Method and system for charging management

• US 7,386,403 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Jyun-Yu, Chen, Hua-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, Jr.; John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Toan M
• Application Number:
  US11/096,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63, 320/137, 700/297, 340/636.1, 715/835, 713/300, 713/310, 713320-321, 713/340
• US Class Current: 702/63
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A method and a system for charging management are applied in an electronic device. The system includes a sensing unit, a detecting unit, a signal output unit, a receiving unit and a processing unit. By the method, when the sensing unit senses an external power source inputted to the electronic device, the detecting unit detects a current electric quantity of a battery of the electronic device. The processing unit actuates the signal output unit to provide an operating interface for a user to issue a command through a hot key or an application program selection control window. After the receiving unit receives the command from the user, a required charging mode is activated according to the user'"'"'s requirement. Therefore, problems resulted from battery removal such as inconvenience and failure of an uninterruptable power mechanism are solved, and a battery charging frequency is reduced to prolong the battery lifetime.

Claims

1. A method for charging management, applicable in an electronic device having a display screen and an input interface, so as to perform a charging process on the electronic device via a system for charging management, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) having the system display an application program selection control window on the display screen when an external power source is inputted to the electronic device, so as to allow a user to determine whether a keystroke battery charging mode is to be activated to perform the charging process on the electronic device, if yes, proceeding to step (2), or if no, proceeding to step (4);

(2) having the application program selection control window determine whether an instruction for performing the charging process is received or having the input interface of the electronic device determine whether the instruction for performing the charging process is received, if yes, proceeding to step (4), or if no, proceeding to step (3);

(3) having the system temporarily subject a battery of the electronic device to a non-charging status, and allowing the user to return to step (2) and determine whether the charging process is to be performed depending on a remaining status of an electric quantity of the battery, if yes, proceeding to step (4), or if no, maintaining the electronic device in the non-charging status; and

(4) performing the charging process on the battery of the electronic device via the external power source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is one selected from of the group consisting of laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), digital camera, digital video camera, mobile phone and portable television.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is applied to a Microsoft Windows operating system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method utilizes a basic input/output system-embedded controller (BIOS-BC) to control the charging process and is applicable to a non-Microsoft Windows operating system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input interface of the electronic device is a hot key.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the external power source is a public alternating current source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application program selection control window comprises an ON option and an OFF option, allowing the user to click on the ON option to have the charging process be performed, or allowing the user to click on the OFF option to keep the battery in the non-charging status.

8. A system for charging management, applicable in an electronic device having a display screen and an operating interface, the system comprising:

a sensing unit for determining whether there is an external power source inputted to the electronic device, if yes, the sensing unit outputting a power source input signal;

a detecting unit for detecting a current electric quantity of a battery of the electronic device when the detecting unit receives the power source input signal, and for outputting a detection result;

a signal output unit for displaying an application program selection control window comprising the detection result of the electric quantity of the battery on the display screen, so as to allow a user to determine whether a keystroke battery charging mode is to be activated;

a receiving unit for receiving a command inputted from the user to actuate associated functional components; and

a processing unit coupled to the sensing unit, the detecting unit, the signal output unit and the receiving unit, for monitoring operating procedures of the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is one selected of the group consisting of laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), digital camera, digital video camera, mobile phone and portable television.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing unit is a basic input/output system-embedded controller (BIOS-EC).

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiving unit is adapted to receive a charging command issued from the user through a dialogue window or the operating interface.