APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER IN PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20130088094A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Paik, Min-Chull
• Granted Patent: US 9,407,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/118
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/00 Mechanisms for operating contacts for tap changers H01H9/0027; thermal actuating or release means H01H37/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

An apparatus performs a power control method for a portable terminal. The power control method includes measuring humidity around the portable terminal using a humidity sensor, and determining whether a flooding condition occurs based on the measured humidity. The method also includes turning off power of the portable terminal by releasing a connection with a battery that supplies power to the portable terminal when it is determined that the flooding condition occurs.

Claims

1. A power control method of a portable terminal, the power control method comprising:

measuring humidity around the portable terminal using a humidity sensor;

determining whether a flooding condition occurs based on the measured humidity; and

turning off power of the portable terminal by releasing a connection with a battery that supplies power to the portable terminal when it is determined that the flooding condition occurs.

2. The power control method of claim 1, wherein the determination whether the flooding conditions occur comprises:

comparing the measured humidity with a predetermined threshold humidity; and

determining that the flooding condition occurs when the measured humidity is greater than the predetermined threshold humidity and determining that the flooding condition does not occur when the measured humidity is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold humidity.

3. The power control method of claim 1, wherein turning off the power of the portable terminal comprises releasing a connection between the battery and at least one component using a switch which connects the battery with the at least one component included in the portable terminal.

4. The power control method of claim 3, wherein the at least one component is an integrated circuit configured to receive power from the battery.

5. The power control method of claim 4, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to block a power supply to at least one component that receives power from the battery.

6. The power control method of claim 4, wherein the integrated circuit is a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

7. A power control apparatus for a portable terminal, the power control apparatus comprising:

a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity around the portable terminal; and

a controller configured to determine whether a flooding condition occurs based on the measured humidity, and to turn off power of the portable terminal by releasing a connection with a battery that supplies power to the portable terminal when it is determined that the flooding condition occurs.

8. The power control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the measured humidity with a predetermined threshold humidity, determine that the flooding condition occurs when the measured humidity is greater than the predetermined threshold humidity, and determine that the flooding condition does not occur when the measured humidity is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold humidity.

9. The power control apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a switch configured to connect the battery with at least one component included in the portable terminal,

wherein the controller is further configured to output a control signal indicating a connection release with the battery when it is determined that the flooding condition occurs, and

wherein the switch is further configured to release a connection between the battery and the at least one component according to the control signal.

10. The power control apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one component is an integrated circuit configured to receive power from the battery.

11. The power control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to block a power supply to at least one component that receives power from the battery.

12. The power control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the integrated circuit is a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

13. The power control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the battery is mounted inside the portable terminal.

14. A portable terminal, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) module; and

a power control apparatus, the power control apparatus comprising;

a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity around the portable terminal; and

a controller configured to determine whether a flooding condition occurs based on the measured humidity, and to turn off power of the portable terminal by releasing a connection with a battery that supplies power to the portable terminal when it is determined that the flooding condition occurs.

15. The portable terminal of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the measured humidity with a predetermined threshold humidity, determine that the flooding condition occurs when the measured humidity is greater than the predetermined threshold humidity, and determine that the flooding condition does not occur when the measured humidity is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold humidity.

16. The portable terminal of claim 14, the power control apparatus further comprising a switch configured to connect the battery with at least one component included in the portable terminal,

wherein the controller is further configured to output a control signal indicating a connection release with the battery when it is determined that the flooding condition occurs, and

wherein the switch is further configured to release a connection between the battery and the at least one component according to the control signal.

17. The portable terminal of claim 16, wherein the at least one component is an integrated circuit configured to receive power from the battery.

18. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to block a power supply to at least one component that receives power from the battery.

19. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the integrated circuit is a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

20. The portable terminal of claim 14, wherein the battery is mounted inside the portable terminal.