Power management method and electronic system using the same

A power management method and an electronic system using the same are provided. The electronic system includes a display device and an auxiliary device, and has dual batteries and two subsystems. By detection and control mechanisms of the subsystems, the electronic system may allow the display device to maintain in a full power state, in the case where the external power is available or the power of the auxiliary device is sufficient. On the other hand, the auxiliary device may apply to the display device, such as a notebook computer, and the battery time may also be extended since the computer has two batteries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a power management technology, more particularly, to a power management method and an electronic system using the same.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, ordinary portable electronic device (e.g. tablet device or notebook computer) is only disposed with one single battery internally. Usually, portable electronic device is provided with two power supply modes: powered by the external power or powered by the battery. In battery mode, the usage time of portable electronic device is determined by power consumption and battery capacity thereof. In order to increase the usage time of portable electronic device, the design approach is tended to reduce the power consumption of the system and increase the capacity of the battery. However, the battery capacity is limited by overall system space. Accordingly, from the viewpoint of increasing the battery time of the electronic device, the effect of increasing the battery capacity is in fact limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provides an electronic system with power management, and the provided electronic system includes a display device and an auxiliary device. The display device includes a first battery. The auxiliary device includes a second battery. When the display device is connected with the auxiliary device, if an external power is detected for supplying power, power is supplied from the external power to the first battery and the second battery, if there is no external power detected (or there is no connection of external power), power is supplied from the second battery to the first battery.

The disclosure further provides a power management method for controlling the charging/discharging between a first battery of a display device and a second battery of an auxiliary device. The provided power management method includes: supplying power from an external power to the first battery and the second battery for charging if the external power is detected and when the display device is connected with the auxiliary device; and supplying power from the second battery to the first battery for charging if the external power is not detected and the power of the second battery is sufficient.

In view of above, the electronic system of the disclosure includes a display device and an auxiliary device, and has dual batteries and two subsystems. In the case where an external power is available, power is supplied from the external power to the two batteries for charging, thereby supplying power to the electronic system (the display device and the auxiliary device); in the case where an external power is not available, power is supplied from the battery of the auxiliary device to the battery of the display device for charging, thereby supplying power to the electronic system; in the case where the external power is not available and the battery capacity of the auxiliary device is insufficient, power is supplied from the battery of the display device to the computer (i.e. the electronic system). Accordingly, the electronic system allows the display device to maintain in a full power state when the external power is available, or the power of the auxiliary device is sufficient. On the other hand, the auxiliary device of the disclosure may apply to the display device of a notebook computer form, and the battery time may also be extended since the computer has two batteries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In addition, whenever possible, identical or similar reference numbers stand for identical or similar elements in the figures and the embodiments.

FIG. 1is a separate schematic view of a display device10and an auxiliary device20according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 2,FIG. 3andFIG. 4are schematic views of an electronic system100having power management according to an embodiment. Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 4. The electronic system100includes the display device10and the auxiliary device20. The display device10may be a touch control device having a touch screen, such as tablet computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) or a portable device with touch screen, but is not limited thereto. The display device10may include a connection port12, a first battery BAT1, a first charge circuit14, at least one of first power rails16and a first subsystem18. The first battery BAT1is coupled to the connection port12and the grounding GND. The first charge circuit14is coupled to the connection port12and the first battery BAT1, and configured for charging the first battery BAT1. The first subsystem18is configured for controlling the operation and each corresponding function (for example, touch control, charging/discharging and the likes, but is not limited thereto) of the display device10. The first power rails16are coupled between the connection port12and the first subsystem18, and configured for generating the driving power of the display device10.

The auxiliary device20may be an input device, for example, a keyboard docking having at least a keyboard (e.g. a keyboard50as illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the keyboard50may be a QWERTY Keyboard) and an input pad60. The auxiliary device20is adapted for the display device10which has a detachable feature. The auxiliary device20may include a socket22for docking the display device10, a second charge circuit24, a dc-dc conversion circuit32, a second battery BAT2, at least one of second power rails26and a second subsystem28. The dc-dc conversion circuit32may be a boost type dc-dc conversion circuit, but is not limited thereto. The second battery BAT2is coupled between the dc-dc conversion circuit32and the grounding GND. The second charge circuit24is coupled between the socket22and the second battery BAT2, and configured for charging the second battery BAT2. The second subsystem28is configured for controlling the operation and each corresponding function (for example, keyboard operation, charging/discharging, but is not limited thereto) of the auxiliary device20. The second power rails26are coupled to the socket22, and configured for generating the driving power of the auxiliary device20.

When the display device10is docked on the auxiliary device20(as illustrated inFIG. 2), the combination of the two devices allows the electronic system100to become a notebook computer. The display device10may be used as a two-in-one device, for users to use its original touch control function or the keyboard operation of the notebook computer. Further, a system interface30is formed by connecting the connection port12with the socket22, such that the first subsystem18and the second subsystem28can be communicated. When the display device10is connected with the auxiliary device, the first subsystem18or the second subsystem28of the electronic system100may detect that the power is supplied from the external power40(for example, theFIG. 3illustrates that the external power40is connected to the auxiliary device20, andFIG. 4illustrates that the external power40is connected to the display device10), thereby the power is supplied from the external power40to the first battery BAT1and the second battery BAT2. When there is no connection made to the external power40, the power is supplied from the second battery BAT2to the first battery BAT1.

In the electronic system100ofFIG. 3orFIG. 4, whether the external power40is available may be determined through detection and control mechanisms (for example, the external power40is a power adapter) of the first subsystem18or the second subsystem28. When the external power40is available, the second subsystem28transmits the control signal S5to enable the second charge circuit24. The second subsystem28may provide a detection message to notify the first subsystem18, such that the first subsystem18transmits the control signal S4to enable the first charge circuit14in response to the detection of the second subsystem28. In addition, the first subsystem18may independently detect whether the external power40is available, and then determine whether to transmit the control signal S4to enable the first charge circuit14. In this case, the power is supplied from the external power40to the first power rails16and the second power rails26, and thereby supplying the power to the first subsystem18and the second subsystem28. Moreover, the external power40may supply the power to the first charge circuit14and the second charge circuit24, thereby charging the first battery BAT1and the second battery BAT2respectively.

In the case where the external power40is not available, the second subsystem28may detect the power of the second battery BAT2. If the power of the second battery BAT2is sufficient, the second subsystem28transmits the control signal S6to enable the dc-dc conversion circuit32. The second subsystem28provides a detection message to notify the first subsystem18, such that the first subsystem18transmits the control signal S4to enable the first charge circuit14in response to the detection of the second subsystem28. In addition, the first subsystem18may detect the power of the second battery BAT2through the system interface30, thereby controlling the operation of the first charge circuit14. Therefore, voltage of the second battery BAT2may be boosted through the operation of the dc-dc conversion circuit32, so as to supply the power to the first power rails16and the second power rails26, and supply the power to the first charge circuit14, so that the first battery BAT1may be charged by the first charge circuit14.

In the case where the external power40is not available, if the power of the second battery BAT2detected by the subsystem28is insufficient, the second subsystem28transmits the control signal S6to turn off (disable) the dc-dc conversion circuit32. When the second subsystem28transmits a detection message to notify the first subsystem18, the first subsystem18transmits, in response to the detection of the second subsystem28, the control signal S4to turn off the first charge circuit14for stopping charging, accordingly, the first battery BAT1is discharged and thus the power is supplied from the first battery BAT1through the first power rails16and the second power rails26to the first subsystem18and the second subsystem28. Of course, the first subsystem18may also detect the power of the second battery BAT2through the system interface30, thereby turn off the operation of the first charge circuit14.

In particular, the charging/discharging mechanism of the electronic system100further includes controlling a plurality of switches. The display device10further includes a first switch Q1and a second switch Q2. The first switch Q1is coupled between the connection port12, the first power rails16, the first charge circuit14and the first subsystem18. The second switch Q2is coupled between the first switch Q1, the first power rails16, the first charge circuit14and the first battery BAT1. The auxiliary device20further includes a third switch Q3. The third switch Q3is coupled between the socket22, the second charge circuit24, the dc-dc conversion circuit32, the second power rails26and the first subsystem28.

In view of above, in the case where the connection port12is not connected to the socket22(i.e. before the system interface30is formed), the statuses of each of switches are as follows: the first switch Q1and the third switch Q3are at off status, and the second switch Q2is at on status. In the case where the system interface30is formed, linking-up signals S1and S3are generated from the system interface30due to the connection of the connection port12and the socket22, thereby the first switch Q1and the third switch Q3are enabled respectively, and thus the first switch Q1and the third switch Q3are turned on. In the case where the external power40is detected by the subsystem28, the detection message is supplied from the first subsystem28to the first subsystem18. In addition, the external power40may also be detected by the first subsystem18; in this case, the detection message is supplied from the first subsystem18to the second subsystem28. The first subsystem18transmits the control signal S4to enable the first charge circuit14and transmits the control signal S2to turn off the second switch Q2. Accordingly, the external power40supplies the power to both batteries (BAT1, BAT2) for charging, and supplies the power to the display device10and auxiliary device20for using.

In the case where the external power40is not detected by the first subsystem18or the second subsystem28, and the power of the second battery BAT2is sufficient, the first subsystem18transmits the control signal S2to turn off the second switch Q2, thereby the power is supplied from the battery of the auxiliary device20to the battery of the display device10for charging. In the case where the external power40is not detected by first subsystem18or the second subsystem28, and the power of the second battery BAT2is insufficient, the first subsystem18transmits the control signal S2to turn on the second switch Q2, thereby the power is supplied from the battery of the display device10to the display device10and the auxiliary device20for using.

In addition, the display device10and the auxiliary device20may combine to form a notebook computer, and allows the notebook computer formed to have dual batteries (BAT1and BAT2) and two subsystems (18and28). By using the detection and control mechanisms of the subsystems, in the case where the external power40is available, the power is supplied from the external power40to the two batteries for charging, thereby supplying the power to the computer (the display device10and the auxiliary device20) for using; in the case where the external power40is not available, the power is supplied from the battery of the auxiliary device20to the display device10for charging, thereby supplying the power to the computer for using; in the case where the external power40is not available and the power of the auxiliary device20is insufficient, the power is supplied from the battery of the display device10to the computer for using. Accordingly, the electronic system100may allow the display device10to maintain in a full power state, in the case where the external power40is available or the power of the auxiliary device20is sufficient. On the other hand, the auxiliary device20may extend the application of the display device10to a notebook computer form, and the battery time may also be extended since the computer has two batteries.

Based on the disclosure and teaching of the above embodiments, a general method for power management is provided, which is configured for controlling the charging/discharging between the first battery BAT1of the display device10and the second battery BAT2of the auxiliary device20. Specifically,FIG. 5is a flow chart illustrating a power management method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring toFIG. 5, the power management method of the present embodiment includes following steps:

Detecting whether the external power is available (Step S501), in the case where the external power is available, the power is supplied from the external power to the first battery and the second battery for charging, thereby supplying the power to the display device and the auxiliary device for using (Step S503);

When the external power is not available, detecting the power of the second battery (Step S505), and then supplying the power from the second battery to the first battery for charging if the power of the second battery is sufficient, and further supplying the power to the display device and the auxiliary device for using (Step S507); and

In the case where the external power is not available and the power of the battery is insufficient, the power is supplied from the first battery to the display device and the auxiliary device for using (Step S509).

In view of above, the electronic system of the embodiment of the disclosure includes a display device and an auxiliary device, and has dual batteries and two subsystems. By detection and control mechanisms of the subsystems, the electronic system may allow the display device to maintain in a full power state, in the case where the external power is available or the power of the auxiliary device is sufficient. On the other hand, the auxiliary device may extend the application of the display device to a notebook computer form, and the battery time may also be extended since the computer has two batteries.

Although the disclosure has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the attached claims and not by the above detailed descriptions.