Device and method for providing notification on wireless charging state

• US 9,867,162 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ha, Jae Mu, Byun, Ki Jong, Ha, Young Mi, Song, Jae Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON, BLANE J
• Application Number:
  US15/185,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20160374049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An electronic device and a method of providing a notification on a wireless charging state in an electronic device are provided. The method includes wirelessly charging the electronic device by using power received from an external device; checking a state of the wireless charging; when the state of the wireless charging corresponds to a certain condition, determining whether the electronic device is used by a user by using at least one sensor; and providing a notification based on whether the electronic device is used by the user.

Claims

1. An electronic device for supporting wireless charging, the electronic device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect whether the electronic device is used by a user;

a wireless charging module configured to charge the electronic device by using power obtained from an external device; and

a processor functionally connected to the at least one sensor and the wireless charging module,

wherein the processor is configured to check charging state information of the wireless charging module, determine whether the electronic device is used by the user by using the at least one sensor when the charging state information corresponds to a certain condition, and provide a notification based on whether the electronic device is used by the user.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein when a charging voltage is less than a first reference voltage or greater than a second reference voltage, or when a charging current is less than a first reference current or greater than a second reference current, the processor is further configured to determine that the charging state information corresponds to the certain condition.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein when the charging of the electronic device is released more than a certain number of times within a certain time duration, the processor is further configured to determine that the charging state information corresponds to the certain condition.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to generate a vibration effect, wherein the processor is further configured to provide at least one vibration effect and sound as the notification.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the processor is further configured to display a notification message on the display.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a display including a flat area and a curved area extending from one side of the flat area, wherein the processor is further configured to output a color concerning the charging state to the curved area.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to reset a reference value for providing the notification by analyzing the charging state information.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the electronic device satisfies at least one condition that limits the notification and when the at least one condition is satisfied based on the determination, the processor is further configured to limit the notification.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one condition that limits the notification corresponds to at least one of whether a current time corresponds to a certain time duration, whether a remaining amount of battery power of a battery functionally connected to the electronic device is greater than a certain level, location information of the electronic device, and schedule information of the user.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, and a gesture sensor;

and wherein the processor is further configured to provide the notification when there is no movement of the electronic device detected by the at least one sensor.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a proximity sensor, a fingerprint recognition sensor, and a heart rate sensor;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to provide the notification when data recognition through the at least one sensor does not occur.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a touch screen panel;

and wherein the processor is further configured to provide the notification when a touch input on the touch screen panel is not detected.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a camera module;

and wherein the processor is further configured to provide the notification based on a frame change of an image obtained by the camera module.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a communication module configured to establish a connection between the electronic device and a second external device;

and wherein the processor transmits a notification request message for allowing the electronic device to provide the notification to the second external device.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein when a feedback concerning the notification provided from the electronic device does not occur for a certain time, the processor is further configured to transmit the notification request message to the second external device.

16. A method of providing a notification on a wireless charging state in an electronic device, the method comprising:

wirelessly charging the electronic device by using power received from an external device;

checking a state of the wireless charging;

when the state of the wireless charging corresponds to a certain condition, determining whether the electronic device is used by a user by using at least one sensor; and

providing a notification based on whether the electronic device is used by the user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the notification based on whether the electronic device is used by the user comprises when it is determined that the electronic device is used by the user, not providing the notification;

and when it is determined that the electronic device is not used by the user, providing the notification.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

when the wireless charging starts, blocking a vibration function of the electronic device; and

determining a provision type of the notification,

wherein the notification is provided in the determined provision type.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the notification comprises:

determining whether a predetermined notification limitation condition is satisfied; and

when the notification limitation condition is satisfied, not providing the notification and when the notification limitation condition is not satisfied, providing the notification.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer readable instruction, wherein the instruction, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, allows the electronic device to perform:

wirelessly charging the electronic device by using power received from an external device;

checking a state of the wireless charging;

when the state of the wireless charging corresponds to a certain condition, determining whether the electronic device is used by a user by using at least one sensor; and

providing a notification based on whether the electronic device is used by the user.