Method for controlling a power supply in an external terminal connection of a personal data assistant

• US 7,062,661 B1
• Filed: 07/29/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Na, Seong-Wuk
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean, Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US09/124,052
• Time in Patent Office: 2,876 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/323, 340/539, 324/429, 429/23, 718/109
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16528 using digital techniques or performing arithmetic operations using digital techniques to measure a voltage or a current, see G01R19/25
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16542 for batteries charge condition monitoring in G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004

Abstract

A power management method for a PDA (personal digital assistant) which can be connected with an external communication terminal is described. Upon detecting power-on of the external communication terminal, the PDA detects a battery voltage of the PDA and compares the battery voltage with a reference voltage which is slightly higher than an inoperable voltage of the PDA. If the battery voltage is lower than the reference voltage, the PDA generates a low-voltage alarm message. Otherwise, if the battery voltage is higher than the reference voltage, the PDA supplies electric power to the external communication terminal.

Claims

1. A power management method for a personal digital assistant which can be connected with an external communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

upon detecting power-on of said external communication terminal, detecting a battery voltage of said personal digital assistant;

comparing said battery voltage with a reference voltage, said reference voltage being slightly higher than an inoperable voltage of said personal digital assistant;

generating a low-voltage alarm message when said battery voltage is lower than said reference voltage; and

supplying electric power to said external communication terminal, if said battery voltage is higher than said reference voltage.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alarm message is generated through at least one of a display and a speaker.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a supply ability of the battery is defined as a difference between a current battery voltage and an inoperable voltage of said personal digital assistant.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said alarm message is generated through at least one of a display and a speaker.

5. A power management method for a personal digital assistant which can be connected with an external communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

upon detecting power-on of said external communication terminal, detecting a battery voltage of said personal digital assistant;

comparing said battery voltage with a reference voltage, said reference voltage being slightly higher than an inoperable voltage of said personal digital assistant;

generating a low-voltage alarm message when said battery voltage is lower than said reference voltage;

supplying electric power to said external communication terminal if said battery voltage is higher than said reference voltage,

comparing said battery voltage with an inoperable voltage threshold of said personal digital assistant; and

setting the personal digital assistant to a sleep mode when said battery voltage is lower than said inoperable voltage threshold of said personal digital assistant.

6. A power management method for a personal digital assistant which can be connected with an external communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

upon detecting power-on of said external communication terminal, detecting a battery supply ability of said personal digital assistant;

calculating a difference between said battery supply ability and a power consumption of said external communication terminal;

comparing said difference with an inoperable threshold value at which said personal digital assistant cannot operate normally;

providing electric power to said external communication terminal when said difference is higher than said inoperable threshold value.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inoperable threshold value is an inoperable voltage of the personal digital assistant.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the step of:

repeatedly generating an alarm message informing a user that a battery voltage is insufficient to normally activate said external communication terminal when said difference voltage is lower than said inoperable voltage threshold, until said external communication terminal is turned off.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a voltage drop according to the power consumption of said external communication terminal is previously tabled in a ROM of the personal digital assistant.