Electronic device for controlling processing period of usage state information about battery and operating method thereof

Abstract

An electronic device according to one embodiment comprises: a battery; a power management module that includes a power gauge for processing usage status information for the battery and determines charge status information of the battery based on at least a portion of the usage status information; a memory in which computer-executable instructions are stored; and a processor that accesses the memory and executes the instructions, wherein the instructions may be configured to determine whether the occurrence of an event in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected, and if the occurrence of the event is expected, to control the processing cycle of the usage status information. Various other embodiments may also be possible.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The following embodiments relate to an electronic device for controlling the processing cycle of usage status information for a battery and a method of operation thereof. Background Technology

[0003] The state of charge (SoC) of an electronic device can be calculated according to various algorithms based on battery usage status information, such as system current consumption. The sampling rate for measuring or calculating battery usage status information may vary depending on the processor's performance or operating environment. The problem to be solved

[0005] If an operation consuming a high current occurs for a shorter period than the battery usage status information processing cycle, the processor may fail to detect that battery power has actually been consumed, resulting in a higher calculated battery level. If this situation accumulates, the SoC (State of Charge) is calculated as high even though the actual battery level is close to zero, causing the electronic device to continue operating at a low voltage without being turned off. This can lead to a sudden moment power loss (SMPL) where the electronic device momentarily fails to meet the system's power supply, and the electronic device may reboot.

[0006] According to various embodiments, an electronic device may be provided that determines whether an event consuming a current greater than a threshold value is expected to occur within a threshold time, and controls the processing cycle of usage status information if the event is expected to occur. means of solving the problem

[0008] An electronic device according to one embodiment comprises: a battery; a power management module that includes a power gauge for processing usage status information for the battery and determines charge status information of the battery based on at least a portion of the usage status information; a memory in which computer-executable instructions are stored; and a processor that accesses the memory and executes the instructions, wherein the instructions may be configured to determine whether the occurrence of an event in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected, and if the occurrence of the event is expected, to control the processing cycle of the usage status information.

[0009] A method of operating an electronic device according to one embodiment may include: determining whether the occurrence of an event in which a current greater than a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected; and, if the occurrence of said event is expected, controlling the processing cycle of usage status information for the battery.

[0010] A battery management device of an electronic device according to one embodiment includes a power gauge that processes usage status information for a battery and a power management module that determines charge status information of the battery based on at least a portion of the usage status information; a memory in which computer-executable instructions are stored; and a processor that accesses the memory and executes the instructions, wherein the instructions may be configured to determine whether the occurrence of an event in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected, and if the occurrence of the event is expected, to control the processing cycle of the usage status information. Effects of the invention

[0012] According to various embodiments, an electronic device may be provided that determines whether an event consuming a current greater than a threshold value is expected to occur within a threshold time, and controls the processing cycle of usage status information if the event is expected to occur.

[0013] According to various embodiments, when the occurrence of an event in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected, an electronic device may be provided that determines target usage state information related to charge state information among usage state information, and controls the processing cycle of target usage state information and usage state information that is not target usage state information.

[0014] In addition, various effects that can be identified directly or indirectly through this document may be provided. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a power management module and a battery according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an event in which a current greater than a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of controlling the usage status information processing cycle for a battery of an electronic device according to various embodiments. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a battery management device of an electronic device according to various embodiments. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the description with reference to the attached drawings, identical components are given the same reference numeral regardless of the drawing number, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0019] < electronic device >

[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) in a network environment (100) according to various embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) in a network environment (100) according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with an electronic device (102) through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network) or may communicate with at least one of an electronic device (104) or a server (108) through a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) through a server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), memory (130), input module (150), sound output module (155), display module (160), audio module (170), sensor module (176), interface (177), connection terminal (178), haptic module (179), camera module (180), power management module (188), battery (189), communication module (190), subscriber identification module (196), or antenna module (197). In some embodiments, at least one of these components (e.g., connection terminal (178)) may be omitted from the electronic device (101), or one or more other components may be added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., sensor module (176), camera module (180), or antenna module (197)) may be integrated into a single component (e.g., display module (160)).

[0022] The processor (120) can control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) by executing software (e.g., a program (140)), and can perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) can store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in 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 one embodiment, the processor (120) may include a main processor (121) (e.g., a central processing unit or an application processor) or an auxiliary processor (123) that can operate independently or together with it (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor). For example, if the electronic device (101) includes a main processor (121) and an auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use lower power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a designated function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as part thereof.

[0023] 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) (e.g., display module (160), sensor module (176), or communication module (190)) on behalf of the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an inactive (e.g., sleep) state, or together with the main processor (121) while the main processor (121) is in an active (e.g., application execution) state. According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., image signal processor or communication processor) may be implemented as part of another functionally related component (e.g., camera module (180) or communication module (190)). According to one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing an artificial intelligence model. The artificial intelligence model may be generated through machine learning. Such learning may be performed, for example, on the electronic device (101) itself where the artificial intelligence model is executed, or through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm may include, for example, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, or reinforcement learning, but is not limited to the examples described above. The artificial intelligence model may include a plurality of artificial neural network layers.An artificial neural network may be a deep neural network (DNN), a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a bidirectional recurrent deep neural network (BRDNN), a deep Q-network, or a combination of two or more of the above, but is not limited to the examples described above. In addition to the hardware structure, the artificial intelligence model may include a software structure, either additionally or substantially.

[0024] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)). The data may include, for example, input data or output data for software (e.g., program (140)) and related commands. The memory (130) may include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0025] The program (140) may be stored as software in memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0026] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used for a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., processor (120)) from outside the electronic device (101) (e.g., user). The input module (150) may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0027] The sound output module (155) can output a sound signal to the outside of the electronic device (101). The sound output module (155) may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker may be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver may be used to receive incoming calls. According to one embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speaker or as part thereof.

[0028] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external (e.g., user) of the electronic device (101). The display module (160) may include, for example, a display, a holographic device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling said device. According to one embodiment, the display module (160) may include a touch sensor configured to detect a touch, or a pressure sensor configured to measure the intensity of the force generated by said touch.

[0029] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal or, conversely, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150) or output sound through the sound output module (155) or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphones) connected directly or wirelessly to the electronic device (101).

[0030] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating state of the electronic device (101) (e.g., power or temperature) or the external environmental state (e.g., user state) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) may include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an accelerometer sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biosensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a Hall sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0031] The interface (177) may support one or more specified protocols that can be used for the electronic device (101) to be connected directly or wirelessly to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the interface (177) may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

[0032] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) can be physically connected to an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)). According to one embodiment, the connection terminal (178) may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

[0033] The haptic module (179) can convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (e.g., vibration or movement) or an electrical stimulus that can be perceived by the user through tactile or kinesthetic senses. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulation device.

[0034] The camera module (180) can capture still images and video. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0035] The power management module (188) can manage power supplied to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can be implemented, for example, as at least part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0036] The battery (189) can supply power to at least one component of the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0037] The communication module (190) can support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between an electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102), electronic device (104), or server (108)), and the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may include one or more communication processors that operate independently of the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and support direct (e.g., wired) communication or wireless communication. According to one embodiment, the communication module (190) may include a wireless communication module (192) (e.g., cellular communication module, short-range wireless communication module, or GNSS (global navigation satellite system) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., LAN (local area network) communication module, or power line communication module). The corresponding communication module among these communication modules can communicate with an external electronic device (104) through a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, WiFi (wireless fidelity) direct, or IrDA (infrared data association)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a legacy cellular network, a 5G network, a next-generation communication network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (e.g., a single chip) or implemented as multiple separate components (e.g., multiple chips). The wireless communication module (192) can identify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) using subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0038] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following 4G networks, for example, new radio access technology. NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (massive machine type communications (mMTC)), or high reliability and low latency (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC)). The wireless communication module (192) can support a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate, for example. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in the high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output), full-dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, analog beam-forming, or large-scale antenna. The wireless communication module (192) can support various requirements specified in the electronic device (101), external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (104)), or network system (e.g., second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) may support a Peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or U-plane latency (e.g., downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) each 0.5 ms or less, or round trip 1 ms or less) for URLLC realization.

[0039] An antenna module (197) can transmit a signal or power to or from an external source (e.g., an external electronic device). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna comprising a radiator made of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). According to one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna). In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network, such as a first network (198) or a second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by a communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device through the selected at least one antenna. According to some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, other components (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module (197).

[0040] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. According to one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent to a first surface (e.g., bottom surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a specified high frequency band (e.g., mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., array antennas) disposed on or adjacent to a second surface (e.g., top surface or side surface) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving a signal of the specified high frequency band.

[0041] At least some of the above components can be connected to each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)) and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other.

[0042] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) through a server (108) connected to a second network (199). Each of the external electronic devices (102, or 104) may be the same or a different type of device as the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, all or part of the operations performed on the electronic device (101) may be performed on one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, if the electronic device (101) needs to perform a function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may request one or more external electronic devices to perform at least part of the function or service instead of performing the function or service itself or additionally. One or more external electronic devices that receive the above request may execute at least part of the requested function or service, or additional function or service related to the request, and transmit the result of the execution to the electronic device (101). The electronic device (101) may provide the result as is or additionally processed as at least part of the response to the request. For this purpose, for example, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used. The electronic device (101) may provide ultra-low latency services using, for example, distributed computing or mobile edge computing. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server using machine learning and / or neural networks. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included within a second network (199).The electronic device (101) can be applied to intelligent services (e.g., smart home, smart city, smart car, or healthcare) based on 5G communication technology and IoT-related technology.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a block diagram (200) of a power management module (188) and a battery (189) according to various embodiments.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 2, the power management module (188) may include a charging circuit (210), a power regulator (220), or a power gauge (230). The charging circuit (210) can charge the battery (189) using power supplied from an external power source to the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the charging circuit (210) can select a charging method (e.g., normal charging or fast charging) based on the type of external power source (e.g., power adapter, USB, or wireless charging), the magnitude of power that can be supplied from the external power source (e.g., about 20 watts or more), or at least some of the attributes of the battery (189), and can charge the battery (189) using the selected charging method. The external power source may be wired to the electronic device (101), for example, through a connection terminal (178), or wirelessly connected through an antenna module (197).

[0046] The power regulator (220) can generate multiple powers having different voltage or different current levels by adjusting the voltage level or current level of the power supplied from, for example, an external power source or a battery (189). The power regulator (220) can adjust the power of the external power source or battery (189) to a voltage or current level suitable for each of the components included in the electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the power regulator (220) may be implemented in the form of a low drop-out (LDO) regulator or a switching regulator. The power gauge (230) can measure usage status information for the battery (189) (e.g., capacity of the battery (189), number of charge / discharge cycles, voltage, or temperature).

[0047] The power management module (188) can determine charge state information related to the charging of the battery (189) (e.g., lifespan, overvoltage, undervoltage, overcurrent, overcharge, overdischarge, overheating, short circuit, or swelling) based at least part of the measured usage state information, using, for example, a charging circuit (210), a power regulator (220), or a power gauge (230). The power management module (188) can determine whether the battery (189) is normal or abnormal based at least part of the determined charge state information. If the state of the battery (189) is determined to be abnormal, the power management module (188) can adjust the charging of the battery (189) (e.g., reducing the charging current or voltage, or stopping the charging). According to one embodiment, at least some of the functions of the power management module (188) may be performed by an external control device (e.g., a processor (120)).

[0048] According to one embodiment, the battery (189) may include a battery protection circuit module (PCM) (240). The battery protection circuit (240) may perform one or more of various functions (e.g., a pre-shutdown function) to prevent performance degradation or burnout of the battery (189). The battery protection circuit (240) may additionally or substantially be configured as at least part of a battery management system (BMS) capable of performing various functions including cell balancing, measuring battery capacity, measuring charge / discharge cycles, measuring temperature, or measuring voltage.

[0049] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the usage status information or charge status information of the battery (189) may be measured using a corresponding sensor (e.g., a temperature sensor) among the sensor modules (176), a power gauge (230), or a power management module (188). According to one embodiment, the corresponding sensor (e.g., a temperature sensor) among the sensor modules (176) may be included as part of the battery protection circuit (240) or may be placed near the battery (189) as a separate device.

[0051] The electronic device according to the various embodiments disclosed in this document may be of various forms. The electronic device may include, for example, a portable communication device (e.g., a smartphone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a consumer electronics device. The electronic device according to the embodiments of this document is not limited to the devices described above.

[0052] The various embodiments of this document and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of said embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, phrases such as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B or C," "at least one of A, B and C," and "at least one of A, B, or C" may each include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish said components from other said components and do not limit said components in any other aspect (e.g., importance or order). Where any (e.g., 1st) component is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another (e.g., 2nd) component, with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicationly," it means that said any component may be connected to said other component directly (e.g., via a wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0053] The term “module” as used in the various embodiments of this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit, for example. A module may be a component formed integrally, or a minimum unit of said component or a part thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0054] Various embodiments of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., program (140)) comprising one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory (136) or external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., electronic device (101) of FIG. 1). For example, a processor (e.g., processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., electronic device (101)) may call at least one of the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code that can be executed by an interpreter. The storage medium readable by the machine may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-temporary' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the method according to the various embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed online (e.g., download or upload) through an application store (e.g., Play Store™) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be temporarily stored or temporarily created on a device-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a relay server.

[0056] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., module or program) of the components described above may include a singular or multiple entities, and some of the multiple entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to various embodiments, one or more of the components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Generally or additionally, multiple components (e.g., module or program) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as those performed by the corresponding component among the multiple components prior to integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by the module, program, or other components may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0058] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 3, an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may include a battery (189), a power gauge (230) that processes usage status information for the battery (189), a power management module (188) that determines charge status information of the battery (189) based on at least a portion of the usage status information, a memory (130) in which computer-executable instructions are stored, and a processor (120) that accesses the memory (130) and executes the instructions. According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may be the electronic device (101) described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0060] According to one embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 2, the power gauge (230) of the power management module (188) can measure and / or calculate usage status information for the battery (189) (e.g., capacity, number of charges / discharges, voltage, or temperature of the battery (189). For example, the power gauge (230) can measure the system current consumption, battery capacity, number of charges / discharges, battery temperature, battery voltage, etc. among the usage status information, and calculate the average battery temperature and average battery voltage. According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) includes an analog-digital converter (ADC) (not shown), and the processor (120) can read the value converted through the ADC when measuring usage status information for the battery (189). According to various embodiments, the power gauge (230) can process (measure and / or calculate) various usage status information to determine the charge status information of the battery (189) according to the configuration and type of the processor (120) and the power management module (188).

[0061] According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) can determine charge state information related to the charging of the battery (189) (e.g., lifespan, overvoltage, undervoltage, overcurrent, overcharge, overdischarge, overheating, short circuit, or swelling) based at least partially on usage state information using the charging circuit (210), power regulator (220), or power gauge (230) described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0062] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the usage status information or charge status information of the battery (189) may be measured using a corresponding sensor (e.g., temperature sensor) among the sensor modules (176), a power gauge (230), or a power management module (188). According to one embodiment, a corresponding sensor (e.g., temperature sensor) among the sensor modules (176) may be included as part of the battery protection circuit (240) described with reference to FIG. 2, or may be placed near the battery (189) as a separate device.

[0063] According to one embodiment, a program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) of the electronic device (101) for determining whether an event is expected to occur in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time, and if the event is expected to occur, for controlling the processing cycle of usage status information for the battery (189) of the power management module (188). According to one embodiment, the program (140) may be the program (140) of FIG. 1, and an operating system (e.g., the operating system (142) of FIG. 1), middleware (e.g., the middleware (144) of FIG. 1), or an application (e.g., the application (146) of FIG. 1) may be included in the program (140). The instructions stored in memory (130) may be implemented as a single functional module in an operating system (e.g., the operating system (142) of FIG. 1), implemented in the form of middleware (e.g., the middleware (144) of FIG. 1), or implemented in the form of a separate application (e.g., the application (146) of FIG. 1).

[0064] According to one embodiment, the event of consuming a current greater than the threshold value within a threshold time may include at least one of still image or video recording, flash on, and payment using an electronic device (101). According to one embodiment, the threshold time may be a period during which the power management module (188) currently set processes usage status information for the battery (189). An operation of consuming a current greater than the threshold value within a threshold time according to various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may determine that an event consuming more than a threshold amount of current is expected to occur within a threshold time based on whether the camera module (180) is operating. For example, the processor (120) may determine whether a camera application is executed through an application manager (not shown) at the middleware (144) level of the memory (130), and if the camera application is executed, it may determine that an event consuming more than a threshold amount of current is expected to occur.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) can determine whether to execute a payment application using an electronic device (101) through an application manager (not shown) at the middleware (144) level of the memory (130), and can determine that if the payment application is executed, an event consuming more than a threshold amount of current is expected to occur.

[0067] According to one embodiment, an operation in which an event consuming more than a threshold amount of current is expected to occur within a threshold time may be predetermined. For example, as described above, an operation in which an event consuming more than a threshold amount of current is expected to occur within a threshold time, such as the execution of a camera application or the execution of a payment application, may be predetermined in the form of a lookup table and stored in memory (130) or an external server (e.g., server (108) of FIG. 1). The processor (120) may obtain information about the operation in which an event consuming more than a threshold amount of current is expected to occur from memory (130) or from an external server upon request.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) can control the processing cycle of usage status information when it determines that an event is expected to occur in which current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time. For example, as described above, when a camera application or a payment application is executed, the processor (120) can shorten the processing cycle of usage status information. By shortening the processing cycle of usage status information, the power management module (188) can detect the event even if an event in which current exceeding a threshold value is consumed occurs within a threshold time, and can more accurately determine the charge status information of the battery (189). In the electronic device (101), sudden moment power loss (SMPL) caused by the difference between the actual charge status of the battery (189) and the charge status information predetermined by the power management module (188), which is caused by the limit of the processing cycle of usage status information, can be prevented.

[0069] According to one embodiment, it may be difficult to shorten the processing cycle for all various usage state information depending on the performance and operating environment of the processor (120). The processor (120) determines target usage state information related to the charging state among the usage state information and can control the processing cycles of the target usage state information and usage state information other than the target usage state information differently. For example, as shown in [Table 1] below, the processor (120) can shorten the cycle for the system consumption current measurement and battery consumption calculation items among the usage state information processing items, and extend the cycle for battery voltage measurement and average voltage calculation, and battery temperature measurement and average temperature calculation.

[0071] item Usually When launching the camera app System current consumption measurement Measured at a 200ms interval Measured at a 20ms interval Battery consumption calculation Calculate with a 200ms cycle Calculate at a 20ms interval Battery voltage measurement Measured at a 200ms interval Measure with a 2s period Calculate average battery voltage Calculate with a 200ms cycle Calculate with a 2s period Battery temperature measurement Measured at a 200ms interval Measure with a 2s period Calculate average battery temperature Calculate with a 200ms cycle Calculate with a 2s period

[0073] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may determine target usage state information among one or more usage state information based on a method for determining charge state information. According to one embodiment, system consumption current or battery consumption amount may affect the determination of charge state information, and the processor (120) may determine the system consumption current and battery consumption amount items as target usage state information as shown in [Table 1].

[0074] According to one embodiment, there may be various algorithms for determining state of charge information, for example, the state of charge (SoC) of a battery (189), and the processor (120) can determine whether a usage state information is used to determine the state of charge information and the degree of correlation between the usage state information and the state of charge information based on the state of charge information determination algorithm currently applied to the electronic device (101). For example, the processor can determine a state of charge information determination function and determine whether a usage state information is used in the state of charge information determination function and the degree of correlation of the usage state information. The processor (120) can determine the usage state information used to determine the state of charge information or the usage state information that has an influence of a threshold level or higher on the determination of the state of charge information as the target usage state information.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) monitors usage status information and determines that items that do not undergo rapid change, such as battery temperature and battery voltage, are not target usage status information. According to one embodiment, the processor (120) can efficiently control the processing cycle of usage status information by not shortening the processing cycle for such items. For example, referring to [Table 1], it can be seen that the processing cycle has been extended for items such as battery voltage measurement and average voltage calculation, and battery temperature measurement and average temperature calculation. By extending the processing cycle of items that are not target usage status information, the processor (120) can reduce the computational load caused by shortening the processing cycle of system consumption current measurement and battery consumption calculation, which are target usage status information.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) can set a reference value for an event in which current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time to prevent sudden moment power loss (SMPL) caused by a difference between the actual battery (189) charge state and the charge state information predetermined by the power management module (188), and can correct the system consumption current to the reference value when it is measured that the system consumption current does not exceed the reference value.

[0077] As described above, events that consume a current greater than the threshold value within a threshold time may include still image or video recording, flash on, and payment using the electronic device (101), and the processor (120) may obtain information regarding the current consumed per operation. For example, the processor (120) may obtain information from memory (130) or an external server (e.g., server (108) of FIG. 1) that approximately 2.4A of current is consumed during camera application operation, and may set 2.4A as a reference value based on such information. If the system current consumption through the power management module (188) is less than 2.4A even though camera application operation (video recording, etc.) is detected, the processor (120) may correct the system current consumption to 2.4A.

[0078] According to one embodiment, an event in which a current greater than a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time may include cases where communication using power greater than a specific strength is performed (e.g., when performing mmWave communication, when transmitting in a weak electric field situation).

[0079] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) can increase the rate of decrease in the remaining capacity of the battery (189) when the voltage of the battery (189) is lower than the reference voltage. For example, the processor (120) can reduce the remaining capacity by 1% when the battery (189) is consumed by 10mAh, and then reduce it by 3% when the voltage of the battery (189) drops below the reference voltage of 3.4V. Through this, the processor (120) can prevent SMPL by rapidly bringing the remaining capacity to 0% when the difference between the actual charge state of the battery (189) and the charge state information determined by the power management module (188) becomes large.

[0080] According to one embodiment, if the electronic device (101) has a removable battery or can selectively use multiple battery cells, the processor (120) can link the reference voltage of the battery (189), which increases the rate of decrease of the remaining capacity (SoC), with the battery capacity detected by the power gauge (230). According to one embodiment, if the power gauge (230) does not continuously detect an event in which the current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time, the capacity of the battery (189) detected by the power gauge (230) may increase. For example, as shown in [Table 2] below, the processor (120) can set the reference voltage, which increases the rate of decrease of the remaining capacity, higher as the battery capacity detected by the power gauge (230) increases. By setting the reference voltage, which increases the rate of decrease of the remaining capacity (SoC) of the battery (189), higher as the battery capacity detected by the power gauge (230) increases, the processor (120) can increase the rate of decrease of the remaining capacity in advance compared to when the reference voltage is fixed.

[0082] Battery capacity (mAh) detected by the power gauge Reference voltage 4000 3.4V 4040 (1% increase) 3.45V 4080 (2% increase) 3.495V 4120 (3% increase) 3.535V 4160 (4% increase) 3.57V

[0084] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an event in which a current greater than a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time according to one embodiment.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 4, a graph showing the current consumed from the battery (189) is shown. As described with reference to FIG. 3, when the processor (120) measures the system current consumption through the power management module (188), the processor (120) may not detect the current consumption even though the current exceeding the threshold is consumed within a threshold time due to the limitations of the usage status information processing cycle for the battery (189).

[0086] For example, in the case of still image or video recording, flash on, and payment using the electronic device (101) where rapid current consumption occurs in a short period of time, rapid current consumption may occur as shown in FIG. 4. According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) of the electronic device (101) or the power gauge (230) included in the power management module (188) can measure the system current consumption at time point (410) and then at time point (420), and at this time, the usage status information processing cycle for the battery (189) of the electronic device (101) may be the time between time point (420) and time point (410), for example, 40ms. Referring to FIG. 4, the processor (120) may not detect that a current (e.g., about 2.4A in FIG. 4) greater than the threshold (430) (e.g., 1500mA) has been consumed for about 40ms between time point (410) and time point (420).

[0087] A processor (120) of an electronic device (101) according to one embodiment may shorten the processing cycle of usage status information for a battery (189) when an event is expected to occur in which a current greater than a threshold value (430) is consumed for a shorter time than a predetermined time, such as a threshold time, e.g., the processing cycle of existing usage status information (e.g., 40ms between time point (410) and time point (420), as described with reference to FIG. 3. According to one embodiment, the processor (120) may shorten the processing cycle only for target usage status information related to charge status information, as described above in FIG. 3, and extend the processing cycle for usage status information that is not target usage status information, thereby efficiently managing resources. Target usage status information may be determined based on a method for determining charge status information.

[0089] Method of operation of electronic device

[0090] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of an electronic device (101) according to various embodiments.

[0091] Operations 510 to 550 can be performed by the processor (120) of the electronic device (101) described above with reference to FIG. 3, and for the sake of brevity, content that overlaps with what is described with reference to FIG. 1 to 4 may be omitted.

[0092] According to one embodiment, in operation 510, the processor (120) can determine whether an event is expected to occur in which current is consumed above a threshold value within a threshold time. As described with reference to FIG. 3, an event in which current is consumed above a threshold value within a threshold time may include taking a still image or video, turning on a flash, and making a payment using an electronic device (101), and an operation in which an event is expected to occur may include executing a camera application and executing a payment application.

[0093] According to one embodiment, in operation 520, the processor (120) can control the processing cycle of usage status information for the battery when it is determined that an event is expected to occur in which the current consumed above a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the usage status information may include at least one of the following: information regarding the capacity of the battery (189), information regarding the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery (189), information regarding the voltage of the battery (189), information regarding the average voltage of the battery (189), information regarding the temperature of the battery (189), information regarding the average temperature of the battery (189), information regarding the system current consumption, and information regarding the power consumed by the battery (189). The processor (120) may measure or calculate the usage status information through the power management module (188), and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may be used when measuring voltage, temperature, system current consumption, etc.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the processor (120) can shorten the processing cycle of usage status information. An operation (520) for controlling the processing cycle of usage status information of the processor (120) according to various embodiments is described in detail with reference to FIG. 6.

[0097] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of controlling the usage status information processing cycle for a battery (189) of an electronic device (101) according to various embodiments.

[0098] Operations 610 to 630 can be performed by the processor (120) of the electronic device (101) described above with reference to FIG. 3, and for the sake of brevity, content that overlaps with what is described with reference to FIG. 1 to 5 may be omitted.

[0099] According to one embodiment, operations 610 to 630 may correspond to operations (e.g., 520 of FIG. 5) that control the usage status information processing cycle for the battery described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0100] According to one embodiment, in operation 610, the processor (120) can determine target usage status information related to charge status information among usage status information for the battery (189).

[0101] As described above with reference to FIG. 3, there may be various algorithms for determining state of charge information, for example, the state of charge (SoC) of a battery (189), and the processor (120) can determine whether a usage state information is used to determine the state of charge information and the degree of correlation between the usage state information and the state of charge information based on the state of charge information determination algorithm currently applied to the electronic device (101). For example, the processor can determine a state of charge information determination function and determine whether a usage state information is used in the state of charge information determination function and the degree of correlation of the usage state information. According to one embodiment, in operation 610, the processor (120) can determine the usage state information used to determine the state of charge information or the usage state information that has an influence of a threshold level or more on the determination of the state of charge information as the target usage state information.

[0102] According to one embodiment, in operation 620, the processor (120) controls the processing cycle of target usage status information, and in operation 630, controls the processing cycle of usage status information other than target usage status information. As described above in FIG. 3, the processor (120) can efficiently manage system resources by shortening the processing cycle only for the target usage status information determined in operation 610 and extending the processing cycle for other usage status information.

[0104] Battery Management Device for Electronic Devices

[0105] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a battery management device (700) of an electronic device (101) according to various embodiments.

[0106] According to one embodiment, the battery management device (700) may be configured as at least part of a battery management system (BMS) capable of performing various functions including cell balancing, measuring battery capacity, measuring charge / discharge cycles, measuring temperature, or measuring voltage. The battery management device (700) may be included in an electronic device (101) and may manage the battery (189) of the electronic device (101).

[0107] According to one embodiment, the battery management device (700) may include a power gauge (230) that processes usage status information for a battery (189), a power management module (188) that determines charge status information of the battery (189) based on at least a portion of the usage status information, a memory (730) in which computer-executable instructions are stored, and a processor (720) that accesses the memory and executes the instructions.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the power management module (188) and power gauge (230) of the battery management device (700) can operate in the same way as the power management module (188) and power gauge (230) of the electronic device (101) described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0109] According to one embodiment, the processor (720) and memory (730) of the battery management device (700) may be distinguished from the processor (120) and memory (130) of the electronic device (101) described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, but may operate identically. For example, the processor (720) of the battery management device (700) may determine whether an event is expected to occur in which current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time based on instructions stored in the memory (730), and if the occurrence of an event is expected, control the processing cycle of the usage status information. Since the specific operation of the processor (720) overlaps with the operation of the processor (120) described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a detailed description is omitted.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) includes: a battery (189); a power gauge (230) for processing usage status information for the battery (189); a power management module (188) for determining charge status information of the battery (189) based on at least a portion of the usage status information; a memory (130) for storing computer-executable instructions; and a processor (120) for accessing the memory and executing the instructions, wherein the instructions may be configured to determine whether an event is expected to occur in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time, and if the event is expected to occur, to control the processing cycle of the usage status information.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the commands may be configured to determine target usage status information related to charging status information among usage status information and to control the processing cycle of the target usage status information.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the commands may be further configured to control the processing cycle of usage status information other than the target usage status information differently from the processing cycle of the target usage status information, based on the control of the target usage status information processing cycle.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the commands may be configured to determine target usage status information among usage status information based on a method for determining charging status information.

[0115] According to one embodiment, the target usage status information may include at least one of information about the system current consumption and information about the power consumed from the battery (189).

[0116] According to one embodiment, an operation in which an event is expected to occur in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time may be predetermined.

[0117] According to one embodiment, an event that consumes a current greater than a threshold value within a threshold time may include at least one of still image or video recording, flash on, and payment using an electronic device (101).

[0118] According to one embodiment, the commands may be configured to determine that the occurrence of an event is expected based on whether a camera application or a payment application is executed.

[0119] According to one embodiment, the usage status information may include at least one of the following: information on the capacity of the battery (189), information on the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery (189), information on the voltage of the battery (189), information on the average voltage of the battery (189), information on the temperature of the battery (189), information on the average temperature of the battery (189), information on the system consumption current, and information on the power consumed by the battery (189).

[0121] According to one embodiment, the method of operation of the electronic device (101) may include: determining whether the occurrence of an event in which a current greater than a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected; and, if the occurrence of the event is expected, controlling the processing cycle of usage status information for the battery (189).

[0122] According to one embodiment, the operation of controlling the processing cycle of the usage status information may include: the operation of determining target usage status information related to the charge status information of the battery (189) among the usage status information; and the operation of controlling the processing cycle of the target usage status information.

[0123] According to one embodiment, the operation of controlling the processing cycle of target usage status information may further include, based on the control of the processing cycle of target usage status information, controlling the processing cycle of usage status information other than target usage status information differently from the processing cycle of target usage status information.

[0124] According to one embodiment, the operation of determining target usage status information related to charging status information among usage status information may be based on a method for determining charging status information.

[0125] According to one embodiment, the target usage status information may include at least one of information about the system current consumption and information about the power consumed from the battery (189).

[0126] According to one embodiment, an event that consumes a current greater than a threshold value within a threshold time may include at least one of still image or video recording, flash on, and payment using an electronic device (101).

[0127] According to one embodiment, the threshold time may be a time predetermined by the existing processing cycle of the usage status information.

[0129] According to one embodiment, a battery management device (700) of an electronic device comprises: a power gauge (230) for processing usage status information for a battery (189); a power management module (188) for determining charge status information of the battery (189) based on at least a portion of the usage status information; a memory (720) for storing computer-executable instructions; and a processor (720) for accessing the memory (720) and executing the instructions, wherein the instructions may be configured to determine whether an event is expected to occur in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time, and if the event is expected to occur, to control the processing cycle of the usage status information.

[0130] According to one embodiment, the commands may be configured to determine target usage status information related to charging status information among usage status information and to control the processing cycle of the target usage status information.

[0131] According to one embodiment, the commands may be further configured to control the processing cycle of usage status information other than the target usage status information differently from the processing cycle of the target usage status information, based on the control of the target usage status information processing cycle.

[0132] According to one embodiment, the commands may be configured to determine target usage status information among usage status information based on a method for determining charging status information. Explanation of the symbols

[0134] 101: Electronic devices 120: Processor 130: Memory

Claims

Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a battery; a power management module including a power gauge for processing usage state information for the battery and determining charge state information of the battery based on at least a portion of the usage state information; a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and a processor that accesses the memory and executes the instructions, wherein the instructions are configured to determine whether an event of consuming a current greater than a threshold value is expected to occur within a threshold time, and if the occurrence of said event is expected, to determine a target usage state information related to the charge state information among the usage state information and to control the processing cycle of said target usage state information, and wherein the instructions are further configured to control the processing cycle of usage state information other than the target usage state information among the usage state information differently from the processing cycle of said target usage state information based on the control of the processing cycle of said target usage state information. Claim 2 An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the commands are further configured to shorten the processing cycle of the target usage status information and extend the processing cycle of usage status information other than the target usage status information. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to determine the target usage state information among the usage state information based on a method for determining the charge state information, and the instructions are further configured to determine the usage state information used in the charge state information determination function applied to the electronic device among the usage state information as the target usage state information, or to determine the usage state information that has an influence of more than a threshold level on the determination of the charge state information by confirming the relevance of the usage state information used in the charge state information determination function as the target usage state information. Claim 5 An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the target usage status information comprises at least one of information regarding system current consumption and information regarding power consumed from the battery. Claim 6 delete Claim 7 An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the event consuming a current greater than the threshold value within the threshold time includes at least one of still image or video recording, flash on, and payment using the electronic device. Claim 8 An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the commands are configured to determine that the occurrence of the event is expected based on whether a camera application or a payment application is executed. Claim 9 An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the usage status information comprises at least one of information regarding the capacity of the battery, information regarding the number of charge / discharge cycles of the battery, information regarding the voltage of the battery, information regarding the average voltage of the battery, information regarding the temperature of the battery, information regarding the average temperature of the battery, information regarding the system consumption current, and information regarding the power consumed by the battery. Claim 10 A method of operating an electronic device, comprising: a method of determining whether the occurrence of an event in which a current greater than a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected; a method of determining, if the occurrence of said event is expected, a method of determining a target usage state information related to a charge state information of said battery among usage state information for said battery; and a method of controlling a processing cycle of said target usage state information, wherein the method of controlling a processing cycle of said target usage state information further comprises, based on the control of a processing cycle of said target usage state information, a method of controlling a processing cycle of usage state information other than said target usage state information among said usage state information differently from the processing cycle of said target usage state information. Claim 11 delete Claim 12 delete Claim 13 delete Claim 14 delete Claim 15 delete Claim 16 delete Claim 17 A battery management device for an electronic device, comprising: a power management module that includes a power gauge for processing usage status information for a battery and determines charge status information of the battery based on at least a portion of the usage status information; a memory in which computer-executable instructions are stored; and a processor that accesses the memory and executes the instructions, wherein the instructions are configured to determine whether the occurrence of an event in which a current exceeding a threshold value is consumed within a threshold time is expected, and if the occurrence of the event is expected, to determine target usage status information related to the charge status information among the usage status information and to control the processing cycle of the target usage status information, and wherein the instructions are further configured to control the processing cycle of usage status information other than the target usage status information among the usage status information differently from the processing cycle of the target usage status information, based on the control of the processing cycle of the target usage status information. Claim 18 delete Claim 19 delete Claim 20 delete

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