201027319 六、發明說明： 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係有關電源管理（power management )，特 別是關於一種於偵測到電池低電量時，用以延長電子裝置 使用時間的系統及方法。 【先前技術】 參 近年來可攜式或電池供電之電子裝置的快速成長，使 得裝置使用時間的增長成為迫切的需求。但是，由於電池 續航力的成長緩不濟急，無法跟上現今電子裝置的功能增 加。因此，降低功率消耗便成為達到該需求的一種替代可 行方案。 ® 當可攜式電子裝置（例如筆記型電腦）被偵測到電池 低電量時，通常會顯示警告訊息，讓使用者可以即時儲存 重要檔案，並就近尋找交流電源或置換備用€池。.然而， 交流電源或備用電池往往無法立即或就近獲得，因而造成 使用者除了等待電池耗盡之外別無他法。 3 201027319 鑑於傳統可攜式或電池供電之電子裝置除了顯示警告 訊息外，無法進一步協助使用者，因此亟需提出一種機制， 用於偵測到電池低電量時，實質地延長電子裝置的使用時 間。 【發明内容】 鑑於上述，本發明的目的之一為提供一種系統及方 ®法，當偵測到電池低電量時，可自動或手動方式來延長可 攜式或電池供電之電子裝置的使用時間。 根據本發明實施例，電池源模組提供電源給顯示模 組。電池電量偵測模組偵測電池源模組的電池電量，而顯 示模組的像素則根據偵測之電池電量而各自予以啟動或關 I 閉。具體而言，债測之電池電量和至少一預設臨界值作比 較，當電池電量大於臨界值時則決定爲正常顯示模式，當 電池電量不大於臨界值時則決定為縮減（reduced)顯示 模式。於正常顯示模式時，照亮包含所有像素吟聱個顯示 區域；於縮減顯示模式時，則照亮包含部分像素的局部顯 示區域。 【實施方式】 201027319 第一A圖顯示本發明第一實施例的電子裝置（特別是 直流電源或電池供電之可攜式電子裝置，例如筆記型電腦 或行動電話）之使用時間延長系統1〇〇。第一 B圖顯示本 發明第二實施例的電子裝置之使用時間延長系統1〇〇。第 二圖則顯示本發明實施例電子裝置之使用時間延長方法的 流程圖200。 Φ 在實施例中’系統100包含電池源模組（簡稱”電池”） 10 ’用以提供直流電源給電子裝置12 (步驟20)。電池源 模組10可以是一種卸除式（removable )電池，也可以是 嵌入（embedded)至’子裝置12。電池源模組1〇可以 包含一或多個一次電池丨（primary battery)，又稱為可棄 式電池’其使用一次後即需丢棄’例如碳鋅（Zinc_carb〇n ) 電池及鹼性電池。電池源模組10也可以包含一或多個二 肇次電池（secondary battery)，又稱為充電電池，其在使 用前必須充電，例如鎳鎘（NiCd)電池、鎳氫（NiMH) 電池及鋰離子（Li-ion)電池。 . 系統100還包含電池電量（capacity)偵測模組14， 用以偵測電池源模組10的剩餘電池電量（步驟在本 說明書中，”電量”一詞係指電池1〇電供應的數量。電池 10電量的偵測可以根據其放電狀態，例如電流強度（安培 201027319 小時）或電池10的端電壓（伏特），也可以表示為瓦特小 時，其等於安培小時乘以端電壓。若要得到更精確的偵測 結果，電池電量的偵測可以根據進一步的參數，例如溫度 或負載。 於第一實施例（第一 A圖）中，電池電量偵測模組14 和電池10可以結合為一個電池單元。顯示器120可以受 控於電池電量偵測模組14，也可以受控於中央處理器 (CPU) 122，或者兩者。於第二實施例（第一 B圖）中， 電池電量偵測模組14係嵌置於電子裝置12内。電池電量 偵測模組14之實施可以使用電池量測積體電路（battery gauge 1C)，其特別適用於裡離子（Li-ion)供電的裝置内， 用以估算其電池電量。 系統100更包含一顯示模組（或稱”顯示器”）120， 其構成電子裝置12的一部份。在本實施例，顯示器120 可以是發光二極體（LED)所組成的顯示面板，其藉由主 動發光源（例如發光二極體或有機發光二極體（OLED)) 來顯示影像，不需使用背光源。顯示器120也可以是液晶 顯示器（LCD)所組成的顯示面板，其必須使用背光源以 提供照亮。 201027319 第三圖顯示本發明實施例中具主動發光源（例如led 或OLED)之顯示器120的功能方塊圖。顯示器120包 含排列成矩陣形式的像素30行與列。位於像素30 一邊的 是資料驅動器32，其提供類比影像信號，用以控制像素的 亮度及顏色’其通常是以多個資料驅動器積體電路來實現 (圖式中象徵地顯示三個積體電路）。位於像素30另一邊 的是掃描驅動器34，其依序掃描開啟每一列的像素，其通 參常也是以多個掃描驅動器積體電路來實現（圖式中象徵地 顯示三個積體電路）。 如第一 A、一 B圖所示，電子裝置12的顯示器120, 直接或間接地，從電量偵測模組14接收偵測到的電 池電量訊息。在本實施例中，使用電池電量偵測模組14 或CPU 122將偵測之剩餘電量與至少一預設臨界值作比 _較（步驟22)。當電量大於臨界值時，表示電池1〇具有足 夠的電源，顯示器12〇因此顯示出整個顯示區域（步驟 23)。在此情形下（亦即，正常顯示模式），所$資料驅動 器32及掃描驅動器34都被啟動，因此整個顯示區域的像 素30都被啟動或打開。第四a圖例示正常顯示模式下的 顯不、纟。果’其中，有取111個像素（例如1024x768個像 素（XGA))受控於所有資料驅動器32及掃描驅動器34 而照亮’如圖式中的陰影線區域。 201027319 當偵測之電量不再大於臨界值時，表示電池1〇的電 源不足，顯不器12〇則自動或手動地切換至縮減 (reduced)顯示模式，並顯示出局部或縮減顯示區域（步 驟24)。此處所謂”自動”係指電子裝置12的cpu 122先 行通知或未通知使用者的情形下將顯示器12切換至縮減 顾示模式，所謂手動”則指使用者於確認了 cPU 122的請 求後才將顯示器12切換至縮減顯示模式。於縮減顯示模 春式下，僅有一部份的資料驅動器32及掃描驅動器34是啟 動的因此僅相對應顯示區域的像素30被啟動或打開， 其他部分的像素30則被關閉。第w b圖例示縮減顯示 模式下的顯示結果，其中’有rxs個像素（例如8〇〇χ6〇〇 功像素（SVGA))受控於部分資料驅動器32及掃描驅動 器34而照亮，如圖式中的陰影線區域，而其他的像素3〇 則被關閉，如圖式中的空白區域。 般來s兒’像素30當中的發光元件（例如led或 民D )可獨自控制。如第四B圖所示，部分的第一資料 驅動器32A被啟動，整個第二資料驅動器32B被啟動， P刀的第二資料驅動器32C被啟動。再者，部分的第一 掃插驅動器34A被啟動，整個第二掃描驅動器34B被啟 動，且部分的第三掃描驅動器34C被啟動。本發明也可以 用〜或多於一個臨界值來決定出一個正常模式及多於一 201027319 個的縮減模式。例如，於一正常模式及二縮減模式（亦即， 第一縮減模式及第二縮減模式）的實施例中，於第一縮減 模式下被啟動的資料驅動器及掃描驅動器之比例會大於第 二縮減模式。例如，正常模式顯示出1024x768個像素 (XGA )，第一縮減模式顯示出800x600個像素 (SVGA)，而第二縮減模式則顯示出640x480個像素 (VGA)。 根據第四A圖及第四B圖所例示之實施例’若假設每 一像素消耗電流為X微安（/zA)，則在正常顯示模式（第 四A圖）下將消耗x*n*m微安。以1024x768個像素 (XGA)為例，假設每i一像素消耗1微安，則整個顯示區 域將消耗786432微安。至於在縮減顯示模式（第四B圖） 下，局部顯示區域將消耗x*((n*m-r*s))微安。以800x600 ❹個像素（SVGA)為例，局部顯示區域將消耗480000微 安。藉此，顯示器120因為進入縮減顯示模式因而可以解 省功率消耗大約為 39% ( 亦即， (786432-480000)/786432 )。節省下來的電源苛用以實 f地延長電子裝置12的使用時間。於延長顧，在找到 交流電源或備用電池之前，使用 L ^ ^ ^ ^ 之用者可以完成更多的工作。 201027319 第五圖顯示本發明另一實施例中具背光源40之顯示 器⑽的功能方塊圖。背光源4〇可以由冷陰極管（ccfl) 或發光二極體（LED)所組成，其受控於背光源控制器犯。 顯示器120可以是液晶顯示面板概，其包含液晶元件。 位於顯示面板3GA -邊的是資料驅動器32，位於顯示面 板30A另一邊的是掃描驅動器34。 • 纟本實施例中，當電量大於臨界值時，表示電池10 具有足夠的電源，顯示器120因此顯示出整個顯示區域。 在此情形下（亦即，正常顯示模式），所有資料驅動器於 及掃描驅動器34都被啟動’因此顯示面板繼的整個顯 示區域被啟動或打開。第丨六A圖例示正常顯示模式下的顯 示結果，其中’有nXm個像素（例如1024x768個像素 OCGA))受控於所有資料驅動器扣及掃描驅動器私而 鲁受到背光源4〇照亮，如圖式中的陰影線區域。再者，整 個（冷陰極管或發光二極體之）背光源4〇都被開啟或打 開。 另-方面，當偵測之電量不再大於臨界值時，表示電 池1〇的電源不足’顯㈣咖則自動或手動地切換至縮 減（reduced)顯示模式，並顯示出局部或縮減顯示區域。 於縮減顯示模式下，僅有-部份的資料驅動器32及掃描 201027319 驅動器34是啟動的，因此僅相對應顯示區域的顯示面板 30A像素被啟動或打開’而其他部分的像素則被關閉。第 四六B圖例示縮減顯示模式下的顯示結果，其中，有rxs 個像素（例如800x600個像素（SVGA))受控於部分資 料驅動器32及掃描驅動器34而受到背光源40照亮，如 圖式中的陰影線區域’而顯示面板30A的其他像素則被關 閉，如圖式中的空白區域。再者，對於LED之背光源而言’ 對應於關閉像素的LED可受控於背光源控制器42而關 閉。對於CCFL之背光源而言，對應於關閉像素的CCFL 則玎受控於背光源控制器42而選擇性關閉。 以上所述僅為本發!明之較佳實施例而已，並非用以限 定本發明之申請專利範圍；凡其它未脫離發明所揭示之精 神下所疋成之等效改變或修飾，均應包含在下述之申請專 利範圍内。 【圖式簡單說明】 第一 A圖顯示本發明第一實施例的電子裝置之使用時 間延長系統。 第一 B圖顯示本發明第二實施例的電子裝置之使用時 間延長系統。 11 201027319 第二圖顯示本發明實施例電子裝置之使用時間延長方 法的流程圖。 第三圖顯示本發明實施例中具主動發光源之顯示器的 功能方塊圖。 第四A圖例示第三圖於正常顯示模式下的顯示結果。 第四B圖例示第三圖於縮減顯示模式下的顯示結果。 第五圖顯示本發明另一實施例中具背光源之顯示器的 功能方塊圖。 參 第六A圖例示第五圖於正常顯示模式下的顯示結果。 第六B圖例示第五圖於縮減顯示模式下的顯示結果。 【主要元件符號說明】 10 電池源模組 12 電子裝置 像 100 使用時間延長系統 120 顯示器 122 CPU 14 電池電量偵測模組 20-24 實施例之步驟 30 像素 30A 顯示面板 32 資料驅動器 12 201027319 34 掃描驅動器 32A、32B、32C資料驅動器 34A、34B、34C掃描驅動器 40 背光源 42 背光源控制器201027319 VI. Description of the Invention: [Technical Field] The present invention relates to power management, and more particularly to a system and method for extending the use time of an electronic device when a low battery is detected. [Prior Art] In recent years, the rapid growth of portable or battery-powered electronic devices has made the use of devices increasingly an urgent need. However, due to the slow growth of battery life, it is impossible to keep up with the increase in the functionality of today's electronic devices. Therefore, reducing power consumption is an alternative to achieving this demand. ® When a portable electronic device (such as a notebook) is detected to have a low battery, a warning message is usually displayed, allowing the user to instantly store important files and find AC power or replace the spare pool. However, AC power or backup batteries are often not available immediately or nearby, causing users to have no choice but to wait for the battery to run out. 3 201027319 In view of the fact that traditional portable or battery-powered electronic devices cannot provide further assistance in addition to warning messages, there is a need to propose a mechanism for substantially prolonging the use of electronic devices when low battery power is detected. . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, one object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for extending the life of a portable or battery powered electronic device automatically or manually when a low battery is detected. . In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the battery source module provides power to the display module. The battery level detecting module detects the battery level of the battery source module, and the pixels of the display module are respectively turned on or off according to the detected battery power. Specifically, the battery power of the debt test is compared with at least a predetermined threshold, and when the battery power is greater than the threshold, the normal display mode is determined, and when the battery power is not greater than the threshold, the display mode is determined to be reduced. . In the normal display mode, the display includes all pixels of the display area; when the display mode is reduced, the partial display area containing some of the pixels is illuminated. [Embodiment] 201027319 FIG. 1A shows a time extension system of an electronic device (particularly a DC power supply or a battery-powered portable electronic device such as a notebook computer or a mobile phone) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. . The first B diagram shows the use time extension system 1 of the electronic device of the second embodiment of the present invention. The second diagram shows a flow chart 200 of the method of extending the use time of the electronic device of the embodiment of the present invention. Φ In the embodiment, the system 100 includes a battery source module (abbreviated as "battery") 10' for providing DC power to the electronic device 12 (step 20). The battery source module 10 can be a removable battery or can be embedded to the sub-device 12. The battery source module 1〇 may include one or more primary batteries, which are also referred to as disposable batteries, which need to be discarded after use, such as carbon zinc (Zinc_carb〇n) batteries and alkaline batteries. . The battery source module 10 may also include one or more secondary batteries, also referred to as rechargeable batteries, which must be charged prior to use, such as nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and lithium. Ion (Li-ion) battery. The system 100 further includes a battery capacity detecting module 14 for detecting the remaining battery power of the battery source module 10 (step in the present specification, the term "electricity" refers to the amount of battery 1 power supply. The battery 10 can be detected according to its discharge state, such as current intensity (ampere 201027319 hours) or battery terminal voltage (volts), or watt hour, which is equal to the ampere hour multiplied by the terminal voltage. For more accurate detection results, the battery power can be detected according to further parameters, such as temperature or load. In the first embodiment (Fig. AA), the battery power detecting module 14 and the battery 10 can be combined into one. The battery unit may be controlled by the battery power detecting module 14, or may be controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 122, or both. In the second embodiment (Fig. B), the battery is detected. The test module 14 is embedded in the electronic device 12. The battery level detecting module 14 can be implemented by using a battery gauge 1C, which is especially suitable for Li-ion. The system 100 further includes a display module (or "display") 120 that forms part of the electronic device 12. In this embodiment, the display 120 can be a light emitting diode A display panel composed of a body (LED), which displays an image by an active light source such as a light emitting diode or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) without using a backlight. The display 120 may also be a liquid crystal display ( LCD) A display panel that must use a backlight to provide illumination. 201027319 The third figure shows a functional block diagram of a display 120 with an active illumination source (eg, led or OLED) in an embodiment of the invention. Display 120 includes an arrangement. The pixels are in the form of a matrix of 30 rows and columns. On the side of the pixel 30 is a data driver 32 that provides an analog image signal for controlling the brightness and color of the pixel' which is usually implemented by a plurality of data driver integrated circuits (Fig. In the formula, three integrated circuits are symbolically displayed. On the other side of the pixel 30 is a scan driver 34, which sequentially scans the pixels of each column, which is common. It is realized by a plurality of scan driver integrated circuits (three integrated circuits are symbolically displayed in the figure). As shown in the first A and B diagrams, the display 120 of the electronic device 12 directly or indirectly receives power. The detection module 14 receives the detected battery power message. In this embodiment, the battery power detection module 14 or the CPU 122 compares the detected remaining power with at least a predetermined threshold (steps). 22) When the power is greater than the threshold, it indicates that the battery 1 has sufficient power, and the display 12 thus displays the entire display area (step 23). In this case (ie, the normal display mode), the data drive Both 32 and scan driver 34 are activated so that pixels 30 of the entire display area are activated or turned on. The fourth a diagram illustrates the display in the normal display mode. Among them, 111 pixels (e.g., 1024 x 768 pixels (XGA)) are controlled by all data drivers 32 and scan drivers 34 to illuminate the hatched areas in the figure. 201027319 When the detected power is no longer greater than the critical value, it means that the power of the battery is insufficient. If the display is 12〇, it will automatically or manually switch to the reduced display mode and display the partial or reduced display area. twenty four). The term "automatic" as used herein refers to switching the display 12 to the reduced view mode in the case where the cpu 122 of the electronic device 12 is notified first or not, and the so-called "manual" means that the user confirms the request of the cPU 122. Switching the display 12 to the reduced display mode. In the reduced display mode, only a portion of the data driver 32 and the scan driver 34 are activated, so that only the pixels 30 corresponding to the display area are activated or turned on, and other portions of the pixels 30 is turned off. The wb diagram illustrates the display result in the reduced display mode, where 'there are rxs pixels (for example, 8 〇〇χ 6 〇〇 pixels (SVGA)) controlled by the partial data driver 32 and the scan driver 34. Bright, as shown in the hatched area in the figure, while the other pixels 3〇 are turned off, as shown in the blank area in the figure. Generally, the light-emitting elements (such as led or folk D) in the pixel 30 can be controlled by themselves. As shown in Fig. 4B, part of the first data driver 32A is activated, the entire second data driver 32B is activated, and the second data driver 32C of the P blade is activated. A sweep driver 34A is activated, the entire second scan driver 34B is activated, and a portion of the third scan driver 34C is activated. The present invention may also use ~ or more than one threshold to determine a normal mode and more than one 201027319. a reduced mode, for example, in a normal mode and a reduced mode (ie, a first reduced mode and a second reduced mode), the ratio of the data driver and the scan driver that are activated in the first reduced mode It will be larger than the second reduction mode. For example, the normal mode shows 1024x768 pixels (XGA), the first reduced mode shows 800x600 pixels (SVGA), and the second reduced mode shows 640x480 pixels (VGA). The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B will assume that x*n*m is consumed in the normal display mode (fourth A picture) if the current consumption per pixel is X microamps (/zA). For example, in the case of 1024x768 pixels (XGA), assuming that 1 μA per i pixel consumes 786,432 microamps, the entire display area will consume 786,432 microamps. As for the reduced display mode (fourth B), partial display The domain will consume x*((n*mr*s)) microamps. Taking 800x600 pixels (SVGA) as an example, the local display area will consume 480,000 microamps. Thereby, the display 120 can be solved by entering the reduced display mode. The power consumption is about 39% (ie, (786432-480000) / 786432). The saved power supply is used to extend the use time of the electronic device 12. Before the extension, before finding the AC power or backup battery , users with L ^ ^ ^ ^ can do more work. 201027319 The fifth figure shows a functional block diagram of a display (10) having a backlight 40 in another embodiment of the present invention. The backlight 4 can be composed of a cold cathode tube (ccfl) or a light emitting diode (LED), which is controlled by the backlight controller. The display 120 may be a liquid crystal display panel, which includes a liquid crystal element. Located on the side of the display panel 3GA is the data drive 32, and on the other side of the display panel 30A is the scan driver 34. • In the present embodiment, when the amount of electricity is greater than the threshold, it indicates that the battery 10 has sufficient power, and the display 120 thus displays the entire display area. In this case (i.e., the normal display mode), all data drives and scan drivers 34 are activated' so that the entire display area of the display panel is activated or turned on. The sixth picture A illustrates the display result in the normal display mode, in which 'there are nXm pixels (for example, 1024x768 pixels OCGA)) controlled by all the data drive buttons and the scan driver are privately illuminated by the backlight 4,, such as The hatched area in the drawing. Furthermore, the entire backlight (of the cold cathode tube or the light-emitting diode) is turned on or turned on. On the other hand, when the detected power is no longer greater than the critical value, it indicates that the power supply of the battery is insufficient. The display automatically or manually switches to the reduced display mode and displays the partial or reduced display area. In the reduced display mode, only the -part data driver 32 and the scan 201027319 driver 34 are activated, so only the display panel 30A pixels corresponding to the display area are activated or turned on while the other portions of the pixels are turned off. The fourth six-B diagram illustrates the display result in the reduced display mode, wherein rxs pixels (for example, 800 x 600 pixels (SVGA)) are controlled by the partial data driver 32 and the scan driver 34 to be illuminated by the backlight 40, as shown in the figure. The hatched area in the formula 'and the other pixels of the display panel 30A are turned off, as in the blank area in the figure. Moreover, for a backlight of an LED, the LED corresponding to the off pixel can be turned off by the backlight controller 42. For a CCFL backlight, the CCFL corresponding to the off pixel is then selectively controlled to be turned off by the backlight controller 42. The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention; any equivalent changes or modifications made without departing from the spirit of the invention should be included. Within the scope of the patent application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A first A diagram shows a use time extension system of an electronic device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The first B diagram shows the use time extension system of the electronic device of the second embodiment of the present invention. 11 201027319 The second figure shows a flow chart of a method for extending the use time of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The third figure shows a functional block diagram of a display with an active illumination source in an embodiment of the invention. The fourth A diagram illustrates the display result of the third figure in the normal display mode. The fourth B diagram illustrates the display result of the third graph in the reduced display mode. Fig. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a display having a backlight in another embodiment of the present invention. Refer to the sixth figure to illustrate the display result of the fifth figure in the normal display mode. The sixth B diagram illustrates the display result of the fifth map in the reduced display mode. [Main component symbol description] 10 Battery source module 12 Electronic device image 100 Time extension system 120 Display 122 CPU 14 Battery power detection module 20-24 Step 30 of the embodiment Pixel 30A Display panel 32 Data driver 12 201027319 34 Scan Drivers 32A, 32B, 32C data drivers 34A, 34B, 34C scan driver 40 backlight 42 backlight controller
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