PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CHARGING THROUGH DISCERNMENT OF CHARGING CABLE

• US 20090027010A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: CHA, Kwang-Sik, HA, Jung-Su
• Application Number:
  US12/171,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027010A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/138
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable communication device and method for charging through discernment of a charging cable are provided. When the portable communication device is connected to an external charging device through a connector in order to charge a power source in the portable communication device, a configuration signal is received from the external charging device through a positive data line and a negative data line of the connector, a logic characteristic value is output according to the received configuration signal, the charging cable is discerned by analyzing a current characteristic through connection with a resistance circuit according to the on/off state of a switch which operates according to the logic characteristic value, and a control operation is performed such that a battery is charged from the external charging device through the corresponding charging cable.

Claims

1. A portable communication device for charging through discernment of a charging cable, the portable communication device comprising:

a connector for connecting to an external charging device in order to charge a power source in the portable communication device;

a charging unit for charging a battery with power input from the external charging device through the connector; and

a controller for discerning a charging cable by analyzing a current characteristic according to a configuration signal input from the external charging device through the connector, and for controlling the battery to be charged from the external charging device through the discerned charging cable.

2. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:

a logic circuit unit for outputting a logic characteristic value according to the configuration signal of the external charging device, which is input through a positive data line and a negative data line of the connector;

a switch unit for switching according to the logic characteristic value output from the logic circuit unit; and

a resistance circuit unit for enabling the current characteristic to be analyzed according to the switching of the switch unit.

3. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, when the controller receives a configuration signal of a high level through both the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector from the external charging device, the switch unit is switched on according to a high logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit, which is connected by the switch unit, is analyzed as shown in

I=V/R1

in which “

I”

represents a current value, “

V”

represents a voltage value, and “

R1”

represents a resistance value.

4. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller discerns a travel adaptor according to the current characteristic and controls the battery to be charged from the external charging device.

5. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the controller receives a configuration signal, which swings from a high level to a low level and from a low level to a high level through the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector respectively, from the external charging device, the switch unit is switched off according to a low logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit is analyzed as shown in

I=V/R1+R2.

6. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller discerns a USB cable according to the current characteristic and controls the battery to be charged from the external charging device.

7. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein, when the controller receives a configuration signal of a high level through both the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector from the external charging device, the switch unit is switched on according to a high logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit, which is connected by the switch unit, is analyzed as shown in

I=V/(R1//R2),

in which “

I”

represents a current value, “

V”

represents a voltage value, and “

R1” and

“

R2”

represent a resistance value.

8. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller discerns a travel adaptor according to the current characteristic and controls the battery to be charged from the external charging device.

9. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 7, wherein, when the controller receives a configuration signal, which swings from a high level to a low level and from a low level to a high level through the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector, from the external charging device, the switch unit is switched off according to a low logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit is analyzed as shown in

I=V/R1.

10. The portable communication device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller discerns a USB cable according to the current characteristic and controls the battery to be charged from the external charging device.

11. A method for charging through discernment of a charging cable in a portable communication device, the method comprising:

connecting the portable communication device to an external charging device through a connector in order to charge a power source in the portable communication device;

receiving a configuration signal from the external charging device through a positive data line and a negative data line of the connector;

outputting a logic characteristic value according to the received configuration signal;

configuring a resistance circuit unit by performing a switching operation according to the logic characteristic value;

discerning a charging cable by analyzing a current characteristic of the resistance circuit unit; and

controlling a battery to be charged from the external charging device through the discerned charging cable.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, the discerning of the charging cable comprises, when a configuration signal of a high level is received through both the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector from the external charging device, the switching is performed according to a high logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit is analyzed as shown in

I=V/R1,

thereby discerning a travel adaptor,

in which “

I”

represents a current value, “

V”

represents a voltage value, and “

R1”

represents a resistance value.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein, the discerning of the charging cable comprises, when a configuration signal, which swings from a high level to a low level and from a low level to a high level through the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector, is received from the external charging device, the switching is performed according to a low logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit is analyzed as shown in

I=V/R1+R2,

thereby discerning a USB cable.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein, the discerning of the charging cable comprises, when a configuration signal of a high level through both the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector is received from the external charging device, the switching is performed according to a high logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit is analyzed as shown in

I=V/(R1//R2),

thereby discerning a travel adaptor.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein, the discerning of the charging cable comprises, when a configuration signal, which swings from a high level to a low level and from a low level to a high level through the positive data line and the negative data line of the connector, is received from the external charging device, the switching is performed according to a low logic signal output from the logic circuit unit, and a current characteristic through the resistance circuit unit is analyzed as shown in

I=V/R1,

thereby discerning a USB cable.

16. A portable communication device for discerning a charging cable, comprising:

a connector for connecting to a charging cable; and

a controller for discerning a type of the charging cable based on characteristics of a signal supplied by the charging cable.