Method for controlling charging of a battery of an electronic device and electronic device thereof

Abstract

An electronic device and a method are disclosed. The electronic device includes a wireless signal reception circuit configured to receive a wireless signal, a battery, a charging circuit, and a processor. The processor implements the method, which includes determining a communication quality of the wireless signal when the wireless signal is received through the wireless signal reception circuit during charging of the battery by the charging circuit, selecting a charging method for the battery and setting a charging current of the charging circuit based on the determined communication quality, and controlling the charging circuit to charge the battery by using the selected charging method and the set charging current.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to charging a battery in an electronic device, and more specifically, to controlling the charging of the battery to reduce interference with data transmission / reception. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic devices have become increasingly complex, diverse, and popular with consumers. They have also become increasingly miniaturized, resulting in a wide variety of small, handheld, or portable devices. One example of these devices is an external battery that includes charging circuitry to control the charging of other devices connected to the external battery.

[0003] Battery charging has also become more complex, now including high-voltage charging, which can reduce charging time.

[0004] The above information is provided as background information only to aid in understanding this disclosure. No decision or assertion is made regarding whether any of the above content can be considered prior art applicable to this disclosure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

[0006] Some portable electronic devices include communication circuitry to allow communication with external devices. However, in the case of small devices, the power path for battery charging may be located near the path of the electrical signals associated with communication. Therefore, when the battery is charged using high voltage and / or high current charging methods, noise may be introduced from the charging current into the communication signals used for communication.

[0007] The purposes of this disclosure are to at least address the aforementioned problems and / or disadvantages, and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, one aspect of this disclosure is to provide...

[0008] Technical solution

[0009] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an electronic device may include: a wireless signal receiving circuit configured to receive a wireless signal; a battery; a charging circuit configured to charge the battery; a memory; and a processor communicatively connected to the wireless signal receiving circuit, the charging circuit, and the memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: determine the communication quality of the wireless signal when the wireless signal is received through the wireless signal receiving circuit during the charging process of the charging circuit; select a charging method for the battery based on the determined communication quality and set a charging current for the charging circuit; and control the charging circuit to charge the battery using the selected charging method and the set charging current.

[0010] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method for charging a battery in an electronic device may include: initiating charging of the battery by using a charging circuit; receiving a wireless signal via a wireless signal receiving circuit while the battery is being charged; determining the communication quality of the received wireless signal by at least one processor; selecting a charging method for the battery based on the determined communication quality and setting a charging current of the charging circuit; and controlling the charging circuit to charge the battery by using the selected charging method and the set charging current.

[0011] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the recording medium may store a program for performing a process, the process including: initiating charging of the battery by using a charging circuit; receiving a wireless signal while charging the battery; determining the communication quality of the wireless signal; allowing the charging circuit to determine a charging method and a charging current for charging the battery based on the communication quality; and allowing the charging circuit to charge the battery based on the charging method and the charging current.

[0012] Other aspects, advantages, and key features of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which disclose certain embodiments of this disclosure.

[0013] Beneficial effects

[0014] According to the embodiments disclosed herein, it is possible to provide an electronic device and a method capable of reducing noise in communication signals during the battery charging process.

[0015] In addition, various effects can be provided directly or indirectly through this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to certain embodiments;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a block diagram of a power management module and a battery according to certain embodiments;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating components of an electronic device according to an embodiment;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a charging circuit according to an embodiment;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of charging a battery in an electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining a charging method in an electronic device according to an embodiment;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of determining a charging method in an electronic device according to an embodiment;

[0024] Figure 8 This is an example of a lookup table for determining a charging method in an electronic device according to an embodiment;

[0025] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of the process of determining a charging method in an electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0026] In the description of the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for the same or similar parts. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In the following description, certain embodiments of this disclosure may be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications, equivalents, and / or substitutions can be made to certain embodiments described herein without departing from this disclosure.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to certain embodiments.

[0029] Reference Figure 1In network environment 100, electronic device 101 can communicate with electronic device 102 via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or with electronic device 104 or server 108 via a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, electronic device 101 can communicate with electronic device 104 via server 108. According to an embodiment, electronic device 101 may include a processor 120, memory 130, input device 150, sound output device 155, display device 160, audio module 170, sensor module 176, interface 177, haptic module 179, camera module 180, power management module 188, battery 189, communication module 190, user identification module 196, or antenna module 197. In some embodiments, at least one of these components (e.g., display device 160 or camera module 180) may be omitted from electronic device 101, or one or more other components may be added to electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of the components may be implemented as a single integrated circuit. For example, the sensor module 176 (e.g., a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may be implemented as embedded in the display device 160 (e.g., a display).

[0030] Processor 120 may run software (e.g., program 140) to control at least one other component (e.g., hardware or software component) of electronic device 101 connected to processor 120, and may perform various data processing or calculations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or calculation, processor 120 may load commands or data received from another component (e.g., sensor module 176 or communication module 190) into volatile memory 132, process the commands or data stored in volatile memory 132, and store the resulting data in non-volatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, processor 120 may include a main processor 121 (e.g., central processing unit (CPU) or application processor (AP)) and an auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., graphics processing unit (GPU), image signal processor (ISP), sensor hub processor, or communication processor (CP)) that is operationally independent of or combined with the main processor 121. Additionally or alternatively, auxiliary processor 123 may be adapted to consume less power than main processor 121, or adapted for a specific function. The auxiliary processor 123 can be implemented separately from the main processor 121, or it can be implemented as part of the main processor 121.

[0031] When the main processor 121 is inactive (e.g., in sleep mode), the auxiliary processor 123 may control at least some of the functions or states associated with at least one component of the electronic device 101 (other than the main processor 121) (e.g., display device 160, sensor module 176, or communication module 190), or when the main processor 121 is active (e.g., running an application), the auxiliary processor 123 may work with the main processor 121 to control at least some of the functions or states associated with at least one component of the electronic device 101 (e.g., display device 160, sensor module 176, or communication module 190). According to embodiments, the auxiliary processor 123 (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., camera module 180 or communication module 190) functionally associated with the auxiliary processor 123. The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device 101 (e.g., processor 120 or sensor module 176). The various data may include, for example, software (e.g., program 140) and input or output data for commands associated with it. Memory 130 may include volatile memory 132 or non-volatile memory 134.

[0032] The program 140 may be stored as software in the memory 130, and the program 140 may include, for example, an operating system (OS) 142, middleware 144, or application 146.

[0033] Input device 150 can receive commands or data from outside electronic device 101 (e.g., a user) that will be used by other components of electronic device 101 (e.g., processor 120). Input device 150 may include, for example, a microphone, mouse, keyboard, or digital pen (e.g., stylus).

[0034] The sound output device 155 can output sound signals to the outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output device 155 may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes such as playing multimedia or playing records, and the receiver can be used for incoming calls. According to an embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0035] Display device 160 can visually provide information to a user of electronic device 101. Display device 160 may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector, and control circuitry for controlling a respective one of the display, holographic device, and projector. According to an embodiment, display device 160 may include touch circuitry adapted to detect touch or sensor circuitry (e.g., a pressure sensor) adapted to measure the intensity of the force caused by touch.

[0036] The audio module 170 can convert sound into electrical signals and vice versa. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 can obtain sound via the input device 150, or output sound via the sound output device 155 or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102 (e.g., a speaker or headphones)) that is directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly connected to the electronic device 101.

[0037] Sensor module 176 can detect the operating state of electronic device 101 (e.g., power or temperature) or the environmental state outside electronic device 101 (e.g., user state), and then generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to embodiments, sensor module 176 may include, for example, a gesture sensor, gyroscope sensor, atmospheric pressure sensor, magnetic sensor, accelerometer, grip sensor, proximity sensor, color sensor, infrared sensor, biometric sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, or illuminance sensor.

[0038] Interface 177 may support one or more specific protocols used to enable electronic device 101 to connect directly (e.g., wired) or wirelessly to external electronic devices (e.g., electronic device 102). According to embodiments, interface 177 may include, for example, a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a Secure Digital Card (SD) interface, or an audio interface.

[0039] Connection end 178 may include a connector, through which electronic device 101 can be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102). According to embodiments, connection end 178 may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0040] The tactile module 179 can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or motion) or electrical stimuli that can be recognized by a user through his touch or kinesthesia. According to embodiments, the tactile module 179 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulator.

[0041] Camera module 180 can capture still or moving images. According to an embodiment, camera module 180 may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, an image signal processor, or a flash.

[0042] The power management module 188 manages the power supply to the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the power management module 188 may be implemented as at least part of, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0043] Battery 189 can power at least one component of electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, battery 189 may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable rechargeable battery, or a fuel cell.

[0044] The communication module 190 can establish a wired or wireless communication channel between the electronic device 101 and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device 102, electronic device 104, or server 108), and support communication through the established communication channel. The communication module 190 may include at least one communication processor that operates independently of the processor 120 (e.g., application processor), and supports wired or wireless communication. According to embodiments, the communication module 190 may include a wireless communication module 192 (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) communication module) or a wired communication module 194 (e.g., a LAN (Local Area Network) communication module or a powerline communication module), and can communicate with external electronic devices via a first network 198 (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth, WiFi Direct, or IrDA (Infrared Data Association)) or a second network 199 (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or a WAN)) from a corresponding communication module. These various types of communication modules can be implemented as a single component (e.g., a single chip), or the various types of communication modules 190 described above can be implemented as a single chip or as multiple chips that are separate from each other.

[0045] According to an embodiment, in a communication network, the wireless communication module 192 can identify and verify the electronic device 101 by using user information stored in the user identification module 196.

[0046] Antenna module 197 may include one or more antennas to transmit or receive signals or power from an external source. According to an embodiment, communication module 190 (e.g., wireless communication module 192) may transmit signals to or receive signals or power from an external electronic device via an antenna suitable for a communication method.

[0047] Some of the components described above can be interconnected via communication methods used between peripheral devices (e.g., bus, GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output), SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), or MIPI (Mobile Industrial Processor Interface)) to exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) between them.

[0048] According to an embodiment, commands or data can be sent or received between electronic device 101 and external electronic device 104 via server 108 connected to the second network 199. Each of electronic devices 102 and 104 can be a device of the same type as electronic device 101, or a device of a different type. According to an embodiment, all or some operations performed by electronic device 101 can be performed by another electronic device or multiple external electronic devices. When electronic device 101 automatically performs some functions or services or performs some functions or services upon request, electronic device 101 can request the external electronic device to perform at least some of the functions related to the functions or services, in addition to running the functions or services itself; or, electronic device 101 can also request the external electronic device to perform at least some of the functions related to the functions or services, instead of running the functions or services itself. Upon receiving the request, the external electronic device can perform the requested function or additional functions and send the result to electronic device 101. Electronic device 101 may provide the requested function or service based on the received result (without further processing), or may provide the requested function or service after further processing of the received result. For this purpose, technologies such as cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server computing may be used.

[0049] Figure 2 This is a block diagram 200 of a power management module 188 and a battery 189 according to certain embodiments. (Refer to...) Figure 2 The power management module 188 may include a charging circuit 210, a power regulator 220, or a power meter 230. The charging circuit 210 can charge the battery 189 using power supplied from an external power source of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the charging circuit 210 can select a charging method (e.g., a normal charging method or a fast charging method) and charge the battery 189 using the selected charging method based on at least a portion of the type of external power source (e.g., a power adapter, USB, or wireless charging), the amount of power that can be supplied from the external power source (e.g., about 20 watts or higher), or the type of the battery 189. The external power source can be connected to the electronic device 101 wiredly, for example, via a connection terminal 178, or wirelessly via an antenna module 197.

[0050] Power regulator 220 can generate multiple electrical supplies with different voltage or current levels by adjusting, for example, the voltage or current level of the power supplied from an external power source or battery 189. Power regulator 220 can adjust the power from the external power source or battery 189 to a voltage or current level suitable for each of the components included in electronic device 101. According to embodiments, power regulator 220 can be implemented as a low-dropout (LDO) regulator or a switching regulator. Power meter 230 can measure usage status information about battery 189 (e.g., battery 189 capacity, number of charge and discharge cycles, voltage, or temperature).

[0051] The power management module 188, using, for example, a charging circuit 210, a power regulator 220, or a power meter 230, can determine charging status information (e.g., battery life, overvoltage, low voltage, overcurrent, overcharge, over-discharge, overheating, short circuit, or bulging) related to the charging of the battery 189, at least in part based on measured usage status information. The power management module 188 can determine whether the battery 189 is normal or abnormal based at least in part on the determined charging status information. When it is determined that the battery 189 is in an abnormal state, the power management module 188 can adjust the charging of the battery 189 (e.g., reduce the charging current or voltage, or stop charging). According to embodiments, at least some functions of the power management module 188 can be performed by an external control device (e.g., processor 120).

[0052] According to an embodiment, battery 189 may include a battery protection circuit module (PCM) 240. The battery protection circuit module 240 may perform one or more functions (e.g., a pre-blocking function) to prevent performance degradation or burnout of battery 189. The battery protection circuit module 240 may additionally or alternatively be configured as part of a battery management system (BMS) capable of performing various functions including battery balancing, battery capacity measurement, charge / discharge frequency measurement, temperature measurement, or voltage measurement.

[0053] According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the usage status information or charging status information of the battery 189 can be measured using associated sensors (e.g., temperature sensors) of the sensor module 176, power meter 230, or power management module 188. According to an embodiment, the associated sensors (e.g., temperature sensors) of the sensor module 176 can be included as part of the battery protection circuit module 240, or can be placed near the battery 189 as a separate device.

[0054] Figure 3 This illustrates an electronic device according to an embodiment (e.g., Figure 1 Block diagram 300 of the components of the electronic device 101.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the electronic device may include a processor 120 (e.g., Figure 1 The processor 120) and memory 130 (e.g., Figure 1 The memory 130), and the wireless signal receiving circuit 310 (e.g., memory 130), Figure 1 The communication module 190 and the charging circuit 210 (e.g., Figure 2 The charging circuit 210) and the battery 189 (e.g., Figure 1 Battery 189 or Figure 2 (Battery 189).

[0056] According to an embodiment, memory 130 may store instructions executable by processor 120. Processor 120 can process data or control components of an electronic device by executing the instructions stored in memory 130. The operation of the electronic device described herein can be understood as being performed when processor 120 executes the instructions stored in memory 130.

[0057] According to an embodiment, battery 189 can store electrical energy and provide power to components operating an electronic device. Charging circuit 210 can charge battery 189, which can be performed under the control of processor 120. For example, processor 120 can cause charging circuit 210 to charge battery 189 using a charging method and / or charging power determined by processor 120. The charging method can include, for example, a direct charging method, a fast charging method, or a normal charging method. A direct charging method can refer to a method where an external charger directly provides charging power to battery 189 to charge battery 189 when the power source of an external charger is directly electrically connected to the power input / output terminal of battery 189. A fast charging method can refer to a method of rapidly charging battery 189 using an "excessive" current. For example, a fast charging method can refer to a method of charging battery 189 with a current of 50% of battery 189's capacity. For example, a 9V fast charger can be used to perform charging based on a fast charging method. A normal charging method can refer to a method of charging battery 189 with a normal current and / or voltage. For example, a standard 5V charger can be used to perform charging based on standard charging methods.

[0058] The wireless signal receiving circuit 310 can obtain data from received wireless signals (radio frequency signals). For example, the wireless signal receiving circuit 310 can obtain data for video streaming from the received wireless signals. Components for obtaining the wireless signals from the wireless signal receiving circuit 310 (e.g., an antenna radiator) or components for transmitting the wireless signals are located near the path through which power is delivered from an external charging device to the battery 189 via the charging circuit 210; the quality of the received wireless signals may degrade due to charging noise. In particular, as the power delivered to the battery 189 increases, the noise level affecting the wireless signals may increase. For example, when the processor 120 performs video streaming services while providing high power to quickly charge the battery 189, the video streaming may be interrupted or the quality of the playing video may degrade due to the degraded quality of the wireless signals received through the wireless signal receiving circuit 310.

[0059] Figure 4 This is a description of a charging circuit according to an embodiment (e.g., Figure 2 The charging circuit 210 and Figure 3 A block diagram 400 shows the configuration of the charging circuit 210. Specifically, Figure 4 Embodiments relating to charging circuits capable of performing charging based on direct charging methods.

[0060] The charging circuit according to an embodiment may include a charger integrated circuit (IC) 401 and a capacitor voltage divider 402. To perform direct charging, the electronic device according to an embodiment can provide charging current from the charging device 410 to the battery 189 via the circuitry of the capacitor voltage divider 402. While the battery 189 is being charged, the electronic device can provide power from the battery 189 to the system circuit 403 for operating the electronic device. The system circuit 403 may include components of the electronic device (e.g., ...). Figure 1 The processor 120 is used to enable the operation of electronic devices.

[0061] According to another embodiment, when the battery is being charged, the electronic device can provide power to the system circuit 403 via the charger IC 401.

[0062] Figure 5 According to the embodiments, in electronic devices (e.g., Figure 1 In the electronic device 101, the battery (e.g., Figure 1 Battery 189 or Figure 3 Flowchart 500 of the charging process of battery 189.

[0063] In operation 510, when charging power is supplied to the electronic device from an external charging device, the electronic device can begin charging the battery. In operation 510, the electronic device according to the embodiment can identify the type of the external charging device and begin charging the battery based on that type. For example, the electronic device can receive an identifier from the external charging device to identify it and identify the external charging device based on the received identifier. In operation 510, when the external charging device is capable of providing power for direct charging, the electronic device can charge the battery based on a direct charging method. For another example, the electronic device can identify the type of the external charging device based on the voltage and / or current supplied from it. However, the embodiment is not limited to this.

[0064] In operation 520, the electronic device can determine the wireless signal receiving circuit (e.g., when charging the battery) Figure 3 The device can determine whether the wireless signal receiving circuit 310 is in an operational state. That is, during battery charging, the electronic device can use the wireless signal receiving circuit to determine whether the operation of receiving wireless signals has been performed. When the wireless signal receiving circuit is not in an operational state, the electronic device can continue to charge the battery based on the charging method disclosed in operation 510.

[0065] During battery charging, when the wireless signal receiving circuit is in operation, in operation 530, the electronic device can determine the communication quality of the wireless signal received by the wireless signal receiving circuit. This communication quality may include at least one of wireless signal receiving sensitivity or received signal strength value. Wireless signal receiving sensitivity may include, for example, a received signal strength capable of maintaining a bit error rate (BER) less than or equal to a threshold level. The received signal strength value may include, for example, at least one of Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), and Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR).

[0066] In operation 540, the electronic device can determine a charging method for charging the battery based on the determined communication quality. According to an embodiment, although the electronic device begins charging the battery based on a first charging method in operation 510, when the communication quality determined in operation 530 falls outside a specified range (e.g., a predetermined range or a pre-specified range), the electronic device can change the charging method for charging the battery from the first charging method to a second charging method. This specified range may be stored in the memory of the electronic device (e.g., ...). Figure 1The value in the memory 130 serves as the condition (operation condition) for the normal operation of the wireless signal receiving circuit. For example, when the BER determined in operation 530 is less than the maximum BER stored in the electronic device, the electronic device can change the charging method for the battery because it allows communication to continue without introducing excessive communication noise or errors. In operation 550, the electronic device can charge the battery using the determined charging method.

[0067] Figure 6 According to the embodiments, in electronic devices (e.g., Figure 1 The flowchart 600 in the electronic device 101 for determining the charging method. In particular, Figure 6 This relates to an embodiment of determining a charging method when an electronic device is connected to an external charging device for direct charging.

[0068] In operation 610, when charging power is supplied to the electronic device from an external charging device (direct charger), the electronic device can begin charging the battery based on the direct charging method.

[0069] While the battery is being charged using a direct charging method, when a wireless signal receiving circuit (e.g., Figure 3 When the wireless signal receiving circuit 310 receives a wireless signal, the electronic device can perform operation 620 by determining whether the communication quality meets the operating conditions. When the communication quality meets the operating conditions, the electronic device can continuously charge the battery based on a direct charging method.

[0070] When the communication quality of the wireless signal does not meet the operating conditions, that is, when the communication quality value is outside the specified range (e.g., insufficient RSSI, excessive error rate, excessive signal noise, etc.), in operation 630, the electronic device can change the charging method to a fast charging method.

[0071] The electronic device can perform operation 640, including re-determining whether the communication quality of the received wireless signal during battery charging based on the fast charging method meets operational conditions. When the communication quality meets the operational conditions, the electronic device can continuously charge the battery based on the fast charging method.

[0072] When the communication quality of the wireless signal does not meet the operating conditions, that is, when the communication quality value is outside the specified range, in operation 650, the electronic device can change the charging method from the fast charging method to the ordinary charging method to charge the battery.

[0073] Figure 7 According to the embodiments, in electronic devices (e.g., Figure 1 A flowchart 700 of the process of determining the charging method in the electronic device 101.

[0074] When charging power for battery charging is provided, in operation 711, the electronic device can begin charging the battery from a first candidate charging method (e.g., a direct charging method) among the charging methods applicable in operation 711.

[0075] In operation 713, the electronic device can determine the wireless signal receiving circuit (e.g., when charging the battery) Figure 3 The electronic device can determine whether the wireless signal receiving circuit 310 is in an operational state. That is, it can determine whether a wireless signal has been received through the wireless signal receiving circuit. When the wireless signal receiving circuit is not in an operational state, the electronic device can continuously charge the battery based on the first candidate charging method.

[0076] During battery charging, when the wireless signal receiving circuit is in operation, in operation 715, the electronic device can calculate the bit error rate (BER) of the received wireless signal. In operation 717, the electronic device can determine whether the calculated BER is greater than the maximum BER (BER0).

[0077] When the calculated BER is less than or equal to the maximum BER, the electronic device can monitor the BER of the wireless signal received during repeated execution of operation 715. When the calculated BER is greater than the maximum BER, in operation 719, the electronic device can reduce the charging current supplied to the battery. For example, the electronic device can reduce the charging current supplied to the charging circuit for charging the battery by 200mA.

[0078] In operation 721, the electronic device can calculate the BER of the wireless signal received during battery charging based on the reduced charging current. In operation 723, the electronic device can determine whether the calculated BER is greater than the maximum BER (BER0). When the calculated BER is less than or equal to the maximum BER, the electronic device can monitor the BER of the wireless signal received when operation 721 is repeated. When the calculated BER is greater than the maximum BER, in operation 725, the electronic device can change the charging method used for battery charging to a second candidate charging method (e.g., a fast charging method).

[0079] In operation 725a, the electronic device can calculate the BER value of the wireless signal received while charging the battery based on the second candidate charging method. In operation 729, the electronic device can determine whether the calculated BER is greater than the maximum BER (BER0). When the calculated BER is less than or equal to the maximum BER, the electronic device can monitor the BER of the wireless signal received while repeatedly performing operation 727. When the calculated BER is greater than the maximum BER, in operation 731, the electronic device can change the charging method used for charging the battery to a third candidate charging method (e.g., a fast charging method).

[0080] According to another embodiment, for each of the multiple charging methods, the electronic device can determine that the power required for battery charging becomes the maximum value, provided that the BER of the received wireless signal does not exceed the maximum BER. The electronic device can determine the maximum charging power for each charging method. The electronic device can then charge the battery based on the charging method with the maximum charging power.

[0081] Figure 8 An example of a lookup table 900 for determining a charging method in an electronic device, according to an embodiment, is shown.

[0082] According to an embodiment, the electronic device can determine the charging method during operation (e.g., Figure 5 In operation 540), the charging method is determined by using a lookup table.

[0083] For example, an electronic device can determine the received signal strength value of a received wireless signal and search a lookup table for a charging method and charging current mapped to the determined received signal strength value.

[0084] Electronic devices can charge batteries based on the charging method and charging current found in a lookup table.

[0085] Figure 9 According to the embodiments, in electronic devices (e.g., Figure 1 A flowchart 1000 of the process of determining the charging method in the electronic device 101.

[0086] In operation 1010, when charging power is supplied to the electronic device from an external charging device, the electronic device can begin charging the battery. In operation 1010, the electronic device according to the embodiment can identify the type of the external charging device and begin charging the battery based on a charging method according to the type of the external charging device. For another example, the electronic device can identify the type of the external charging device based on the voltage and / or current supplied from the external charging device. However, the embodiment is not limited to this.

[0087] In operation 1020, the electronic device can determine the wireless signal receiving circuit (e.g., when charging the battery) Figure 3 The electronic device can determine whether the wireless signal receiving circuit 310 is in an operational state. In other words, the electronic device can determine whether the operation of receiving wireless signals has been performed through the wireless signal receiving circuit. When the wireless signal receiving circuit is not in an operational state, the electronic device can continuously charge the battery according to the charging method determined in operation 1010.

[0088] According to an embodiment, the electronic device can change whether to change the communication method based on the content received via wireless signals. That is, during battery charging, when the wireless signal receiving circuit is in operation, in operation 1025, the electronic device according to the embodiment can determine whether to determine the communication method based on communication quality based on the content received via wireless signals. For example, the electronic device can perform operations 1030 to 1050 to determine the charging method based on communication quality because Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) media includes video and audio media that are output in real time when received via wireless signals. In another example, when receiving non-real-time data such as text or electronic documents via wireless signals, the electronic device can continuously charge the battery based on the charging method disclosed in operation 1010 because reception quality is less important for the reproduction of non-real-time data.

[0089] In other embodiments, determining whether to select a communication method can be based on communication. For example, the electronic device may determine whether to perform operations 1030 to 1050 based on the type of application receiving and processing wireless signals (rather than the type of data). In another example, the electronic device may determine whether to perform operations 1030 to 1050 based on the format of the data received via wireless signals (rather than the type of data).

[0090] In operation 1030, the electronic device can determine the communication quality of a wireless signal received by a wireless signal receiving circuit. This communication quality may include at least one of wireless signal receiver sensitivity or received signal strength value. Wireless signal receiver sensitivity may include, for example, bit error rate (BER). Received signal strength value may include, for example, at least one of received signal strength value (RSSI), reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).

[0091] In operation 1040, the electronic device can determine the charging method to be applied to battery charging based on the determined communication quality. According to an embodiment, although the electronic device starts charging the battery based on a first charging method in operation 1010, if the communication quality determined in operation 1030 is outside a specified range, the electronic device can switch the charging method for charging the battery from the first charging method to a second charging method. This specified range may be stored in the memory of the electronic device (e.g., ...). Figure 1 The value in the memory 130 serves as a condition (operation condition) for the normal operation of the wireless signal receiving circuit. For example, when the BER determined in operation 1030 is greater than the maximum BER stored in the electronic device, the electronic device can change the charging method used to charge the battery. In operation 1050, the electronic device can charge the battery using the determined charging method.

[0092] The electronic device according to certain embodiments disclosed in this disclosure may be one of a variety of types of electronic devices. The electronic device may include at least one of, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a mobile medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. The electronic device according to embodiments of this disclosure is not limited to those described above.

[0093] It should be understood that certain embodiments of this disclosure and the terminology used therein are not intended to limit the technology disclosed herein to the specific forms disclosed herein, but rather this disclosure is to be interpreted as covering various changes, equivalents, and / or substitutions of embodiments of this disclosure. In the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements. As used herein, singular forms include plural forms unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. As disclosed herein, each of the phrases such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and / or B,” “A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and / or C,” etc., as used herein, may include any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated enumerated items. As used herein, expressions such as “first” and “second” may refer to various components, but are not limited to, regardless of their order and / or importance. The foregoing expressions are merely for distinguishing corresponding components from other components. It should be understood that when a component (such as a first component) is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" (operably or communicatively) to another component (such as a second component), this component may be directly connected or directly coupled to the other component, or any other component (such as a third component) may be inserted between this component and the other component.

[0094] As used herein, the term "module" may refer to, for example, a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with other terms (e.g., "logic," "logic block," "part," or "circuit"). A module may be the smallest unit or part of a single integrated component. A module may be the smallest unit or part for performing one or more functions. For example, a "module" may include the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0095] Some embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented by software (e.g., program 140) including instructions stored in a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., internal memory 136 or external memory 138) readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). The machine may be an apparatus for invoking instructions from the machine-readable storage medium and operating according to the invoked instructions, and may include an electronic device (e.g., electronic device 101). When the instructions are executed by a processor (e.g., processor 120), the processor may directly perform the function corresponding to the instructions, or may perform the function corresponding to the instructions by using other components under the control of the processor. The instructions may include code generated or executed by a compiler or interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, the term "non-transitory" as used herein refers to a limitation on the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not tactile), rather than a limitation on the persistence of data storage.

[0096] According to embodiments, methods provided according to certain embodiments of this disclosure can be provided as part of a computer program product. The computer program product can be traded between a seller and a buyer. The computer program product can be distributed in the form of a machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM)) or may be distributed solely through an app store (e.g., the Play Store). TM The computer program product is published online. If it is published online, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily generated, or at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored in a machine-readable storage medium (such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an app store's server, or a relay server).

[0097] Each component (e.g., module or program) according to certain embodiments may include at least one of the aforementioned components, some of which may be omitted, or one or more other sub-components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, some components (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into one component, and each component may perform the same or similar functions prior to integration. According to certain embodiments of this disclosure, operations performed by modules, programs, or other components may be performed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically. Alternatively, at least some operations may be run in a different order or omitted, or other operations may be added.

[0098] Although this disclosure has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An electronic device, the electronic device comprising: A wireless signal receiving circuit, the wireless signal receiving circuit being configured to receive wireless signals; Battery; A charging circuit configured to charge the battery; Memory; as well as The processor is communicatively connected to the wireless signal receiving circuit, the charging circuit, and the memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: The battery is charged using the first charging method through the charging circuit; When the charging circuit charges the battery using the first charging method, the communication quality of the wireless signal received by the wireless signal receiving circuit is identified, wherein the communication quality includes the bit error rate (BER) calculated for the wireless signal; Determine whether the BER is greater than a specified value; Determine whether the content received via the wireless signal is real-time content; When the BER is greater than the specified value and the content is real-time content, the battery is charged using a second charging method with a lower charging voltage than the first charging method via the charging circuit to reduce noise appearing in the wireless signal; and When the content is not real-time, the first charging method is maintained.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The first charging method includes a direct charging method, while the second charging method includes a fast charging method.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The memory stores lookup tables that map multiple communication qualities to multiple charging currents, and The processor is configured as follows: The lookup table is searched for the charging current mapped to the identified communication quality.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein, The communication quality includes the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of the wireless signal.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, The first charging method includes a fast charging method, while the second charging method includes a normal charging method.

6. A method for charging a battery in an electronic device, the method comprising: The battery is charged using a charging circuit and a first charging method. While the battery is being charged, wireless signals are received via a wireless signal receiving circuit. When the charging circuit charges the battery using the first charging method, the communication quality of the wireless signal received by the wireless signal receiving circuit is identified, wherein the communication quality includes the bit error rate (BER) calculated for the wireless signal; Determine whether the BER is greater than a specified value; Determine whether the content received via the wireless signal is real-time content; When the BER is greater than the specified value and the content is real-time content, the battery is charged using a second charging method with a lower charging voltage than the first charging method via the charging circuit to reduce noise appearing in the wireless signal; and When the content is not real-time, the first charging method is maintained.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The first charging method includes a direct charging method, while the second charging method includes a fast charging method.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: A lookup table is stored in memory, which maps multiple communication qualities to multiple charging currents, and By searching the lookup table using the identified communication quality, a charging method for the battery is selected and a charging current for the battery is set.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The communication quality includes the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of the wireless signal.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein, The first charging method includes a fast charging method, while the second charging method includes a normal charging method.

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