APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER OFF IN A MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20130069436A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Im, Jong-Hyeok, Yu, Bo-Hyun
• Application Number:
  US13/619,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus configured to control power off in an apparatus includes a power unit, a battery detachment detector, an input unit, and a controller. The power unit supplies power from at least one of a battery and an auxiliary power unit. When detecting that the battery is separated from the power unit, the battery detachment detector outputs a battery separation signal to the input unit using power from the auxiliary power unit. When receiving the battery separation signal from the battery detachment detector, the input unit generates a power off event using power from the auxiliary power unit. When the power off event occurs from the input unit, the controller performs a power off procedure using power from the auxiliary power unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to control a power off event in the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a power unit configured to supply power from at least one of a battery and an auxiliary power unit;

a battery detachment detector configured to, when detecting that the battery is separated from the power unit of the apparatus in a power on state, output a battery separation signal to an input unit using power from the auxiliary power unit;

the input unit configured to, when receiving the battery separation signal from the battery detachment detector, generate a power off event using power from the auxiliary power unit; and

a controller configured to, when the power off event occurs from the input unit, perform a power off procedure using power from the auxiliary power unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power unit is configured to be charged from the battery when connected to the power unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a mobile terminal, an electronic scheduler, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more volatile memory elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a capacitor that is configured to supply electrical power.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a storage cell.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the storage cell comprises at least one of a lithium-polymer (LiPo) storage cell, a nickel-cadmium (NiCad) storage cell, and a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) storage cell.

16. The power off control means of claim 5, further comprising means for, when the battery is connected to the apparatus, charging the auxiliary power unit from the battery.

8. A method for controlling a power off event in the apparatus, the method comprising:

operating the apparatus using power from at least one of a battery and an auxiliary power unit;

when detecting that the battery is separated from the apparatus, generating the power off event using power from the auxiliary power unit; and

when the power off event occurs, performing a power off procedure using power from the auxiliary power unit.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising when the battery is connected to the apparatus, charging the auxiliary power unit from the battery.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a mobile terminal, an electronic scheduler, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more volatile memory elements.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a capacitor that is configured to supply electrical power.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a storage cell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the storage cell comprises at least one of a lithium-polymer (LiPo) storage cell, a nickel-cadmium (NiCad) storage cell, and a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) storage cell

15. A power off control means comprising:

means for powering an apparatus using power from at least one of a battery and an auxiliary power unit;

means for, when detecting that the battery is separated from the apparatus, generating a power off event using power from the auxiliary power unit; and

means for, when the power off event occurs, performing a power off procedure using power from the auxiliary power unit.

17. The power off control means of claim 15, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more volatile memory elements.

18. The power off control means of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a capacitor that is configured to supply electrical power.

19. The power off control means of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary power unit comprises a storage cell.

20. The power off control means of claim 19, wherein the storage cell comprises at least one of a lithium-polymer (LiPo) storage cell, a nickel-cadmium (NiCad) storage cell, and a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) storage cell.