Mobile terminal

• US 9,035,600 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Sekwon, Han, Kiwon, Oh, Janggeun
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US13/325,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20120161697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 307/104, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/573
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• 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 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers

Abstract

A mobile terminal is provided that includes a body to be mountable to a first charging apparatus, a current generator to generate an induction current by using a current of the first charging apparatus, and a wireless charger between the current generator and the battery to charge the battery by converting the induction current into a direct current. The mobile terminal may also include a connection port to be electrically connected to the battery and being connectable to a power supply terminal of a second charging apparatus, and a power charging controller to disconnect an electrically connected status between the wireless charger and the battery when the power supply terminal is electrically connected to the connection port.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body to support a battery and the body to be provided on a first charging apparatus;

a current generator provided in the body to generate an induction current based on a current of the first charging apparatus;

a wireless charger between the current generator and the battery to charge the battery by converting the induction current into a direct current;

a connection port provided on the body, the connection port being connectable to a power supply terminal of a second charging apparatus, and the connection port to electrically connect the battery to the second charging apparatus; and

a power charging controller to disconnect an electrically connected status between the wireless charger and the battery when the power supply terminal is electrically connected to the connection port.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes a first connection line between the battery and the wireless charger, and a second connection line between the battery and the connection port, and the power charging controller includes:

a switching unit to change a connection status of the first connection line between the wireless charger and the battery; and

a signal generating unit on the second connection line between the connection port and the battery, and the signal generating unit to provide an OFF signal to the switching unit when the power supply terminal is electrically connected to the connection port.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the switching unit includes a first overvoltage preventing circuit to disconnect the first connection line when an overvoltage is provided at the wireless charger, and

wherein the first overvoltage preventing circuit is connected to the signal generating unit to disconnect the first connection line based on the OFF signal from the signal generating unit.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the power charging controller further includes a signal transmission line that diverges from a signal connection line between the first overvoltage preventing circuit and the signal generating unit, and

wherein the OFF signal is provided to the first charging apparatus through the signal transmission line when the power supply terminal is electrically connected to the connection port.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the power charging controller further includes a delay circuit to delay a power supply through the second connection line for a preset time when the OFF signal is provided to the switching unit.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein a voltage change occurs before and after the second connection line starts to perform a power supply by the delay circuit, and

wherein the power charging controller detects a connection of the second charging apparatus to the power supply terminal based on the voltage change.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein based on the voltage change, the power charging controller disconnects the electrically connected status between the wireless charger and the battery when the power supply terminal is connected to the connection port, and the power charging controller maintains the electrically connected status between the wireless charger and the battery when a data supply terminal is connected to the connection port.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the switching unit further includes a second overvoltage preventing circuit to disconnect the second connection line when an overvoltage is provided at the second connection line, and

wherein a delay circuit is connected to the second overvoltage preventing circuit.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising a user input unit provided on the body to input a control command, and

wherein the power charging controller is controlled based on the control command such that the mobile terminal is simultaneously charged by the first charging apparatus and the second charging apparatus.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein a first connection line electrically connects the wireless charger and the battery, and a second connection line electrically connects the connection port and the battery, and

wherein a first charging integrated circuit is provided at the first connection line and a second charging integrated circuit is provided at the second connection line.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the power charging controller controls an ON/OFF status of the first charging integrated circuit.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising a display provided on the body to display visual information, and

wherein the display displays a pop-up selection window to select the control command when a power supply terminal is connected to the connection port.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the power charging controller includes:

a switching unit to connect or disconnect a first connection line between the wireless charger and the battery;

a signal generating unit to transmit an OFF signal to the switching unit when the power supply terminal is connected to the connection port; and

a control switch between the switching unit and the signal generating unit, and the control switch is changed to prevent the OFF signal from being provided to the switching unit when the control command is input to the user input unit.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

an accommodation space on the body to receive the battery; and

a cover to cover the accommodation space, wherein at least one of the current generator or the wireless charger is formed on the cover.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein a first set of connection terminals are provided at the cover and a second set of connection terminals are provided at the body, so as to electrically connect the current generator or the wireless charger to the body when the cover is provided to the body.

16. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body to receive a battery and to be provided on a first charging apparatus;

a current generator provided in the body to generate an induction current based on a current of the first charging apparatus;

a wireless charger between the current generator and the battery to charge the battery by converting the induction current into a direct current;

a first charging integrated circuit between the wireless charger and the battery to control charging of the battery;

a connection port provided on the body, the connection port being connectable to a power supply terminal of a second charging apparatus and the connection port to electrically connect the battery to the second charging apparatus; and

a power charging controller to control the first charging integrated circuit such that either a single charging of the battery by the second charging apparatus is provided or a simultaneous charging of the battery by the first charging apparatus and the second charging apparatus is provided.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the single charging or the simultaneous charging is set by a user'"'"'s selection.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, further comprising a second charging integrated circuit between the connection port and the battery to control charging of the battery.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the power charging controller to transmit an ON signal or an OFF signal to the first charging integrated circuit based on a user'"'"'s setting and based on whether the power supply terminal is connected to the connection port.

20. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body to receive a battery and to be provided on a first charging apparatus;

a current generator provided in the body to generate an induction current based on a current of the first charging apparatus;

a wireless charger between the current generator and the battery to charge the battery by converting the induction current into a direct current;

a connection port provided on the body, the connection port to electrically connect to the battery, and the connection port being connectable to a power supply terminal and a data supply terminal; and

a power charging controller to electrically disconnect a connection of the wireless charger to the battery when the power supply terminal is electrically connected to the connection port, and the power charging controller to maintain an electrical connection of the connection between the wireless charger to the battery when the data supply terminal is connected to the connection port.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the power charging controller includes:

a switching unit to connect or disconnect a first connection line between the wireless charger and the battery;

a signal generating unit on a second connection line between the connection port and the battery to transmit an OFF signal to the switching unit when the power supply terminal is connected to the connection port; and

a delay circuit to delay a power supply through the second connection line for a preset time so as to detect a connection between the power supply terminal and the connection port when the OFF signal has been transmitted to the switching unit.

22. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a body to support a battery and the body to be provided on a wireless charging apparatus;

a current generator provided in the body to generate an induction current based on a current of the wireless charging apparatus; and

a wireless charger between the current generator and the battery to charge the battery by converting the induction current into a direct current.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 22, further comprising:

a connection port provided on the body, the connection port being connectable to a power supply terminal of a wired charging apparatus, and the connection port to electrically connect the battery to the wired charging apparatus.