KR100452844B1 - Portable terminal having power-saving function, and method for control thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable terminal having a power saving function and a control method thereof are disclosed. A portable terminal having an input unit, an output unit, a communication module for communicating with an external device, and a controller connected to the input unit, an output unit, and a communication module, wherein the control unit is configured to communicate in a communication mode in which the communication module communicates with an external device. A sleep mode for maintaining only a signal channel with the module is switched. When a communication completion signal is received from the communication module, the controller enters an active mode for controlling signal processing to the input unit and the output unit. Accordingly, when the portable terminal switches to a communication mode while processing a non-communication operation, elements that are not required for communication can be switched to a sleep mode to reduce power consumption, and when a portable rechargeable battery is used, the charging cycle of the rechargeable battery is extended. You can.

Description

Portable terminal having power saving function and its control method {Portable terminal having power-saving function, and method for control about}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a power saving function and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a portable terminal having a power saving function for switching to a power saving mode except for elements required for communication in a communication mode and a control method thereof.

The modern age is the information age, and accordingly, various portable terminals corresponding to the needs of users have been proposed. Early portable terminals were 'simple mobile devices' and had a device-specific function capable of generating, processing and outputting various data desired by a user even in a mobile environment. On the other hand, in recent years, portable terminals have been provided with data communication functions such as wireless communication, Internet access, and fax transmission that enable communication with external devices in addition to inherent functions such as schedule management and data processing.

Portable terminals capable of data communication include PDA (Personal Digital ASSISTANT), PPC (Palm Sized PC), HPC (Hand Held PC), Laptop (Lap Top) computer, Notebook, etc. In a broad sense, electronic notebook, digital camera, video Cameras and the like.

These portable terminals are basically operated by operating systems such as Palm OS (Operation System), Windows CE, and Cellbig OS. Character data input is performed by inputting data with a pen with a touch screen or by using a small keypad provided in a button form, and acoustic data input is performed through a microphone. In addition, text and image data output may be implemented through a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and audio data output may be performed through a speaker.

In addition, the portable terminal may be equipped with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, a barcode scanner, a PC card, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) card, etc. to perform various functions. Can be utilized by mounting a communication module such as a CDMA card in a personal portable terminal.

However, the conventional portable terminal capable of data communication has a problem in that power consumption is severe when various input devices, output devices, etc., which are not required for communication, are kept in an active mode when communicating with an external communication device. For example, when making a phone call with an external communication device, the control device controlling the portable terminal maintains an activation mode, which may cause unnecessary power consumption of the control device itself, and other unnecessary power consumption of the LCD and keypad. Therefore, the portable terminal has a problem in that unnecessary power consumption is generated when communicating with an external device, and when the rechargeable battery is used, the charging cycle of the rechargeable battery is shortened.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, when the communication module mounted on the portable terminal performs a communication, a portable terminal having a power saving function that can suppress power consumption other than the elements necessary for communication and its control To provide a way.

1 is a block diagram showing a portable terminal having a power saving function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

2 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of a portable terminal having a power saving function according to the present invention.

Description of the main parts of the drawing

100: portable terminal 110: input unit

120: output unit 130: CDMA module

150 control unit 160 switching unit

In order to solve the above technical problem, a portable terminal having a power saving function according to the present invention includes a communication module for communicating with an input unit, an output unit, an external device, and a control unit connected to the input unit, the output unit, and the communication module. Including,

The control unit switches to the sleep mode in which only the signal channel with the communication module is maintained in the communication mode in which the communication module communicates with the external device. When the communication termination signal is received from the communication module, the control unit returns to the input unit and the output unit. Switch to the active mode that controls the signal processing.

More specifically, the first switching unit for selectively outputting a signal input from the input unit to any one of the control unit and the communication module under the control of the control unit. The apparatus may further include a second switching unit configured to selectively output a signal input from the input unit to any one of the control unit and the communication module under control of the communication module. The input unit includes a microphone for receiving a sound signal.

The apparatus may further include a third switching unit configured to selectively connect any one of the control unit and the communication module to the output unit under control of the control unit. The control unit and the communication module may further include a third switching unit. And a fourth switching unit selectively connecting any one of the output units. The output unit includes a speaker for outputting a sound signal.

Preferably, the communication module is a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) module.

On the other hand, the control method of the portable terminal having a power saving function according to the present invention for solving the technical problem as described above, the communication module and the input unit, the output unit, the output unit and the communication for performing communication with the input unit, the output unit, A portable terminal having a control unit connected to a module, the portable terminal comprising: switching to a sleep mode in which the control unit maintains only a signal channel with the communication module in a communication mode in which the communication module communicates with the external device; And when the communication end signal is received from the communication module, converting the control unit into an activation mode for controlling signal processing to the input unit and the output unit.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a portable terminal having a power saving function according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the portable terminal 100 includes an input unit 110, an output unit 120, a communication module 130, an external interface unit 140, a control unit 150, and a switching unit 160.

The input unit 110 is a user interface for generating an input signal for selecting or performing a function supported by the portable terminal 100. The key input unit 112 for generating a key signal and / or the microphone 114 for inputting a sound signal. It includes.

The output unit 120 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 122 for outputting display information on a screen and / or a speaker 126 for outputting an audio signal.

The communication module 130 is a module for communicating with an external device. Hereinafter, the CDMA module is described as an embodiment.

The code division multiple access (CDMA) module 130 is a code division multiple access module mounted in a personal portable terminal. When the communication request signal is received from the input unit 110 or an external device, the CDMA module 130 performs call setup. If the call setup is normally performed, the CDMA module 130 performs communication with the external device. Here, the external device refers to a cellular phone equipped with a CDMA module (not shown) that communicates with the CDMA module 130, a PCS, and a telephone that can only make a simple call.

The external interface 140 preferably applies a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

The controller 150 controls overall operations of the input unit 110, the output unit 120, the CDMA module 130, the external interface 140, and the switching unit 160 according to an operating system stored in a storage unit (not shown). do.

In addition, the controller 150 switches to the sleep mode in the communication mode in which the CDMA module 130 communicates with an external device. After the communication request signal transmitted from the input unit 140 or the external device is input to the controller 150, a communication permission signal indicating that call setup is normally performed is input from the CDMA module 130 to the controller 150. When the communication mode is performed between the external device and the CDMA module 130, the controller 150 switches to a sleep mode that maintains only a signal channel with the CDMA module 130.

Here, the controller 150 does not process signals input from other elements except elements that are involved in the communication mode in the sleep mode. However, the controller 150 may be configured not to perform signal processing of other channels so as to maintain only a corresponding channel so as to determine only a signal indicating that the communication mode is terminated is input from the CDMA module 130.

Therefore, the controller 150 switches to the sleep mode, so that the input / output devices not necessary for the current communication are switched to the power saving mode. For example, when making a phone call with an external device during document data creation, the controller 150 does not output the document data information being prepared to the LCD 122, thereby reducing power consumption of the display device.

In addition, when the communication end signal corresponding to the communication mode end signal is received from the CDMA module 130, the controller 150 maintains and controls the signal channels to the input unit 110, the output unit 120, and the CDMA module 130. The portable device 100 is switched to an activation mode that operates to perform a normal function unique to the portable device 100.

The switching unit 160 inputs and outputs signals of the input unit 110 and / or the output unit 120 under the control of the controller 150 or the CDMA module 130 according to whether the set mode is a communication mode or an activation mode. The path is selectively connected to either the controller 150 or the CDMA module 130.

For example, when the switch 160 receives a switch switching signal corresponding to the communication mode setting from the controller 150 or the CDMA module 130, the input unit 110 and / or the output unit 120 are connected to the communication module. The switch is constructed to be switched as much as possible. Similarly, when the switch 160 receives a switch switching signal corresponding to the active mode setting from the controller 150 or the CDMA module 130, the switching unit 160 is connected to the controller 150. The switch is constructed to be switched.

In the illustrated example, the switching unit 160 is illustrated to be controlled by the controller 150. Alternatively, the switching unit 160 may be configured to be controlled by the CDMA module 130.

The switching unit 160 preferably includes a first switching unit 162, a second switching unit 164, a third switching unit 166, and a fourth switching unit 168.

The first switching unit 162 is a switch connected to the key input unit 112 of the input unit 110, and controls the signal input from the key input unit 112 to the control of the controller 150 or the CDMA module 130 according to the set mode. The controller 150 selectively outputs one of the controller 150 and the CDMA module 130.

For example, in the case of the portable terminal 100 that supports text communication such as SMS (Short Message Service), a signal input through the key input unit 112 may be output to the CDMA module 130 in the text communication mode. The first switching unit 162 is connected to the CDMA module 130, and in the non-communication mode, the key input unit 112 is connected to the control unit 150.

The second switching unit 164 is a switch connected to the microphone 114 of the input unit 110. The second switching unit 164 controls the controller 150 or the CDMA module 130 by controlling the sound signal input from the microphone 114. ) And the CDMA module 130 are selectively output.

As an example, in the communication mode in which the controller 150 enters the sleep mode, the second switching unit 164 may be configured to be connected to the CDMA module 130 under the control of the CDMA module 130 to receive an audio signal. have. In this case, the sound signal input to the microphone 114 is output to the CDMA module 130 under the control of the CDMA module 130 in the communication mode.

The third switching unit 166 is a switch connected to the LCD 122 of the output unit 120. The third switching unit 166 controls one of the control unit 150 and the CDMA module 130 by the control of the control unit 150. And optionally connect. For example, when the SMS signal is transmitted from the external device to the CDMA module 130 in the communication mode, when the CDMA module 130 transmits the SMS signal to the controller 150, the third switching unit 166 may use the CDMA module ( 130 and the LCD 122 are operated. As a result, the transmitted text message is displayed on the LCD 122 through the third switching unit 166 without passing through the control unit 150.

The fourth switching unit 168 is a switch connected to the output path from the amplifier 124 of the output unit 120 to the speaker 126, and controls the control unit 150 or the CDMA module 130. One of the controller 150 and the CDMA module 130 is selectively connected to the speaker 126 by the speaker 126. For example, in the communication mode in which the control unit 150 enters the sleep mode, the fourth switching unit 168 is connected to the CDMA module 130 under the control of the control unit 150 or the CDMA module 130, and an external device. The sound signal input from the CDMA module 130, the fourth switching unit 168, the amplifier 124 is output to the speaker 126.

The portable terminal 100 may be applied to a known personal portable terminal such as a PDA, a notebook computer equipped with a communication module.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of a portable terminal having a power saving function according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, first, the controller 150 determines whether the communication mode execution condition corresponds (S200). Herein, the communication mode execution condition is determined as the communication mode when the communication permission signal is input from the communication target external device after a normal call setting process for the communication request signal transmitted from the external device or the input unit 110. If it is determined that the communication mode is set, the controller 150 switches to the sleep mode for maintaining only a signal channel with the CDMA module 130 (S210).

After switching to the sleep mode, the controller 150 determines whether a communication mode end signal is received from the CDMA module 130 (S220).

When the external device and the CDMA module 130 terminate the communication to receive the communication mode end signal from the CDMA module 130 (S220), the controller 150 switches to the activation mode. On the other hand, when the communication mode end signal is not received in step S220, the controller 150 maintains the sleep mode until the communication mode end signal is received.

The operation of the portable terminal having the power saving function configured as described above is controlled by the switching unit 160 under the control of the CDMA module 130, and the telephone call signal is received from the external device as an example.

When the CDMA module 130 receives a communication request signal transmitted from an external device such as a cellular phone, the CDMA module 130 notifies the control unit 150 that the communication request signal is received, and when the call setup is normally completed, the control unit 150. The call setup completion information is transmitted to. Then, the controller 150 determines the call setup completion information as the switching condition to the communication mode and switches to the sleep mode. In this process, when the controller 150 enters the sleep mode, the CDMA module 130 controls the fourth switching unit 168 connected to the speaker 126. By this control, the fourth switching unit 168 connects the speaker 126 to the CDMA module 130.

In the sleep mode, the controller 150 maintains only the signal channel with the CDMA module 130 and stops the signal channel with other elements. In the sleep mode, the CDMA module 130 controls the second switching unit 164 of the microphone 114 and the fourth switching unit 168 of the speaker 126 to communicate with an external device. The controller 150 maintains the sleep mode until the communication termination signal is received from the CDMA module 130. Thereafter, when the communication end signal is received from the CDMA module 130, the controller 150 switches to the activation mode.

According to a portable terminal having a power saving function and a control method thereof according to the present invention, in a portable terminal equipped with a communication module capable of communicating with an external device, components which are not required for communication when communicating with an external device are switched to a power saving mode. As a result, power consumed by the portable terminal can be reduced. That is, when communicating with an external device by using a communication module such as a CDMA module, the portable device irrelevant to the communication module may switch to a sleep mode that maintains only a signal channel with the communication module, that is, a low power mode. As a result, power consumption of components not used during communication is reduced, and when using a portable rechargeable battery, there is an advantage of extending the life of the rechargeable battery.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through the representative embodiments, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention with respect to the embodiments described above. Will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

Claims (9)

A portable terminal comprising an input unit, an output unit, a communication module for communicating with an external device, and a control unit connected to the input unit, the output unit, and the communication module, The control unit, when the communication mode for communicating with the external device from the communication module is one of a call setting communication mode and a text communication mode, the control unit switches to a sleep mode that maintains only a signal channel with the communication module, and from the communication module The portable terminal having a power saving function, characterized in that the switch to the activation mode for activating signal processing to the input unit and the output unit when the communication end signal is received. The method of claim 1, If the communication mode is the text communication mode, the first switching unit for selectively outputting a signal input from the input unit to any one of the control unit and the communication module under the control of the control unit in the sleep mode state; Portable terminal having a power saving function, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, If the communication mode is the call setting communication mode, a second switching unit for selectively outputting a signal input from the input unit to any one of the control unit and the communication module under control of the communication module in the sleep mode state; Portable terminal having a power saving function, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 2 or 3, The input unit includes a microphone for receiving an audio signal and a key input unit for receiving a key input signal. The method of claim 1, And a third switching unit for selectively connecting any one of the control unit and the communication module to the output unit under control of the control unit if the communication mode is the text communication mode. Having a portable terminal. The method of claim 1, And a fourth switching unit for selectively connecting any one of the control unit and the communication module to the output unit under the control of the communication module, when the communication mode is the call setting communication mode. Portable terminal having the function. The method according to claim 5 or 6, The output unit is a portable terminal having a power saving function, characterized in that it comprises a speaker for outputting the sound signal and the LCD to display the character. The method of claim 1, And the communication module is a code division multiple access (CDMA) module. In a control method of a portable terminal having an input unit, an output unit, a communication module for communicating with an external device and a control unit connected to the input unit, the output unit and the communication module, If the communication mode in which the communication module communicates with the external device is one of a call setting communication mode and a text communication mode, switching the control unit to a sleep mode for maintaining only a signal channel with the communication module; And And when the communication end signal is received from the communication module, converting the control unit into an activation mode for activating signal processing to the input unit and the output unit.