Patent Publication Number: US-2022216706-A1

Title: Terminal devices and method for handling charging anomaly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/115,013, filed Jul. 28, 2016, which is a U.S. National Stage Entry of International Application No. PCT/CN2015/070468, filed Jan. 9, 2015, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application Nos. 201410042541.0, 201410043139.4, 201410043218.5, each filed Jan. 28, 2014. The entire disclosures of all aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the charging field, and more specifically, relates to terminal devices and a method for handling a charging anomaly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typically, a battery in an electronic device is charged by a way of coupling a charging interface of the electronic device with an external power adapter. In order to reduce charging time during charging the battery, the charging current can be enhanced for realizing a quick charging on the battery in the related art. However, if an anomaly occurs in a charging loop, for example, an output voltage of the power adapter is an over-voltage and/or an output current of the power adapter is an over-current, the battery will be damaged no matter whether the battery is charged in a conventional constant voltage mode or with increased charging current. The anomaly in the charging loop cannot be detected and handled in the related art, such that the safety during the charging is poor. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide terminal devices and a method for handling a charging anomaly. 
     In at least one embodiment, a terminal device is provided. The terminal device is configured to form a charging loop with a power adapter via power wires in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface of the terminal device to charge a battery of the terminal device, and the terminal device communicates with the power adapter via data wires in the USB interface. The terminal includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions. The instructions are executed by the processor to cause the terminal device to determine charging parameter information of the power adapter, and protect the charging loop in response to determining that an anomaly occurs on the charging loop according to the charging parameter information, where the charging parameter information includes at least one of an output voltage of the power adapter or an output current of the power adapter. 
     In at least one embodiment, a method for handling a charging anomaly is provided. The method is executed by a terminal device. The terminal device is configured to form a charging loop with a power adapter via power wires in a USB interface of the terminal device to charge a battery of the terminal device, and the terminal device communicates with the power adapter via data wires in the USB interface. The method includes determining charging parameter information of the power adapter, and protecting the charging loop in response to determining that an anomaly occurs on the charging loop according to the charging parameter information, where the charging parameter information includes at least one of an output voltage of the power adapter or an output current of the power adapter. 
     In at least one embodiment, a terminal device is provided. The terminal device is configured to form a charging loop with a power adapter via power wires in a USB interface of the terminal device to charge a battery of the terminal device, and the terminal device communicates with the power adapter via data wires in the USB interface. The terminal includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions. The instructions are executed by the processor to cause the terminal device to: receive charging parameter information of the power adapter from the power adapter via the data wires in the USB interface, where the charging parameter information includes at least one of an output voltage of the power adapter or an output current of the power adapter; and in response to determining that an anomaly occurs on the charging loop according to the charging parameter information, protect the charging loop by performing at least one of: control the charging loop to enter into a protection state; or send charging protection indication information to the power adapter to indicate the power adapter to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to make the technical solutions of embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the accompanying drawings used in the description of embodiments of the present disclosure are briefly described hereunder. Obviously, the described drawings are merely some embodiments of present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a terminal device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a power adapter in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for handling a charging anomaly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for handling a charging anomaly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The technical solutions in embodiments of the present disclosure will be given a clear and complete description with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a terminal device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The terminal device  10  shown in  FIG. 1  may include a battery  11  and a charging interface  12 . The charging circuit  16  is configured to connect the charging interface  12  of the terminal  10  and the battery  11  of the terminal  10 . The charging circuit  16  is configured to acquire the power from the charging interface  12  of the terminal  10  to charge the battery  11  of the terminal  10 . The terminal device  10  is configured to form a charging loop with a power adapter via the charging interface  12  and the charging circuit  16 , so as to charge the battery  11 . The terminal device  10  further includes a communication unit  13 , an anomaly detection unit  14  and an anomaly handling unit  15 . The communication unit  13  is configured to receive charging parameter information from the power adapter. The anomaly detection unit  14  is configured to determine, according to the charging parameter information, whether an anomaly occurs on the charging loop. The anomaly handling unit  15  is configured to control the charging loop to enter into a protection state if the anomaly occurs on the charging loop. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device  10  receives the charging parameter information from the power adapter, and determines, according to the charging parameter information, whether the anomaly occurs on the charging loop. The terminal device  10  controls the charging loop to enter into the protection state if the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, so as to improve the safety of the charging process. 
     In at least one embodiment, the communication unit  13  is further configured to send charging protection indication information to the power adapter if the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, so as to indicate the power adapter to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, the terminal device not only actively controls the charging loop to enter into the protection state, but also notifies the power adapter to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state. In this case, even if the anomaly handling unit  15  of the terminal device fails to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state, the power adapter can be still used to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state, thereby further improving the safety of the charging process. 
     In at least one embodiment, the charging interface includes power wires  122  and data wires  121 . The terminal device  10  is configured to form the charging loop with the power adapter via the charging interface  12 , so as to charge the battery, and specifically to: form the charging loop with the power adapter via the power wires  122  in the charging interface  12 , so as to charge the battery. The communication unit  13  is configured to receive the charging parameter information from the power adapter, and specifically to: receive the charging parameter information from the power adapter via the data wires  121  in the charging interface. 
     For example, the charging interface can be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or a micro USB interface. The above-mentioned power wires can be power wires in the USB interface, such as +5V and −5V power wires; the above-mentioned data wires can be data wires in the USB interface, such as a D+ wire and a D− wire. 
     In at least one embodiment there may be several reasons causing the anomaly of the charging loop, for example, an overvoltage output and an overcurrent output of the power adapter, etc. The detection and handling manners of different anomalies may be different. An illustration to the detection and handling manners of various anomalies is provided below in conjunction with specific embodiments. 
     In at least one embodiment, the charging parameter information includes an output voltage of the power adapter. The anomaly detection unit  14  is configured to, according to the charging parameter information, determine whether the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, and specifically to: compare the output voltage with a voltage threshold, and determine that the overvoltage output of the power adapter occurs and the anomaly occurs on the charging loop if the output voltage is higher than the voltage threshold. 
     In at least one embodiment, the above-mentioned voltage threshold can be set according to the specific model of the terminal device  10  and the power adapter, or can also be set according to experience. 
     In at least one an embodiment, the charging parameter information includes an output current of the power adapter. The anomaly detection unit  14  is configured to, according to the charging parameter information, determine whether the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, and specifically to: compare the output current with a current threshold, and determine that the overcurrent output occurs and the anomaly occurs on the charging loop if the output current is higher than the current threshold. 
     In at least one embodiment, the above-mentioned current threshold can be set according to the specific model of the terminal device  10  and the power adapter, or can also be set according to experience. 
     In conjunction with  FIG. 1 , as described above, the terminal device in the embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail; in conjunction with  FIG. 2 , the power adapter in the embodiments of the present disclosure is described hereinafter in detail. It should be noted that the interaction and related features, and functions of the terminal device and power adapter described at the terminal side corresponds to that at the power adapter side; for the sake of brevity, repeated description shall be omitted appropriately. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a power adapter in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The power adapter  20  shown in  FIG. 2  includes a power conversion unit  21  and a charging interface  22 . The power conversion unit  21  is configured to form a charging loop with the terminal device via the charging interface  22 , so as to charge the battery of the terminal device. The power adapter  20  further includes a communication unit  23  and an anomaly handling unit  24 . The communication unit  23  is configured to receive charging protection indication information from the terminal device. The anomaly handling unit  24  is configured to control the charging loop to enter into a protection state according to an indication of the charging protection indication information. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, the communication unit  23  of the power adapter receives the charging protection indication information from the terminal device, and controls the charging loop to enter into the protection state according to the indication of the charging protection indication information, thereby improving the safety of the charging process. 
     In at least one embodiment, the power adapter  20  is coupled with the terminal device via the charging interface  22 . The charging interface  22  includes power wires  222  for charging and data wires  221 . The communication unit  23  is configured to receive the charging protection indication information from the terminal device, and specifically to: receive the charging protection indication information from the terminal device via the data wires  221  in the charging interface  22 . 
     For example, the charging interface can be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or a micro USB interface. The above-mentioned power wires can be power wires in the USB interface, such as +5V and −5V power wires; the above-mentioned data wires can be data wires in the USB interface, such as a D+ cable and a D− cable. 
     In at least one embodiment, the communication unit  23  is further configured to send charging parameter information to the terminal device. The charging parameter information is used for the terminal device to determine whether an anomaly occurs on the charging loop. 
     In at least one embodiment, the charging parameter information includes at least one of an output voltage and an output current of the power adapter  20 . 
     In conjunction with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , as described above, the terminal device and the power adapter according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail. In conjunction with  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the method for handling a charging anomaly according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is described hereinafter in detail. It should be noted that the method for handling a charging anomaly in  FIG. 3  can be performed by the terminal device  10  in  FIG. 1 . The method of handling a charging anomaly in  FIG. 4  can be performed by the power adapter in  FIG. 2 . In order to avoid repetition, repeated description shall be omitted appropriately. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic flowchart of a method for handling a charging anomaly in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The method of  FIG. 3  includes followings. 
     In  310 , a terminal device receives charging parameter information from a power adapter. 
     In  320 , the terminal device, according to the charging parameter information, determines whether an anomaly occurs on a charging loop between the terminal and the power adapter. 
     In  330 , the terminal device controls the charging loop to enter into a protection state if the anomaly occurs on the charging loop. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device receives the charging parameter information, and according to the charging parameter information, determines whether the anomaly occurs on the charging loop. The terminal device controls the charging loop to enter into the protection state if the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, so as to improve the safety of the charging process. 
     In at least one embodiment, the method in  FIG. 3  further includes: sending, by the terminal device, charging protection indication information to the power adapter if the anomaly occurs on the charging loop, so as to indicate the power adapter to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state. 
     In at least one embodiment, the terminal device includes a charging interface. The charging interface includes data wires and power wires for charging. The terminal device is configured to receive the charging parameter information from the power adapter, and specifically to receive the charging parameter information from the power adapter via the data wires in the charging interface. 
     In at least one embodiment, the terminal device is configured to control the charging loop to enter into the protection state by an act of reducing an input voltage of the power adapter; or reducing an input current of the power adapter; or disconnecting the charging loop. 
     In at least one embodiment, the anomaly of the charging loop includes at least one of: overvoltage output and overcurrent output of the power adapter. 
     In at least one embodiment, the charging parameter information includes an output voltage of the power adapter. Determining, by the terminal device according to the charging parameter information, whether the anomaly occurs on the charging loop between the terminal and the power includes: comparing, by the terminal device, the output voltage with a voltage threshold; and determining by the terminal device, that the overvoltage output of the power adapter occurs and the anomaly occurs on the charging loop if the output voltage is higher than the voltage threshold. 
     In at least one embodiment, the charging parameter information includes an output current of the power adapter. Determining, by the terminal device according to the charging parameter information, whether the anomaly occurs on the charging loop between the terminal device and the power includes: comparing, by the terminal device, the output current with a current threshold; and determining, by the terminal device, that the overcurrent output of the power adapter occurs and the anomaly occurs on the charging loop if the output current overcurrent is higher than the current threshold. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart is presented in accordance with an exemplary embodiment which is thus illustrated. The method shown in  FIG. 4  includes followings. 
     In  410 , a power adapter receives charging protection indication information from a terminal; 
     In  420 , the power adapter controls a charging loop between the power adapter and the terminal device to enter into a protection state according to an indication of the charging protection indication information. 
     In the embodiments of the present disclosure, if an anomaly occurs on the charging loop, the power adapter receives the charging protection indication information from the terminal device, and according to the indication of the charging protection indication information, controls the charging loop to enter into the protection state, thereby improving the safety of the charging process. 
     In at least one embodiment, the power adapter is coupled with the terminal device via the charging interface. The charging interface includes power wires for charging and data wires. Receiving, by the power adapter, the charging protection indication information from the terminal device, includes: receiving, by the power adapter, the charging protection indication information from the terminal device via the data wires in the charging interface. 
     In at least one embodiment, the method of  FIG. 4  further includes: sending, by the power adapter, charging parameter information to the terminal device. The charging parameter information is used for the terminal to determine whether an anomaly occurs on the charging loop. 
     In at least one embodiment, the charging parameter information includes at least one of an output voltage and an output current of the power adapter. 
     Those skilled in the art can realize that, the units and algorithm steps in conjunction with all examples described in the embodiments disclosed in this specification are able to be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed by hardware or software depends on specific applications and design constraint conditions of the technical solutions. For each specific application, those skilled in the art can realize the described functions by using different methods, but this realization shall not be considered beyond the scope of the present disclosure. 
     It would be appreciated by those skilled that, for convenience and simplicity of the description, the specific working process of the systems, devices and units as described above can refer to the corresponding process in the abovementioned method embodiments, and no further details hereto will be given. 
     In several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, devices and methods can be realized by other manners. For example, the above-described embodiments are only schematic; for example, the division of said unit is only a logic function division; there may be additional dividing manners during the actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented. Another point, the displayed or discussed mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection may be via some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, in electronic, mechanical, or other forms. 
     Said unit described as a separation part may be or may not be separated physically; the part displayed as a unit may be or may not be a physical unit, namely it can be located in one place, or can be distributed to multiple network units. Part or all of the units can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the embodiment. 
     In addition, all functional units in the embodiments of the present disclosure can be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit exists individually in physical form, or two or more units are integrated in one unit. 
     If said function is realized in the form of software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. With such an understanding, the technical solution of the present disclosure substantially or its portion that contributes to the prior art or a portion of the technical solution may embody in the form of a computer software product which is stored in a memory media, including a plurality of instructions such that a computer (may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) executes all or some steps of the methods described in each of all the embodiments. And the previously mentioned memory media include such media capable of storing program codes as USB flash disk, portable hard drive, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), floppy disk or compact disk. 
     The above descriptions are only specific embodiments of the present disclosure, but not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure. The variation or replacement easily thought of by those of skill in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present disclosure, shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure shall be determined with reference to the protection scope of the claims.