Electronic device and method for charging and discharging in electronic device

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a connection terminal to which a charging cable or a discharging cable can be connected, a charging/discharging unit configured to perform a charging operation or a discharging operation, and a controller configured to perform a charging or discharging operation based on a cable connected to the connection terminal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Oct. 6, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2014-0134567, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device and a method for charging and discharging in the electronic device.

BACKGROUND

With the development of mobile communication technologies, users may carry a variety of electronic devices such as mobile terminals, smart phones or wearable devices, each of which has at least one information input/output function, a data processing and storing function, and the like.

These electronic devices may be powered by a rechargeable battery that may be charged through an external device that provides a battery charging function.

For example, if a battery of an electronic device is a detachable battery that can be detached from the electronic device, the battery, when detached from the electronic device, may be charged through a dedicated battery charger such as a battery charger (BTC), or the battery, when not detached from the electronic device, may be charged by directly connecting an external battery pack to the electronic device.

If a battery of an electronic device is not detached from the electronic device, the battery may be charged by directly connecting a charging cable to the electronic device, or the battery may be charged by directly connecting an external battery pack to the electronic device. According to the prior art, a device that provides a battery charging function may be a charging electronic device that provides a charging function, and/or a charging/discharging electronic device that provides both a charging function and a discharging function.

The charging/discharging electronic device that includes a charging port and a discharging port may charge the battery itself of the charging/discharging electronic device through the charging port, and perform a discharging function capable of charging a battery of an external electronic device through the discharging port. A battery charging device, which is implemented as a dedicated battery charger for a particular electronic device, may perform a charging function of receiving power supplied from an external power source and charging a battery of the particular electronic device with the received power.

However, in a case where a battery charging device performs a battery charging function only for a particular electronic device, the battery charging device cannot charge batteries of other electronic devices, and if a user no longer uses the particular electronic device, the user may not charge batteries of other electronic devices with the battery charging device.

In addition, the charging/discharging electronic device including a charging port and a discharging port may have a complex structure, since the charging/discharging electronic device requires two ports. The charging/discharging electronic device may not be designed in a compact design, since the mounting space for mounting the two ports is required.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an electronic device capable of performing charging and discharging functions using one port, and a method for charging and discharging in the electronic device.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a connection terminal to which a charging cable or a discharging cable can be connected, a charging/discharging unit configured to perform a charging operation or a discharging operation, and a controller configured to perform a charging or discharging operation based on a cable connected to the connection terminal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for charging and discharging is provided. The method includes determining a cable connected to a connection terminal and performing charging or discharging based on the determination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the terms “have,” “may have,” “include,” or “may include” indicate the existence of a feature (e.g., a number, function, operation, or a component such as a part) and do not exclude the existence of other features.

As used herein, the terms “A or B,” “at least one of A and/or B,” or “one or more of A and/or B” may include all possible combinations of A and B. For example, “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B” may indicate all of (1) including at least one A, (2) including at least one B, or (3) including at least one A and at least one B.

As used herein, the terms “first” and “second” may modify various components regardless of importance and do not limit the components. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first user device and a second user device may indicate different user devices from each other regardless of the order or importance of the devices. For example, a first component may be denoted a second component, and vice versa without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “configured (or set) to” may be interchangeably used with the terms “suitable for,” “having the capacity to,” “designed to,” “adapted to,” “made to,” or “capable of” depending on circumstances. The term “configured (or set) to” does not essentially mean “specifically designed in hardware to.” Rather, the term “configured to” may mean that a device can perform an operation together with another device or parts. For example, the term “processor configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C” may mean a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or application processor) that may perform the operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device or a dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performing the operations.

The terms as used herein are provided merely to describe various embodiments thereof, but not to limit the scope of other embodiments of the present disclosure. All terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the various embodiments of the present disclosure belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. In some cases, the terms defined herein may be interpreted to exclude various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1illustrates a schematic concept of a charging/discharging electronic device and an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, a charging/discharging electronic device (hereinafter referred to as a ‘charging/discharging device’)100may include at least one port, to which a connection device150may be connected, and the charging/discharging device100may be connected to an electronic device200through the connection device150. The connection device150may be a discharging cable or a charging cable. The charging cable may include a voltage pin, a first data pin, a second data pin, or a ground (GND) pin. The discharging cable may include a voltage pin, a first data pin, a second data pin, a GND pin, or an identifier (ID) pin. According to an embodiment, the first data pin or the second data pin may not be included in either the charging cable or the discharging cable.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, if the connection device150is connected to the port, the charging/discharging device100may determine whether the discharging cable is connected or whether the charging cable is connected. For example, the charging/discharging device100may check a voltage on the voltage pin, and if it is checked that a voltage is applied thereto, the charging/discharging device100may determine that the charging cable is connected. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the charging/discharging device100may check an ID pin, and if it is checked that the ID pin is connected, the charging/discharging device100may determine that the discharging cable is connected. If the charging cable is connected, the charging/discharging device100may receive a charging current from the electronic device200. If the discharging cable is connected, the charging/discharging device100may provide a charging current to the electronic device200. The electronic device200may be a device that can receive a charging current supplied from the charging/discharging device100, or a power supply device that can supply a charging current to the charging/discharging device100.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device200may be another charging/discharging device that is the same in structure as the charging/discharging device100. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the electronic device200may include at least one of a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), an moving picture experts group (MPEG) audio layer 3 (MP3) player, a mobile medical device, a camera, or a wearable device (e.g., a head mounted device (HMD) such as electronic glasses, electronic clothing, an electronic bracelet, an electronic necklace, E-App accessory (or appcessory), electronic tattoo, or smart watch).

In various embodiments, the electronic device200may be a smart home appliance. The smart home appliance may include at least one of, for example, a television (TV) set, a digital video disc (DVD) player, an audio player, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washer, an air purifier, a set-top box, a TV box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), game consoles, an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, or an electronic photo frame.

In various embodiments, the electronic device200may include at least one of various medical devices (e.g., magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), a medical camcorder, an ultrasonic device and the like), a navigation device, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, an event data recorder (EDR), a flight data recorder (FDR), a car infotainment device, a marine electronic device (e.g., a marine navigation device, a gyro compass and the like), avionics, a security device, or an industrial or household robot.

In various embodiments, the electronic device200may include at least one of a part of the furniture or building/structure, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, or various meters (e.g., meters for water, electricity, gas or radio waves). The electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be one or a combination of the above-described various devices. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the electronic device200according to various embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described devices.

FIG. 2illustrates an example of a charging/discharging device and an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 2, the charging/discharging device100may be implemented in the form of a battery pack110, and may be connected to various electronic devices200through a power sharing cable (also known as a charging/discharging cable or a connection device)150. The electronic device200may be, for example, another charging/discharging device210that is the same in structure as the charging/discharging device100, a smart phone220, a wearable device230, a game console240, a wireless earphone250, and the like. The power sharing cable150may include a charging terminal on one end and a discharging terminal on another end. If the charging terminal is connected to the charging/discharging device100and the discharging terminal is connected to the electronic device200, the charging/discharging device100may perform the charging function by receiving a charging current supplied from the electronic device200. If the discharging terminal is connected to the charging/discharging device100and the charging terminal is connected to the electronic device200, the charging/discharging device100may perform the discharging function of providing a charging current to the electronic device200.

In an embodiment, the charging/discharging device100may be an electronic device, and some of the electronic devices200may operate as a charging/discharging device. In an embodiment, the smart phone220, which is one of the electronic devices, may operate as a charging/discharging device. In a case where the smart phone220operates as a charging/discharging device, if the charging terminal is connected to the smart phone220and the discharging terminal is connected to another electronic device, the smart phone220may perform the charging function by receiving a charging current supplied from another electronic device. On the other hand, if the discharging terminal is connected to the smart phone220and the charging terminal is connected to another electronic device, the smart phone220may perform the discharging function of providing a charging current to another electronic device.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bare external perspective views of a charging/discharging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate an example in which the charging/discharging device100is implemented in the form of a battery pack300.

Referring toFIG. 3A, the battery pack300may include a cover310and a body320, and the body320may have a space in which a battery330may be detachably mounted. On one side of the cover310may be mounted an indicator301that can indicate an error, charging or discharging states, etc.

Referring toFIG. 3B, the cover310may be provided to cover the body320. In another embodiment, the indicator301may be mounted on the body320and a space or hole provided in the cover310such that the indicator301may be viewed through the cover310while it is closed over the body320.

FIG. 4is a block diagram of a charging/discharging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the connection terminal410may include a plurality of connection pins. The plurality of connection pins may include a voltage pin V_BUS, a first data pin D+, a second data pin D−, an ID pin ID, or a ground pin GND. In an embodiment, the connection terminal410may be a micro-universal serial bus (USB) terminal.

In an embodiment, the charging/discharging module401may include a controller420, a charging/discharging unit430, a switch440, an ID checker450, and a battery470. The controller420may be a micro controller unit (MCU) or a CPU. The controller420may include a memory (e.g., a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM)) that stores a control program for control of the charging/discharging device400, and a signal or data received from the outside, or which is used as a workspace for an operation performed in the charging/discharging device400. The controller420may determine whether a charging cable is connected to the connection terminal410or whether a discharging cable is connected to the connection terminal410, by receiving from the connection terminal410a signal indicating whether the cable is connected to a plurality of connection pins, for example, whether the cable is connected to the voltage pin or the ID pin. If the charging cable is connected, the controller420may control the charging/discharging device400to perform charging. If the discharging cable is connected, the controller420may control the charging/discharging device400to perform discharging. In a case where the discharging cable is connected, the controller420may control the charging/discharging device400to perform discharging, only if an ID value corresponds to a predetermined ID.

In an embodiment, the charging/discharging unit430may include a charging module and a discharging module, and may operate under control of the controller420. In an embodiment, the charging module may be a charger integrated circuit (IC)432, and the discharging module may be an on-the-go (OTG)434.

The charger IC432, under control of the controller420, may charge the battery470using a voltage received through the voltage pin V_BUS. The OTG434, under control of the controller420, may discharge the power of the battery470to the outside through the voltage pin V_BUS.

The switch440may perform a switching operation so that the controller420may be turned on, if an ID pin of an external connection device is connected to the ID pin of the connection terminal410. The ID checker450may check an ID value given by the connection to the ID pin. In an embodiment, the ID checker450may be configured as a circuit that includes a predetermined resistor connected between the ID pin and the ground, and may check an ID value depending on a value of the voltage across the resistor.

The indicator460may be an indication device such as liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diodes (OLED), and LED. The indicator460may indicate the error, charging, or discharging states under control of the controller420.

The battery470may be detachably mounted in the charging/discharging device400. The battery470may be charged or discharged, while the battery470is mounted in the charging/discharging device400.

In an embodiment, an electronic device may include a connection terminal to which a charging cable or a discharging cable can be connected, a charging/discharging unit configured to perform a charging operation or a discharging operation, and a controller configured to perform a charging or discharging operation based on a cable connected to the connection terminal.

In an embodiment, the connection terminal may include a voltage pin or an ID pin. In an embodiment, the controller is configured to determine whether the charging cable is connected, depending on whether a voltage is applied to the voltage pin, and to determine whether the discharging cable is connected, depending on whether the ID pin is connected.

In an embodiment, the electronic device may further include an ID checker configured to check an ID value of the ID pin. In an embodiment, the controller is configured to perform a discharging operation if an ID value of the ID pin is a predetermined ID value, and to handle an error if the ID value of the ID pin is not the predetermined ID value.

In an embodiment, the electronic device may further include an indicator configured to indicate a state of the electronic device.

In an embodiment, the state of the electronic device may include at least one of a charging state, a discharging state, a charging completed state, or an error state.

In an embodiment, the state of the electronic device may include a state of remaining charging capacity.

FIG. 5is a flowchart illustrating a charging/discharging operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 5, the charging/discharging device400may perform a power-on operation in operation502. In an embodiment, the charging/discharging device400may perform a power-on operation if a charging cable or a discharging cable is connected to the connection terminal (also called a port)410. In an embodiment, the charging cable may be a cable corresponding to a device that provides a charging current by receiving the power supplied from an external power source such as a travel adaptor. In an embodiment, the discharging cable may be a cable that can discharge the power of the battery470.

In operation504, the charging/discharging device400may check a voltage on the voltage pin V_BUS among a plurality of pins of the port. The charging/discharging device400may determine in operation506whether a voltage is applied to the voltage pin V_BUS. In an embodiment, the charging/discharging device400may determine whether a predetermined voltage (e.g., 5V) is applied to the voltage pin V_BUS.

If a voltage is applied to the voltage pin V_BUS, the charging/discharging device400may recognize in operation508that the charging cable is connected to the port, and may perform charging in operation510.

The charging/discharging device400may determine in operation512whether an error occurs while performing the charging. If an error occurs, the charging/discharging device400may handle an error and block or stop the charging in operation514.

If it is determined that an error does not occur, the charging/discharging device400may determine in operation516whether the charging is completed. If the charging is not completed, the charging/discharging device400may continue charging in operation510. On the other hand, if the charging is completed, the charging/discharging device400may terminate the charging.

If it is determined in operation506that no voltage is applied to the voltage pin V_BUS, the charging/discharging device400may recognize in operation518that the discharging cable is connected. In operation520, the charging/discharging device400may check an ID value of the ID pin among a plurality of pins of the port.

The charging/discharging device400may determine in operation522whether an ID value of the ID pin is a predetermined ID value. If the ID value is the predetermined ID value, the charging/discharging device400may perform discharging in operation524. In an embodiment, the predetermined ID value may be an ID value indicating a cable via which the charging/discharging device400can provide a charging current. If the ID value is not the predetermined ID value, the charging/discharging device400may handle an error and block or stop the discharging, in operation526.

In an embodiment, a method for charging and discharging may include determining a cable connected to a connection terminal and performing charging or discharging based on the determination.

In an embodiment, determining the connected cable may include determining whether a charging cable is connected based on whether a voltage is applied to a voltage pin of the connection terminal.

In an embodiment, determining the connected cable may include determining whether a discharging cable is connected based on whether an ID pin of the connection terminal is connected.

In an embodiment, the method for charging and discharging may further include checking an ID value of the ID pin, and performing a discharging operation if the ID value of the ID pin is a predetermined ID value.

In an embodiment, the method for charging and discharging may further include indicating a charging/discharging state.

In an embodiment, the charging/discharging state may include at least one of a charging state, a discharging state, a charging completed state, or an error state.

In an embodiment, the charging/discharging state may include a state of remaining charging capacity.

FIGS. 6A to 6Dillustrate an indication of a state of a charging/discharging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 6A to 6D, the charging/discharging device400may differently operate the indicator460depending on the state of the charging/discharging device400. In an embodiment, the charging/discharging device400may change a color of the indicator460depending on the discharging state, the charging state, the charging completed state, or the error state, as shown inFIGS. 6A to 6D. In another embodiment, the charging/discharging device400may change the color of the indicator460depending on how much the battery470is charged.

FIGS. 7A and 7Billustrate state indication tables in a charging/discharging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The charging/discharging device400may change a color of the indicator460based on the charging level or the state of the charging/discharging device400.

Referring toFIG. 7A, the charging/discharging device400may change the color of the indicator460to red in the charging state, to blue in the discharging state, to green in the charging completed state, and to yellow in the error state. Of course, these are merely examples of colors and states of the indicator460and the charging/discharging device400. In other embodiments, the colors and states may be other than that described above.

Referring toFIG. 7B, the charging/discharging device400may change the color of the indicator460to light red if the battery470is charged less than 30%, to red if the battery470is charged 30%˜80%, and to dark red if the battery470is charged over 80%. In addition, the indicator460may indicate various states of the charging/discharging device400in various different ways (e.g., in different blinking cycles). Of course, these are merely examples of different colors and charged percentages. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, any of the colors and percentages may be changed.

Each of the above-described components of the charging/discharging device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more parts, and the names of the components may vary depending on the type of the charging/discharging device. The charging/discharging device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of the above components, some of which may be omitted, or may further include other additional components. Some of the components of the charging/discharging device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be configured as one entity by being combined, so the entity may perform the previous functions of the components in the same way.

As used herein, the term ‘module’ may refer to a unit that includes one of, or a combination of, for example, hardware, software or firmware. The term ‘module’ may be interchangeably used with the terms such as, for example, unit, logic, logical block, component or circuit. The module may be the minimum unit of a component that is configured as a single body, or a part thereof. The module may be the minimum unit that performs one or more functions, or a part thereof. The module may be implemented mechanically or electronically. For example, the module may include at least one of an application-specific IC (ASIC) chip, a field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) chip or a programmable-logic device, which have been known, or will be developed in the future, and which may perform any operations.

At least a portion of the device (modules or their functions) or method (operations) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by, for example, a command that is stored in a computer-readable storage media in the form of a program module. If the command is executed by at least one processor (e.g., the controller420), the at least one processor may perform a function corresponding to the command. The computer-readable storage media may be further included, for example, in the electronic device as a memory. At least a portion of the programming module may be implemented (e.g., executed) by, for example, the controller420. At least a portion of the program module may include, for example, a module, a program, a routine, a set of instructions, or a process for performing one or more functions.

The computer-readable storage media may include magnetic media (e.g., a hard disk, a floppy disk and magnetic media), optical media (e.g., compact disc ROM (CD-ROM) and DVD), magneto-optical media (e.g., floptical disk)), and a hardware device (e.g., ROM, RAM or flash memory), which is specifically configured to store and execute a program command (e.g., a programming module). In addition, the program command may include not only the machine code made by the compiler, but also the high-level language code that can be executed by the computer using the interpreter and the like. The hardware device may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, and vice versa.

The module or programming module according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include at least one of the above-described components, some of which can be omitted, or may further include other additional components. The operations performed by the module, the programming module or other components according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed in a sequential, parallel, iterative or heuristic manner. In addition, some operations may be performed in a different order, or omitted, or other operations may be added.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, if the power sharing cable (e.g., the discharging cable) is connected to a port in the charging/discharging device that uses one port, the charging/discharging device may perform discharging, and if the power supply device (e.g., the charging cable) is connected to the port, the charging/discharging device may perform charging, thereby promoting the user convenience.

In addition, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the charging/discharging device may determine whether to perform discharging by recognizing whether the ID pin of the port is connected, making it possible to manufacture the charging/discharging device in a simple manner.