Abstract:
An apparatus and method for replacing a battery in a portable terminal are provided, in which there are a main battery and an auxiliary battery, a cover removal sensor senses the removal of a battery cover, and a controller switches from the main battery to the auxiliary battery for supplying a power in response to the battery cover removal, wherein the auxiliary battery supplies the power to some component of the portable terminal under the control of the controller.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/495,294 filed on Jun. 13, 2012, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 14, 2011 and assigned Serial No. 10-2011-0057684, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a portable terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for replacing a battery in a portable terminal. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Portable terminals such as smart phones and tablet PCs provide many useful functions to users through a variety of applications. Therefore, the portable terminals have evolved to provide various types of services and information beyond the traditional voice communication service. 
         [0006]    Along with the diversification of functions in portable terminals, users manipulate their portable terminals more which in turn cause an increase in battery power consumption. Accordingly, the users frequently have to replace the batteries. 
         [0007]    To replace a battery, a user must turn off his or her portable terminal. However, the power-off of the portable terminal results in termination of all on-going services in the portable terminal. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    An aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to address at least the problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for replacing a battery without power-off in a portable terminal. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for continuously providing a specific service even though a battery is replaced during the specific service in progress in a portable terminal. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for replacing a battery in a portable terminal, in which there are a main battery and an auxiliary battery, a cover removal sensor senses the removal of a battery cover, and a controller switches from the main battery to the auxiliary battery for supplying a power in response to the battery cover removal, wherein the auxiliary battery supplies the power to some component of the portable terminal under the control of the controller. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for replacing a battery in a portable terminal, in which a removal of a battery cover is sensed, a power is switched from the main battery to an auxiliary battery in response to the battery over removal, wherein the auxiliary battery supplies the power to some component of the portable terminal under the control of the controller. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The above features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an operation for replacing a battery in the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an operation for replacing a battery in a portable terminal in a communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the portable terminal for replacing the battery according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a Base Station (BS) for reconnecting a call after the battery of the portable terminal is replaced according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
       [0018]    Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features and structures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Reference will be made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals denote components having substantially the same function through the specification and the drawings. A detailed description of known functions and operations will not be given lest it should obscure the subject matter of the present invention. 
         [0020]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a portable terminal is an electronic device that allows for easy carriage. The term “portable terminal” covers a broad range of terminals including a video phone, a portable phone, a smart phone, an International Mobile Telecommunication 2000 (IMT-2000) terminal, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) terminal, a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) terminal, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) terminal, an e-book reader, a portable computer such as a laptop, a tablet, etc., and a digital camera. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the portable terminal includes a controller  101 , a memory  103 , a cover removal sensor  105 , a power manager  107 , a main battery  109 , an auxiliary battery  111 , a keypad  113 , an audio processor  115 , a wireless transceiver  117 , and a display  119 . 
         [0023]    The wireless transceiver  117  includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit and a MODEM. The RF unit may include an RF transmitter for upconverting the frequency of a transmission signal and amplifying the upconverted transmission signal and an RF receiver for low-noise-amplifying a received signal and downconverting the frequency of the low-noise-amplified signal. The MODEM may include a transmitter for encoding and modulating the transmission signal and a receiver for demodulating and decoding the signal received from the RF unit. 
         [0024]    The audio processor  115  may include a CODEC having a data CODEC and an audio CODEC. The data CODEC processes packet data, and the audio CODEC processes voice and an audio signal of a multimedia file. The audio processor  115  may reproduce a digital audio signal received from the MODEM by converting the digital audio signal to an analog signal through the audio CODEC or may convert an analog audio signal generated from a microcomputer to a digital audio signal through the audio CODEC and transmit the digital audio signal to the MODEM. While the CODEC has been described as included in the audio processor  115 , the CODEC may be configured separately or incorporated into the controller  101 . 
         [0025]    The keypad  113  may include alphanumeric keys for entering numbers and characters and function keys for setting various function, or a touchpad. If the display  119  is configured with a capacitive or resistive touch screen, the keypad  113  may include a minimum number of predetermined keys, and the display  119  may take over a part of the key input function of the keypad  113 . 
         [0026]    The memory  103  may include a program memory and data memories. The program memory stores a program for controlling the common functions of the portable terminal. The memory  103  may further include an external memory such as a Compact Flash (CF), a Secure Digital (SD), a Micro Secure Digital (Micro-SD), a Mini Secure Digital (Mini-SD), an Extreme Digital (xD), and a memory stick. The memory  103  may include a disk such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and a Solid State Disk (SSD). Further, the memory  103  stores the history of a service that the portable terminal is executing, upon request of the controller  101  and retrieves the stored service history upon request of the controller  101 . 
         [0027]    Herein, the service may be any of various services that can be provided by the portable terminal. For example, the service may be an application, a camera service, a DMB service, a call service, a communication service through a 3 rd  Generation (3G) network or Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), a video play service, a sound source play service, or a game service, which is provided in the portable terminal. 
         [0028]    The cover removal sensor  105  is provided on a cover covering the main battery  109  or on a bottom plate of the cover. Upon sensing a removal of the cover, the cover removal sensor  105  outputs a cover removal notification signal to the controller  101 , indicating the removal of the cover. The cover removal sensor  105  may include a switch, an optical sensor, or a touch sensor. The display  119  may be configured with a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) (e.g. a Passive-Matrix OLED (PMOLED) or Active-Matrix OLED (AMOLED)). The display  119  outputs various types of display information generated in the portable terminal The display  119  may include a capacitive or resistive touch screen, to thereby serve as an input unit for controlling the portable terminal, along with the keypad  113 . 
         [0029]    The power manager  107  controls charging of the main battery  109  with power (e.g. a charging current value) received through a Travel Adapter (TA) or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable and supplies power received from the main battery  109  or the auxiliary battery  111  to each component of the portable terminal. The power manager  107  may also output information about the charged state and temperature of the main battery  109  to the controller  101 . The power manager  107  switches a power supply source from the main battery  109  to the auxiliary battery  111  or from the auxiliary battery  111  to the main battery  109  under the control of the controller  101 . Especially, the power manager  107  periodically measures the voltage of the main battery  109  and outputs the voltage measurement to the controller  101 . In alternate embodiment, the power manager  107  may be incorporated into the controller  101 . 
         [0030]    The main battery  109  is detachably mounted to the portable terminal. The main battery  109  has a larger capacity than the auxiliary battery  111  and, when the portable terminal is powered on, provides power to each component of the portable terminal. The auxiliary battery  111  has a capacity of about 1 mA or below. When the portable terminal is powered off, the auxiliary battery  111  supplies minimum power required for the controller  101  to update time information to the controller  101  and is charged with power supplied by the main battery  109 . In the embodiment, even though the portable terminal is not powered off, the auxiliary battery  111  supplies power to each component of the portable terminal under the control of the controller  101 . 
         [0031]    The controller  101  provides overall control to the portable terminal. The controller  101  may switch and control an operation of the portable terminal according to a user input received through the keypad  113  or the display  119 . Especially, upon receipt of the cover removal notification signal from the cover removal sensor  105 , the controller  101  transitions the portable terminal from a current operation mode to sleep mode and outputs a battery switch signal to the power manager  107 , commanding switching of a power supply source from the main battery  109  to the auxiliary battery  111 . The sleep mode is a mode that minimizes the power consumption of the portable terminal, and the controller  101  may maintain the sleep mode for about  30  minutes by receiving power from the auxiliary battery  111 . 
         [0032]    The controller  101  receives the voltage of the main battery  109  periodically from the power manager  107  and determines whether the main battery  109  has been replaced based on the voltage of the main battery  109 . For example, if the received voltage of the main battery  109  has risen from 0V to 3V, the controller  101  may determine that the main battery  109  has been replaced. On the other hand, if the voltage of the main battery  109  is kept to be 0V for a predetermined time period, the controller  101  determines that the main battery  109  has not been replaced. The predetermined time period is a time sufficient for replacing the main battery  109 . The predetermined time may be within a range from 10 seconds to 30 seconds. 
         [0033]    If the controller  101  determines that the main battery  109  has been replaced, the controller  101  outputs a battery switch signal to the power manager  107 , commanding switching of the power supply source from the auxiliary battery  111  to the main battery  109 . Then, the controller  101  transitions the portable terminal from the sleep mode to active mode. 
         [0034]    Upon receipt of the cover removal notification signal, the controller  101  may also store the service history of a current on-going service in the memory  103 . After the main battery  109  has completely been replaced, the controller  101  may resume the service for a user according to the stored service history. 
         [0035]    As the controller  101  operates in the above manner, the main battery  109  can be replaced even though the user does not power off the portable terminal. In addition, despite the replacement of the main battery  109 , the controller  101  can continuously provide a service executed before the battery replacement to the user. 
         [0036]    While devices such as a Bluetooth module, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, a camera module, a Wi-Fi module, an acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and a DMB receiver are not shown in  FIG. 1  although they can be included in the portable terminal, those skilled in the art will understand that these devices can be provided in the portable terminal and perform their functions. 
         [0037]    For example, the acceleration sensor senses the movement state of the portable terminal by measuring the dynamic force of the portable terminal such as acceleration, vibration, impact, etc. for use in sensing the display direction of the display of the portable terminal. The proximity sensor senses the proximity of a body part of a user with respect to the portable terminal, for use in preventing malfunction of the portable terminal that provides a touch screen function. In addition, a gyroscope observes a kinetic motion of a rotating portable terminal, for use in sensing rotational motions of the portable terminal along six axes, that is, up and down, sideways, back and forth, x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis rotational motions in conjunction with the acceleration sensor. The portable terminal may further include a camera module for capturing an image (a video or a still image). During capturing of an image, position information acquired using the GPS module may be inserted into the captured image so that the user can identify a position at which the photo has been taken. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an operation for replacing a battery in the portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the controller  101  executes a service selected by a user or a service scheduled to be executed at a predetermined time in step  201 . The service refers to any service that can be provided by the portable terminal. For example, the service may be an application, a camera service, a DMB service, a call service, a communication service through a 3G network or Wi-Fi, a video play service, a sound source play service, or a game service, which is provided in the portable terminal. 
         [0040]    In step  203 , the controller  101  determines whether the cover has been removed from the main battery  109  without power-off of the portable terminal If the cover has been removed, the controller  101  proceeds to step  205  and otherwise, the controller  101  repeats step  203 . Upon receipt of a cover removal notification signal from the cover removal sensor  105 , the controller  101  determines that the cover has been removed. If the controller  101  has not received the cover removal notification signal from the cover removal sensor  105 , the controller  101  determines that the cover still covers the main battery  109 . 
         [0041]    In step  205 , the controller  101  stores the history of a current on-going service in the memory  103 , transitions the portable terminal from its current operation mode to the sleep mode, and switches the power supply source from the main battery  109  to the auxiliary battery  111 . Here, the history of a current on-going service may include a name of the internet application or other application and/or a specific web site address that a user was surfacing prior to the transition, so that the user can resume back to the same program or site prior to the sleep mode transition. 
         [0042]    The sleep mode refers to a mode that minimizes the power consumption of the portable terminal. 
         [0043]    In step  207 , the controller  101  determines whether the main battery  109  has been replaced. If the controller  101  determines that the main battery  109  has been replaced, the controller  101  goes to step  209 . On the other hand, if the controller  101  determines that the main battery  109  has not been replaced for a predetermined time period, the controller  101  goes to step  213 . The controller  101  may monitor whether the main battery  109  has been replaced or not based on the voltage of the main battery  109  periodically output from the power manager  107 . Herein, the predetermined time period is a time sufficient for the user to replace the main battery  109 , within a range from 10 seconds to 30 seconds. 
         [0044]    For example, if the received voltage of the main battery  109  has risen from 0V to 3V, the controller  101  may determine that the main battery  109  has been replaced. On the other hand, if the voltage of the main battery  109  is maintained to be 0V for a predetermined time period, the controller  101  determines that the main battery  109  has not been replaced. 
         [0045]    In step  213 , the controller  101  powers off the portable terminal. 
         [0046]    Meanwhile, the controller  101  switches the power supply source from the auxiliary battery  111  to the main battery  109  and transitions the portable terminal from the sleep mode to the active mode in step  209 . 
         [0047]    After step  209 , the controller  101  retrieves the service history from the memory  103  and resumes the service executed before the battery replacement using the service history in step  211 . Here, the service history includes a name of the service or application and a specific web site. For example, when the removal notification signal is received during a web surfing by using an internet application, the controller  101  stores the service history, which includes a name of the internet application and a web site address in respect to the web surfing. 
         [0048]    As the controller  101  performs steps  201  to  213  in this manner, the main battery  109  can be replaced without the need for power-off of the portable terminal Further, even though the main battery  109  has been replaced, the controller  101  can continuously provide the user with a service that was executed before the battery replacement. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an operation for replacing a battery in a portable terminal in a communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , a description will be given of an operation in which a first portable terminal  301  replaces the main battery  101  without power-off, while performing a call service with a second portable terminal  305  through a Base Station (BS)  303 . Before describing the operation, it is assumed that the first portable terminal  301  has the same configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0051]    The first portable terminal  301  establishes a call connection with the second portable terminal  305  through the BS  303  in step  307  and determines whether the cover has been removed from the main battery  109  in step  309 . If the cover has been removed, the first portable terminal  301  proceeds to step  311  and otherwise, the portable terminal  301  repeats step  309 . 
         [0052]    In step  311 , the first portable terminal  301  transmits a standby mode transition request message to the BS  303 , requesting transitioning of call mode to standby mode between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305 . The call mode refers to a mode in which a call is conducted between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305 , and the standby mode refers to a mode in which one of the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305  waits for a call with the other party. 
         [0053]    The BS  303  releases the call connection from the first portable terminal  301  in step  313 , while maintaining the call connection with the second portable terminal  305 . 
         [0054]    In step  317 , the first portable terminal  301  transitions the first portable terminal  301  to the sleep mode and switches the power supply source from the main battery  109  to the auxiliary battery  111 . The sleep mode refers to a mode that minimizes the power consumption of the portable terminal. 
         [0055]    In step  319 , the first portable terminal  301  determines whether the main battery  109  has been replaced. If the first portable terminal  301  determines that the main battery  109  has been replaced, the first portable terminal  301  goes to step  321 . On the other hand, if the first portable terminal  301  determines that the main battery  109  has not been replaced for a predetermined time period, the first portable terminal  301  goes to step  327 . Herein, the predetermined time period is a time sufficient for the user to replace the main battery  109 , within a range from 10 seconds to 30 seconds. 
         [0056]    In step  327 , the first portable terminal  301  powers off itself 
         [0057]    Meanwhile, the first portable terminal  301  switches the power supply source from the auxiliary battery  111  to the main battery  109  and transitions the first portable terminal  301  from the sleep mode to the active mode in step  321 . 
         [0058]    After step  321 , the first portable terminal  301  transmits a call mode transition request message to the BS  303 , requesting transitioning of the standby mode to the call mode between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305  in step  323 . 
         [0059]    In step  325 , the BS  303  reconnects the call between the first and second portable terminals  305 , thus re-establishing the call connection between them. 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the portable terminal for replacing the battery according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3   
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the first portable terminal  301  establishes a call connection with the second portable terminal  305  through the BS  303  in step  401  and determines whether the cover has been removed from the main battery  109  in step  403 . If the cover has been removed, the first portable terminal  301  proceeds to step  405  and otherwise, the portable terminal  301  repeats step  403 . 
         [0062]    In step  405 , the first portable terminal  301  transmits a standby mode transition request message to the BS  303 , requesting transitioning of the call mode to the standby mode between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305  and releases the call connection from the BS  303 . 
         [0063]    In step  407 , the first portable terminal  301  transitions to the sleep mode and switches the power supply source from the main battery  109  to the auxiliary battery  111 . 
         [0064]    In step  409 , the first portable terminal  301  determines whether the main battery  109  has been replaced. If the first portable terminal  301  determines that the main battery  109  has been replaced, the first portable terminal  301  goes to step  411 . On the other hand, if the first portable terminal  301  determines that the main battery  109  has not been replaced for a predetermined time period, the first portable terminal  301  goes to step  415 . 
         [0065]    In step  415 , the first portable terminal  301  powers off itself. 
         [0066]    Meanwhile, the first portable terminal  301  switches the power supply source from the auxiliary battery  111  to the main battery  109  and transitions from the sleep mode to the active mode in step  411 . 
         [0067]    After step  411 , the first portable terminal  301  transmits a call mode transition request message to the BS  303 , requesting transitioning of the standby mode to the call mode between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305  in step  413 . Then, the first portable terminal  301  reestablishes the call connection with the second portable terminal  305 . 
         [0068]    As the first portable terminal  301  performs steps  401  to  415  in this manner, it can allow for replacement of the main battery  109  without power-off during a call with the second portable terminal In addition, since the first portable terminal  301  reconnects the call to the second portable terminal  305  as soon as the main battery  109  has been completely replaced, the replacement of the main battery  109  is possible, without terminating the call service. 
         [0069]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the BS for reconnecting a call after the battery of the portable terminal is replaced according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the BS  303  establishes a call connection between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305  in step  501  and determines whether a standby mode transition request message has been received from the first portable terminal  301  in step  503 . Upon receipt of the standby mode transition request message, the BS  303  proceeds to step  505  and otherwise, the BS  303  repeats step  503 . 
         [0071]    In step  505 , the BS  303  releases the call connection from the first portable terminal  301 , while maintaining the call connection with the second portable terminal  305  from which the call connection to the first portable terminal  301  has been released. 
         [0072]    The BS  303  determines whether a call mode transition request message has been received from the first portable terminal  301  in step  507 . Upon receipt of the call mode transition request message, the BS  303  proceeds to step  509  and otherwise, the BS  303  repeats step  507 . 
         [0073]    In step  509 , the BS  303  reconnects the call between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305 , thus re-establishing the call connection between them. 
         [0074]    Additionally, the BS  303  maintains the call connection with the second portable terminal  305  for a predetermined time period. If the call mode transition request message has not been received from the first portable terminal  301  for the predetermined time period, the BS  303  may release the call connection from the second portable terminal  305 . The predetermined time period represents a duration sufficient for replacing the main battery  109 . For example, the predetermined time period may be within a range from 10 seconds to 30 seconds. 
         [0075]    As the BS  303  performs steps  501  to  509  in this manner, even though the main battery  109  has been replaced, an on-going service can continue between the first and second portable terminals  301  and  305 . 
         [0076]    As is apparent from the above description of the present invention, since power is supplied through an auxiliary battery during battery replacement, a battery can be replaced without the need for power-off of a portable terminal. 
         [0077]    Further, the service history of a specific service being executed before the battery replacement is stored so that the specific service may continue in spite of the battery replacement of the portable terminal. 
         [0078]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, they are purely exemplary. For example, while it has been described above that a call service is continuously provided even though a battery is replaced in a portable terminal during the call service in progress, the same thing is applicable to a DMB service, a Wi-FI service, a game service, a camera function, a music play function, a video playback function, etc. 
         [0079]    Therefore, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.