MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20120299966A1
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jonghwan, PARK, Changhoon, DOO, Wonjung
• Application Number:
  US13/324,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/660
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02

Abstract

A mobile terminal and a control method thereof are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes: a battery; a wireless charging unit; and a controller configured to perform a payment procedure through at least one billing method and then charge the battery, when billing is required for wireless charging through the wireless charging unit. When billing is required for wireless charging, a payment procedure through a certain billing method may be performed.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display configured for displaying information;

a battery configured for providing electrical power for the mobile terminal;

a wireless charging unit configured for electrically charging the battery using power received wirelessly from outside the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured for changing an activated state of at least a portion of the display when a charge level of the battery is less than a pre-set reference level, the changing of the activated state based on a distance between the mobile terminal and a transmitter that is configured for wirelessly sending the power to the wireless charging unit.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for distinguishably setting display features of the at least the portion of the display from a remaining portion of the display based on an application currently being executed.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for selectively activating a portion of the display designated for displaying information to be transferred to or from a user of the mobile terminal.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein changing the activated state of the at least the portion of the display comprises controlling, via the controller, the display to display an image in the at least the portion of the display or adjusting backlighting of the at least the portion of the display.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein changing the activated state of the at least the portion of the display comprises distinguishing, via the controller, an area of the at least the portion of the display in which an image is displayed from a remainder of the at least the portion of the display.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the display to display a geographical area serviced by the transmitter.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the display to display at least a charging efficiency available in the geographical area serviced by the transmitter or a charging range of the transmitter.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the display to display a location of the transmitter on a map displayed on the display or to overlap at least a portion of an application currently being executed on the display.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio output module configured for outputting audio signals,

wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the audio output module to change a volume output level of the audio signals when a charge level of the battery is less than the pre-set reference value, and

wherein changing the volume output level of the audio signals is based on the distance between the mobile terminal and the transmitter.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the mobile terminal is configured to be mounted on a wireless charging cradle during battery charging via the wireless charging unit; and

the controller is further configured for controlling the display to display an image in an orientation corresponding to an orientation of the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is mounted in the wireless charging cradle.

11. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display configured for displaying information;

a battery configured for providing electrical power for the mobile terminal;

a wireless charging unit configured for providing electrical power for the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured for changing an activated state of at least a portion of the display when a charge level of the battery is less than a pre-set reference level, the changing of the activated state based on availability of a transmitter that is configured for wirelessly sending the power to the wireless charging unit.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured for distinguishably setting display features of the at least the portion of the display from a remaining portion of the display based on an application currently being executed.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein changing the activated state of the at least the portion of the display comprises distinguishing, via the controller, an area of the at least the portion of the display in which an image is displayed from a remainder of the at least the portion of the display.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the display to display a geographical area serviced by the transmitter.

15. A control method of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

determining, via a battery charge level detection module of the mobile terminal, a remaining charge level of a battery of the mobile terminal; and

changing, via a controller of the mobile terminal, an activated state of at least a portion of a display of the mobile terminal when the remaining charge level of the battery is determined to be less than a pre-set reference level, the changing of the activated state based on a distance between the mobile terminal and a transmitter that is configured for wirelessly sending power to a wireless charging unit of the mobile terminal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

executing an application via the controller,

wherein the changing of the activated state of the at least the portion of the display comprises distinguishably setting display features of the at least the portion of the display from a remaining portion of the display based on the executed application while the application is executed.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein changing of the activated state of the at least the portion of the display comprises selectively activating a portion of the display designated for displaying information to be transferred to or from a user of the mobile terminal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

controlling, via the controller, the display to display a geographical area serviced by the transmitter.

19. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display configured for displaying information;

a battery configured for providing electrical power for the mobile terminal;

a wireless charging unit configured for electrically charging the battery using power received wirelessly from outside the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured for;

controlling the wireless charging unit to charge the battery; and

performing a payment procedure when billing is required for wirelessly charging the battery, the payment procedure performed through at least one billing method.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein:

the wireless charging unit is further configured for receiving the power from a transmitter that is configured for wirelessly sending the power to the wireless charging unit; and

the controller is further configured for;

receiving information regarding the transmitter; and

determining whether the billing is required based on the received information.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 20, further comprising:

a short-range communication module configured for receiving information,

wherein the controller is further configured for receiving the information regarding the transmitter through tagging via the short-range communication module.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 20, further comprising:

a mobile communication module configured for receiving information; and

a wireless Internet module configured for receiving information,

wherein the controller is further configured for receiving the information regarding the transmitter via at least the mobile communication module or the wireless Internet module.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured for performing an authentication procedure for discriminating between a transmitter from which the wireless charging unit is wirelessly receiving the power and other transmitters that are configured for wirelessly sending the power to the wireless charging unit.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured for selecting at least an amount of battery charging to be performed via the wireless charging unit or one or more billing methods of the at least one billing method.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the at least one billing method comprises at least displaying an advertisement corresponding to the billing on the display, purchasing an article corresponding to the billing, purchasing a service corresponding to the billing, or execution of a payment corresponding to the billing.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 24, wherein the amount of battery charging to be performed is based on at least a percentage of the battery charged in relation to a maximum charge level of the battery or an amount of time for charging the battery.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured for performing an authentication procedure of a user of the mobile terminal when a manipulation of the mobile terminal is detected while wireless charging of the battery is being performed via the wireless charging unit.

28. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display configured for displaying information;

a battery configured for providing electrical power for the mobile terminal;

a wireless charging unit configured for electrically charging the battery using power received wirelessly from outside the mobile terminal; and

a controller configured for controlling the wireless charging unit to charge the battery based on whether the power received wirelessly from outside the mobile terminal is billed.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein:

the wireless charging unit is further configured for receiving the power from a transmitter that is configured for wirelessly sending the power to the wireless charging unit; and

the controller is further configured for;

receiving information regarding the transmitter; and

determining whether billing is required based on the received information.

30. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the controller is further configured for performing a process to select at least an amount of battery charging to be performed or one or more of at least one billing method.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the controller is further configured for performing an authentication procedure of a user of the mobile terminal when a manipulation of the mobile terminal is detected while wireless charging of the battery is being performed.

32. A control method of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, information regarding a transmitter that is configured for wirelessly sending power to a wireless charging unit of the mobile terminal;

determining, via the controller, whether billing is required for wirelessly charging a battery of the mobile terminal via the wireless charging unit, the determining based on the received information; and

performing, via the controller, a payment procedure through at least one billing method when it is determined that billing is required for wirelessly charging the battery.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving the information comprises:

receiving, via the controller, the information through tagging via a short-range communication module of the mobile terminal.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving the information comprises:

receiving, via the controller, the information via at least a mobile communication module of the mobile terminal or a wireless Internet module of the mobile terminal.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

performing, via the controller, an authentication procedure for discriminating between the transmitter from which the wireless charging unit is wirelessly receiving the power and other transmitters that are configured for wirelessly sending the power to the wireless charging unit.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

selecting, via the controller, at least an amount of battery charging to be performed or one or more billing methods of the at least one billing method.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

performing, via the controller, an authentication procedure of a user of the mobile terminal when a manipulation of the mobile terminal is detected while wireless charging of the battery is being performed.