Mobile terminal

• US 20070243850A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1 (IP Bridge, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Arai, Masae
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.100
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine

Abstract

In a mobile terminal having an automatic startup mode of a television signal receiving function using a timer, startup is properly controlled in consideration of remaining battery capacity to thereby prevent an occurrence of unexpected lack of battery capacity. In a state where an alarm mode using a television broadcast or an FM broadcast has been set, a control unit makes low voltage determination of a battery at a time point when a time has been up. When an output voltage value of the battery is lower than a threshold, the control unit outputs an alarm sound from a speaker instead of starting up a TV receiver and causes a display to display a low voltage message.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a battery configured to supply a power voltage to the mobile terminal;

a receiver unit configured to receive a television signal including video and voice signals;

an output unit configured to output the video and voice signals;

a setting unit configured to set an operating mode for automatically starting up the receiver unit and the output unit at a desired date and time;

a determining unit configured to detect an output voltage of the battery at the desired date and time, and determine whether the detected voltage is higher than a predetermined threshold, or is lower than the threshold; and

a control unit configured to restrict operations of the receiver unit and the output unit, if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.

2. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the receiver unit and the output unit to operate if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is higher than the threshold.

3. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to stop an outputting the video signal to the output unit and output only the voice signal, if the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.

4. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to stop outputting the video signal and the voice signal, and output at least one of the video signal and voice signal stored in advance, if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.

5. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to stop outputting the video signal and the voice signal, and output a message stored in advance to the effect that the receiver unit cannot be started up due to lack of remaining battery capacity, if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.

6. A mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to alternately output the video signal and the voice signal, if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.

7. A mobile terminal comprising:

a battery configured to supply a power voltage to the mobile terminal;

a receiver unit configured to receive a radio signal including a voice signal;

an output unit configured to output the voice signal;

a setting unit configured to set an operating mode for automatically starting up the receiver unit and the output unit at a desired date and time;

a determining unit configured to detect an output voltage of the battery at the desired date and time, and determine whether the detected voltage is higher than a predetermined threshold, or is lower than the threshold; and

a control unit configured to restrict operations of the receiver unit and the output unit, if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.

8. A mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the control unit causes the receiver unit and the output unit to operate if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is higher than the threshold.

9. A mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to stop outputting the voice signal, and output at least one of the video signal and voice signal stored in advance, if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.

10. A mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the output unit to stop outputting the voice signal, and output a message stored in advance to the effect that the receiver unit cannot be started up due to lack of remaining battery capacity, if it is determined that the output voltage of the battery is lower than the threshold.