Electronic device capable of testing USB cable and method for testing USB cable

• US 9,331,508 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Futaihua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Yin-Zhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Parihar, Suchin
• Application Number:
  US14/226,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20150002077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for testing a USB cable applied in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a battery charged by a charger via the USB cable. The method can include determining at least two different values of charging currents. The method can further include generating a first control signal according to the determined values of charging currents. Sending the first control signal to the charger via the USB cable, to inform the charger to respectively charge the battery by charging currents with the determined values. Detecting values of at least two voltages output to the battery. Comparing a calculated variation degree between the detected values of voltages with a preset variation degree. Generating a first type of message according to a compared result between the calculated variation degree and the preset variation degree.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a battery being charged by a charger via a USB cable; and

a processor to execute a plurality of modules;

wherein the plurality of modules comprises;

a setting module configured to determine at least two different values of charging currents;

a signal generating module configured to generate a first control signal according to the determined values of charging currents, and send the first control signal to the charger via the USB cable, thus informing the charger to respectively charge the battery by charging currents with the determined values;

a detecting module configured to detect values of at least two voltages output to the battery after the signal generating module sends the first control signal to the charger;

an analyzing module configured to calculate a variation degree between the detected values of voltages, and compare the calculated variation degree with a preset variation degree; and

a prompting module configured to generate a first type of message according to a compared result between the calculated variation degree and the preset variation degree, to prompt a user whether or not the USB cable is suitable for connecting the charger to the battery to deliver electrical power.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a storage unit, wherein the storage unit stores a range of values of charging currents and the plurality of modules further comprise a setting module configured to determine the at least two different values within the stored range.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the signal generating module is configured to first determine whether the battery is connected to the charger via the USB cable, and generate the first control signal when determining that the battery is connected to the charger.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first type of message is a text message output by a display of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein if the calculated variation degree is greater than the preset variation degree, the prompting module is further configured to display an interface for the user to select whether to use the USB cable, if the user selects to use the USB cable, the analyzing module is further configured to select one value of charging current within the stored range which is less than other values of the stored range, the signal generating module is further configured to generate a second control signal according to the selected value, and send the second control signal to the charger, to inform the charger to charge the battery by the charging current with the selected value.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein when at least two USB cables are used, the analyzing module is further configured to sort all the USB cables in a sequence according to the variation degree of each USB cable, the USB cable having the least variation degree is arranged first in the sequence, the prompting module is further configured to generate a second type of message comprising the sequence of the USB cables.

7. A method for testing a USB cable applied in an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a battery charged by a charger via the USB cable, the method comprising:

determining at least two different values of charging currents;

generating a first control signal according to the determined values of charging currents;

sending the first control signal to the charger via the USB cable, thus informing the charger to respectively charge the battery by charging currents with the determined values;

detecting values of at least two voltages output to the battery;

calculating a variation degree between the detected values of voltages;

comparing the calculated variation degree with a preset variation degree; and

generating a first type of message according to a compared result between the calculated variation degree and the preset variation degree, to prompt a user whether or not the USB cable is suitable for connecting the charger to the battery to deliver electrical power.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least two different values of charging currents are within a range of values of charging currents stored in the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first type of message is a text message output by a display of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

displaying an interface for the user to select whether to use the USB cable if the calculated variation degree is greater than the preset variation degree;

selecting one value of charging current within the stored range which is less than other values of the stored range if the user selects to use the USB cable;

generating a second control signal according to the selected value; and

sending the second control signal to the charger, to inform the charger to charge the battery by the charging current with the selected value.