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-10. (canceled) ### Claim 11 A communication device comprising: a power generator that converts energy into power; an environmental sensor that detects a state of an ambient environment; a wireless communication circuit that operates upon receipt of power supplied from the power generator; and a controller that controls a transmission interval of data which is transmitted from the wireless communication circuit based on the state of the ambient environment detected by the environment sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The communication device according to claim 11, further comprising at least one timer that outputs a timing signal of a fixed period, wherein the controller operates the wireless communication circuit at intervals corresponding to a period of the timing signal selected based on the state of the ambient environment detected by the environmental sensor, each of the intervals being one of a plurality of mutually different intervals. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The communication device according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of timers that output timing signals at different periods, wherein the controller selects one of the timing signals output from each of the plurality of timers based on the state of the ambient environment detected by the environmental sensor, and operates the wireless communication circuit at intervals corresponding to the period of the selected timing signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The communication device according to claim 11, wherein in a case where the wireless communication circuit is operated at a first interval, the controller sets a state of the wireless communication circuit at a time of non-operation to a standby state in which reactivation is not performed and power is consumed, and in a case where the wireless communication circuit is operated at a second interval longer than the first interval, the controller sets the state of the wireless communication circuit at the time of non-operation to a system off state in which reactivation is performed and power is not consumed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The communication device according to claim 14, wherein in the case where the wireless communication circuit is operated at the second interval, the controller enters the system off state after setting the state of the wireless communication circuit at the time of non-operation to the system off state, and reactivates the wireless communication circuit after being reactivated based on a timing signal corresponding to the second interval. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The communication device according to claim 11, further comprising a first switch provided on a power supply path configured to supply power to the wireless communication circuit, wherein the controller controls an operation timing of the wireless communication circuit by controlling on and off of the first switch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the environmental sensor includes at least one of an illuminance sensor and a temperature sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the power generator includes a solar cell, the environmental sensor includes an illuminance sensor, and the controller sets an operating interval of the wireless communication circuit in a case where an illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor is lower than a threshold to be longer than an operating interval of the wireless communication circuit in a case where an illuminance detected by the illumination sensor is higher than the threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The communication device according to claim 16, further comprising: a capacitor coupled in parallel to the power generator; a second switch provided on at least one of a pair of power supply lines to which a generated voltage output from the power generator is applied; a first power supply monitor that controls the second switch based on a voltage generated in the pair of power supply lines; a third switch provided on a branch line coupled to the pair of power supply lines; a second power supply monitor that controls the third switch based on a level of a voltage generated in the pair of power supply lines; and a power storage, provided on the branch line, that is coupled and to the power generator when the second switch and the third switch are both turned on; wherein the controller is coupled to the power generator when the second switch is turned on, and coupled to the power storage when the third switch is turned on, the wireless communication circuit is coupled to the power generator when the first switch and the second switch are both turned on, and coupled to the power storage when the first switch and the third switch are both turned on. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The communication device according to claim 19, further comprising: a first diode coupled in parallel to the second switch; a fourth switch that is provided on one of the pair of power supply lines and is turned on and off based on the state of the ambient environment detected by the environmental sensor; and a second diode coupled in parallel to the fourth switch so as to face in a direction reverse to a direction of the first diode.