DELAYED POWER-ON FUNCTION FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20130063271A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Yasuda, Tomoaki, Tsubokawa, Yasuhisa
• Granted Patent: US 8,797,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/10 Control circuit supply, e.g. means for supplying power to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0032 disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/12 : Precharging analysis, e.g. determining presence of battery

Abstract

A delayed power-on function for an electronic device is disclosed. A charging unit charges a rechargeable battery with a pre-charge current when a voltage of the rechargeable battery is less than a voltage threshold value and with a current larger than the pre-charge current when the voltage of the rechargeable battery is greater than the voltage threshold value. A disabling unit can disable power-on when the voltage of the rechargeable battery is less than the voltage threshold value. A user may also be notified when power-on is disabled.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. An electronic device comprising:

a battery;

a disabling unit operable to disable power-on of the electronic device when a voltage of the battery is less than a first voltage threshold value; and

a notifying unit operable to provide a power-on disabled notification, if the power-on is disabled.

21. The electronic device according to claim 20, further comprising a charging unit operable to charge the battery, wherein the disabling unit disables power-on if the battery is being charged and if a voltage of the battery is less than a second voltage threshold value.

22. The electronic device according to claim 21, wherein the first voltage threshold value is equal to the second voltage threshold value.

23. The electronic device according to claim 20, further comprising an enabling unit operable to enable power-on when the voltage of the battery is equal to or greater than the first voltage threshold value.

24. The electronic device according to claim 20, further comprising a display unit comprising a screen and operable to display the power-on disabled notification on the screen.

25. A method for charging an electronic device, the method comprising:

disabling power-on of the electronic device when a voltage of a battery of the electronic device is less than a first voltage threshold value; and

providing a power-on disabled notification, if the power-on is disabled.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising charging the battery, wherein disabling power-on is performed if the battery is being charged and if a voltage of the battery is less than a second voltage threshold value.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the first voltage threshold value is equal to the second voltage threshold value.

28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising enabling power-on of the electronic device when the voltage of the battery is equal to or greater than the first voltage threshold value.

29. The method according to claim 25, further comprising displaying on a display screen of the electronic device the power-on disabled notification.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for an electronic device, the computer-readable medium storing computer-executable program code that when executed performs a method for charging an electronic device, the method comprising:

disabling power-on of the electronic device when a voltage of a battery of the electronic device is less than a first voltage threshold value; and

providing a power-on disabled notification, if the power-on is disabled.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the method further comprises charging the battery, wherein disabling power-on is performed if the battery is being charged and if a voltage of the battery is less than a second voltage threshold value.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 31, wherein the first voltage threshold value is equal to the second voltage threshold value.

33. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the method further comprises enabling power-on of the electronic device when the voltage of the battery is equal to or greater than the first voltage threshold value.

34. The computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the method further comprises displaying on a display screen of the electronic device the power-on disabled notification.