Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0098091, filed on Nov. 26, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, an electronic apparatus capable of improving energy efficiency by changing its own driving state optimally according to the type of an external power source.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional electronic apparatus will be described briefly.  
         [0006]     Generally an electronic apparatus includes an external power source  10  and a main body  100 . The main body  100  includes an internal battery  9 , a connection terminal  30  to receive power supplied from the external power source  10 , and a user input unit  20 . The main body  100  is driven by use of the power from the internal battery  9  or otherwise from the external power source  10 . The external power source  10  may be classified into an AC adaptor  1  and a limited power source  5 . The AC adaptor generally converts commercial AC power supplied thereto into DC power and supplies the converted DC power to the main body  100  whereas the limited power source  5  has a limit to an amount of power which can be supplied to the main body  100 .  
         [0007]     When the AC adaptor  1  is connected to the connection terminal  30 , the conventional electronic apparatus receives power supplied from the AC adaptor  1 , drives a system of the electronic apparatus generally in a normal mode and charges its internal battery  9 .  
         [0008]     When the limited power source  5  is in connection with the connection terminal  30 , the conventional electronic apparatus can receive power supplied from the limited power source  5 , and drive the system in a normal mode and charge its internal battery  9  in the same manner as when the AC adaptor  1  is connected to the connection terminal  30 .  
         [0009]     When the electronic apparatus is supplied with power from the limited power source  5 , the durability of the limited power source  5  is shortened because the system is driven in a normal mode. In addition, since the internal battery  9  is charged, energy efficiency of the limited power source  5  is lowered.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an electronic apparatus capable of improving energy efficiency by changing its own driving state optimally according to the type of external power source.  
         [0011]     Additional aspects and/or advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.  
         [0012]     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing an electronic apparatus including external power sources of different kinds, and a power supplying unit being supplied with power from the external power sources and supplying it as system power, including a source determination unit determining the kind of external power source; and a control unit controlling the power supplying unit based on the determination result by the source determination unit so that system power is supplied in a driving mode set in advance corresponding to the external power source.  
         [0013]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the external power source includes an AC adaptor converting AC power into DC power and outputting it, and a limited power source limited to the amount of power to be supplied; and the control unit controls the power supplying unit so that a system of the electronic apparatus is driven in a normal mode when power is supplied from the AC adaptor whereas it is driven in a power saving mode when power is supplied from the limited power source.  
         [0014]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the electronic apparatus further includes a mode selection input unit to change a driving mode of the system regardless of the kind of the external power source, where the control unit controls the power supplying unit so that the system is driven in a driving mode as selected through the mode selection unit.  
         [0015]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the mode selection input unit includes an OSD generating unit generating an OSD signal to display an OSD driving mode set screen through which the driving mode is changed, and a user input unit to allow a user to input with keys; and the control unit controls the OSD generating unit so as to allow an OSD signal to display the OSD driving mode set screen to be generated, where the external power source is changed according to the determination result of the source determination unit.  
         [0016]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the power supplying unit so that the system is driven either in the power saving mode or in the normal mode as selected on the OSD driving mode set screen by manipulation of the user input unit.  
         [0017]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the electronic apparatus further includes an internal battery; and a charge circuit unit to charge the internal battery, where the OSD driving mode set screen further displays charge-on/off functions to select charge-on or charge-off of the internal battery.  
         [0018]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the charge circuit unit so that an operation to charge the internal battery is on or off according to charge-on or charge-off function as selected on the OSD driving mode set screen by manipulation of the user input unit.  
         [0019]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the power supplying unit supplies the system power from one of the internal battery and the external power source as supplied; and the OSD driving mode set screen further displays a power source selection item to select the power source with the priority order to be used as the driving power between powers of the internal battery and the external power source.  
         [0020]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the power supplying unit so that the system power is supplied based on power of the power source selected with the priority order in the power selection items of the OSD driving mode set screen by manipulation of the user input unit.  
         [0021]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the charge circuit unit outputs a signal for charge completion to the control unit when charge of the internal battery is completed; and the control unit controls the OSD generating unit to display an OSD charge completed screen to indicate that charge of the internal battery is completed, and the OSD driving mode set screen, when the signal for charge completion is inputted.  
         [0022]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the external power source stores type information of a power source therein and outputs the type information when power is supplied; and the source determination unit determines a kind of the external power source based on the type information inputted from the external power source.  
         [0023]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the limited power source further stores residual power quantity information available for supply therein and outputs the residual power quantity information when power is supplied; further includes a residual quantity determination unit determining whether the residual power quantity is below the predetermined quantity, based on the residual power quantity information inputted from the limited power source; and the control unit controls the OSD generating unit so as to display the OSD residual quantity short screen and the OSD driving mode set screen when a signal for short residual quantity is inputted from the residual quantity determination unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an external appearance of a conventional electronic apparatus;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the electronic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the electronic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an OSD driving mode setting screen displayed on the electronic apparatus according to the present invention; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a diagram further illustrating an OSD charge completed screen or an OSD residual quantity short screen displayed on the electronic apparatus according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a control block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. As illustrated, the electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes an external power source  10 ′, and a main body  100 ′ including an internal battery  9 , where the electronic apparatus is driven by use of power supplied from the external power source  10 ′ or the internal battery  9 . Herein, the electronic apparatus refers to a portable computer.  
         [0033]     The external power source  10 ′ includes an AC adaptor  1 ′ converting AC power supplied from the outside into DC power and outputting it to a portable computer main body  100  through the connection terminal  30 , and a limited power source  5 ′ having a limited amount of power and outputting it to the portable computer main body  100 ′ though the connection terminal  30 .  
         [0034]     Herein, the external power source  10 ′ includes a storage unit (not shown) storing therein type information of the power source, and outputs the type information when power is supplied to the portable computer main body  100 ′.  
         [0035]     The limited power source  5 ′ may further store information the regarding residual quantity of power available for supply in the storage unit (not shown), and output the residual power quantity information along with the type information when power is supplied to the portable computer main body  100 ′. This kind of limited power source  5 ′ may include an external battery  3 ′ and a fuel cell  7 ′.  
         [0036]     The portable computer main body  100 ′ includes an internal battery  9 , a user input unit  20  to allow a user to input with keys, a connection terminal  30  receiving external power supplied from an external power source  10 ′ and type information and residual power quantity information of the external power source  10 ′, a power supplying unit  40  converting any one of external power supplied through the connection terminal  30  and internal power supplied from the internal battery  9  into driving power as requested respectively by various circuit units  50  within the computer and outputting it, a charge circuit unit  35  to charge the internal battery  9 , an OSD generating unit  59  to generate an OSD signal to display an OSD screen, a determination unit  60  to determine a type or kind and a degree of residual quantity of the external power source  10 ′ based on the type information and residual power quantity information of the external power source  10 ′ inputted through the external terminal  30 , and a control unit  70  controlling the OSD generating unit  59 , the charge circuit unit  35  and a power supplying unit  40  to thereby change a driving state according to the type and residual power quantity of the external power source  10 ′ based on a result of determination by the determination unit  60 .  
         [0037]     The user input unit  20  is provided with various means such as a keyboard  12 , a touch pad  13  and a mouse  14  for input by a user, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0038]     The power supplying unit  40  functions to convert power supplied into driving power corresponding to a normal mode or otherwise a power saving mode as requested by respective circuit units  50  based on control by the control unit  70  to be described later, and output it. In addition, the power supplying unit  40  selects any one of external power supplied through the connection terminal  30  and internal power supplied from the internal battery  9  based on control by the control unit  70  to be described later and converts it into driving power.  
         [0039]     The charge circuit unit  35  functions to convert external power supplied through the connection terminal  30  into charge power and charge the internal battery  9  based on control by the control unit  70 . In addition, the charge circuit unit  35  outputs a charge completion signal to the control unit  70  when charge of the internal battery  9  has been completed in the case of charging the internal battery  9 .  
         [0040]     Each circuit unit  50  includes a central processing unit (CPU)  52 , an image signal processing unit  54 , a display unit  55 , a memory  57 , an LCD driving unit (not shown) to drive an LCD (not shown) as the display unit  55 , and a driving circuit to control driving of each function unit such as a USB controller (not shown) to control USB communication through a USB port (not shown).  
         [0041]     The OSD generating unit  59  generates an OSD signal to display an OSD driving mode setting screen on the display unit  55 , the OSD driving mode setting screen being designed to change a set driving mode of a system, select on/off setting of a charge operation to charge the internal battery  9  and a power source having a priority order to be used as driving power. In addition, the OSD generating unit  59  generates an OSD signal to display an OSD charge completed to inform that charge of the internal battery  9  is completed and an OSD residual quantity short screen to inform that residual power quantity of the limited power source  5 ′ is short. Herein, the OSD generating unit  59  may be configured with a mode selection input unit to select a driving mode of an electronic apparatus together with the user input unit  20 .  
         [0042]     The determination unit  60  includes a source determination unit  63  and a residual quantity determination unit  66 . The source determination unit  63  receives type information of the external power source  10 ′ inputted through the connection terminal  30  and determines a kind of the external power source  10 ′ and the residual quantity determination unit  66  determines the residual power quantity of the external power source  10 ′ based on the residual power quantity information of the external power source  10 ′ inputted through the connection terminal  30 .  
         [0043]     When the external power source  10 ′ and the portable computer main body  100 ′ are connected to each other, the determination unit  60  may communicate with the external power source  10 ′ through a I2C bus or an SM bus to thereby be supplied with type information and residual quantity information of the external power source  10 ′.  
         [0044]     Determination of a kind and residual power quantity of the external power source  10 ′ according to communication through the I2C bus or the SM bus is only by way of example. The determination unit  60  may not be provided with any separate communication line such as a I2C bus or SM bus, but is capable of determining a kind and residual power quantity of the external power source  10 ′ by use of a power line communication (PLC) or infer a kind of the external power source  10 ′ according to a voltage of the power supplied from the external power source  10 ′.  
         [0045]     In this case, since there is in no need of a separate communication line such as I2C bus or SM bus, the external power source  10 ′ may include no storage unit (not shown) to store type information of the power source therein.  
         [0046]     Where power is supplied by the AC adaptor  1 ′ connected to the connection terminal  30  based on the result of determination by the source determination unit  63 , the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  so that the system of the electronic apparatus is driven generally in a normal mode. The normal mode generally refers to an operation that drives the CPU  52 , and a driving circuit unit (not shown) that controls driving of the image signal processing unit  54  and each function unit, in a normal manner. The power supplying unit  40  supplies normal driving power to each circuit unit  50 . In addition, the control part  70  controls the charge circuit unit  35  so as to charge the internal battery  9 , where power is supplied from the AC adaptor  1 ′.  
         [0047]     Where power is supplied by the limited power source  5 ′ connected to the connection terminal  30  based on the result of determination by the source determination unit  63 , the control unit  70  controls the OSD generating unit  59  so that the OSD driving mode set screen to change the driving mode is displayed on the display unit  55 .  
         [0048]     When a power saving mode is selected on the OSD driving mode set screen by manipulation of the user input unit  20 , the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  so that the system is driven in a power saving mode. The power saving mode generally refers to an operation to reduce an amount of power consumed to the extent that it does not affect a driving state of the system. Under the power saving mode, power saving may be realized through various methods, such that the driving circuit unit (not shown) is controlled to allow driving of any function unit unnecessary to be off, or frequency speed of the CPU  52  is lowered, by controlling driving power supplied from the power supplying unit  40  to each circuit unit  50 .  
         [0049]     In addition, the control unit  70  controls the charge circuit unit  35  so that an operation to charge the internal battery  9  is on or off as a charge function is turned on or off as selected on the OSD driving mode set screen by manipulation of the user input unit  20 . Further the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  so that power of the power source selected with the priority order in the power selection items of the OSD driving mode set screen is converted into the driving power of the computer and then outputted. In other words, where the limited power source  5 ′ is connected to the connection terminal  30 , when the internal battery  9  is selected owing to the priority order in the power selection items of the OSD driving mode set screen, the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  so that power of the internal battery  9  is converted into power to drive the computer and then outputted.  
         [0050]     Control of the electronic apparatus with the configuration described above according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . A system of the portable computer main body  100 ′ is in operation at operation S 10 , the control unit  70  determines whether the portable computer main body  100 ′ is connected to the external power source  10 ′ at operation S 20 . When it is determined that the portable computer main body  100 ′ is connected to the external power source  10 ′, the control unit  70  determines whether the AC adaptor  1 ′ or the limited power source  5 ′ is connected thereto, based on the result of the determination by the source determination unit  63  at operation S 30 . When the AC adaptor  1 ′ is in connection, the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  to thereby drive the system in a normal mode at operation S 40 . When the limited power source  5 ′ is connected according to the determination result at operation S 30 , the control unit  70  controls the OSD generating unit  59  so as to display the OSD driving mode set screen on the display unit  55  at operation S 50 . The control unit  70  determines whether a power saving mode is selected on the OSD driving mode set screen by manipulation of the user input unit  20  at operation S 60 . When the power saving mode is selected according to the determination result, the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  to thereby drive the system in a power saving mode at operation S 70 . Herein, when the normal mode is selected according to the determination result at operation S 60 , the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  to thereby drive the system in a normal mode at operation S 40 . However, where it is determined at operation S 20  that the external power source  10 ′ is not connected, the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  so as to use power of the internal battery  9  as a system driving power.  
         [0051]     It is not illustrated in  FIG. 3 , but the control unit  70  generally controls the charge circuit unit  35  to thereby charge the internal battery  9  with power of the AC adaptor  1 ′ when power of the AC adaptor  1 ′ is supplied to the portable computer main body  100 ′. Further, generally when the external power source  10 ′ is not connected, the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  to drive the system in a power saving mode.  
         [0052]     However, automatic driving of the system in a power saving mode where the external power source  10 ′ is not connected as described above is merely by way of example. Herein, where the external power source  10 ′ is not connected to the portable computer main body  100 ′ for which the system is driven with power of the internal battery  9 , it is also possible to display the OSD driving mode set screen and select a normal mode or a power saving mode by manipulation of the user input unit  20 .  
         [0053]     The above-described configuration that the system is automatically driven in a normal mode and charges the internal battery  9  where power is supplied from the AC adaptor  1 ′ is merely by way of example. Herein, it is also possible for the portable computer to display the OSD driving mode set screen, and select a power saving mode or a normal mode by manipulation of the user input unit  20  and on/off of the charge function of the internal battery  9  while it is driven with power of the AC adaptor  1 ′.  
         [0054]     Control flow of the electronic apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.  4  to  6 . While the system of the portable computer main body  100 ′ is in operation, the control unit  70  determines whether the external power source  10 ′ is connected to the portable computer main body  100 ′ at operation S 110 . Where it is determined that the portable computer main body  100 ′ is connected to the external power source  10 ′, the control unit  70  determines whether the AC adaptor  1 ′ or the limited power source  5 ′ is connected thereto, based on the result of determination by the source determination unit  63  at operation S 120 . When the AC adaptor  1 ′ is in connection, the control unit  70  controls the charge circuit unit  35  to charge the internal battery  90  at operation S 130 , and controls the power supplying unit  40  to thereby drive the system in a normal mode at operation S 140 .  
         [0055]     Where the limited power source  5 ′ is connected according to the determination result at operation S 120 , the control unit  70  controls the OSD generating unit  59  so as to display the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a  on the display unit  55  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  at operation S 150 . The control unit  70  determines whether a charge-on function of the internal battery  9  in item  2  of the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a  is selected by manipulation of the user input unit  20  at operation S 160 . Where the charge-on function of the internal battery  9  is selected, the control unit  70  determines whether a power saving mode in item  3  of the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a  is selected by manipulation of the user input unit  20  at operation S 170 . When the power saving mode is selected, the control unit  70  controls the charge circuit unit  35  and the power supplying unit  40  to thereby charge the internal battery  9  and drives the system in a power saving mode at operation S 180 .  
         [0056]     Where a normal mode is selected according to the determination result at operation S 170 , the control unit  70  controls the charge circuit unit  35  and the power supplying unit  40  to thereby charge the internal battery  9 , and drives the system in a normal mode at operations S 130  and S 140 . Where a charge-off function of the internal battery  9  is selected at operation S 160 , the control unit  70  determines whether a power saving mode in item  3  of the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a  is selected by manipulation of the user input unit  20  at operation S 190 . When a power saving mode is selected according to the determination result, the control unit  70  controls the charge circuit unit  35  and the power supplying unit  40  so as not to charge the internal battery  9 , and drives the system in a power saving mode S 200 . However, where a normal mode is selected according to the determination result at operation S 190 , the control unit  70  controls the charge circuit unit  35  and the power supplying unit  40  so as not to charge the internal battery  9 , and drives the system in a normal mode at operation S 210 .  
         [0057]     Where it is determined at operation S 100  that the external power source  10 ′ is not connected, the control unit  70  controls the power supplying unit  40  and uses the power of the internal battery  9  as a system driving power at operation S 220 , and controls the power supplying unit  40  to drive the system in a power saving mode at operation S 230 .  
         [0058]     It is not illustrated in the control flow chart of  FIG. 4 , but the control unit  70  uses a power source selected with the priority order in item  1  (power selection) of the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a  through manipulation by the user input unit  20  as the system driving power.  FIG. 5  illustrates an example that an external power source, namely, the limited power source  5 ′ is selected as a power source, a charge-on function of the internal battery  9  is selected and the system is driven in a power saving mode having the priority order.  
                               TABLE 1                       Connection   Type of       Charge-on           state to   external       or off of       external   power   Priority of   internal       power source   source   power source   battery   Driving mode                   Not   X   Internal   OFF   Power saving       connected       battery       mode       Connected   AC adaptor   Select AC   ON   Normal mode               adaptor or               internal               battery           Limited   Select limited   Select on   Select normal           power   power source   or off   mode or power           source   or internal       saving mode               battery                  
 
         [0059]     When a signal for charge completion from the charge circuit unit  35  is inputted into the control unit  70 , the control unit  70  controls the OSD generating unit  59  so as to re-display an OSD driving mode set screen  5   a  on a display unit  55  along with an OSD charge-completed screen  5   b  to indicate that charge of the internal battery  9  is completed as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Accordingly, the user recognizes that charge of the internal battery  9  is completed and can re-change a driving state of the system through the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a.    
         [0060]     Where a signal for short residual quantity to indicate that the residual power quantity of the limited power source  5 ′ is short of the predetermined quantity is inputted from a residual quantity determination unit  66 , the control unit  70  controls the OSD generating unit  59  so as to re-display an OSD residual quantity short screen  5   c  and the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a . Accordingly, the user can recognize that residual power quantity of the limited power source  5 ′ is short and can change the driving state of the system through the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a.    
         [0061]     According to this, when any change associated with power source, such as completed charge of the internal battery  9  or short residual power quantity of the limited power source  5 ′ has occurred, such a change is known to the user whereby it is possible for the user to reset a driving state of the system through the OSD driving mode set screen  5   a.    
         [0062]     As described above, an electronic apparatus with the configuration according to the present invention is capable of extending durability of the limited power source  5 ′ and increasing energy efficiency since a user is allowed to select charge-on or off of the internal battery  9 , a system driving mode and power source used with the priority order, where a kind of the external power source  10 , for example, the limited power source  5 ′, is determined.  
         [0063]     According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus capable of improving energy efficiency by changing its driving state optimally according to the kind of external power source.  
         [0064]     According to this, a driving state of the portable computer with the above-described configuration may be automatically changed as in Table 1 according to a state of the power source or may be established by a user through an OSD driving mode set screen.  
         [0065]     Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: g