CIRCUIT AND OPERATING METHOD FOR INTEGRATED INTERFACE OF PDA AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20040034805A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: LIN, WEN-HSING, CHUANG, HSUN-HSIN, YEH, HSI-CHENG, LIN, SHI-JE, HSIEH, CHIH-CHAO
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A circuit and operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system are disclosed. The circuit includes a PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal line, a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line, a PDA-state signal line, a wireless-communication-system-state/wake-up-PDA signal line and two serial ports, wherein the serial ports are electrically connected between the PDA and the wireless communication system, and one of the two ports is used to transmit control signal and status data, another one of the two ports is used to transmit digital data signals. Moreover, the PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal line and the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line makes the PDA able to turn on and reset the wireless communication system, respectively. The PDA-state signal line and the wireless-communication-system-state/wake-up-PDA signal line transmit the status of the PDA and wireless communication system to each other.

Claims

1. A circuit for integrated interface of PDA and wireless communication system, suitable for integrating a PDA and a wireless communication system, the circuit for an integrated interface of the PDA and the wireless communication system comprising:

a first serial port, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, and the first serial port is used to transmit a control signal between the PDA and the wireless communication system;

a second serial port, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, and the second serial port is used to transmit a digital data between the PDA and the wireless communication system;

a PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal line, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, the PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal line is used to have the PDA turn on the wireless communication system;

a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, and the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line is used to have the PDA reset the wireless communication system;

a PDA-state signal line, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, the PDA-state signal line is used to transmit the status of the PDA to the wireless communication system;

a wireless-communication-system-state/wake-up-PDA signal line, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, the wireless-communication-system-state/wake-up-PDA signal line is used to transmit the status of the PDA to the wireless communication system; and

a power system, providing a power to the PDA and the wireless communication system respectively, and providing a power-shortage signal to the PDA and the wireless communication system when the power is insufficient.

2. The circuit for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the PDA further transmits an idle signal to the power system via an idle signal line.

3. The circuit for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the power system further provides a charging signal to the wireless communication system.

4. A circuit for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system, suitable for integrating a PAD and a wireless communication system, the circuit for an integrated interface of the PDA and the wireless communication system comprising:

a first serial port, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, and the first serial port is used to transmit a control signal between the PDA and the wireless communication system; and

a second serial port, having two terminals, wherein one terminal is electrically connected to the PDA, the other terminal is electrically connected to the wireless communication system, and the second serial port is used to transmit a digital data between the PDA and the wireless communication system.

5. The circuit for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 4, further comprising a power system, the power system providing a power to the PDA and the wireless communication system respectively, and determining the magnitude of the power provided to the PDA according to an idle signal transmitted from the PDA.

6. The circuit for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 5, wherein the power system provides a power-shortage signal to the PDA and the wireless communication system respectively when the power system is insufficient.

7. An operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system, suitable for integrating a PDA and a wireless communication system, the operating method for an integrated interface of the PDA and the wireless communication system comprising:

using a first serial port to transmit a control signal between the PDA and the wireless communication system; and

using a second serial port to transmit a digital data between the PDA and the wireless communication system.

8. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 7, wherein the control signal comprises a PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal and a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal.

9. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 7, further comprising:

when the PDA is turned on for the first time, performing the following steps;

turning on the PDA;

checking the status of the wireless communication system;

when the wireless communication system has been turned on, resetting the wireless communication system via a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal, and when the wireless communication system has not been turned on yet, turning on the wireless communication system via a PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal and resetting the wireless communication system via the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal;

after resetting the wireless communication system and waiting for a first predetermined period of time, checking the status of the wireless communication system;

if the status of the wireless communication system is normal, the first time turn-on-device is completed; and

if the status of the wireless communication system is abnormal, displaying an error message to notify the external that turning on the wireless communication system failed.

10. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the step of resetting the wireless communication system via the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal, further comprising:

the PDA transmitting the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal to the wireless communication system via a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line.

11. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein when the wireless communication system is not turned on yet, turning on the wireless communication system via the PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal and resetting the wireless communication system via the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal, further comprising:

the PDA transmitting the PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal to the wireless communication system via a PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal line;

waiting for a second predetermined period of time; and

the PDA transmitting the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal to the wireless communication system via a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line.

12. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the error message comprises a flashing light.

13. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the error message comprises a displaying string on the PDA.

14. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the error message comprises a sounding beep.

15. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 7, further comprising the following steps:

wherein when the wireless communication system starts to operate from standby mode, the wireless communication system transmits a wireless-communication-system-state signal to the PDA via a wireless-communication-system-state/wake-up-PDA signal line;

if the PDA receives the wireless-communication-system-state signal when the PDA is in the sleep state, the PDA is wakened, and the input source of the audio element inside the PDA is switched to the wireless communication system; and

wherein when the wireless communication system continuously operates and the PDA does not operate for a certain period of time, the PDA is switched to the sleep state.

16. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a power-shortage signal to the PDA and the wireless communication system respectively when the power is insufficient.

17. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein when the power is provided from a battery, the battery potential is divided into a first potential, a second potential, and a third potential from high to low, and wherein the step of providing the power-shortage signal to the PDA and the wireless communication system respectively when the power is insufficient further comprises:

issuing a power-shortage signal when the battery potential starts to be lower than the second potential;

after issuing the power-shortage signal, if the battery potential is greater than or equal to the first potential, stopping to issue the power-shortage signal;

when the battery potential is between the first potential and the second potential and there is no power-shortage signal, keeping normal operation; and

when the battery potential is lower than the third potential, full discharging the battery.

18. The operating method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a charging signal to the wireless communication system from a power system; and

the wireless communication system determining the charging mode according to the potential of the power system.

19. A turn-on-device method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system, suitable for integrating a PDA and a wireless communication system and used for the first time to turn-on-device, the turn-on-device method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system comprising the following steps:

turning on the PDA;

checking the status of the wireless communication system;

when the wireless communication system has been turned on, resetting the wireless communication system via a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal, and when the wireless communication system has not been turned on yet, turning on the wireless communication system via a PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal and resetting the wireless communication system via the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal;

after resetting the wireless communication system and waiting for a first predetermined period of time, checking the status of the wireless communication system;

if the status of the wireless communication system is normal, the first time turn-on-device is completed; and

if the status of the wireless communication system is abnormal, displaying an error message to notify the external that turning on the wireless communication system failed.

20. The turn-on-device method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein the step of resetting the wireless communication system via the PDA reset-wireless-communication-system signal further comprises:

the PDA transmitting the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal to the wireless communication system via a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line.

21. The turn-on-device method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein when the wireless communication system is not turned on yet, turning on the wireless communication system via the PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal and resetting the wireless communication system via the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal, further comprising:

the PDA transmitting the PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal to the wireless communication system via a PDA-turn-on-wireless-communication-system signal line;

waiting for a second predetermined period of time; and

the PDA transmitting the PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal to the wireless communication system via a PDA-reset-wireless-communication-system signal line.

22. The turn-on-device method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein the error message comprises a flashing light.

23. The turn-on-device method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein the error message comprises a displaying string on the PDA.

24. The turn-on-device method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 19, wherein the error message comprises a sounding beep.

25. A power-saving method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system, suitable for integrating a PAD and a wireless communication system, comprising the following steps:

wherein when the wireless communication system starts to operate from standby mode, the wireless communication system transmits a wireless-communication-system-state signal to the PDA;

if the PDA receives the wireless-communication-system-state signal when the PDA is in the sleep state, the PDA is wakened, and the input source of the audio element inside the PDA is switched to the wireless communication system; and

wherein when the wireless communication system continuously operates and the PDA does not operate for a certain period of time, the PDA is switched to the sleep state.

26. A power-shortage determining method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system, dividing the power potential into a first potential, a second potential, and a third potential from high to low, the power-shortage determining method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system comprising the following steps:

when the power is light loaded and the potential is lower than the second potential, issuing a power-shortage signal;

when the power is heavy loaded and the potential is lower than the third potential, issuing the power-shortage signal;

after the power-shortage signal is issued, if the power potential is greater than or equal to the first potential, stopping issuing the power-shortage signal;

when the power potential is between the first potential and the third potential and there is no power-shortage signal, keeping normal operation; and

when the power potential is lower than the third potential, entering into the complete discharging state.

27. The power-shortage determining method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 26, wherein the first potential is about 3.6 V, the second potential is about 3.5 V, and the third potential is about 3.2 V.

28. A battery charging method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system, suitable for a device that comprises a PDA, a wireless communication system, and a battery and is charged via an external charging cable, the device further has an external charging circuit to charge the battery, and there is an internal charging circuit inside the wireless communication system to charge the battery, the charging method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system comprising following steps:

performing the small-current charging to the battery via the external charging circuit by using the external charging cable;

turning on the wireless communication system when the small-current charging is being performed; and

after the wireless communication system is turned on successfully, turning on the internal charging circuit for charging when the battery potential achieves a first predetermined value.

29. The battery charging method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 28, further comprising issuing a charging signal to the wireless communication system when the external charging cable is plugged into the battery.

30. The battery charging method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 28, further comprising converting the charging method to the constant-voltage charging when the battery potential achieves a second predetermined value that is higher than the first predetermined value.

31. The battery charging method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 30, further comprising dividing the charging process into a plurality of charging segments, wherein the plurality of charging segments are distinguished by the battery potential, and the battery is charged by using different current value via the internal charging circuit.

32. A power-shortage determining method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system, dividing the power potential into a first potential and a second potential from high to low, and dynamically adjusting a power-shortage signal generating time point to the point when the power potential is either lower than the first potential or the second potential.

33. The power-shortage determining method for an integrated interface of a PDA and a wireless communication system of claim 32, wherein dynamically adjusting the power-shortage signal generating time point comprises:

issuing the power-shortage signal when the power is light loaded and the potential is lower than the first potential; and

issuing the power-shortage signal when the power is heavy loaded and the potential is lower than the second potential.