Mobile terminal with multiple batteries

• US 8,433,373 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Song, Yoomee, Lee, Seunghoon, Kim, Yunghee, Kim, Hyounkeun, Ma, Changmin, Kwak, Jaedo, Chae, Byungkee, Kim, Youngbak
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US12/832,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 455/572, 455/343.1, 455/343.6, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3646 for indicating electrical conditions or variables, e.g. visual or audible indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are related to a mobile terminal, the mobile terminal including: first and second batteries for supplying driving power to parts of the mobile terminal; a display for displaying an operational state of the mobile terminal to a user; and a controller for notifying the user of charged levels of the first and second batteries.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal comprising:

first and second batteries for supplying driving power to the mobile terminal;

a display unit for displaying content to a user, the content indicating an operational state of the mobile terminal;

a user input unit for receiving a command from the user; and

a controller configured to;

control the display unit to display charged levels of the first and second batteries;

perform an inter-charging between the first and second batteries upon receiving the command from the user;

control the display unit to display the charged levels of the first and second batteries using electrode images each having an anode and a cathode; and

control the display unit to indicate use, charging and status of the first and second batteries using a direction toward which the anode of the respective electrode image protrudes.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display unit to indicate the charged levels of the first and second batteries using graphical representations of water levels in a vessel, the water levels corresponding to the charged levels of the first and second batteries.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the inter-charging in response to the water levels in the vessel.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, further comprising:

a motion sensor for detecting a movement of the mobile terminal,

wherein the controller is further configured to perform the inter-charging in response to a tilting of the mobile terminal detected by the motion sensor.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to inquire of the user whether a charge-completed battery is to be designated as a main battery, if charging of one of the first and second batteries is completed.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the controller controls the display unit to display the charged levels of the first and second batteries using two battery icons in an indicator area.

7. A method of operating a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

supplying, by first and second batteries, driving power to the mobile terminal;

displaying, by a display unit, content to a user, the content indicating an operational state of the mobile terminal;

receiving, by a user input unit, a command from the user; and

controlling, by a controller, the display unit to;

display charged levels of the first and second batteries;

perform an inter-charging between the first and second batteries upon receiving the command from the user;

control the display unit to display the charged levels of the first and second batteries using electrode images each having an anode and a cathode; and

control the display unit to indicate use, charging and status of the first and second batteries using a direction toward which the anode of the respective electrode image protrudes.