Electronic apparatus with rechargeable battery

• US 7,528,577 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Hara, Yasushi, Yokota, Koichi, Nakashima, Yoshiyasu, Kazama, Satoshi, Shiba, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah; Akm E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US11/443,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/133, 320/134, 365/229, 702/63, 455/572, 455/573, 713/340
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An information processor of an electronic apparatus includes a power manager managing power of a secondary battery, and has major functions and a supplementary function. The power manager initiates restriction of the supplementary function, when detected present remaining battery power of the secondary battery is below a threshold. The power manager computes the threshold for the secondary battery or a set operating time for the major functions according to the remaining battery power at the threshold, in accordance with received user input information and power consumption rates corresponding to the major functions. The power manager computes an operating time available for the major functions in accordance with detected remaining battery power of the secondary battery and the power consumption rates corresponding to the major functions. The power manager computes an operating time available for the supplemental function in accordance with the power consumption rate corresponding to the supplemental function.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

an information processing unit,

a memory coupled to said information processing unit,

an RF communication unit coupled to said information processing unit,

an audio circuit coupled to said information processing unit,

a display,

an information reception unit receiving user input information,

a secondary battery,

a detector detecting battery power remaining on said secondary battery;

said information processing unit including a power manager managing the power of said secondary battery, and an information type determination unit determining a type of information received by said information reception unit and having at least one major function and a supplementary function, said memory storing power consumption rates corresponding to the at least one major function and the supplemental function;

said power manager initiating restriction of the supplementary function, if a present remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector is below a predetermined threshold;

said power manager computing the predetermined threshold for said secondary battery in accordance with the information received by the information reception unit and the power consumption rates corresponding to the at least one major function, if the information type determination unit determines that the type of the information received by the information reception unit is a set operating time for securing the at least one major function;

said power manager computing a set operating time for the at least one major function according to the remaining battery power at the predetermined threshold in accordance with the information received by the information reception unit and the power consumption rates corresponding to the at least one major function, if the information type determination unit determines that the type of information received by the information reception unit is the predetermined threshold for said secondary battery;

said power manager computing an operating time available for the at least one major function in accordance with the remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector and the power consumption rates corresponding to the one or more major functions;

said power manager computing an operating time available for the supplemental function in accordance with the power consumption rate corresponding to the supplemental function by subtracting the predetermined threshold from the remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector; and

said power manager displaying, on said display, the present remaining battery power of said secondary battery, the predetermined threshold, the operating time available for the at least one major function and the operating time available for the supplementary function.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one major function includes an incoming call awaiting function and a telephone voice communication function.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector is below the predetermined threshold, said power manager computes and displays, on said display, the set operating time for the at least one major function for the remaining battery power at the predetermined threshold and the available operating time for the at least one major function for the present remaining battery power of said secondary battery.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power manager computes the set operating time for the at least one major function in accordance with the predetermined threshold set by a user, and displays the computed set operating time for the at least one major function on said display.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power manager computes the operating time available for the supplementary function in accordance with the predetermined threshold set by a user and with the present remaining battery power, and displays the computed operating time available for the supplementary function on said display.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power manager computes the predetermined threshold in accordance with the set operating time for the at least one major function set by a user, and displays the computed threshold on said display.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power manager computes the predetermined threshold and the operating time available for the supplementary function, in accordance with the set operating time for the at least one major function set by a user and with said present remaining battery power, and displays the computed threshold and the computed operating time available for the supplementary function on said display.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power manager computes the predetermined threshold and the set operating time for the at least one major function, in accordance with the operating time available for the supplementary function set by a user and with the present remaining battery power, and displays the computed threshold and the computed set operating time for the at least one major function on said display.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the supplementary function is selected, said power manager computes and displays, on said display, the operating time available for the supplementary function.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the incoming call awaiting function as the at least one major function is being performed, at least one of said detector, an LED backlight and a vibrator is disabled.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if the present remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector is below the predetermined threshold, said power manager indicates on said display that the supplementary function is currently unavailable.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if the present remaining battery power exceeds another threshold, at which the supplementary function is to be de-restricted, through the charging of said secondary battery after the initiation of restriction of the supplementary function, said power manager de-restricts the supplementary function.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power manager computes the set operating time for the supplementary function, in accordance with remaining battery power which is equal to the difference between the predetermined threshold, at which restriction of the supplementary function is to be initiated, and another threshold, at which the supplementary function is to be de-restricted, and displays the computed set operating time for the supplementary function on said display.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising:

an information processing unit,

a memory coupled to said information processing unit,

an RF communication unit coupled to said information processing unit, an audio circuit coupled to said information processing unit,

a display,

an information reception unit receiving user input information,

a secondary battery, and

a detector detecting battery power remaining on said secondary battery;

said information processing unit including a power manager managing the power of said secondary battery, and an information type determination unit determining a type of information received by said information reception unit, and having at least one major function and a supplementary function, said memory storing power consumption rates corresponding to the at least one major function and supplemental function;

said power manager generating a warning sound, if when a present remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector is below a predetermined threshold;

said power manager computing the predetermined threshold for said secondary battery in accordance with the information received by the information reception unit and the power consumption rates corresponding to the at least one major function, if the information type determination unit determines that the type of the information received by the information reception unit is a set operating time for securing the at least one major function;

said power manager computing a set operating time for the at least one major function according to the remaining battery power at the said predetermined threshold in accordance with the information received by the information reception unit and the power consumption rates corresponding to the at least one major function, if the information type determination unit determines that the type of information received by the information reception unit is the predetermined threshold for said secondary battery;

said power manager computing an operating time available for the at least one major function in accordance with the remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector and the power consumption rates corresponding to the at least one major function;

said power manager computing an operating time available for the supplemental function in accordance with the power consumption rate corresponding to the supplemental function by subtracting the predetermined threshold from the remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector;

said power manager displaying, on said display, the present remaining battery power of said secondary battery, the predetermined threshold, the operating time available for the at least one major function and the operating time available for the supplementary function.

15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, if the remaining battery power of said secondary battery as detected by said detector is below the predetermined threshold, said power manager computes and displays, on said display, the set operating time for the at least one major function for the remaining battery power at the predetermined threshold and the available operating time for the at least one major function for the present remaining battery power of said secondary battery.

16. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said power manager computes the set operating time for the at least one major function in accordance with the said predetermined threshold set by a user, and displays the computed set operating time for the at least one major function on said display.

17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said power manager computes the operating time available for the supplementary function in accordance with the predetermined threshold set by a user and with the present remaining battery power, and displays the computed operating time available for the supplementary function on said display.

18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said power manager computes the predetermined threshold in accordance with the set operating time for the at least one major function set by a user, and displays the computed threshold on said display.

19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said power manager computes the predetermined threshold and the operating time available for the supplementary function, in accordance with the set operating time for the at least one major function set by a user and with the present remaining battery power, and displays the computed threshold and the computed operating time available for the supplementary function on said display.

20. The electronic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said power manager computes the predetermined threshold and the set operating time for the at least one major function, in accordance with the operating time available for the supplementary function set by a user and with the present remaining battery power, and displays the computed threshold and the computed set operating time for the at least one major function on said display.