Abstract:
An electronic device with several charging modes includes a transmission module, a central control module, an interface module, and a power module. The transmission module includes a first connecting terminal for connecting an external electronic product and produces a corresponding identification signal according to each external electronic product. The central control module supplies different power supplies to each external electronic product and produces a corresponding power setting signal. The interface module obtains a different power supply for each external electronic product through the transmitting module and converts each different power supply into a same charging power according to the power setting signal and identification signal. The power is stored in the power module to charge the power module, so that the electronic device just needs a transmitting module to obtain the power from any external electronic product, and thus greatly improve the convenience of charging the electronic device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 94147456, filed Dec. 30, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electronic device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic device with several charging modes. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   With advances in technology, more and more electronic products are becoming available to the public. The development of electronic products, such as pen drives, MP3 players, digital cameras, etc., brings comforts and convenience to people. The above-mentioned electronic device is a device that is convenient to carry, mobile, and highly compatible with many different computers. People can transfer or backup data between the electronic device and a computer quickly and safely, no matter if the data is an image, a document, or audio and video signals. People can move the electronic device between different computers so that data can be accessed to and from different computers. Presently, the storage sizes of the electronic devices are increasing due to research and development in component fabrication. 
   The electronic devices in the prior art can generally be divided into two categories. The first category includes devices each of which has an external power supply. This kind of device is called a BUS-powered device, wherein the pen drive is an example of a BUS-powered device. The second category includes devices each of which has an internal power supply. This kind of device is called a self-powered device, wherein the multi-media player is an example of a self-powered device. The BUS-powered devices obtain power externally through the Universal Serial Bus (USB). The self-powered devices are further divided into three sub-categories as below. 
   In the first sub-category, a self-powered device includes a DC power module. The DC power module includes a DC power terminal to electrically connect to a transformer, wherein the transformer is capable of transforming an AC power, for example, 110V/60 Hz, into a corresponding DC power for the external electronic device. 
   In the second sub-category, the electronic device is internally equipped with a battery module, wherein the battery can include a primary battery or a rechargeable battery, to provide stable DC power to the external electronic device. For the battery module including a rechargeable battery, if the electronic device is electrically connected to a personal computer (PC) through a USB, the electronic device can obtain operating power from the computer through the USB. Meanwhile, the electronic device can store the power obtained in a rechargeable battery to recharge the rechargeable battery. 
   In the third sub-category, both the battery module and the DC power module are installed within the electronic device, such that the electronic device is capable of obtain operating power and charging power from a computer that the device is connected to, and is capable of obtaining DC power to operate and charge the transformer. 
   However, for the self-powered electronic device in the prior art, it is necessary to install a USB terminal and a DC power terminal on the housing at the same time to support the battery module and the DC power module simultaneously. Hence the cost of the components, design and fabrication of the electronic device is increased, and the housing is oversized. For the forgoing reasons, there is a need for electronic devices with a plurality of charging modes. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is directed to an electronic device that satisfies the need to install different charging terminals on the housing at the same time to support different charging modules simultaneously. 
   It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide an electronic device with a plurality of charging modes. The electronic device of the present invention can be electrically connected to external electronic devices, such as a computer system or a transformer. The power provided by the external electronic devices is transformed into a charging power by the electronic device of the present invention. The charging power is further stored in a power module of the electronic device so as to conveniently charge the electronic device. 
   In accordance with the foregoing and other aspects of the present invention, an electronic device with a plurality of charging modes is provided that includes a transmission module, a central control module, an interface module and a power module. The transmission module can obtain power for normal operation of the electronic device from a computer system, e.g., a PC with a Universal Serial Bus (USB), or a transformer, and further generates a corresponding identification signal according to the external electronic device. The central control module is electrically connected to the transmission module, and is capable of generating a corresponding power setting signal according to the power the external electronic device can provide, and further transmits the power to the interface module. The interface module is electrically connected to the transmission module and the central control module, and receives the power and the identification signals transmitted by the external electronic device through the transmission module so as to transform the power provided by the external electronic devices into a charging power for the normal operation and charging of the electronic device according to the power setting signals and/or the identification signals, respectively and correspondingly. The charging power is further stored in the power module to charge the power module, such that the power module can provide more power for the normal operation of the central control module. 
   According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the electronic device with a plurality of charging modes, the interface module preferably includes a path selection unit, a transforming unit and a management unit. The path selection unit is electrically connected to the transmission module and the central control module so as to receive an identification signal and a power setting signal from the transmission module and the central control module. A corresponding switching signal is further generated and transmitted to the transforming unit according to the identification signal and the power setting signal. The management unit is electrically connected to the transmission module in order to obtain power provided by the external electronic device through the transmission module. This power is transformed to transformed power correspondingly. The transformed power is further transmitted to the transforming unit. The transforming unit transforms the transformed power in to the charging power according to the switching signal, and further transmits the charging power to the power module to charge the power module. 
   In conclusion, the invention transforms power from different sources into the same charging power for better efficiency. 
   Moreover, the invention implements the electronic device with a plurality of charging modes that solves the drawbacks and problems in the prior art. 
   These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, figures, and appended claims. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the circuit structure according to an electronic device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of an interface module of the electronic of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the structure of a line control unit of a transmission module according to an electronic device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a solid diagram illustrating an electronic device of the present invention electrically connected to a computer system; and 
       FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram illustrating an electronic device of the present invention electrically connected to a transformer. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
   An electronic device with a plurality of charging modes is provided by the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic device  20 , such as a MP3 player, a mobile phone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), includes a transmission module  30 , such as a USB, a central control module  40 , an interface module  60  and a power module  50 . The transmission module  30  is electrically connected to an external electronic device, such as a computer system  22 , wherein a notebook shown in  FIG. 4  and a personal computer are two of the examples, or a transformer  23  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The transmission module  30  can further identify the external electronic device and provide an identification signal correspondingly. Consequently, the electronic device  20  can transmit/receive data to/from the external electronic device, and obtain from the external electronic device power for normal operation of the electronic device  20 . The central control module  40  is electrically connected to the transmission module  30  in order to obtain the data output from the external electronic device or to transmit the data to the external electronic device through the transmission module  30 . The central control module  40  generates a power setting signal according to the power that the external electronic device can provide, or the power corresponding to negotiations between the electronic device  20  and the external electronic device, and transmits the power setting signal to the interface module  60 . The interface module  60  is electrically connected to the transmission module  30  to obtain the power provided by the external electronic device through the transmission module  30 . The interface module  60  is further capable of detecting the power and transforming the various power provided by different external electronic devices into a same charging power CH_V 2  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) for a normal operation and a normal charging task of the electronic device  20 , according to the power setting signal and/or the identification signal. The charging power CH_V 2  is further stored in the power module  50 , such that the power module  50  can be charged to provide power to the central control module  40  for a normal operation. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  again, the electronic device  20  only needs to utilize a signal transmission module  30  to obtain power for normal operation from the external electronic device. Therefore, compared to the prior art, now, there is no need for the present invention to utilize a great number of transmission modules, which may include a DC power terminal and a USB terminal, to electrically connect to a plurality of external electronic devices. In accordance, the cost and the time for the fabrication and design of the components can be reduced. At the same time, the size and the weight of the electronic device  20  are decreased. Moreover, in the present invention, the electronic device  20  can electrically connect to various external electronic devices and obtain power from the external electronic devices individually. The electronic device  20  can further transform the power from the different external electronic devices into the same charging power CH_V 2 , and therefore increasing the convenience and the compatibility in charging the electronic device  20 . 
   Please note that, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the power provided by the external electronic devices can include a first power provided by the computer system  22  as shown in  FIG. 4  (5V/100 mA), a second power (5V/500 mA), and/or a third power (5V/500 mA, for example) provided by the transformer  23  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Hence, the central control module  40  may output a first power setting signal from a first power setting pin  41  and/or output a second power setting signal from a second power setting pin  42 , according to the first power, the second power and/or the third power provided by the external electronic devices. When the electronic device  20  is electrically connected to the computer system  22  and obtains the first power (5V/100 mA), the interface module  60  enters a first charging mode. The first power is transformed into the charging power CH_V 2 , and the charging power CH_V 2  is then stored in the power module  50  to charge the electronic device  20 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the electronic device  20  is electrically connected to the computer system  22  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) and obtains the second power (5V/500 mA), the interface module  60  enters a second charging mode. The second power is transformed into the charging power CH_V 2 , and the charging power CH_V 2  is then stored in the power module  50  to charge the electronic device  20 . Similarly, when the electronic device  20  is electrically connected to the transformer  23  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and obtains the third power, the interface module  60  enters a third charging mode. The third power is transformed into the charging power CH_V 2 , and the charging power CH_V 2  is then stored in the power module  50  to charge the electronic device  20 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  again, the transmission module  30  includes a first connecting terminal  31  and a line control unit  32 , wherein the first connecting terminal  31  can connect to the second connecting terminals  24  and  25  of each of the external electronic devices through a transmission line  21  (as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), such that the electronic device  20  and the external electronic device are electrically connected, the line control unit  32  is electrically connected to the first connecting terminal  31 , and the line control unit  32  is electrically connected to the external electronic device through the first connecting terminal  31 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the line control unit  32  further includes a power supply  3201 , a grounding unit  3205  and two signal transmission ends  3202  and  3203 . The power supply unit  3201  is connected to the power circuit of the external electronic device to receive power from the external electronic device. The grounding unit  3205  is coupled to the grounded loop of the external electronic device. And the two signal transmission ends  3202  and  3203  are coupled to data lines of the external electronic devices in order to obtain data from the external electronic devices, and to further transmit the data to the central control module  40 , such that the electronic device  20  can negotiate with the external electronic device to set up the power that the external electronic device can provide. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the line control unit  32  further includes an identification output  3204 . When the electronic device  20  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) is electrically connected to the external electronic device and the line control unit  32  generates a corresponding identification signal, the line control unit  32  transmits the identification signal to the interface module  60  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) through the identification output  3204 , such that the interface module  60  can determine the external electronic device according to the identification signal. For example, when the line control unit  32  determines that the external electronic device is the computer system  22  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), the line control unit  32  generates a first identification signal. Alternately, when the line control unit  32  determines that the external electronic device is the transformer  23  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), the line control unit  32  generates a second identification signal (at a low level). Consequently, the interface module  60  can determine whether the external electronic device is the computer system  22  or the transformer  23  or other external electronic device according to the first identification signal or the second identification signal. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the interface module  60  includes a path selection unit  70 , a transforming unit  80  and a management unit  90 . The path selection unit  70  is electrically connected to the transmission module  30 , and the first power setting pin  41  and the second power setting pin  42  of the central control module  40 , to obtain the identification signal, the first power setting signal and the second power setting signal from the transmission module  30  and the central control module  40 , respectively. The path selection unit  70  can generate a switching signal corresponding to the identification signal, the first power setting signal and the second power setting signal. The path selection unit  70  further transmits the switching signal to the transforming unit  80 . The management unit  90  is electrically connected to the transmission module  30  to receive the power (the first power, the second power or the third power) provided by the external electronic device through the transmission module  30 , and transforming the obtained power to the corresponding transformed power CH_V 1  and then transmitting the transformed power CH_V 1  to the transforming unit  80 . Afterwards, the transforming unit  80  transforms the transformed power CH_V 1  into the charging power CH_V 2  according to the switching signal, and then transmits the charging power CH_V 2  to the power module  50  to charge the power module  50 . 
   Moreover, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the path selection unit  70  includes a first setting pin  71 , a second setting pin  72  and an identification pin  73 . The first setting pin  71  is electrically connected to the first power setting pin  41  of the central control module  40  to obtain the first power setting signal from the central control module  40 ; while the second setting pin  72  is electrically connected to the second power setting pin  42  of the central control module  40  to receive the second power setting signal from the central control module  40 . The identification pin  73  is electrically connected to the identification output  3204  of the line control unit  32  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to obtain the identification signal of the external electronic device. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the management unit  90  includes a power input pin  91  and a power output pin  92 . The power input pin  91  is electrically connected the line control unit  32  of the transmission module  30  to receive power (the first power, the second power or the third power) provided by the external electronic device through the power supplying unit  3201  of the line control unit  32  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The power output pin  92  is electrically connected to the transforming unit  80  to transmit the transformed power CH_V 1  generated by the management unit  90  to the transforming unit  80 . 
   Further, referring to  FIG. 1 , the power module  50  includes a schedule unit  51  and a charging unit  52 . The schedule unit  51  is electrically connected to the charging unit  52  and the central control module  40 . The schedule unit  51  obtains power stored within the charging unit  52  and transmits the power to the central control module  40  to provide power for normal operation of the central control module  40 . The schedule unit  51  is further electrically connected to the interface module  60  to receive the charging power CH_V 2  from the interface module  60  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), and storing the charging power CH_V 2  to the charging unit  52  to charge the charging unit  52 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the transformer  23  can be formed by the second connecting terminal  25 , a transforming circuit  26  and a plug  27  being coupled together in order. The plug  27  can be plugged into a socket installed on the wall (not shown in the drawings), such that the transformer  23  can obtain general AC power (110V/60 Hz for example) from the socket. The transforming circuit  26  is capable of transforming the AC power into a power with a lower voltage, for example, to a AC power of 5V/500 mA, and then transmitting the transformed AC power out through the second connecting terminal  25 . 
   Please note that, referring to  FIG. 4 , when the electronic device  20  is electrically connected to the computer system  22 , the electronic device  20  can negotiate with the computer system  22  to set up the power that the computer system  22  should provide, for example, 5V/100 mA or 5V/500 mA, such that the electronic device  20  can function and get charged correctly. 
   According to the present invention, in the interface module  60  of one embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the path selection unit  70  is composed of a first impedance component  74 , such as a resistance, a first switch component  75 , such as an N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS), a second switch component  76 , a transforming component  77 , such as an inverter, and a second impedance component  78 . One end of the first impedance component  74  is electrically connected to a gate  7501  of the first switch component  75  to form the second setting pin  72 , electrically connecting to the second power setting pin  42  of the central control module  40 ; while the other end of the first impedance component  74  is electrically grounded. The drain  7502  of the first switch component  75  is electrically connected to the transforming unit  80  and a drain  7602  of the second switch component  76  to form the first setting pin  71 , electrically connecting to the first power setting pin  41  of the central control module  40 . A source  7603  of the second switch component  76  is electrically grounded, and a gate  7601  of the second switch component  76  is electrically connected to an output  7702  of the transforming component  77 . An input  7701  of the transforming component  77  is electrically connected to an end of the second impedance component  78  and an identification output  3204  of the line control unit  32  of the transmission module  30  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The other end of the second impedance component  78  is electrically connected to the power module  50  to receive power from the power module  50 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the management unit  90  includes a charging input  9301 , a power end  9302 , a grounded end  9303 , a current setting end  9304 , a trigger end  9305 , a power checking end  9306  and a charging output  9307 . The charging output  9301  is electrically connected to the power end  9302  and is further electrically connected to a first charged component  94  to form the input pin  91 . The other end of the first charged component  94  and the grounded end  9303  are electrically grounded. The current setting end  9304  is electrically connected to the transforming unit  80  to transmit the transformed power CH_V 1  to the transforming unit  80 . The trigger end  9305  is electrically grounded, and the charging output  9307  is electrically connected to the power checking end  9306 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the transforming unit  80  is composed of a third impedance component  81 , a fourth impedance component  82  and a second charged component  83 , such as a capacitance. One end of the third impedance component  81  is electrically connected to the current setting end  9304 , an end of the fourth impedance component  82  and an end of the second charged component  83  of the management unit  90 , and the other end of the third impedance component  81  is electrically grounded. The other end of the fourth impedance component  82  is electrically connected to the path selection unit  70 , and the other end of the second charged component  83  is electrically connected to the charging output  9307  and the power checking end  9306  of the management unit  90  to form the power output pin  92 , in order to transmit the charging power CH_V 2  to the power module  50  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
   In the present embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the electronic device  20  performs the charging task, the interface module  60  of the electronic device  20  provides at least four application methods that are described in the below. 
   First, when the electronic device  20  is electrically connected to any external electronic device, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the central control module  40  is not capable of detecting any external electronic device. The central control module  40  hence stops outputting the first power setting signal and the second power setting signal, and the identification output  3204  of the line control unit  32  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) does not output any identification signal, either. Accordingly, the second impedance component  78  of the path selection unit  70  is able to obtain power from the power module  50  to generate a signal at the high level, and then to transmit the signal to the transforming component  77 . Afterwards, the transforming component  77  transforms the signal at the high level to a signal at the low level, that is, a logic 0 signal, correspondingly, and then transmits the signal at the low level to the second switch component  76 , wherein the second switch component  76  is set to a cut-off state. 
   Second, when the electronic device  20  is electrically connected to the computer system  22  only (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), and the electronic device  20  negotiates with the computer system  22  to make the computer system  22  transmit the initial power (5V/100 mA), the interface module  60  enters a first charging mode. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the management unit  90  receives the initial power through the transmission module  30 , and generates the transformed power CH_V 1  accordingly. The central control module  40  provides a first power setting signal at the high level, called a logic 1 signal, and a second power setting signal at the low level, called a logic 0 signal. The central control module  40  transmits the two power setting signals to the interface module  60  through the first power setting pin  41  and the second power setting pin  42 , respectively. When the path selection unit  70  receives the second power setting signal, the second power setting signal is transmitted to the first switch component  75 , such that the first switch component  75  is set to a cut-off state according to the second power setting signal that is at the low level. Simultaneously, the path selection unit  70  transmits the received first power setting signal, that is, the switching signal mentioned above, to the transforming unit  80 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the transforming unit  80  receives the first power setting signal that is at the high level, the fourth impedance component  82  is set to a cut-off state, and the management unit  90  transmits the transformed power CH_V 1  to the third impedance component  81  of the transforming unit  80  for the third impedance component  81  to generate a corresponding charging power CH_V 2 . The charging power CH_V 2  is further transmitted to the power module  50  through the power output pin  92 . 
   Third, when the electronic device  20  is only electrically connected to the computer system  22  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), and negotiates with the computer system  22  to make the computer system  22  transmit the second power (5V/500 mA), the interface module  60  enters a second charging mode. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the management unit  90  receives the second power though the transmission module  30 , and generates a transformed power CH_V 1  correspondingly. The central control module  40  generates a second power setting signal at a high level, or called a logic 1 signal, and transmits the second power setting signal to the interface module  60  through the power setting pin  42 . When the path selection unit  70  receives the second power setting signal, the first switch component  75  is set to an on state. Simultaneously, the fourth impedance component  82  of the transforming component is electrically grounded through the first switch component  75 , such that the fourth impedance component  82  is set to an on state. Hence, the third impedance component  81  and the fourth impedance component  82  are coupled in parallel. When the management unit  90  transmits the transformed power CH_V 1  to the third impedance component  81  and the fourth impedance component  82  of the transforming unit  80 , the third impedance component  81  and the fourth impedance component  82  can jointly generate the same charging power CH_V 2 . The charging power CH_V 2  is then transmitted to the power module  50  through the power output pin  92 . 
   Fourth, when the electronic device  20  is electrically connected to the transformer  23  only (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), and the transformer  23  transmits the third power (5V/500 mA), the interface module  60  enters the third charging mode. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the line control unit  32  detects the transformer  23  and generates the second identification signal at a low level, and further transmits the second identification signal through the identification output  3204  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) to the interface module  60 . After receiving the second identification signal through the input  7701 , the transforming component  77  of the path selection unit  70  transforms the second identification signal into a signal at the high level, or called a logic 1 signal, accordingly. The transforming component  77  further transmits the signal at the high level to the second switch component  76  through the output  7702  so as to set the second switch component  76  to an on state. Simultaneously, the fourth impedance component  82  of the transforming component is electrically grounded through the second switch component  76  so as to set the fourth impedance component  82  to an on state, such that the third impedance component  81  and the fourth impedance component  82  are connected in parallel. Consequently, when the management unit  90  transmits the transformed power CH_V 1  to the third impedance component  81  and the fourth impedance component  82  of the transforming unit  80 , the third impedance component  81  and the fourth impedance component  82  can jointly generate the charging power CH_V 2 . The charging power CH_V 2  can be further transmitted to the power module  50  through the power output pin  92 . 
   Please note, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a preferred embodiment of the management unit  90 , capable of controlling the charging task of the power module  50  of the electronic device  20 , may be one of the li-ion charge management ICs among the bqTINY series, e.g., bq24013, made by Texas Instruments Inc. However, the li-ion charge management ICs are only exemplary and not restrictive to the management unit  90  of the present invention. The ones that generate transformed power and transmit it to the transforming unit to generate corresponding charging power are all covered by the present invention. 
   Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Their spirit and scope of the appended claims should no be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.