KR20060058314A - A recharge alarm apparatus for the battery of the mobile terminal and the method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery charging of a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to move a battery for outputting a charging alarm of a battery according to a user input charge reservation time or a residual capacity value of a battery at a time when a user needs to be charged. The present invention relates to a battery charge alarm device of a terminal and a method thereof.

According to the present invention, when the user presets the charging time or the remaining capacity value of the battery to output the charging alarm, when the set charging time arrives or when the battery capacity value is lower than the predetermined remaining capacity value charge alarm By outputting the power, the user can charge the battery in advance before the battery is discharged, thereby providing an effect of preventing the mobile terminal from being used by the discharge of the battery in advance.

Mobile terminal, charger, battery, charge alarm, scheduled charge time, battery remaining capacity

Description

A recharge alarm apparatus for the battery of the mobile terminal and the method

1 is a block diagram of a battery charging alarm device of a mobile terminal of the present invention;

2 is a block diagram of a mobile phone according to one embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a charging alarm output of the mobile phone of FIG. 2;

4 is a perspective view of a charger as still another embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the charger of FIG. 4, and

6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a charging alarm output of the charger of FIGS. 4 and 5.

* Description of the main symbols in the drawings *

1: charge alarm device 100: mobile phone

200: charger

16, 215: battery seat

210: Case 215a: Terminal

220a: LED 220b: Speaker

225 display window 230: keypad

The present invention relates to battery charging of a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a battery charging alarm device and a method of a mobile terminal for outputting a charging alarm of a battery according to a user input set time or a residual capacity value of a user input battery. will be.

In general, the mobile terminal is a terminal developed to perform data and voice communication by a wireless communication method such as synchronous CDMA, IS95-A, B, C and asynchronous IMT2000, or a mobile terminal such as an electronic notebook PDA or a notebook. Say. The mobile terminal is powered by a rechargeable battery that is rechargeable due to its mobility. Accordingly, a battery having a small size and a large charging capacity is required for portability and long-term use of the mobile terminal. According to these requirements, a battery having a miniaturized size and a maximized charging capacity has been developed, and the power saving function of the mobile terminal has been dramatically improved for long time use.

However, despite the technical development of the battery and the power saving function of the mobile terminal as described above, the battery of the mobile terminal always requires recharging by the user. Due to the necessity of recharging, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone in the prior art displays the remaining amount of the battery at a predetermined position such as an LCD. It has a function of informing the need for recharging.

However, in the prior art methods such as transient vibration or beep signals informing the necessity of recharging the battery as described above, it becomes difficult to recognize the user without paying attention, which may allow the user to recharge the battery. There is always a problem that the user can not use the mobile terminal regardless of the user's intention by the discharge of the battery.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-described problems that the mobile terminal has in the prior art, and actively informs the user of the time when the battery is required to be charged so that the user can perform the charge before the battery is discharged. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery charging alarm device and a method of a mobile terminal.

Battery charging alarm device of the mobile terminal of the present invention for achieving the above object, and a battery mounting portion is mounted battery; A clock unit for outputting a clock signal for generating a reference value with respect to time; An input unit for receiving a charging alarm condition of a user; A storage unit for storing the charging alarm condition inputted through the input unit; A controller which controls charging of the battery and outputs a charging alarm signal when the state of the battery and the time applied from the clock unit satisfy the charging alarm condition stored in the storage unit; Characterized in that the alarm output unit for outputting a charging alarm in accordance with the charging alarm signal of the control unit.

The configuration of the charging alarm device of the present invention described above is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the charging alarm device 1 of the present invention has a battery seat 16 on which a battery is mounted. The rear end of the battery seat 16 is a power supply 10 is configured. The rear end of the power supply unit 10 is configured with a control unit 11 that is driven by receiving power from the power supply unit 10, the control unit 11 is a clock unit 12 and an input unit for inputting a user control command (13) and the storage unit 14 for storing the charge alarm conditions input from the input unit 13 and the alarm output unit 15 for outputting the charge alarm in accordance with the charge alarm output signal of the control unit to the control unit 11 Or is driven according to a control command of the controller 11.

The power supply unit 10 is operated to supply the power of the battery to the charging alarm device 1, or to receive the external power input to the charging alarm device 1 and the charging power of the battery.

The input unit 13 is provided with a keypad and a display window, and allows the user to set the charging alarm function through the input unit 13 and simultaneously input a charging alarm condition for the charging alarm. The charging alarm condition described above may be a charge reservation time or a remaining capacity value of the battery to be charged.

The storage unit 14 stores the charging alarm condition input through the input unit 13.

The clock unit 12 generates a clock for providing a reference value of the internal time, and the control unit 11 calculates a current time according to the clock signal generated from the clock unit 12.

The controller 11 monitors the state of the charge alarm device according to the user input charge alarm condition, and outputs the charge alarm to the alarm output unit 15 when the state of the charge alarm device satisfies the charge alarm condition. Output the signal.

The function of the above-described control unit 11 will be described in more detail as follows.

When the charge alarm condition is the charge reservation time, the controller 11 compares the current time with the charge reservation time, and when the charge reservation time arrives or elapses, the controller 11 outputs a charge alarm output signal to the alarm output unit 15. .

When the charging alarm condition is the remaining capacity value of the battery, the control unit 11 reads out the remaining capacity value of the battery mounted in the battery seating unit, and compares it with the remaining capacity value of the battery stored in the storage unit 14. As a result of the comparison, when the residual capacity value of the battery mounted in the battery seating part is equal to or smaller than the residual capacity value of the battery as the preset charging condition, the charging alarm output signal is output to the alarm output unit 15.

The alarm output unit 15 includes a speaker, a vibrator, an LED, and the like. The alarm output unit 15 outputs a charging alarm in the form of a warning sound, a blinking LED, or a vibration in accordance with the charging alarm output signal.

By the above operation, the user can recharge the battery at a time point designated by the user before the battery is discharged.

The charging alarm device of the present invention having the above-described configuration and operation process may be implemented in the form of all terminals requiring a battery such as a portable telephone, a charger, a PDA, a laptop, and the like. A mobile phone and a charger are shown as an embodiment of the charging alarm device.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail the present invention.

2 is a view showing a mobile phone as an embodiment of the charging alarm device of the present invention, Figure 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the mobile phone of Figure 2 for the charge alarm output function.

As shown in FIG. 2, a mobile phone 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a keypad 110 for receiving a dial number and a user command; A display unit 120 displaying a driving state and a control command of the cellular phone 100; An audio unit 130 for inputting and outputting audio signals; Communication unit 140 for performing communication with the outside using the RF signal; A power supply unit 150 receiving power from the battery 50 to supply stable power to the mobile phone 100; A storage unit 160 for storing software and user input information for driving the mobile phone; It is composed of a control unit 170 for controlling the overall function of the mobile phone (100).

The keypad unit 110 is composed of a plurality of keys for key input and a key signal generation processor for storing a key value to output a specific electric signal according to each key pressed, so that a user inputs a charging alarm condition or a control command. Do it.

The display unit 120 is a display device such as an LCD, and outputs a driving state of a mobile phone, a user input command, a control menu, and the like.

The audio unit 130 may receive an audio signal processor (not shown) that performs signal processing of a call tone, a microphone (not shown) that receives a user voice, and an external input audio signal output from the audio signal processor. It is composed of a speaker (not shown) that outputs sound.

The storage unit 160 may be configured to set a charging alarm function, and to calculate a charging schedule time or a battery remaining capacity value as a charging alarm condition. Software for implementing a battery charge alarm method of a portable mobile terminal of the present invention having a processing module is stored. In addition, the charging alarm condition input from the user is also stored in the storage unit 160. The charging alarm condition stored in the storage unit 160 may be a time to be charged and a residual capacity value of the battery.

The controller 170 not only controls the general operation of the mobile phone as in the related art, but also controls the mobile phone 100 to output a charging alarm when the output of the charging alarm is required according to a user input charging alarm condition.

Since the mobile phone 100 is generally provided with time and synchronization according to the GPS signal provided from the base station, it synchronizes with the base station and outputs a time value to the display unit. 2, components corresponding to the clock part of FIG. 1 are not illustrated.

In addition, since the cellular phone 100 has the battery seating part of FIGS. 1, 4, and 5 is also known, illustration of the battery seating part is omitted in FIG. 2.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process for outputting a charging alarm of the mobile telephone 100 of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, an operation process for outputting a charging alarm of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 2 will be described.

First, the user drives the software for the charge alarm function stored in the storage unit 160 by using the keypad unit 110 and the display unit 120 of the mobile phone 100, and then inputs the charge alarm condition and charge alarm function Set (S100). The input charging alarm condition is stored in the storage unit 160. As described above, the charging alarm condition input by the user may be a charge reservation time to be charged or a residual capacity value of the battery to be charged. The user interface module allows the user to select a time for charging the battery when the charging alarm condition is to be charged, and the remaining capacity of the battery to be charged when the charging alarm condition is the remaining capacity of the battery. Allows the user to enter the value in the form of a bar graph length, percentage of maximum capacity value, or voltage value.

Thereafter, the controller 170 of the mobile phone periodically detects the state of the mobile phone according to the charge alarm condition (S110), and compares the detected state of the mobile phone with the charge alarm condition (S120). In the process of S110 and S120, when the charging alarm condition is to be charged, the state of the mobile phone periodically detected by the controller 170 becomes the current time, and the charging reservation time is entered as the charging alarm condition. Is compared with On the contrary, when the charging alarm condition is the remaining capacity value of the battery, the controller 170 periodically detects the remaining capacity value of the battery displayed on the mobile phone and compares the remaining capacity value of the battery as the charging alarm condition.

If the time to be charged does not come as a result of comparing the charging alarm condition with the state value of the mobile phone, or if the remaining capacity value of the battery is greater than or equal to the remaining battery capacity value to be charged, the process of S110 to S120. Repeat periodically. When the charging time has arrived or has elapsed, or the remaining capacity value of the battery is less than the remaining capacity value of the battery to be charged, it is determined whether the battery is being charged, and when the battery is being charged, the process is terminated. When the battery is not being charged, as described above, the display screen 120, the audio unit 130, LED or vibrator (not shown), such as warning screen output, warning sound output, LED flashing, or vibration By outputting the charging alarm by the user so that the user can know that the charge of the battery (130).

4 is a perspective view of a charger having a charge alarm function according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the charger of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the charger 200 having a charging alarm function may include a battery seating unit 215 on which a battery to be charged outside the case 210 is seated, and whether the battery is fully charged. A plurality of LEDs 220a, an input unit 235 composed of a display window 225 such as an LCD and a keypad 230 so that a user can input a charging alarm condition is configured, and an external AC is provided inside the case 210. The power supply unit 240 receives power and converts it into DC power and supplies the battery to the internal components of the charger and the battery seating unit 215, and generates an internal clock by an oscillation signal by a crystal oscillator. The state of the charger determines the charge alarm condition by comparing the clock unit 245 and the charge control command of the battery, the user input charge alarm condition, the user input charge alarm condition, and the state value of the charger to output an appropriate time value. If sufficient, the storage unit 250 for storing the software for the charge alarm function is driven to output the charge alarm signal and the software for the charge control command and the charge alarm function is driven to perform the charge and charge alarm function of the battery It comprises a control unit 260 and an alarm output unit 255 for outputting a charging alarm in accordance with the charge alarm signal of the control unit. Here, the software for the charge alarm function may be integrated into the control unit 260 in hardware.

In FIG. 5, the alarm output unit 255 includes a speaker 220b for outputting a charging alarm as a warning sound, an LED 220a, and an audio and LED control unit (not shown) for controlling the speaker and the LED. In addition, the input unit 235 of FIG. 5 includes the display window 225 and the keypad 230 described above, and a video and keypad controller (not shown) for controlling the display window and the keypad.

4 and 5 are flowcharts illustrating the operation of the charger of FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, an operation process for the charging alarm function of the charger 200 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is as follows.

The user drives the software for the charging function through the keypad 230 of the input unit 235, and then sets the charging alarm function by inputting the charging alarm condition (S200). The charging alarm condition input in step S200 is stored in the storage unit 250 as a charging reservation time value to be charged.

Thereafter, the controller 260 of the charger 200 periodically detects a current time generated by the clock unit 245 and compares the current time with a charging time input as a charging alarm condition (S210).

Next, when the current time does not pass the preset charging time, the controller 260 periodically repeats the processing of S210. When the charging time arrives or elapses, the battery is mounted on the battery seat 215. Determine whether it is mounted on (S220). Whether the battery is seated in the battery seat 215 may be determined by whether the power terminal 215a configured in the battery seat is open or short-circuited. The determination of whether the above-described battery is installed is not limited to the determination of the opening or short-circuit of the power supply terminal 215a, and various configurations according to the operator's selection such as configuring a separate switch switched according to the mounting of the battery and The method can be applied.

As a result of the determination of S220 described above, when the battery is seated on the battery seating unit 215, the process for output alarm is terminated without outputting the output alarm signal, and when the battery is not seated, the description of FIG. As in, through the alarm output unit 255 consisting of a speaker (220b), LED (220a) and the like outputs a charging alarm by outputting a warning sound, a flashing of the LED, so that the user can charge the battery (230) . The above alarm may be output in the form of vibration by additional configuration of the vibrator.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging alarm method of a portable mobile terminal, comprising: a battery charging alarm method of a portable mobile terminal having a rechargeable battery, comprising: a first step of setting a charging alarm condition of the battery; A second step of determining whether a charge alarm condition of the battery is satisfied; And a third step of outputting a charging alarm when the determination result satisfies the charging alarm condition.

Since the above-described charging alarm method of the portable mobile terminal of the present invention is applied to the processing for the charging alarm in the mobile phone of Figure 3 and the charging alarm in the charger of Figure 6, the portable mobile terminal of the present invention A specific embodiment of the charging alarm method is replaced by the description of FIGS. 3 and 6.

The charging alarm method of the above-described portable mobile terminal of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

A first step of setting a charge alarm condition of the battery is performed by a control command and a charge alarm condition input by a user through the input units 13 and 235 (or the keypad unit 110).

Next, the input charge alarm condition is stored in the storage unit 14 as a charge reservation time or a remaining capacity value of the battery that needs to be charged, and the controllers 11, 170, and 260 are clock signals received from the clock unit 12. The second step of determining whether the charging alarm condition is satisfied is performed by comparing the current time calculated with reference to the charging reservation time or comparing the remaining capacity value of the battery with the remaining capacity value of the battery to be charged as the charging condition. do.

As a result of the determination of the second step, when the charge reservation time does not arrive or the remaining capacity of the battery is larger than the remaining capacity value of the battery as the charge alarm condition, the process of the second step is performed again, and the charge reservation time is performed. In this case, or when the remaining capacity value of the battery is smaller than the remaining capacity value of the battery as the charging alarm condition, the charging alarm signal is output to the alarm output unit 255 (or the audio unit 130) and the charging alarm is sent to the user. By performing the third step of outputting the user can recognize that the battery needs to be charged.

When the charge reservation time is input as the charge alarm condition in the third step and the charge reservation time has elapsed, it is determined whether the battery is mounted in the battery seating part 215, and only when the battery is not installed. The method may further include a fourth step of outputting a charging alarm. In addition, the charging alarm output in the third step (or the fourth step) may be output in a manner such as a warning sound, a warning screen, an LED flashing or a vibration, as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

The present invention described above informs the user of the necessity of charging the battery before discharging the battery, thereby recharging the battery, thereby preventing the user from using the portable mobile terminal by discharging the battery that the user does not want. It provides the effect of doing so.

Claims (5)

A battery seating unit in which a battery is mounted; A clock unit for outputting a clock signal; An input unit for receiving a charging alarm condition of a user; A storage unit for storing the charging alarm condition inputted through the input unit; A controller configured to control charging of the battery seated in the battery seating unit, and output a charging alarm signal when a state of the battery and a time applied from the clock unit satisfy a charging alarm condition stored in the storage unit; Battery charging alarm device of a mobile terminal, characterized in that having an alarm output unit for outputting a charging alarm in accordance with the charging alarm signal of the control unit. The battery charge alarm device of claim 1, wherein the charge alarm condition is any one of a user input charge reservation time or a value of the remaining charge capacity of the battery to be charged. In the battery charge alarm method of a mobile terminal having a rechargeable battery, A first step of setting a charge alarm condition of the battery; A second step of determining whether a charge alarm condition of the battery is satisfied; And, The third step of outputting a charging alarm if the charging alarm condition is not satisfied and performing the process of the second step again if the charging alarm condition is satisfied; Battery charge alarm method. The battery charging method of claim 3, wherein the charging alarm condition input in the first step is any one of a user input charging schedule time or a value of the remaining charge capacity of the battery to be charged. Alarm way. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third step further comprises a fourth step of outputting a charge alarm only when the battery is installed when the charge reservation time has elapsed, when the charge reservation time is set. Battery charging alarm method of a mobile terminal, characterized in that consisting of.

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