IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING FUNCTION OF CHARGING EXTERNAL DEVICE AND CHARGING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100097030A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: KIM, Young-keun, NOH, Young-joong
• Granted Patent: US 8,669,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Abstract

An image display apparatus having a function of charging an external device and a charging method thereof are provide. The image display apparatus includes a universal serial bus (USB) interface which is connected to an external device through a power supply line and a data transmission line, and a main controller which, if the external device is connected, activates one of the power supply line and the data transmission line according to a type of the external device. Accordingly, the image display apparatus controls a USB terminal to selectively perform a charging operation or a data transmission operation.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus comprising:

a universal serial bus (USB) interface which is operable to be connected to an external device through a power supply line and a data transmission line; and

a main controller which, if the external device is connected to the USB interface, activates one of the power supply line and the data transmission line according to a type of the external device.

2. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a USB controller which determines the type of the external device according to whether information is received from the external device.

3. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, if information is received from the external device, the main controller activates the data transmission line, and if the information is not received, the main controller activates the power supply line.

4. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main controller comprises:

a control module which activates one of the power supply line and the data transmission line; and

a USB reception module which, if the data transmission line is activated by the control module, receives data from the external device.

5. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the USB controller comprises:

a USB module which detects whether a power supplied to the external device exceeds a threshold value; and

a USB charging module which detects whether a charging of the external device is completed after the power supply line is activated.

6. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein, if a completion of the charging of the external device is detected or if the power supplied to the external device exceeds the threshold value, the main controller interrupts the power supply line.

7. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein, if the power transmission line is activated in a standby mode and if a completion of the charging of the external device is detected, the main controller selectively converts a current mode into a broadcast view mode or the standby mode.

8. The image display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus is a television (TV) having a tuner.

9. A method for charging an external device, of an image display apparatus which is operable to be connected to the external device through a universal serial bus (USB) interface, the method comprising:

if the external device is connected to the image display apparatus, determining a mode according to a type of the external device; and

if the determined mode is a charging mode, activating a power supply line to charge the external device, and if the determined mode is a data transmission mode, activating a data transmission line.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising detecting a connection of the external device at the USB interface.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the determined mode is the data transmission mode if information is received from the external device, and the determined mode is the charging mode if the information is not received.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising receiving data from the external device if the data transmission line is activated.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising, if the power supply line is activated, detecting whether a power supplied to the external device exceeds a threshold value and whether a charging of the external device is completed.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising, if a completion of the charging of the external device is detected or if the power supplied to the external device exceeds the threshold value, interrupting the power supply line.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising, if the power supply line is activated in a standby mode and if a completion of the charging of the external device is detected, selectively converting a current mode into a broadcast view mode or the standby mode.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the image display apparatus is a TV having a tuner.

17. A method of charging an apparatus, the method comprising:

connecting an external device to a television through a universal serial bus (USB) interface;

supplying power from the television to the external device to charge a rechargeable power supply unit of the external device; and

determining whether the rechargeable power supply unit is completely charged or whether a power supplied to the external device exceeds a threshold value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein if the rechargeable power supply unit is completed charged or if the power supplied to the external device exceeds the threshold value, the supplying of power from the television to the external device is stopped.