Wireless communication apparatus having rechargeable battery

• US 6,526,293 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1998
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Ryuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US09/092,010
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/572-574, 455/566, 455/567, 455/347, 455/421, 320/107, 320/160, 320/110, 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/138, 379/441-447
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition

Abstract

A wireless communication apparatus includes a first connector for detachably connecting a battery charger to the rechargeable battery and a second connector for detachably connecting an AC adapter. A charge detector detects a connection of the battery charger and an AC adapter detector detects a connection of the AC adapter. A charge controller charges the rechargeable battery when the connection of the AC adapter is detected. A light-emitting indicator is controlled such that the light-emitting indicator lights up in a way different from a normal way depending on the charge detector and the AC adapter detector.

Claims

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a light-emitting indicator used to indicate a first status of said apparatus;

a rechargeable battery as a power supply for the wireless communication apparatus;

a connector for detachably connecting an external battery charger to the rechargeable battery;

a charge detector for detecting a charge state by monitoring a voltage of the rechargeable battery; and

an indicator controller for controlling the light-emitting indicator such that, when the charge state is detected by the charge detector, the light-emitting indicator lights up in a way different from a normal way used to indicate said first status.

2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting indicator lights up in a first way when an incoming call occurs and in a second way when the charge state is detected by the charge detector.

3. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a rechargeable battery as a power supply for the wireless communication apparatus;

a first connector for detachably connecting a first charging source to the rechargeable battery;

a first detector for detecting a charge state by monitoring a voltage of the rechargeable battery;

a second connector for detachably connecting a second charging source;

a second detector for detecting connection of the second charging source; and

a charge controller connected to the second connector, for charging the rechargeable battery using charge power received from the second charging source when the connection of the second charging source is detected.

4. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a light-emitting indicator; and

an indicator controller for controlling the light-emitting indicator such that the light-emitting indicator lights up in a way different from a normal way when at least one of the charge state and the connection of the second charging source is detected.

5. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light-emitting indicator lights up in a first way when an incoming call occurs and in a second way when at least one of the charge state and the connection of the second charging source is detected.

6. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the charge controller operates in constant-current mode until the voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined voltage and thereafter operates in constant-voltage mode.

7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rechargeable battery comprises a lithium-ion battery.

8. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first charging source comprises a battery charger dedicated to the rechargeable battery and the second charging source comprises an AC-to-DC converter.

9. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

a rechargeable battery as a power supply for the wireless communication apparatus;

a first connector for detachably connecting a first charging source to the rechargeable battery;

a first detector for detecting a charge state by monitoring a voltage of the rechargeable battery;

a second connector for detachably connecting a second charging source;

a second detector for detecting connection of the second charging source; and

a charge controller connected to the second connector, for charging the rechargeable battery using charge power received from the second charging source when the connection of the second charging source is detected, wherein the charge controller does not charge the rechargeable battery when both the charge state and the connection of the second charging source are concurrently detected.

10. A method for indicating a charge state in a wireless communication apparatus having a light-emitting indicator for indicating a first status of said apparatus and a rechargeable battery as a power supply, comprising:

detecting a charge state by monitoring a voltage of the rechargeable battery; and

controlling the light-emitting indicator such that, when the charge state is detected by the charge detector, the light-emitting indicator lights up in a way different from a normal way used to indicate said first status.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the light-emitting indicator lights up in a first way when an incoming call occurs and in a second way when the charge state is detected by the charge detector.

12. A method for charging a rechargeable battery of a wireless communication apparatus, comprising the steps of:

detecting connection of a battery charger by monitoring a voltage of the rechargeable battery;

detecting connection of an AC-to-DC converter;

charging the rechargeable battery using charge power received from the AC-to-DC converter when the connection of the AC-to-DC converter is detected and the connection of the battery charger is not detected; and

charging the rechargeable battery using charge power received from the battery charger when the connection of the battery charger is detected.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of controlling a light-emitting indicator of the wireless communication apparatus such that the light-emitting indicator lights up in a way different from a normal way when at least one of the battery charger and the connection of the AC-to-DC converter is detected.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the light-emitting indicator lights up in a first way when an incoming call occurs and in a second way when at least one of the battery charger and the connection of the AC-to-DC converter is detected.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the rechargeable battery is charged in constant-current mode until the voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a predetermined voltage and thereafter is charged in constant-voltage mode.

16. A method of alerting a user of a status of a communications apparatus having an internal rechargeable battery and a light emitting diode, said method comprising:

turning on said light emitting diode in a first manner to indicate a first status of said apparatus; and

turning on said light emitting diode in a second manner to indicate a charging operation of said internal rechargeable battery.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first status comprises an incoming call.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said charging operation can be done by at least two different means.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said light emitting diode is turned on in a third manner to indicate said internal battery is fully charged.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein one of said means comprises providing external power to a battery charger internal to said apparatus and said internal battery charger is inhibited if said external power is concurrently connected with any other of said at least two different charging means.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said charging operation automatically selects a predetermined one of said at least two different recharging means if more than one of said at least two different charging means is concurrently connected.

22. A method of alerting a user of a status of a communications apparatus having an internal rechargeable battery and a light emitting diode, said method comprising:

turning on said light emitting diode in a first manner to indicate a first status of said apparatus; and

turning on said light emitting diode in a second manner to indicate a charging operation of said internal rechargeable battery,

wherein said charging operation can be performed by at least two different means and said second manner of controlling said light emitting diode comprises a different manner for each of said at least two different means.

23. A system for charging a battery for a portable device comprising first and second connectors and first and second detector for respectively connecting a first and second charging source to the battery and means for controlling the charging, wherein the controller does not charge the battery at all when both charging sources are concurrently detected.