Mobile terminal having menu providing function for wireless recharging and recharging method thereof

• US 8,198,858 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Min-Suk, Park, Won-Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US12/333,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20090156268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A mobile terminal is provided including a battery, an output unit, a memory, and a controller. The battery provides power. The output unit outputs a wireless recharge state. The memory stores recharge menus and recharge menu settings. The controller provides recharge menus for wireless recharging of the battery based on whether payment is required for the wireless recharging. The controller also performs a wireless recharging operation according to selection of the recharge menu settings.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

a battery configured for providing power;

an output unit configured for outputting data;

a memory configured for storing recharge menus and recharge menu settings; and

a controller configured for;

determining whether a remaining battery charge is below a reference voltage;

determining whether payment is required for wireless recharging of the battery;

controlling the output unit to display at least one recharge menu of the recharge menus when it is determined that the remaining battery charge is below the reference voltage, wherein the displayed at least one recharge menu is based on whether payment is required for the wireless recharging and whether recharging is requested via the mobile terminal or is performed automatically; and

performing a wireless recharging operation based on the recharge menu settings.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the recharge menus are further based on receiving recharge power from a recharge power providing unit wirelessly or receiving recharge power from a wireless recharging unit based on an inductive coupling or a capacitance coupling.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the displayed at least one recharge menu comprises one selected from a group comprising an automatic recharge menu and a setting menu when no payment is required for the wireless recharging and the recharging is performed automatically; and

the displayed at least one recharge menu comprises one selected from a group comprising a recharge menu and a setting menu when no payment is required for the wireless recharging and the recharging is requested via the mobile terminal, the setting menu including settings for;

whether to display the recharge menu, and

setting the reference voltage.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for performing the wireless recharging operation to recharge the battery automatically when the voltage of the battery is below the reference voltage and an option for automatic recharging has been set.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for providing a notification visually or audibly when the battery charge is below the reference voltage and an option for automatic recharging has been set.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein:

the displayed at least one recharge menu comprises one selected from a group comprising a recharge menu and a setting menu when payment is required for the wireless recharging and the recharging is requested via the mobile terminal; and

the setting menu including;

settings for methods for indicating a wireless recharge state;

priority settings for selecting a recharge power providing unit; and

recharging level settings.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the recharge power providing unit comprises a wireless power generator, a base station, a broadcast relay station, a repeater, an Internet sharer, an artificial satellite that wirelessly provides recharge power, or a portable wireless recharging unit that provides recharge power based on the inductive coupling or the capacitance coupling.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a notification visually, audibly, or through vibration when the recharge power providing unit is positioned within a particular range of the mobile terminal.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein the at least one recharge menu is displayed when the notification is provided.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to provide notification of a wireless recharge state or an event during recharging.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein:

the controller is further configured to control the output unit to display the wireless recharge state as a battery power indicator having a certain color; and

the event comprises a degradation of recharge efficiency or the mobile terminal being close to being out of range of the recharge power providing unit.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein:

the recharging level is based on a fee, a number of battery indicator icons, or a recharge duration; and

the wireless recharge state is provided by the output unit as a sound, a character, or an indicator.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the indicator is a battery power indicator and the recharging level is indicated via a color.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control the output unit to display an antenna indicator icon adjacent a battery power indicator and recharge efficiency represented via a number of antenna lines when the recharge power providing unit is detected.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further

comprising a recharge power providing unit configured for wirelessly providing recharge power.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the recharge power providing unit comprises an antenna configured for checking whether a mobile terminal is within range for wireless recharging.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the recharge power providing unit is further configured for providing recharge related information to the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is detected by the antenna.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling reception of recharge power from the recharge power providing unit when the battery charge is below the reference voltage.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling the output unit to display information provided by the recharge power providing unit and a menu for selecting whether to receive recharge power from the recharge power providing unit when the battery charge is below the reference voltage.