Electronic device and control method thereof

• US 7,574,617 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Hee-jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rehman; Mohammed H
• Application Number:
  US10/974,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

An electronic device with a plurality of electronic components, the electronic device includes a microcomputer, a first regulator supplying power required to drive the microcomputer in a first mode of the electronic device, a second regulator supplying power required to drive at least one among the plurality of electric components in a second mode of the electronic device, and a controller controlling the power from the second regulator to be employed as power for driving the microcomputer when the electronic device operates in the second mode. With this configuration, the electronic device, especially in a case of a portable electronic device using a battery, has a longer running time and a life span of a battery is increased.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus to supply power to a portable electronic device comprising a plurality of electronic components, the power supply apparatus comprising:

a linear voltage regulator supplying a first power required to drive a microcomputer in an off-mode to define an off-state of the portable electronic device;

a switching voltage regulator supplying a second power required to drive at least one among the plurality of electric components and the microcomputer in an on-mode to define an on-state of the portable electronic device; and

a controller controlling the switching voltage regulator to supply the second power to the microcomputer in the on-mode,

wherein the first power and second power have a similar voltage level, and the controller comprises a shut_down signal generator which shuts down the linear voltage regulator at or after starting the on-mode, and

the controller comprises a switch controlling the power to be supplied from the switching voltage regulator to the microcomputer, and a switching controller turning on the switch when the second power is supplied in a forward bias direction from the switching voltage regulator.

2. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:

a first diode connected to an output terminal of the linear voltage regulator in a forward biased direction; and

a second diode connected to an output terminal of the switching voltage regulator in the forward biased direction.

3. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises:

a diode connected to an output terminal of the linear voltage regulator in a forward biased direction.

4. The power supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the switching controller controls the microcomputer according to the second power supplied from the switching voltage regulator in the on-mode.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the switching controller shuts down the linear voltage regulator at or after starting the on-mode.

6. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear voltage regulator is shut down by the microcomputer at or after starting the on-mode.

7. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shut_down signal generator controls the linear voltage regulator to supply the first power to the microcomputer before the second power from the second regulator is cut off when the portable electronic device is turned off.

8. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply to supply power to the linear and switching voltage regulators,

the power supply comprises at least one of an adapter and a battery.

9. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching voltage regulator outputs the second power to the microcomputer when the portable electronic device is turned on.

10. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the off-mode defines a state that the switching voltage regulator does not output the second power, and the on-mode defines a state that the switching voltage regulator outputs the second power.

11. A method of controlling a power supply apparatus comprising a portable electronic device having a plurality of electronic components, a linear voltage regulator supplying a first power required to drive a microcomputer in an off-mode to define an off-state of the portable electronic device, and a switching voltage regulator supplying a second power required to drive at least one among the plurality of electronic components in an on-mode to define an on-state of the portable electronic device, the method comprising:

supplying the first power from the linear voltage regulator to the microcomputer in the off-mode;

supplying the second power from the switching voltage regulator to the at least one among the plurality of electronic components and the microcomputer in the on-mode; and

shutting down the linear voltage regulator at or after starting the on-mode,

wherein the first power and the second power have a similar voltage level, and

the controller comprises a switch controlling the power to be supplied from the switching voltage regulator to the microcomputer, and a switching controller turning on the switch when the second power is supplied in a forward bias direction from the switching voltage regulator.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the switching voltage regulator outputs the second power when the portable electronic device is turned on.