KR101604718B1 - Mobile terminal and control method of mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a charging device for charging a battery unit by converting a light to generate a current, charging the battery unit with the current, calculating a charging time of the battery unit using the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charging speed, A mobile terminal for controlling the power supply to the electronic device mounted on the terminal main body using the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed, And a control method of the mobile terminal for controlling the operation mode of the terminal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a control method for a mobile terminal,

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal for charging a battery using a solar cell.

The terminal can move And may be divided into a mobile / portable terminal and a stationary terminal depending on whether the mobile terminal is a mobile terminal or a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can be divided into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether the user can directly carry the mobile terminal.

Such a terminal has various functions, for example, in the form of a multimedia player having a combination of functions such as photographing or recording a moving image, playing a music or video file, receiving a game, or receiving a broadcast .

In order to support and enhance the function of such a terminal, it may be considered to improve the structural part and / or the software part of the terminal, and in addition to the original function of the mobile terminal, .

In order to improve the function of the structural part of the terminal more recently, a mobile terminal for charging a battery using a solar cell has appeared.

An object of the present invention is to provide information related to charging to a user in a mobile terminal for charging a battery using a solar cell.

Another object of the present invention is to efficiently manage the battery of the mobile terminal by controlling the power supply according to the charging speed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal including: a current generator disposed in the main body to be exposed to light and converting the light to generate a current; A battery remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining battery amount of the battery unit, and a control unit for controlling the charging of the battery unit by the current, And a control unit for calculating a time at which the battery is charged using the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charging speed and outputting the calculated time to the display unit.

According to an aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, the time to charge corresponds to a full charge of the battery part. The display unit may output an icon for proportionally displaying the detected remaining battery level with respect to the remaining battery level corresponding to the full charge.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the charging time is a time to charge up to a predetermined battery remaining amount, and the control unit converts the predetermined battery remaining amount into a time available for wireless communication and outputs the time to the display unit. If the detected remaining battery level and the charged rate are less than predetermined reference values, a message indicating that power supply for charging is required may be output.

According to an aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, when any one of the operation modes of the terminal is executed, the control unit determines at least one of the calculated charging rate, the battery consumption rate for the predetermined operation mode, Calculates an executable time for the operation mode using the operation mode, and outputs the executable time to the display unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit compares the charging speed with a predetermined reference value to determine a level of the charging speed, and outputs the level to the display unit. The level can be distinguished by a color output to the display unit of the calculated time.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal including: a current generator disposed in a main body of a terminal to be exposed to light and converting the light to generate a current; A charging unit for charging the battery, a charging unit for charging the battery unit, a battery unit electrically connected to the charging unit, And a control unit for controlling power supply to the electronic device using the battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit limits power supply to at least one of the speaker and the display unit when the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charge speed are respectively less than a preset reference value.

According to an aspect of another embodiment of the present invention, a power saving mode in which the power supply is controlled such that the brightness of the display unit is controlled is set when the detected remaining battery power and the calculated charging speed are respectively less than a preset reference value. The mobile terminal may be configured to allow the user to select whether to execute the power saving mode. The power save mode may be released when at least one of the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charge rate is greater than a preset reference value. When power for charging the battery unit is supplied from the outside of the terminal, the power saving mode may be released.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising: converting a light to generate a current and calculating a charging speed of the battery unit to be charged by the current; And controlling the operation mode of the terminal by comparing the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed with preset reference values.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the control step sets the power saving mode in which the brightness of the display unit is decreased when the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed are respectively less than the predetermined reference value Step.

According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the user can easily obtain information related to charging by calculating the time of charging the battery unit and outputting the calculated time to the display unit.

Further, the present invention provides a mobile terminal in which a battery is actively managed by controlling a power supply or an operation mode using a charging speed.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The suffix "module" and " part "for components used in the following description are given merely for convenience of description, and do not give special significance or role in themselves. Accordingly, it should be noted that the above-mentioned "module" and "part"

The terminal may be implemented in various forms. For example, the terminal described in this specification may include a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player) And fixed terminals such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like. In the following description, it is assumed that the terminal is a mobile terminal. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the following description may be applied to the fixed terminal, except for components specifically configured for mobile use.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory unit 160, An interface unit 170, a control unit 180, a battery unit 191, and the like. 1 shows a mobile terminal having various components. However, not all illustrated components are required. A mobile terminal may be implemented by more components than the illustrated components, or a mobile terminal may be implemented by fewer components.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more components that allow wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and a network on which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short range communication module 114, and a location information module 115 .

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals and / or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. The broadcast management server may refer to a server for generating and transmitting broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information, or a server for receiving broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information generated by the broadcast management server and transmitting the generated broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information. The broadcast-related information may refer to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or information related to a broadcast service provider. The broadcast signal may include a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, a data broadcast signal, and a broadcast signal in which a data broadcast signal is combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

Meanwhile, the broadcast related information may be provided through a mobile communication network, and in this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast-related information may exist in various forms. For example, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) or an ESG (Electronic Service Guide) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcasting signals using various broadcasting systems. In particular, the broadcasting receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S) Only Digital Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H), Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like. Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 is configured to be suitable for all broadcasting systems that provide broadcasting signals as well as the digital broadcasting system described above.

The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory unit 160.

In addition, the mobile communication module 112 transmits and receives radio signals to at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal, or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

The wireless Internet module 113 is a module for wireless Internet access, and the wireless Internet module 113 can be built in or externally. WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

The short-range communication module 114 refers to a module for short-range communication. Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as the short distance communication technology.

The location information module 115 is a module for confirming or obtaining the location of the mobile terminal. A typical example of the location information module is a GPS (Global Position System) module. According to the current technology, the GPS module 115 calculates distance information and accurate time information from three or more satellites, and then applies trigonometry to the calculated information to obtain a three-dimensional string of latitude, longitude, The location information can be accurately calculated. At present, a method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting an error of the calculated position and time information using another satellite is widely used. In addition, the GPS module 115 can calculate speed information by continuously calculating the current position in real time.

An audio / video (A / V) input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes an image frame such as a still image or a moving image obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. Then, the processed image frame can be displayed on the display unit 151. [

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory unit 160 or may be transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ The camera 121 may be equipped with two or more cameras according to the configuration of the terminal.

The microphone 122 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a communication mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or the like, and processes it as electrical voice data. The processed voice data can be converted into a form that can be transmitted to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 when the voice data is in the call mode, and output. The microphone 122 may be implemented with various noise reduction algorithms for eliminating noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for a user to control the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad dome switch, a touch pad (static / static), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like. Particularly, when the touch pad has a mutual layer structure with the display unit 151, which will be described later, it can be called a touch screen.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the mobile terminal 100, the position of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence of user contact, the orientation of the mobile terminal, And generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it is possible to sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. Also, it is responsible for the sensing function related to whether or not the battery unit 191 is powered on, whether the interface unit 170 is connected to an external device, and the like. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141. This will be discussed later in connection with touch screens.

The interface unit 170 serves as an interface with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. For example, a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, an audio I / O port, Video input / output (I / O) ports, earphone ports, and the like.

Here, the identification module is a chip that stores various information for authenticating the use right of the mobile terminal 100, and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM) ), A Universal Subscriber Identity Module (" USIM "), and the like. In addition, devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") may be manufactured in the form of smart cards. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the port. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or receives power from the external device to transfer the data to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or to transmit data in the mobile terminal 100 to an external device.

The interface unit 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, Various command signals may be transmitted to the mobile terminal. The various command signals or the power source input from the cradle may be operated as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The output unit 150 is for outputting an audio signal, a video signal, or an alarm signal, and may include a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, and an alarm output module 153 .

The display unit 151 displays and outputs information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with a call is displayed. If the mobile terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the captured image and / or the received image or UI and GUI are displayed.

Meanwhile, as described above, when the display unit 151 and the touch pad have a mutual layer structure to constitute a touch screen, the display unit 151 can be used as an input device in addition to the output device. The display unit 151 may be a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode, a flexible display, a three-dimensional display 3D display). Some of these displays can be configured to be transparent so that they can be viewed from outside. This may be referred to as a transparent display. A typical example of the transparent display is a transparent LCD or the like. In addition, there may be two or more display units 151 according to the embodiment of the mobile terminal 100. For example, the mobile terminal 100 may include an external display unit (not shown) and an internal display unit (not shown) at the same time. The touch screen may be configured to detect not only the touch input position and area but also the touch input pressure.

Meanwhile, the proximity sensor 141 may be disposed inside or near the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or a nearby object without mechanical contact using the force of an electromagnetic field or infrared rays. Therefore, the proximity sensor has a considerably longer life than the contact-type sensor and its utilization is also quite high.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection type photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection type photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor.

Among them, the operation principle of the high-frequency oscillation type proximity sensor will be described. In the oscillation circuit, when the high frequency of the stationary wave is oscillated, the oscillation amplitude of the oscillation circuit is attenuated or stopped when the sensing object approaches the sensor sensing surface, These changes are converted into electrical signals to detect the presence or absence of the sensing object. Therefore, even if any non-metallic substance comes between the high frequency oscillation proximity sensor and the sensing object, the proximity switch can detect the sensing object to be detected without interference of the object.

The proximity sensor may be configured so as to detect the proximity of the pointer with a change of the electric field along the proximity of the pointer, if the touch screen is electrostatic.

Accordingly, when the pointer is not actually touched on the touch screen but is located close to the touch screen, the position of the pointer and the distance between the pointer and the touch screen can be detected. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of description, the act of allowing the pointer to be located on the touch screen to recognize that the pointer is positioned on the touch screen is referred to as "proximity touch ", and a pointer The actual touching action will be referred to as "contact touch. &Quot; In addition, a position where the pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer is vertically corresponding to the touch screen when the pointer is touched.

The proximity sensor detects the proximity touch and the proximity touch pattern (for example, proximity touch distance, proximity touch direction, proximity touch speed, proximity touch time, proximity touch position, proximity touch movement state, And can output information corresponding to the proximity touch operation and the proximity touch pattern on the touch screen.

The audio output module 152 outputs audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory unit 160 in a call signal reception mode, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, The sound output module 152 outputs an acoustic signal related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. [ The sound output module 152 may include a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in a form other than an audio signal or a video signal. For example, it is possible to output a signal in a vibration mode. When the call signal is received or a message is received, the alarm unit 153 can output a vibration to notify it. Alternatively, when the key signal is input, the alarm unit 153 can output the vibration by the feedback to the key signal input. The user can recognize the occurrence of an event through the vibration output as described above. Of course, a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event may also be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152.

The memory unit 160 may store a program for processing and control of the controller 180 and may include a function for temporarily storing input / output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, . ≪ / RTI > In addition, the memory unit 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns output when the touch is input on the touch screen.

The memory unit 160 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory) A random access memory (SRAM), a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM) , An optical disc, and the like. Also, the mobile terminal 100 may operate a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory unit 160 on the Internet.

The control unit 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, voice communication, data communication, video communication, and the like. In addition, the control unit 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for multimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the control unit 180 or may be implemented separately from the control unit 180. [

The controller 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing handwriting input or drawing input performed on the touch screen as characters and images, respectively.

The various embodiments described herein may be embodied in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays May be implemented using at least one of processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and electrical units for performing functions. In some cases, And may be implemented by the control unit 180.

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as procedures or functions may be implemented with separate software modules that perform at least one function or operation. The software code may be implemented by a software application written in a suitable programming language. Also, the software codes may be stored in the memory unit 160 and executed by the control unit 180. [

The battery unit 191 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 180 and supplies power required for operation of the respective components.

The mobile terminal 100 may include a current generator 192, a remaining battery level detector 193, a charge rate calculator 194, and the like.

The current generator 192 is disposed in the main body of the mobile terminal 100 so as to be exposed to light, and converts the light to generate a current. The current generation unit 192 may be, for example, a solar cell that directly converts sunlight into electric power.

The battery unit 191 supplies power to the electronic device mounted on the main body of the mobile terminal 100, is electrically connected to the current generating unit 192, and is configured to be charged by the current. The electronic device refers to elements that are embedded in an internal space formed by a case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) that forms the external appearance of the main body of the mobile terminal 100 and implement various functions of the terminal.

The battery remaining amount detecting unit 193 detects the remaining battery amount of the battery unit 191. The battery remaining amount detecting unit 193 may include a gauge IC for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, for example.

The charging speed calculating section 194 calculates the charging speed of the battery section 191 by the current generated by the current generating section 192 by converting the light.

The charging rate may be calculated by comparing the battery remaining amount at a plurality of points of time detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 193. [ For example, when the difference between the remaining battery level detected at the first time point and the remaining battery level detected at the second time point is divided by the time between the first and second points of time, the charging speed is calculated.

The control unit 180 calculates the charging time of the battery unit 191 using the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charging speed, and outputs the calculated time to the display unit. Or the control unit 180 controls the power supply to the electronic device using the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the mobile terminal related to the present invention outputs the calculated time to the display unit 151 (see FIG. 1) will be described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. Hereinafter, for simplicity of explanation, a bar type mobile terminal is exemplified among various types of mobile terminals such as a folder type, a bar type, a swing type, a slider type, and the like. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the bar-type mobile terminal but can be applied to all types of mobile terminals including the above-mentioned types.

2 to 7 are front views showing display forms of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

The mobile terminal may have various modes depending on what function it has. In the case of the mobile communication function, it may include an operation mode such as a communication mode and an edit mode of a message to be transmitted, and may include a reception standby mode or a power saving mode, which will be mainly described in the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a mobile terminal in which a first state enters a reception standby mode.

The mobile terminal can not detect a signal input by the user for a predetermined period of time, and thus the display unit 151 includes a user input unit (including a touch screen, a keypad, a jog wheel, a keyboard, and the like provided in the mobile terminal in an idle mode in which the display unit 151 is inactive) May be switched to the stand-by mode by the user's input.

The reception standby mode is a state of waiting for reception of wireless communication as in the idle mode, or a mode in which the display unit 151 is activated. In the reception standby mode, the image information set by the user or set by the user is output through the display unit 151.

The display unit 151 outputs the time at which the battery unit 191 is charged. The control unit 180 calculates the charging time of the battery unit 191 using the remaining battery level detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 193 and the charging speed calculated in the charging speed calculating unit 194 (see FIG. 1) And outputs the calculated time to the display unit 151.

FIG. 2 shows a form in which the display unit 151 outputs the calculated time. The time for charging may be a time corresponding to a full charge of the battery unit 191. More specifically, the time period 151 a required for the battery unit 191 to be fully charged is output to the display unit 151. As a result, the user can more easily recognize the time 151a during which the battery unit 191 is fully charged, and further, the mobile terminal can be used in a planned manner through the charging time.

For example, when calculating the charging time, by dividing the difference (AB mA) between the charging capacity (A mA) of the battery at the time of full charging and the remaining battery residual amount (B mA) by the charging speed (C mA / sec) , And the time (AB / C) required for full charging is calculated.

The calculation of the charging time is performed at a predetermined cycle, and the calculated charging time for each cycle can be output to the display unit 151. [ And the charging time output to the display unit 151 is updated every cycle. The calculation of the charging time can be performed in various ways. For example, a result obtained by averaging calculation results of each cycle within a certain range can be updated with the charging time output to the display unit 151. [

3A and 3B show examples in which an icon related to the charging time in FIG. 2 is output to the display unit 151. FIG.

3A and 3B, an icon may be displayed on the display unit 151 to display the battery remaining amount corresponding to the full charge in proportion to the amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 193. As shown in FIG. 3A, the bar icon 151b displayed on the display unit 151 can indicate the residual amount remaining by the current length d with respect to the length D of the fully charged state. Further, as shown in Fig. 3B, the current charging amount is filled in the clockwise direction with respect to the entire area of the circle in a fully charged state using the circular icon 151c. This makes it possible to compare the remaining amount of the battery with the fully charged state, thereby improving the convenience of the user.

4 shows another form in which the display unit 151 outputs the calculated time.

Referring to FIG. 4, the charging time is a time (151d) for charging to a predetermined battery remaining amount, and the controller 180 converts the predetermined battery remaining amount into a time 151e capable of wireless communication, Output.

The predetermined battery remaining amount may be a battery remaining amount corresponding to a time, a number of times, etc., capable of performing a specific function of the mobile terminal, such as a battery remaining amount capable of wireless communication for a specific time, a battery remaining amount capable of transmitting a message a predetermined number of times, . For example, the predetermined battery remaining amount may be a battery remaining amount capable of wireless communication for one minute. According to the above example, the display unit 151 may output a message "1 minute call is available after 5 minutes" as one of information that can be provided for the convenience of the user. Accordingly, the user recognizes how long to wait for the call to be established by charging the current generator 192 when the remaining battery power is not enough.

The wireless communicatable time may be set by the user. To this end, the configuration menu of the mobile terminal may include a menu for popping up an input window for receiving the wireless communication time.

Figures 5A and 5B show aspects of displaying information related to charging in the mode of operation of the mobile terminal.

When any one of the operation modes of the mobile terminal is executed, the controller 180 controls the charging speed calculated by the charging speed calculator 194, the battery consumption speed for the predetermined operation mode, Calculates the executable time for the operation mode using at least one of the remaining battery power, and outputs the executable time to the display unit 151. [

A method of calculating the executable time will be described as an example. The difference between the battery consumption rate and the calculated charging rate for the operation mode being executed is the net battery consumption rate. Dividing the net battery consumption rate by the detected remaining battery power, the executable time for the operation mode is calculated. The battery consumption rate for the operation mode to be executed can be preset for each operation mode, and the preset speed value can be obtained experimentally and computationally.

5A shows a case where the mobile terminal enters the music mode, and the remaining amount of the battery can be displayed in the form of reproducible time. That is, '3h40m' displayed inside the box in the form of the battery icon 151f means that the output time of the music that can be reproduced by the remaining amount of the battery is 3 hours and 40 minutes.

As described above, since the residual amount of the battery is indicated as the executable time of the operation mode, the user can easily know how long he can stay in the mode.

5B, when the operation mode of the mobile terminal is the electronic book mode, the control unit 180 converts the executable time of the electronic book mode into the number of pages that can be outputted through the electronic book, Can be output.

The e-book function is also referred to as a digital book or an e-book, and is a function for outputting a text file stored electronically instead of a traditional book by means of a display.

5B shows a form of the remaining amount of the battery displayed on the display unit 151 during execution of the electronic book view mode. That is, the number of pages of the electronic book which can be output by the amount of the remaining battery is displayed in the box of the form of the battery icon 151f. More specifically, '520P' shown in FIG. 5 can be understood as '520 pages' which can be read by the amount of remaining battery. As a result, it is possible to make the amount of the battery known to the user more easily with respect to the e-book function, and further, the mobile terminal can be used through the remaining amount of the battery.

The calculation of the number of pages that can be output through the e-book will be described as an example. The number of pages can be calculated from the predicted battery remaining amount. The estimated battery remaining amount is obtained by multiplying the executable time of the e-book mode by the battery consumption rate of the e-book mode. That is, the virtual battery remaining amount for the operation mode being executed is obtained by multiplying the executable time calculated in consideration of the current charged through the current generator by the battery consumption speed of the predetermined operation mode.

The number of pages corresponding to the predicted battery remaining amount is calculated using the database. And stores the database in which the reference page count of the battery remaining amount is set in the mobile terminal. The predicted battery remaining amount and the reference remaining amount are compared with each other, and the number of output pages can be calculated by multiplying the reference page number by the predicted battery remaining amount.

For example, if it is set that 1000 pages can be viewed with a residual current of 1000 mA (where the reference balance is 1000 mA, and the reference page count is 1000 pages), the predicted remaining battery current of 950 mA is 95% Since this is the remainder of the charge, you should be able to see the 950 page. In this way, the number of outputable pages corresponding to each current is mapped to complete the database.

If the operation mode of the mobile terminal is the message transmission mode in the same or similar manner, the control unit 180 may convert the executable time of the message transmission mode into the number of times the message can be transmitted and output the converted number of times to the display unit 151 .

Figs. 6 and 7 show the forms of displaying information related to the charging speed in the mobile terminal according to the present invention. Fig.

Referring to FIG. 6, the controller 180 compares the charging speed with a preset reference value to determine the charging speed level, and outputs the charging level to the display unit 151. Through this, the mobile terminal directly informs the user of information that the current terminal is in a well-charged or poorly-charged place.

The level of the charging rate may be indicated by a message 151g indicating the high or low. For example, the message 151g indicates the level of the charge rate as "high ", which means that the charge rate is fast. If the charging speed is slow, "low" may be displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the level may be distinguished by the color outputted to the display unit 151. For example, when the time to charge is displayed in red text, the charging speed is slow, and when it is displayed in blue text, the charging speed is fast.

Referring to FIG. 7, if the remaining battery level and the detected charging rate are less than predetermined reference values, a message indicating that power supply for charging is required is output.

The reference value of the charging rate may be the battery consumption rate of the mobile terminal in the idle mode. In this case, the battery remaining amount is continuously decreased. The reference value of the battery remaining amount may be, for example, a battery remaining amount capable of continuing the idle mode for a specific time. More specifically, for example, a message indicating that the idle mode is maintained for 5 minutes, and a power supply for charging is required when the remaining battery level is decreasing is output. The message may be a text 151h popped up on the display unit as shown in FIG. 7, but the message may be a voice message output through a speaker or a vibration output using vibration of the terminal .

8 to 10, the mobile terminal related to the present invention can be moved (moved) by using the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 193 and the charging speed calculated in the charging speed calculating unit 194 (see FIG. 1) An embodiment for controlling the power supply to the electronic device mounted on the main body of the terminal will be described.

The control unit 180 controls power supply to the electronic device using the detected remaining battery level and the calculated charging speed. The control unit 180 may limit the power supply to at least one of the speaker and the display unit 151 when the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed are respectively less than predetermined reference values. For example, the control unit 180 may convert the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed into a silent state in which the output of the speaker is less than a preset reference value, or disable the display unit to save power.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control method of a mobile terminal according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is a front view showing a display unit in which a selection menu is generated, and FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the release of the power saving mode.

Referring to FIG. 8, the control method of the mobile terminal converts the light to generate a current, calculates the charging speed of the battery unit charged by the current (S100), and detects the remaining battery level of the battery unit (S200 ). The calculating step S100 and the detecting step S200 may be performed in any order.

In the calculation step S100, for example, a solar cell for converting solar light directly into electric power may be mounted on the mobile terminal main body in order to generate light by converting light.

The charging rate may be calculated by comparing the battery remaining amount at a plurality of points of time detected in the detecting step S200. For example, when the difference between the remaining battery level detected at the first time point and the remaining battery level detected at the second time point is divided by the time between the first and second points of time, the charging speed is calculated.

Finally, the operation mode of the terminal is controlled by comparing the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed with preset reference values (S300).

In the control step S300, the power saving mode may be set if the detected remaining battery level and the calculated charging speed are respectively less than the predetermined reference value.

The power saving mode is a mode in which the power supply to the display unit is controlled so that the brightness of the display unit is weakened. For example, in the power saving mode, the set power and system alarm sounds, button / touch sounds, In this case, the lighting time / brightness is changed to the minimum so that the battery can be saved.

The control step S300 may include a comparison step S310 and a setting confirmation step S320.

The comparison step S310 determines whether the detected remaining battery level and the calculated charging speed are less than or equal to the predetermined reference value, respectively.

The reference value of the charging rate may be the battery consumption rate of the mobile terminal in the standby mode or the current operation mode. If the calculated charging speed is lower than the battery consumption speed, the battery remaining amount is continuously decreased. The reference value of the remaining battery level may be, for example, a remaining battery level that can sustain the standby mode or the current operation mode for a specific time. Specifically, for example, the mobile terminal is a battery remaining amount capable of continuing the standby mode for five minutes at present, and is set to the power saving mode if the remaining battery level is decreasing.

The setting confirmation step S320 confirms the user's request for setting the power saving mode. For example, the mobile terminal may be configured to allow the user to select whether the power saving mode is set or not. 9, a selection menu 151i for selecting a user can be created in the mobile terminal. When the user selects the power saving mode setting, that is, the automatic power saving mode setting, Similarly, the terminal determines that the execution of the power saving mode setting is selected and finally sets the power saving mode (S330).

The mobile terminal implemented by the control method of the mobile terminal may be configured to output a message indicating that charging is required when the detected remaining battery level and the calculated charging rate are less than preset reference values.

Also, the mobile terminal may be configured to release the set power saving mode according to a predetermined criterion. For example, the mobile terminal may release the power saving mode if at least one of the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed is greater than a preset reference value.

10 shows an example in which the power saving mode is released. When the power for charging the battery unit 191 (see FIG. 1) is supplied from the outside of the mobile terminal, the power saving mode is canceled. The mobile terminal is connected to the charging device 195 through the interface unit 170 to receive power. When charging through the charging device 195 is performed, the set power saving mode is automatically released, and a message 151j indicating that the power saving mode is released can be output to the display unit 151. [ Thus, the user's convenience can be improved.

The above-described control method of the mobile terminal and the mobile terminal can be applied to a configuration and a method of the embodiments described above in a limited manner, but the embodiments can be applied to all or a part of each embodiment Or may be selectively combined.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a front view showing a state of the mobile terminal in which the initial state enters the reception standby mode;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front views showing examples in which an icon related to the charging time in FIG. 2 is output to the display unit. FIG.

4 is a front view showing another form in which the display unit outputs the calculated time.

Figures 5A and 5B are front views illustrating aspects of displaying information related to charging in an operating mode of the mobile terminal.

Figures 6 and 7 are front views illustrating aspects of displaying information relating to the charging rate in a mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention.

8 is a flowchart of a control method of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

9 is a front view showing a display unit in which a selection menu is generated;

10 is a conceptual diagram showing the release of the power saving mode;

Claims (15)

A current generator disposed in the main body to be exposed to light, the current generator converting the light to generate a current; A battery unit that supplies power to an electronic device mounted on the main body and is electrically connected to the current generating unit and is configured to be charged by the current; A battery remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining battery amount of the battery unit; A charging rate calculation unit for calculating a charging rate of the battery unit by the current; And And a controller for calculating a time for which the battery is charged using the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charge speed, and outputting the calculated time to the display unit, The charging time is a time to charge up to a predetermined battery remaining amount, Wherein the control unit converts the predetermined battery remaining amount into a time available for wireless communication and outputs the time to the display unit. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the charging time corresponds to a full charge of the battery unit. 3. The method of claim 2, Wherein the display unit displays an icon for proportionally displaying the detected remaining battery level with respect to the remaining battery level corresponding to the full charge. delete The method according to claim 1, When any one of the operation modes of the terminal is executed, Wherein the control unit calculates the executable time for the operation mode using at least one of the calculated charging speed, the battery consumption rate for the predetermined operation mode, and the detected remaining battery level, And outputs the result to the mobile terminal. The method according to claim 1, Wherein, Compares the charging rate with a predetermined reference value to determine a charging level, and outputs the charging level to the display unit. The method according to claim 1, And a message indicating that power supply for charging is required is output if the detected remaining battery level and the charged rate are less than preset reference values, respectively. A current generator disposed in the main body to be exposed to light, the current generator converting the light to generate a current; A battery unit that supplies power to an electronic device mounted on the main body and is electrically connected to the current generating unit and is configured to be charged by the current; A battery remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining battery amount of the battery unit; A charging rate calculation unit for calculating a charging rate of the battery; And And a controller for controlling power supply to the electronic device using the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed, Wherein, Calculating a time at which the battery unit is charged up to a preset remaining battery charge level using the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charge rate, Converts the remaining battery power into a time available for wireless communication, And outputs the computed charging time and the converted wireless communication time to the display unit. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the control unit limits power supply to at least one of the speaker and the display unit when the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charge speed are less than preset reference values. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the power saving mode in which the power supply is controlled such that the brightness of the display unit is reduced if the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed are less than preset reference values, respectively. 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the user is configured to select whether to execute the power save mode. 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the power save mode is released when at least one of the detected battery remaining amount and the calculated charging speed is greater than a preset reference value. 11. The method of claim 10, Wherein the power saving mode is released when power for charging the battery unit is supplied from outside the terminal. Converting the light to generate a current, and calculating a charging rate of the battery unit to be charged by the current; Detecting a remaining battery level of the battery unit; Controlling the operation mode of the terminal by comparing the detected remaining battery level and the calculated charging speed with preset reference values, respectively; Calculating a time at which the battery unit is charged up to a predetermined battery remaining amount using the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charge speed; Converting the predetermined battery remaining amount into a time available for wireless communication; And And outputting the calculated charging time and the wireless communication available time to the display unit. 15. The method of claim 14, Wherein the control step comprises: Saving mode in which the brightness of the display unit is reduced when the detected remaining battery charge and the calculated charge rate are less than the preset reference value, respectively.

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