Electronic device for performing heat control during charging, operating method thereof, and storage medium

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an electronic device (101) may comprise: a plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489); at least one processor (120, 420); and a memory (130, 430) for storing instructions. According to one embodiment, when executed by the at least one processor, the instructions can be configured to control such that the electronic device: identifies that the plurality of batteries are being charged using external power; identifies an executed application while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power; if the executed application corresponds to a first application, maintains that the plurality of batteries are charged using the external power; and if the executed application corresponds to a second application, determines, on the basis of situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to temporarily stop or maintain charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries, if it is determined, on the basis of situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, that charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries is maintained, temporarily stops charging one battery from among the plurality of batteries on the basis of the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, and the remaining batteries from among the plurality of batteries are charged using the external power.

Description

Electronic device for controlling heat generation during charging, method of operation thereof and storage medium

[0001] One embodiment disclosed in this document relates to an electronic device for performing heat generation control during charging, a method of operating the same, and a storage medium.

[0002] Electronic devices process large amounts of data to perform various functions and consume more power, leading to the emergence of larger batteries. Furthermore, the demand for faster charging of these larger batteries is driving an increase in the power supply capacity (W) of the charging devices that power them.

[0003] As electronic devices are used for extended periods of time, the increased data processing volume inevitably leads to increased current consumption. Furthermore, as power is supplied to other components of the electronic device, the battery generates more heat, which can lead to a rise in the device's temperature. Furthermore, when using an electronic device while connected to a charger, the charging process can generate heat. Therefore, controlling heat generation can be crucial when charging an electronic device while in use.

[0004] The above information may be provided as background art to aid in understanding the present disclosure. No claim or determination is made as to whether any of the above-described matters constitute prior art related to the present disclosure.

[0005] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (101) may include a plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489), at least one processor (120, 420), and a memory (130, 430) storing instructions. According to one embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, may be configured to cause the electronic device to determine whether the plurality of batteries are being charged using external power. According to one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to determine an application to be executed while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power.

[0006] In one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to maintain charging of the plurality of batteries using the external power when the running application corresponds to a first application.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the instructions may cause the electronic device to determine, based on contextual information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries, if the running application corresponds to a second application.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to control the electronic device to temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the context information associated with the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries using the external power, based on the context information associated with the plurality of batteries.

[0009] According to one embodiment, a method for performing heat generation control during charging in an electronic device (101) including a plurality of batteries may include an operation of confirming that the plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489) are being charged using external power.

[0010] In one embodiment, the method may include an operation of identifying an application that is running while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the method may include an operation of maintaining charging of the plurality of batteries using the external power when the running application corresponds to the first application.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the method may include, when the running application corresponds to a second application: determining, based on contextual information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, whether to maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or whether to pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the method may include an operation of controlling, based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, to temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries using the external power.

[0014] According to one embodiment, a storage medium storing at least one computer-readable instruction, wherein the at least one instruction, when executed by at least one processor (120, 420) of an electronic device (101) including a plurality of batteries, causes the electronic device to perform at least one operation, wherein the at least one operation may include an operation of confirming that the plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489) are being charged using external power. According to one embodiment, the at least one operation may include an operation of confirming an application to be executed while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power.

[0015] In one embodiment, the at least one operation may include an operation of maintaining charging of the plurality of batteries using the external power, if the running application corresponds to the first application.

[0016] In one embodiment, the at least one operation may include, when the running application corresponds to a second application: determining, based on contextual information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, whether to maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or whether to pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the at least one operation may include an operation of controlling, based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, to temporarily suspend charging of at least one battery among the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries among the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries among the plurality of batteries using the external power.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device within a network environment according to one embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating an unfolded state of a first type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 2b is a drawing illustrating a state in which batteries are arranged in a first type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a folded state of a second type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 3b is a diagram illustrating a state in which batteries are arranged in a second type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 is an internal block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an electronic device for controlling heat generation during charging according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 6 is a screen example for a charging pause function according to one embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a folded state of a first type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a folded state of a second type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a partially folded state of a first type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a partially folded state of a second type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a state in which a first type of electronic device is gripped according to one embodiment.

[0031] In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used for the same or similar components.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device (101) within a network environment (100), according to one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1 , in the network environment (100), the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (102) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or may communicate with at least one of the electronic device (104) or the server (108) via a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). In one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may communicate with the electronic device (104) via the server (108). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a processor (120), a memory (130), an input module (150), an audio output module (155), a display module (160), an audio module (170), a sensor module (176), an interface (177), a connection terminal (178), a haptic module (179), a camera module (180), a power management module (188), a battery (189), a communication module (190), a subscriber identification module (196), or an antenna module (197). In some embodiments, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of these components (e.g., the connection terminal (178)), or may have one or more other components added. In some embodiments, some of these components (e.g., the sensor module (176), the camera module (180), or the antenna module (197)) may be integrated into one component (e.g., the display module (160)).

[0033] The processor (120) may, for example, execute software (e.g., a program (140)) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device (101) connected to the processor (120) and perform various data processing or operations. According to one embodiment, as at least a part of the data processing or operations, the processor (120) may store commands or data received from other components (e.g., a sensor module (176) or a communication module (190)) in a volatile memory (132), process the commands or data stored in the volatile memory (132), and store result data in a 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) (e.g., a graphics processing unit, a neural processing unit (NPU), an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor) that can operate independently or together with the main processor (121). For example, when the electronic device (101) includes the main processor (121) and the auxiliary processor (123), the auxiliary processor (123) may be configured to use less power than the main processor (121) or to be specialized for a given function. The auxiliary processor (123) may be implemented separately from the main processor (121) or as a part thereof.

[0034] The auxiliary processor (123) may control at least a portion of functions or states associated with at least one component (e.g., a display module (160), a sensor module (176), or a communication module (190)) of the electronic device (101), for example, 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. In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of another functionally related component (e.g., a camera module (180) or a communication module (190)). In one embodiment, the auxiliary processor (123) (e.g., a neural network processing unit) may include a hardware structure specialized for processing artificial intelligence models. The artificial intelligence models may be generated through machine learning. This learning can be performed, for example, on the electronic device (101) itself where the artificial intelligence model is executed, or can be performed through a separate server (e.g., server (108)). The learning algorithm can 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 can include multiple artificial neural network layers.The artificial neural network may be one of 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, or alternatively to, a hardware structure, an artificial intelligence model may include a software structure.

[0035] The memory (130) can store various data used by at least one component (e.g., processor (120) or sensor module (176)) of the electronic device (101). The data can include, for example, software (e.g., program (140)) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory (130) can include volatile memory (132) or non-volatile memory (134).

[0036] The program (140) may be stored as software in the memory (130) and may include, for example, an operating system (142), middleware (144), or an application (146).

[0037] The input module (150) can receive commands or data to be used in a component of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a processor (120)) from an external source (e.g., a user) of the electronic device (101). The input module (150) can include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, a key (e.g., a button), or a digital pen (e.g., a stylus pen).

[0038] The audio output module (155) can output audio signals to the outside of the electronic device (101). The audio output module (155) can include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes, such as multimedia playback or recording playback. The receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. In one embodiment, the receiver can be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

[0039] The display module (160) can visually provide information to an external party (e.g., a 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 the 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 a force generated by the touch.

[0040] The audio module (170) can convert sound into an electrical signal, or vice versa, convert an electrical signal into sound. According to one embodiment, the audio module (170) can acquire sound through the input module (150), output sound through the sound output module (155), or an external electronic device (e.g., electronic device (102)) (e.g., speaker or headphone) directly or wirelessly connected to the electronic device (101).

[0041] The sensor module (176) can detect the operating status (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device (101) or the external environmental status (e.g., user status) and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected status. According to one embodiment, the sensor module (176) can include, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

[0042] The interface (177) may support one or more designated protocols that may be used to directly or wirelessly connect the electronic device (101) with an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (102)). In 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.

[0043] The connection terminal (178) may include a connector through which the electronic device (101) may 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).

[0044] The haptic module (179) can convert electrical signals into mechanical stimuli (e.g., vibration or movement) or electrical stimuli that a user can perceive through tactile or kinesthetic sensations. According to one embodiment, the haptic module (179) can include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

[0045] The camera module (180) can capture still images and videos. According to one embodiment, the camera module (180) may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

[0046] 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 as, for example, at least a part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

[0047] A battery (189) may power at least one component of the electronic device (101). In one embodiment, the battery (189) may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell.

[0048] The communication module (190) may support the establishment of a direct (e.g., wired) communication channel or a 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 the performance of communication through the established communication channel. The communication module (190) may operate independently from the processor (120) (e.g., application processor) and may include one or more communication processors that 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., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module (194) (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module). Among these communication modules, the corresponding communication module can communicate with an external electronic device (104) via a first network (198) (e.g., a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, wireless fidelity (WiFi) direct, or infrared data association (IrDA)) or a second network (199) (e.g., a long-range communication network such as 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 can 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 verify or authenticate the electronic device (101) within a communication network such as the first network (198) or the second network (199) by using subscriber information (e.g., an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the subscriber identification module (196).

[0049] The wireless communication module (192) can support 5G networks and next-generation communication technologies following the 4G network, such as NR access technology (new radio access technology). The NR access technology can support high-speed transmission of high-capacity data (eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband)), minimization of terminal power and connection of multiple terminals (mMTC (massive machine type communications)), or high reliability and low latency (URLLC (ultra-reliable and low-latency communications)). The wireless communication module (192) can support, for example, a high-frequency band (e.g., mmWave band) to achieve a high data transmission rate. The wireless communication module (192) can support various technologies for securing performance in a high-frequency band, such as beamforming, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), 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), an external electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (104)), or a network system (e.g., the second network (199)). According to one embodiment, the wireless communication module (192) can support a peak data rate (e.g., 20 Gbps or more) for eMBB realization, a loss coverage (e.g., 164 dB or less) for mMTC realization, or a U-plane latency (e.g., 0.5 ms or less for downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), or 1 ms or less for round trip) for URLLC realization.

[0050] The antenna module (197) can transmit or receive signals or power to or from an external device (e.g., an external electronic device). In one embodiment, the antenna module (197) may include an antenna including a radiator formed of a conductor or a conductive pattern formed on a substrate (e.g., a PCB). In 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 the first network (198) or the second network (199), may be selected from the plurality of antennas, for example, by the communication module (190). A signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module (190) and an external electronic device via the at least one selected antenna. In some embodiments, in addition to the radiator, another component (e.g., a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)) may be additionally formed as a part of the antenna module (197).

[0051] According to various embodiments, the antenna module (197) may form a mmWave antenna module. In one embodiment, the mmWave antenna module may include a printed circuit board, an RFIC disposed on or adjacent a first side (e.g., a bottom side) of the printed circuit board and capable of supporting a designated high-frequency band (e.g., a mmWave band), and a plurality of antennas (e.g., an array antenna) disposed on or adjacent a second side (e.g., a top side or a side side) of the printed circuit board and capable of transmitting or receiving signals in the designated high-frequency band.

[0052] At least some of the above components can be interconnected and exchange signals (e.g., commands or data) with each other via a communication method between peripheral devices (e.g., a bus, GPIO (general purpose input and output), SPI (serial peripheral interface), or MIPI (mobile industry processor interface)).

[0053] According to one embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device (101) and an external electronic device (104) via 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 executed in the electronic device (101) may be executed in one or more of the external electronic devices (102, 104, or 108). For example, when the electronic device (101) is to perform a certain function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device (101) may, instead of or in addition to executing the function or service itself, request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least a part of the service. One or more external electronic devices that receive the request may execute at least a portion of the requested function or service, or an 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 process the result as is or additionally and provide it as at least a portion of a response to the request. For this purpose, cloud computing, distributed computing, mobile edge computing (MEC), or client-server computing technology may be used, for example. The electronic device (101) may provide an ultra-low latency service by using distributed computing or mobile edge computing, for example. In another embodiment, the external electronic device (104) may include an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The server (108) may be an intelligent server utilizing machine learning and / or a neural network. According to one embodiment, the external electronic device (104) or the server (108) may be included in the 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.

[0054] In the detailed description below, reference numerals in the drawings may be used interchangeably or omitted for components that can be easily understood through the preceding embodiments, and their detailed descriptions may also be omitted. An electronic device according to an embodiment disclosed in this document may be implemented by selectively combining components of different embodiments, and components of one embodiment may be replaced by components of another embodiment. For example, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to specific drawings or embodiments.

[0055] When using an electronic device (101) while connected to a power charger, heat may be generated during the charging process. Furthermore, as the amount of heat generated increases, surface heating of the electronic device (101), including the area surrounding the battery, may also occur. For example, when a user uses the electronic device (101) while holding the device, if the battery or its surroundings overheat, this may cause discomfort to the user using the electronic device (101) and may even cause low-temperature burns upon contact with the skin.

[0056] In order to reduce or prevent heat generation during charging in an electronic device (101), heat generation control may be performed. When controlling heat generation, the electronic device (101) may be controlled to prevent an over-temperature situation, for example, in a manner determined by the manufacturer. One method for controlling heat generation during charging is a charging pause (or charging pause) function. For example, the charging pause function may be referred to as a 'USB Power Delivery charging pause function'. When the electronic device (101) is used while a charger is connected to the electronic device (101), power is supplied to components necessary for operation and to charge the battery. The charging pause function may be a function that minimizes battery charging and supplies most of the power to the electronic device (101) in order to reduce the impact of simultaneous power supply for game execution and battery charging when an application requiring high specifications, such as a game application, is executed. This feature can be activated when the charger is connected, a high-spec application is running, and the battery capacity is above 20%, even if the device is turned on (or activated).

[0057] However, while this charging pause feature can minimize heat generation and increase power efficiency, it may not actually charge the battery because it limits charging of the battery itself based on a single setting. For example, high-performance applications process a large amount of data, which consumes more power and potentially increases the temperature of the electronic device (101). Therefore, even if heat generation is controlled in situations where data processing speeds must be increased while the charging pause feature is activated, a method may be needed to efficiently control battery charging when the user connects the charger for charging.

[0058] In one embodiment, an electronic device, an operating method thereof, and a storage medium for performing heat control during charging can be provided so as to adaptively ensure battery charging according to a heat situation related to the battery when a charger is connected for charging with a charging pause function activated.

[0059] In one embodiment, in an electronic device (101) including two or more batteries, charging may be temporarily suspended for a battery subject to heat generation restriction while charging may be performed for a battery not subject to heat generation restriction, thereby providing a charging function optimized for a user's intention to charge the batteries themselves. In one embodiment, by minimizing battery charging restrictions due to heat generation, both smooth operating performance and stable battery charging can be ensured.

[0060] FIG. 2A is a drawing illustrating an unfolded state of a first type of electronic device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a drawing illustrating a state in which batteries are arranged in the first type of electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0061] In describing the embodiments disclosed in this document, a configuration in which a pair of housings (e.g., a first housing (210) and a second housing (220)) are rotatably coupled may be exemplified. However, it should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the electronic device (101) according to various embodiments disclosed in this document. For example, the electronic device (101) according to the embodiments disclosed in this document may include three or more housings (e.g., see FIG. 3A), and the term "a pair of housings" in the embodiments disclosed below may mean "two housings that are rotatably coupled to each other among the three or more housings."

[0062] In the detailed description below, reference may be made to the “+X / -X direction”, the “+Y / -Y direction” or the “+Z / -Z direction”, and it should be noted that the orthogonal coordinate system described below is generally described based on the width direction (X), length direction (Y) or thickness direction (Z) of the first housing (210) in FIGS. 2A and 2B. For example, the definition of the above directions may be variously changed depending on the embodiment or based on other structures of the electronic device (101). In addition, in the detailed description below, the 'front face' or 'rear face' of the electronic device (101) or the housings (210, 220) may be mentioned, and regardless of the relative positions of the housings (210, 220) (e.g., unfolded or folded), the surface on which the flexible display (230) of FIG. 2A is disposed is defined as the 'front face of the electronic device (101) (or the housings (210, 220))', and the surface facing the opposite direction to the surface on which the flexible display (230) is disposed is defined as the 'rear face of the electronic device (101) (or the housings (210, 220))'. In some embodiments, reference may be made to "a configuration in which the electronic device (101) includes a display", wherein the "display" may mean the flexible display (230).

[0063] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include a flexible or foldable display (230) disposed within a space formed by a foldable housing and the housings (210, 220). According to one embodiment, the foldable housing may include a pair of housings (210, 220) that are rotatably connected to each other. According to one embodiment, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may be disposed on opposite sides with respect to a folding axis (A axis) and may have a shape that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the folding axis. According to one embodiment, the angle or distance between the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may vary depending on whether the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state, a folded state, or a partially unfolded (or partially folded) intermediate state.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the surface on which the display (230) is arranged may be defined as the first surface (210a) and / or the third surface (220a) of the electronic device (101) and / or the housings (210, 220). In another embodiment, the surface opposite the first surface (210a) and / or the third surface (220a) may be defined as the second surface (210b) and / or the fourth surface (220b) of the electronic device (101) and / or the housings (210, 220). In another embodiment, the surface surrounding the space between the first side (210a) and the second side (210b) and / or the space between the third side (220a) and the fourth side (220b) may be defined as a side surface (e.g., the first side surface (211a) and the second side surface (221a)) of the electronic device (101) and / or the housings (210, 220).

[0065] According to one embodiment, the housings (210, 220) may include a first housing (or first housing structure) (210), a second housing (or second housing structure) (220) including a sensor area (224a), a first rear cover (280), and / or a second rear cover (290). According to one embodiment, the first rear cover (280) and the second rear cover (290) may have a substantially symmetrical shape about a folding axis (A axis).

[0066] According to one embodiment, the sensor area (224a) may be formed to have a predetermined area adjacent to one corner of the second housing (220). However, the arrangement, shape, and size of the sensor area (224a) are not limited to the illustrated example. For example, the sensor area (224a) may be provided in another corner of the second housing (220) or in any area between the upper corner and the lower corner. In one embodiment, components for performing various functions built into the electronic device (101) may be exposed to the front of the electronic device (101) through the sensor area (224a) or through one or more openings provided in the sensor area (224a). In one embodiment, the components may include various types of sensors. The sensors may include, for example, at least one of a front camera, a receiver, an illumination sensor, a proximity sensor, and a grip sensor.

[0067] A grip sensor may be a sensor for determining a user's contact state with respect to an electronic device (101). The grip sensor may be placed on at least one of the front, side, or back surface of the electronic device (101) so as to detect a state in which a user is in contact with the front and / or back surface of the electronic device (101) while holding the electronic device (101).

[0068] The housings (210, 220) of the electronic device (101) are not limited to the shapes or combinations illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and may be implemented by combinations and / or combinations of other shapes or components. For example, the first housing (210) and the first rear cover (280) may be formed integrally, and the second housing (220) and the second rear cover (290) may be formed integrally.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the display (230) may refer to a flexible display in which at least a portion of the display can be transformed into a flat or curved surface. According to one embodiment, the display (230) may include a folding area (233), a first area (or first display area) (231) arranged on one side (e.g., the left side of the folding area (233) illustrated in FIG. 2A) with respect to the folding area (233), and a second area (or second display area) (232) arranged on the other side (e.g., the right side of the folding area (233) illustrated in FIG. 2A).

[0070] According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) is in an unfolded state (or flat state) (e.g., the state illustrated in FIG. 2A), the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may be arranged at a specified angle, for example, a 180-degree angle, such that the first region (231) and the second region (232) of the display (230) face the same direction. For example, the surface of the first region (231) and the surface of the second region (232) of the display (230) may form a 180-degree angle with each other and face the same direction (e.g., toward the front of the electronic device (200). The folding region (233) may form the same plane as the first region (231) and the second region (232).

[0071] According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) is in a folded state (or folded state), the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may be arranged to face each other. The surface of the first region (231) and the surface of the second region (232) of the display (230) may form a narrow angle (e.g., between 0 and 10 degrees) with each other and may face each other. The folding region (233) may be formed as a curved surface having at least a portion of a predetermined curvature.

[0072] According to one embodiment, when the electronic device (101) is in an intermediate state, for example, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) may be arranged to form a certain angle with respect to each other. The surface of the first region (231) and the surface of the second region (232) of the display (230) may be arranged to form an angle that is greater than the angle in the folded state and less than the angle in the unfolded state. The folding region (233) may be formed as a curved surface having at least a certain curvature, and the curvature at this time may be less than that in the folded state. In this way, a partially folded state of the display (230) (e.g., flex mode or table mode) may mean a state in which at least a portion of the first region (231) and at least a portion of the second region (232) are visually exposed to the outside.

[0073] According to one embodiment, an opening may be formed in at least a portion of the housing (210 or 220) to expose the connector (203), and the connector (203) may be positioned within the opening. According to one embodiment, an external connector (207) in the form of a header may be coupled to the connector (203) in a forward or reverse direction. According to one embodiment, the external connector (207) may be connected to an external power supply device via a cable, and when the connector (203) and the external connector (207) are coupled, the electronic device (101) and the external power supply device may be connected. According to one embodiment, the external power supply device may be various external devices that can be connected to the electronic device (101). For example, the external power supply device may be a USB OTG (on-the-go) device, and may include a charger (or battery pack), a charging adapter, an audio device, a laptop, a computer, a memory, or an antenna (e.g., a digital multimedia broadcasting antenna or an FM antenna). For example, the external power supply device may be a device that transmits external power to an electronic device (101), and its type may not be limited thereto.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the first rear cover (280), the second rear cover (290), the first housing (210), and the second housing (220) may form a space in which various components of the electronic device (101) (e.g., a printed circuit board or a battery) may be placed. According to one embodiment, one or more components may be placed or visually exposed on the rear surface of the electronic device (101). For example, the electronic device (101) may include a sub-display, at least a portion of which is visually exposed through the first rear area (282) of the first rear cover (280). In one embodiment, the sensor exposed through the second rear area (292) may include a rear camera.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) is a foldable electronic device and may include a plurality of batteries to supply and store power required for operation to electronic components. For example, the electronic device (101) may include a first battery (289a) and a second battery (289b) arranged in each of a first housing (210) and a second housing (220). According to one embodiment, the first battery (289a) may be arranged inside the first housing (210), and the second battery (289b) may be arranged inside the second housing (220).

[0076] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may include various electronic components (or electrical components) arranged in the internal or external space of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). Various electronic components include, for example, a processor (e.g., a processor (120) of FIG. 1), a memory (e.g., a memory (130) of FIG. 1), an input module (e.g., an input module (150) of FIG. 1), an audio output module (e.g., an audio output module (155) of FIG. 1), a flexible display (230) (e.g., a display module (160) of FIG. 1), an audio module (e.g., an audio module (170) of FIG. 1), a sensor (e.g., a sensor module (176) of FIG. 1), an interface (e.g., an interface (177) of FIG. 1), a connection terminal (e.g., a connection terminal (178) of FIG. 1 or a connector (203) of FIG. 2a), a haptic module (e.g., a haptic module (179) of FIG. 1), a camera module (e.g., a camera module (180) of FIG. 1), a power management module (e.g., a power management module (188) of FIG. 1), a battery (289a, 289b) (e.g., battery (189) of FIG. 1), communication circuit (e.g., communication module (190) of FIG. 1), subscriber identification module (e.g., subscriber identification module (196) of FIG. 1), or antenna module (e.g., antenna module (197) of FIG. 1), and the electronic components may be appropriately separated and arranged in the internal or external space of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220). In the electronic device (101), at least one of these components (e.g., connection terminal (178)) may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. In addition, some of these components may be integrated into one component.

[0077] FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a folded state of a second type of electronic device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which batteries are arranged in the second type of electronic device according to one embodiment. The difference between the first type of electronic device and the second type of electronic device is the number of housings. Although the first type of device has two housings and the second type of device has three housings, it should be noted that the methods described in the present disclosure can be used in devices having any number of housings.

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in one embodiment, the foldable housing (300) may include a first housing (310), a second housing (320), and a third housing (330). According to one embodiment, the display (350) may include a first display area (360) arranged on one side with respect to a first folding axis (A-A'), a second display area (370) arranged between the first folding axis (A-A') and the second folding axis (B-B'), and a third display area (380) located on an opposite side of the second display area (370) with respect to the second folding axis (B-B'). For example, the first display area (360) may be positioned on the first side (311) of the first housing (310), the second display area (370) may be positioned on the third side (321) of the second housing (320), and the third display area (380) may be positioned on the fifth side (331) of the third housing (330). In one embodiment, when the first housing (310) rotates relative to the second housing (320), the first side (311) of the first housing (310) may be in-folded to face the third side (321) of the second housing (320). When the second housing (320) rotates with respect to the third housing (330), the third face (321) of the second housing (320) can be folded out so as to face in the opposite direction to the fifth face (331) of the third housing (330).

[0079] According to one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3b, the first battery (389a) may be placed inside the first housing (310), the second battery (389b) may be placed inside the second housing (320), and the third battery (389c) may be placed inside the third housing (330).

[0080] Figure 4 is an internal block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 4, an electronic device (101) (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIGS. 1 to 3B) may include a plurality of batteries (e.g., batteries 289a and 289b of FIG. 2B, batteries 389a, 389b and 389c of FIG. 3B) (489), a memory (430) (e.g., the memory (130) of FIG. 1) or a processor (420) (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1). According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may further include at least one sensor (476), a temperature sensor (440), and / or a power management circuit (480).

[0082] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may omit at least one of the components or additionally include other components. In FIG. 4, a term such as 'circuitry' in the electronic device (101) means a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Although the term 'circuit' is described in the electronic device (101), it may be replaced with terms such as 'module', 'unit', or 'device', for example.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the sensor (476) may be the same as the sensor module (176) described in FIG. 1. The sensor (476) may include at least one sensor for determining a user contact state with respect to the electronic device (101). For example, the sensor (476) may include a grip sensor, and in addition to the grip sensor, may further include a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an IR (infrared) sensor, or an illuminance sensor. The sensor (476) may generate a signal corresponding to whether or not the user contacts the electronic device (101) and the contact state and transmit the signal to the processor (420).

[0084] According to one embodiment, the temperature sensor (440) may include a plurality of temperature sensors. The plurality of temperature sensors may be used to measure the temperature during charging. The temperature sensor (440) may be a plurality of thermistors disposed inside the electronic device (101). The temperature sensor (440) may output a temperature value based on a resistance value that changes depending on the temperature, or the temperature value based on the resistance value may be determined by the processor (420). According to one embodiment, the temperature sensor (440) may be disposed at a location corresponding to or adjacent to one of the components included in the electronic device (101) (e.g., a component that is a major heat source). For example, the temperature sensor (440) may be disposed in an area adjacent to at least one of the respective components, such as the processor (420), the power management circuit (480), and / or the battery (489). According to one embodiment, each battery may have an associated temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the corresponding battery. According to one embodiment, the temperature sensor (440) may be further disposed adjacent to each of various other components, such as, for example, an input module (e.g., USB) and an audio module. According to one embodiment, the temperature sensor (440) may operate under the control of the processor (420). The temperature sensor (440) may passively transmit a state corresponding to a temperature value in response to a command from the processor (420), and in response thereto, the processor (420) may obtain a temperature associated with at least one component of the electronic device (101) from the temperature sensor (440). According to one embodiment, the temperature sensor (440) may provide a temperature value obtained at a location corresponding to at least one heat source (e.g., at least one component designated as a heat source) among the components included in the electronic device (101).

[0085] According to one embodiment, the processor (420) may obtain the temperature related to the heat generation of the batteries (489) based on the temperature value obtained using the temperature sensor (440) during charging while the charging pause function is set. For example, the processor (420) may periodically check the temperature value (or temperature values) detected (or measured) by the temperature sensor (440) according to a cycle specified when charging starts or in real time to obtain the temperature related to the heat generation of the batteries (489). According to one embodiment, the processor (420) may use the temperature values ​​obtained while the charging pause function is activated for the purpose of determining the battery to be charged and the battery to be charged.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) may be connected to an external device (e.g., a charger, a battery pack) via a connector (e.g., connector (203) of FIG. 2A). When the electronic device (101) is electrically connected to the external device via the connector, it may receive power from the external device.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the charging circuit of the electronic device (101) may include a power management IC (PMIC) (480). According to one embodiment, the charging circuit may be a separate component different from the processor (420). According to one embodiment, the power management circuit (480) (or charger IC (482)) may control the voltage of power supplied to each component included in the electronic device (101). The power management circuit (480) may output a preset voltage. The power management circuit (480) may receive power from an external device (e.g., a charger, a battery pack) that supplies external power through a connector, output a preset voltage, and charge an electrically connected battery (489). In FIG. 4, an implemented case in which a charging IC (482) is included in a power management circuit (480) is exemplified, but the charging IC (482) is implemented separately from the power management circuit (480) and can supply and manage power to each of the battery (489) and the power management circuit (480).

[0088] According to one embodiment, the battery (489) may refer to a plurality of batteries as illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3B. Accordingly, the power management circuit (480) can simultaneously charge the plurality of batteries (489) by outputting a preset voltage to each of the plurality of batteries (489) using external power supplied through the connector. In addition, if the path through which power is supplied to the plurality of batteries (489) through the connector is separated, the processor (420) can individually charge the plurality of batteries (489) through the power management circuit (480). For example, the processor (420) can temporarily suspend charging of one or more of the plurality of batteries (489) by controlling the power management circuit (480) and charge the remaining batteries. In addition, the power management circuit (480) can individually charge the plurality of batteries (489) by adjusting the charging power for each of the plurality of batteries (489). Although described as 'charging power' for the purpose of explaining various embodiments, 'charging power' can be used interchangeably with any one of 'current', 'voltage', 'power', or 'impedance'.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the power management circuit (480) may sequentially charge a battery (489) with a higher priority among the plurality of batteries. For example, since the power required for each component placed within the housing (210 or 220) varies, a battery connected to more components will consume more power, and thus, the battery may be charged first. In addition, when using 5G communication, a large amount of data may be transmitted, and the increased data throughput may result in greater current consumption. Therefore, among the batteries, the battery with a lower load may be charged first, taking into account the running status of the application. In one embodiment, the priority for the batteries may be predetermined according to the manufacturer or user settings, but may be adaptively determined by considering various charging situations.

[0090] According to one embodiment, the memory (430) is operatively connected to the processor (420) and can store various information and programs necessary to control the pause function during charging. For example, the program may include a routine for detecting a connection with an external device for charging, a routine for determining whether the pause function for charging is activated, a routine for determining a plurality of conditions related to heat generation of batteries to determine a battery to be subject to paused charging and a battery to be charged during activation of the pause function for charging, or a routine for pausing charging of some batteries and charging the remaining batteries with power corresponding to the external device during activation of the pause function for charging.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the plurality of conditions related to the heat generation of batteries may include a first condition for checking the battery load by components (or elements) related to the heat generation of the battery, a second condition for checking the heat generation of the battery above a threshold temperature value, a third condition for checking the state of the electronic device (101) such as an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state, or a fourth condition for checking the usability of the electronic device (101) by a user (e.g., a user contact state).

[0092] According to one embodiment, the processor (420) may set a charging pause function for a plurality of batteries (489) according to a first input (e.g., a user input). For example, the charging pause function may be activated (or turned on) or deactivated (or turned off) through a setting menu. When the user sets the charging pause function to 'on', the processor (420) may activate the charging pause function. Here, the activation of the charging pause function may indicate a state in which the function is set through the setting menu. Therefore, the activation of the charging pause function may not be a state in which the function for pausing charging for the batteries (389) is executed, but a state in which the charging pause function is monitored before executing the charging pause function. According to one embodiment, the charging pause function for a plurality of batteries (489) during charging may be a function in which external power is provided to parts (or components) of the electronic device (101) without charging the batteries (489) according to the input of external power.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the processor (420) may control the operation of the electronic device (101) and / or the signal flow between components of the electronic device (101), and may perform a data processing function for processing data. When the processor (420) is coupled with an external device, the processor (420) may detect the input of external power. The processor (420) may recognize this through an interrupt signal line of the connector. According to one embodiment, the processor (420) may check a value detected through the connector, and may determine whether the processor (420) is coupled (or connected) or detached (or disconnected) from the external device based on the detected value. Accordingly, the processor (420) may detect the input of external power, and may receive the external power upon detecting the input of external power.

[0094] The processor (420) may initiate charging of the batteries (489) in response to detecting the input of external power (or in response to receiving external power).

[0095] According to one embodiment, when the charging pause function is activated, the processor (420) may pause charging of all batteries (489) before initiating charging of some of the batteries (489) and pausing charging of the remaining batteries. For example, before checking a plurality of conditions related to heat generation of the batteries to determine which batteries are subject to the charging pause and which batteries are subject to the charging pause, charging of all batteries (489) may be paused, and if at least one of the plurality of conditions is satisfied, the charging pause may be maintained for some of the batteries (489) and charging may be performed (or initiated) for the remaining batteries. Here, the condition for executing the charging pause function for all batteries (489) may be based on the premise that the remaining capacity of the batteries is equal to or greater than a threshold capacity (e.g., 20%) while an application that consumes power greater than the threshold is being executed while an external power input is detected.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the processor (420), when the charging pause function is activated, before executing the charging pause function that pauses charging for all of the batteries (489), checks whether at least one of a plurality of specified conditions related to heat generation of the batteries is satisfied, and if at least one condition is satisfied, the charging for some of the batteries (489) can be paused and the charging for the remaining batteries can be performed.

[0097] In one embodiment, even in a situation where charging should be paused while the charging pause function is activated, charging can be maintained or paused depending on the type of application running while charging using external power so that charging can be resumed when certain conditions are met. For example, if a power-intensive application is running while charging, or if charging using external power is started while the power-intensive application is running, the processor (420) can check a situation in which heat generation is occurring in relation to the batteries to determine whether to pause or maintain charging for at least one of the batteries. The processor (420) can determine whether to pause or maintain charging for at least one of the plurality of batteries based on the situation in which heat generation is occurring, i.e., the situation information associated with the batteries.

[0098] In one embodiment, a battery to be paused for charging may be selected (or determined) based on various situations (or conditions) for which the battery is expected to have a temperature rise during charging, such as a temperature associated with the battery, a housing structure in which the batteries are mounted, contact between the batteries, and a user's grip state detected by a grip sensor, and the battery selection criteria may be determined based on each of the situations or a combination of the situations.

[0099] As described above, the processor (420) may determine whether to execute the charging pause function in response to detecting the input of external power when the charging pause function is activated. Here, detecting the input of external power should be understood as detecting a connection through the terminal of the connector of the electronic device (101) when the user plugs in the charger for charging.

[0100] The processor (420) may control to perform charging by maintaining the charging pause for some batteries and releasing the charging pause for the remaining batteries after determining which batteries to pause charging and which batteries to charge after pausing charging for all batteries (489). In addition, the processor (420) may control to perform charging for some batteries while performing charging for the remaining batteries after determining which batteries to pause charging and which batteries to charge before executing the charging pause function. In one embodiment, when the charging pause function is activated, the operation of identifying (or monitoring) target batteries to determine whether there are batteries to pause charging or batteries that can be charged may be performed when the charging pause function is executed and charging for all batteries is paused, or may be performed before charging starts, but may also be performed after charging starts, and the operation of monitoring target batteries may be performed periodically or according to specified conditions even while performing charging.

[0101] In one embodiment, the conditions for executing the charging pause function may include, first, a state in which external power input is detected (or a state in which external power is being received), second, a state in which the remaining capacity of the battery is equal to or greater than a threshold capacity (e.g., 20%), and third, a state in which an application that consumes power greater than the threshold is running. The charging pause function may be executed when the above conditions are simultaneously satisfied.

[0102] For example, the processor (420) may identify whether an application that consumes power exceeding a threshold is running to determine whether to execute a charging pause function. The application that consumes power exceeding the threshold may be pre-designated based on the average power consumed by each application, and may also be determined by identifying whether the application consumes power exceeding the threshold when running. For example, if a first application with low current consumption is running (or is running), the processor (420) may maintain charging the batteries (489). On the other hand, if a second application with high current consumption, such as a game application, is running (or is running), the processor (420) may determine whether to pause charging the batteries (489). Here, the second application may be an application that consumes more power than the amount of power consumed by the first application. For example, the second application that consumes power exceeding the threshold may be an application with high current consumption due to the use of large amounts of data, such as a game application or a video application, but the type of application may not be limited thereto. For example, the types of applications to which the charging pause feature can be applied may vary, as the amount of data that needs to be processed may vary depending on different operating situations, such as streaming video while charging or working on cloud documents.

[0103] When the charging pause function is activated and charging of batteries using external power is confirmed, the processor (420) can identify whether a high-current-consuming application is running and the remaining capacity of the batteries is equal to or greater than a threshold capacity (e.g., 20%) to determine whether to execute the charging pause function. If the remaining capacity is less than the threshold capacity, the processor (420) may not perform an operation of temporarily suspending charging of multiple batteries (489) even if the charging pause function is activated. On the other hand, if the remaining capacity is equal to or greater than the threshold capacity, the processor (420) can execute the charging pause function to temporarily suspend charging of all batteries (489), and then determine whether there is a battery among the batteries (489) whose charging is to be temporarily suspended or a battery that can be charged. Additionally, the processor (420) may check whether there is a battery among the batteries (489) whose charging is to be paused or a battery that is capable of being charged before executing the charging pause function, i.e., before performing an operation to pause charging for all of the batteries (489). Here, the battery that is capable of being charged may be a battery that is not subject to heat generation limitation during charging, and the battery that is to be subject to heat generation limitation during charging may be a battery that is subject to heat generation limitation during charging.

[0104] In one embodiment, for batteries (489) that are capable of being charged while the charging pause function is being executed or before being executed, the processor (420) may determine a battery that is not subject to a heat generation restriction by using a plurality of conditions related to the heat generation of the batteries so that charging is possible. Here, the processor (420) may determine whether at least one of the plurality of conditions related to the heat generation of the batteries is satisfied by checking the situation information associated with the batteries, and may determine a battery that is not subject to a heat generation restriction accordingly.

[0105] According to one embodiment, when the charging pause function is activated, the processor (420) can determine a battery that is not subject to a heat restriction from the time of charging start and charge the battery that is not subject to a heat restriction.

[0106] In one embodiment, a first condition among a plurality of conditions may be to check the battery load caused by components (or elements) related to battery heat generation. For example, the types and numbers of components arranged in each housing (e.g., housings (210, 220) of FIG. 2B and housings (310, 320, 330) of FIG. 3A) may be different. Accordingly, based on the first condition of checking which housing has more components arranged among the housings, the processor (420) may check which housing has more components arranged, and if the first condition is satisfied by checking which housing has more components arranged, the processor may temporarily suspend charging of the battery arranged in the housing having more components arranged.

[0107] In addition, the battery load caused by components related to battery heat generation may vary not only by the type and number of components arranged within the housing, but also by the type and number of components connected to the battery within the housing. The processor (420) may identify a battery to which components that consume more power are connected among the batteries, and may temporarily suspend charging for the identified battery because heat may be generated due to power consumption by the components. Alternatively, in the case of a battery to which a component that consumes more power, such as an AP, is connected among the batteries, the power required for AP operation may be greater, and therefore, unless heat generation exceeding a threshold is generated, charging may be performed for the battery connected to the AP, and charging for the remaining batteries may be temporarily suspended.

[0108] For example, see Table 1 to see the battery load depending on the components placed within the housing.

[0109]

[0110] Referring to Table 1 above, the load on the first battery (289a) due to the components placed in the first housing (210) among the housings (e.g., the housings (210, 220) of FIG. 2b, the housings (310, 320, 330) of FIG. 3a) shows that a load of 30% is applied to the first battery (289a) due to the AP having a load value of 15, the Sim slot having a load value of 5, and the NFC having a load value of 0 (e.g., not driven) on the surface (e.g., the first housing (210)) where the first battery (289a) is placed. On the other hand, when looking at the load on the second battery (289b) due to the components placed in the second housing (220), a 50% load may be applied to the second battery (289b) due to the AP having a load of 50, the Sim slot having a load of 20, and the NFC having a load of 0 (e.g., not driven).

[0111] If a 50% load is applied to the second battery (289b) and a 30% load is applied to the first battery (289a), the processor (420) can select the first battery (289a) with the lower load, that is, the 30% load, as the battery that is not subject to heat generation limitation, and control the first battery (289a) to be charged. As described above, the processor (420) can calculate the load on the batteries by considering the expected load for each component, and can determine the battery with the lower load among the batteries (489) based on the calculated load. Here, the numbers described in Table 1 are merely exemplary numbers, and even if APs are arranged in each of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220), since the types of APs may be different, the load due to the APs may also be different, and thus the load values ​​due to the components may not be limited thereto. Therefore, the figures in Table 1 are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to various modifications or variations.

[0112] As described above, in the case of a battery adjacent to (or connected to) the AP, which is a major component in generating heat, the temperature of the battery may also increase due to the heat generated from the AP. Therefore, the charging of the battery adjacent to the AP may be temporarily suspended with priority, and the remaining batteries may be controlled to be charged. Meanwhile, when the electronic device (101) is operating in power saving mode, the electronic device (101) may control the power consumption of batteries not adjacent to the AP with priority, thereby increasing battery efficiency. Here, in the case of a housing in which an auxiliary device such as a cooler capable of reducing heat generation among the above components is disposed, the charging of the battery disposed in the housing may be controlled to be given priority.

[0113] Meanwhile, the processor (420) may monitor the heat generation situation periodically or according to specified conditions, even if charging is restricted for some of the batteries (489), and if heat generation exceeding a critical temperature is detected for all batteries (489), charging of the remaining batteries that were being charged may also be temporarily suspended.

[0114] In one embodiment, the second condition among the plurality of conditions may be checking for battery heat generation exceeding a threshold temperature value. For example, the processor (420) may periodically measure the temperature of components (or elements) using the plurality of temperature sensors (440), and the measurement cycle may be adjustable. The processor (420) may monitor whether the batteries (489) are overheated by measuring the temperature of the components, and based on the second condition of checking for battery heat generation exceeding a threshold temperature value, if the second condition is satisfied by checking for battery heat generation exceeding a threshold temperature value, the processor may temporarily suspend charging of a battery among the batteries (489) that has generated heat generation exceeding a threshold temperature value. Here, the temperature measurement of the components may include the temperature measurement of the batteries (489).

[0115] In addition, the processor (420) can monitor whether the batteries (489) are overheated by measuring the temperature of the above components, and perform charging starting with the batteries (489) with a lower temperature than the critical temperature value.

[0116] In one embodiment, the third condition among the plurality of conditions may be to check the state (or pose) of the electronic device (101), such as an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state. For example, in the case where the electronic device (101) includes a first housing (210) and a second housing (220) that are rotatably coupled to each other as in FIG. 2B, a first battery (289a) is disposed within the first housing, and a second battery (289b) is disposed within the second housing, the electronic device (101) can check whether the state of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) is a folded state where they are disposed facing each other, an unfolded state, or an intermediate state where they are partially folded at a predetermined angle. The processor (420) can check the status of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220), and if the third condition is satisfied, it can temporarily suspend charging of a battery corresponding to the checked status among the batteries (489) and perform charging of the remaining batteries.

[0117] For example, the processor (420) may temporarily suspend charging of the first battery (289a) and the second battery (289b) in response to determining that the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are in the folded state. In this folded state, the first battery (289a) and the second battery (289b) are in close proximity to each other. Therefore, if heat is generated in one battery, heat may be transferred to the other battery, so that charging of both the first battery (289a) and the second battery (289b) may be temporarily suspended.

[0118] For example, in response to determining that the states of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are the partially folded intermediate states, the processor (420) may determine which of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) is not in contact with an external object. Here, the external object may represent a contact surface (e.g., a floor, a table) on which at least one of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) is in contact. In the case of the partially folded intermediate state, for example, in a state where the sides of the two housings (210, 220) are in contact with the table and placed in a tent shape (e.g., tent mode), both housings (210, 220) may be regarded as being in contact. In this case, rather than pausing charging for each of the batteries within the two housings (210, 220), the processor (420) can additionally check the docking state (e.g., tent mode) of the two housings (210, 220). Since the docking state corresponds to a state in which the two housings (210, 220) are not in contact with each other, the processor (420) can perform charging for each of the batteries within the two housings (210, 220). In addition, when one of the two housings (210, 220) is placed on a table in a partially folded intermediate state, the processor (420) can check whether the surface contacting the external object is the surface on which the battery is placed, and charge or pause some of the batteries.

[0119] Accordingly, the processor (420) can determine whether the fourth condition is satisfied by checking at least one or a combination of the following: checking which of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) is not in contact with the external object (or contact surface), the mounting state of the two housings (210, 220) (e.g., tent mode), and the surface of the two housings (210, 220) on which the battery is placed in contact with the external object. For example, the processor (420) can temporarily suspend charging of the battery placed in the housing in contact with the external object and perform charging of the battery placed in the housing that is not in contact with the external object when the fourth condition is satisfied by checking which of the housings is not in contact with the external object (or contact surface).

[0120] In one embodiment, the fourth condition among the plurality of conditions may be to check the usability of the electronic device (101) of the user (e.g., user contact status). For example, if the user is using a game application while holding the electronic device (101), low-temperature burns may occur due to skin contact. Therefore, in order to reduce the level of heat felt by the user, the electronic device (101) may control the heat generation of the contact area by the user's hand. For example, the processor (420) may use a sensor (e.g., a grip sensor) (476) among the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) to check whether the fourth condition is satisfied by checking the housing that is not held by the user. The processor (420) may control to charge a battery placed in a housing that is not held by the user among the first housing (210) and the second housing (220), and to temporarily suspend charging for a battery placed in a housing that is held by the user in order to reduce heat generation.

[0121] Meanwhile, in the above-described case, when the charging pause function is activated in an electronic device (101) including a plurality of batteries (489), the battery that will not be restricted from charging is detected and charged by considering the battery load due to the structure in which the components are arranged, the heat generation value, the state (or pose) of the electronic device (101), or the user contact state. However, the method for detecting the battery that will not be restricted from charging may not be limited thereto. For example, when a priority is designated for each of the batteries (489), the battery according to the priority can be charged first without the process of finding a battery that will not be restricted from heating. - The method for determining the battery to be charged is not limited to the case in which the charging pause function is activated, and can be performed even when the charging pause function is not activated. That is, the battery to be charged can be changed even when the charging pause function is not activated. For example, the determination of the battery to be charged may vary depending on the actual charging state of the battery and / or the battery temperature, regardless of the activation of the charging pause function.

[0122] In one embodiment, the processor (420) may check whether each of the conditions (e.g., the first to fourth conditions) is satisfied to determine whether at least one of the above-described multiple conditions is satisfied, and may also check whether different combinations or all combinations of the conditions are satisfied. For example, the processor (420) may check (or predict, infer) a situation in which heat generation occurs in relation to the batteries. The processor (420) may check situation information related to the batteries based on at least one of the temperature associated with the batteries, the housing structure in which the batteries are mounted, the contact between the batteries, and the user's grip state detected by the grip sensor.

[0123] The processor (420) can check the conditions as described above and determine whether there is a battery that can be charged or a battery that will pause charging based on whether at least one condition is satisfied.

[0124] In one embodiment, if there is no battery for which charging is to be paused, for example, if two or more batteries are not all subject to heat limitation, the processor (420) may perform charging of all of the batteries (489) through the power management circuit (480) even if the charging pause function is activated. For example, if charging of all of the batteries (489) has started in response to detecting an input of external power, the operation of charging all of the batteries (489) may be maintained.

[0125] In one embodiment, if there are some batteries for which charging is to be paused, for example, if one or more of the batteries (489) are batteries subject to heat limitation, the processor (420) may pause charging for one or more of the batteries (489) through the power management circuit (480) and perform charging for the remaining batteries (489).

[0126] In one embodiment, if there is a battery for which charging is to be paused, for example, if all of the batteries (489) are subject to heat limitation, the processor (420) may pause charging for all of the batteries (489) through the power management circuit (480).

[0127] According to one embodiment, an electronic device (101) may include a plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489), at least one processor (120, 420), and a memory (130, 430) storing instructions. According to one embodiment, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, may be configured to cause the electronic device to determine whether the plurality of batteries are being charged using external power. According to one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to determine an application to be executed while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power.

[0128] In one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to maintain charging of the plurality of batteries using the external power when the running application corresponds to a first application.

[0129] In one embodiment, the instructions may cause the electronic device to determine, based on contextual information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries, if the running application corresponds to a second application.

[0130] According to one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to control the electronic device to temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries based on the context information associated with the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries using the external power, based on the context information associated with the plurality of batteries.

[0131] In one embodiment, the second application may consume more power than the amount of power consumed by the first application.

[0132] According to one embodiment, the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries includes at least one of temperature information associated with each of the batteries measured by each of the plurality of temperature sensors (440) of the electronic device, and the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to detect a temperature associated with the plurality of batteries using the plurality of temperature sensors each of which is disposed at different locations of the electronic device, and to temporarily suspend charging of a battery having a temperature higher than a threshold temperature among the plurality of batteries and to perform charging of a battery having a temperature lower than the threshold temperature based on the detected temperature.

[0133] According to one embodiment, the electronic device further includes a first housing (210) and a second housing (220) that are rotatably coupled to each other, a first battery (289a) is disposed within the first housing, and a second battery (289b) is disposed within the second housing, and the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to determine whether the states of the first housing and the second housing are a folded state, an unfolded state, or a partially folded intermediate state in which the first housing and the second housing are disposed facing each other, and to determine whether the batteries are disposed adjacent to each other based on the determination of the states of the first housing and the second housing.

[0134] In one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to temporarily suspend charging of the first and second batteries in response to determining that the state of the first housing and the second housing is the folded state.

[0135] In one embodiment, the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to, in response to determining that the states of the first housing and the second housing are the partially folded intermediate state or the unfolded state, determine which of the first housing and the second housing is not in contact with an external object, temporarily suspend charging of a battery disposed in the housing in contact with the external object, and perform charging of a battery disposed in the housing not in contact with the external object.

[0136] According to one embodiment, the electronic device further includes a grip sensor (476), and the context information associated with the plurality of batteries includes information about a state in which the electronic device is held by a user, which is detected by the grip sensor (476) of the electronic device, and the instructions may be configured to cause the electronic device to determine which part of the electronic device is held by the user by using the grip sensor, thereby determining information about a state in which the electronic device is held by the user, and to temporarily suspend charging of a battery placed close to a part of the electronic device held by the user, and to perform charging of a battery placed far away from a part of the electronic device held by the user.

[0137] In one embodiment, the device further comprises a plurality of housings, wherein the plurality of batteries are disposed within different housings, and the instructions may be configured to suspend charging of a battery disposed within a housing having more components among the plurality of housings and perform charging of a battery disposed within another housing having fewer components.

[0138] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an electronic device for controlling heat generation during charging according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the operation method may include operations 505 to 525. Each operation of the operation method of FIG. 5 may be performed by at least one of an electronic device (e.g., the electronic device (101) of FIG. 1, the electronic device (101) of FIGS. 2A to 4), and at least one processor of the electronic device (e.g., the processor (120) of FIG. 1 or the processor (420) of FIG. 4). In an embodiment, at least one of operations 505 to 525 may be omitted, the order of some operations may be changed, or other operations may be added. Hereinafter, in order to help understand the description of FIG. 5, the description will be made with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.

[0139] According to one embodiment, in operation 505, the electronic device (101) may determine that a plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489) are being charged using external power. For example, the electronic device (101) may detect that charging using external power has started in a state where the charging pause function is set. In one embodiment, when the charging pause function is not set, for example, when the charging pause function is inactive, a screen for activating the charging pause function may be displayed in response to detecting that charging using external power has started. In addition, the charging pause function may be activated in advance through the settings menu. Here, the charging pause function being activated may indicate a state in which the battery charging is being operated in a mode for restricting the battery charging, rather than a state in which the battery charging is actually restricted. Alternatively, the operation of FIG. 5 may be performed regardless of the charging pause function. For example, the operation of FIG. 5 can be performed in the same manner even if the device does not have a charging pause function.

[0140] In one embodiment, in operation 510, the electronic device (101) can identify an application that is running while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power.

[0141] According to one embodiment, in operation 515, the electronic device (101) can keep charging the plurality of batteries using the external power if the running application corresponds to the first application.

[0142] According to one embodiment, in operation 520, the electronic device (101) may determine, based on contextual information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to temporarily suspend charging of all of the plurality of batteries, maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries, if the running application corresponds to a second application. The second application may consume more power than the amount of power consumed by the first application.

[0143] According to one embodiment, in operation 525, if it is determined to temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries among the plurality of batteries based on situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, the charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries may be temporarily suspended and charging of the remaining batteries among the plurality of batteries may be performed using the external power based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries.

[0144] For example, the electronic device (101) can determine whether a second application that consumes power exceeding a threshold value is running. In response to determining that the second application is running, the electronic device (101) can determine status information associated with batteries. Based on the status information associated with the batteries, the electronic device (101) can determine whether any of the batteries requires charging to be paused. In response to determining that no battery requires charging to be paused, the electronic device (101) can perform charging of the batteries.

[0145] According to one embodiment, the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries may include at least one of temperature information associated with the batteries measured by the plurality of temperature sensors (440) of the electronic device, information about a state in which the batteries are arranged adjacent to each other, information about components arranged within the plurality of housings of the electronic device, or information about a state in which the electronic device is gripped by a user, detected by a grip sensor (476) of the electronic device.

[0146] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can detect the temperature associated with the batteries using a plurality of temperature sensors (440) each of which is positioned at different locations of the electronic device. For example, each battery can be associated with at least one temperature sensor among the plurality of temperature sensors (440). Based on the detected temperature, the electronic device (101) can control to temporarily suspend charging of a battery having a temperature higher than a threshold temperature among the batteries and to perform charging of a battery having a temperature lower than the threshold temperature.

[0147] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can check whether the state of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) is a folded state where they are arranged facing each other, an unfolded state, or an intermediate state where they are partially folded at a predetermined angle to each other. Here, the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are rotatably coupled to each other, and a first battery (289a) can be arranged in the first housing, and a second battery (289b) can be arranged in the second housing. The electronic device (101) can check information about a state where the batteries are arranged adjacent to each other based on checking the state of the first housing and the second housing.

[0148] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can control to temporarily suspend charging of the first and second batteries in response to determining that the state of the first housing and the second housing is the folded state.

[0149] According to one embodiment, a charging pause function may be set for a plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489) based on a first input (e.g., user input). The charging pause function will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is an example screen diagram for the charging pause function according to one embodiment.

[0150] Referring to FIG. 6, the electronic device (101) may display a screen for a charging pause function, as in 600a, when a user connects an external power supply device, such as a charger, for charging and then runs a game application. Furthermore, the screen for the charging pause function, as in 600a, may be accessed through a settings menu. By selecting an indicator (600), the user may change the deactivation (or off) state of the charging pause function for the battery to an indicator (610) indicating an activation (or on) state of the charging pause function, as in 600b.

[0151] In order to examine the state (or pose) of the electronic device (101) corresponding to the folded state, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a folded state of a first type of electronic device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating a folded state of a second type of electronic device according to an embodiment. Here, the first type of electronic device (101) of FIG. 7 may correspond to the electronic device (101) of FIGS. 2A and 2B, and the second type of electronic device (101) of FIG. 8 may correspond to the electronic device (101) of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0152] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are in a folded state, the batteries (289a, 289b) within each housing (210, 220) may be adjacent and close. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when the first to third housings (310) to (330) are in a folded state, the batteries (389a, 389b, 389c) within each housing (310, 320, 330) may be adjacent and close. Accordingly, even if heat generation occurs only in one housing, for example, in the first battery (289a) within the first housing (210), the heat of the first battery (289a) may be transferred to the second battery (289b) of the second housing (220). Accordingly, the electronic device (101) can temporarily suspend charging of all batteries when the state of the electronic device (101) corresponds to a folded state.

[0153] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can, in response to determining that the states of the first housing and the second housing are in the partially folded intermediate state, determine which of the first housing and the second housing is not in contact with an external object. The electronic device (101) can control to temporarily suspend charging of a battery placed in a housing in contact with the external object and to perform charging of a battery placed in a housing not in contact with the external object.

[0154] In order to examine the state (or pose) of the electronic device (101) corresponding to a partially folded intermediate state, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating a partially folded state of a first type of electronic device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a partially folded state of a second type of electronic device according to an embodiment.

[0155] For example, referring to FIG. 9, the electronic device (101) may have a state in which the first housing (210) is in contact with a contact surface (or external object) (e.g., a floor, a table) as illustrated in FIG. 9, and the second housing (220) is erected based on the contact surface. When at least a portion of the flexible display (e.g., the flexible display (230) of FIG. 2A) is folded, the electronic device (101) may be placed in contact with a contact surface such as a desk, table, or shelf depending on the placement state (or pose), and the contact surface may be referred to as an external object. In a partially folded intermediate state, one of the housings comes into contact with an external object, and therefore, a battery placed in a housing that comes into contact with an external object may be more likely to generate heat than a battery placed in a housing that does not come into contact with an external object.

[0156] In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 10, when the electronic device (101) is partially folded, the first housing (310) is not in contact with an external object, and the third housing (330) is in contact with an external object, and the second housing (320) is in contact with the third housing (330). Therefore, the electronic device (101) can preferentially charge only the battery (389a) placed in the first housing (310). On the other hand, the electronic device (101) can temporarily suspend charging for the batteries (389b, 389c) placed in the second housing (320) and the third housing (330).

[0157] As described above, the electronic device (101) can suspend charging of a battery placed in a housing that is in contact with the external object and perform charging of a battery placed in a housing that is not in contact with the external object.

[0158] Meanwhile, according to one embodiment, when the first battery (289a) in the first housing (210) of FIG. 9 is charged preferentially while the charging of the remaining batteries, for example, the second battery (289b) in the second housing (220), is temporarily suspended, even if charging is performed when the total capacity of each battery (289a, 289b) is 20% (10% + 10%), only the first battery (289a) is charged to the maximum, so that the total battery capacity can become 60% (50% + 10%). In addition, when the first battery (289a) is charged to the maximum when the total capacity of each battery (289a, 289b) is 50% (25% + 25%), the total battery capacity can become 75% (50% + 25%). In this case, the electronic device (101) can increase battery efficiency by controlling the power consumption of the first battery (289a) being charged to be prioritized.

[0159] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can use a grip sensor to identify which of the first and second housings is not gripped by the user. The electronic device (101) can charge a battery located within the housing not gripped by the user among the first and second housings. FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a gripped state of a first type electronic device according to one embodiment.

[0160] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the electronic device (101) can identify which of the housings is in contact by using a grip sensor disposed on at least one of the front, side, or back of the electronic device (101) so as to detect a state in which the user is in contact with the front and / or back of the electronic device (101) while holding the electronic device (101). When the user uses the electronic device (101) while holding the electronic device (101), heat may be generated due to contact by the user's hand. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the electronic device (101) can identify a housing that is not held by the user by using a sensor (e.g., a grip sensor) (476) among the first housing (210) and the second housing (220), thereby checking information about a state in which the electronic device is held by the user. The electronic device (101) can control to temporarily suspend charging of a battery (e.g., battery (289a) of FIG. 11) placed in a housing held by the user among the first and second housings, and to charge a battery (e.g., battery (289b) of FIG. 11) placed in a housing not held by the user.

[0161] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can check information about components arranged in a plurality of housings of the electronic device by checking which housing has more components arranged among the first housing and the second housing. Based on checking which housing has more components arranged, the electronic device (101) can control to temporarily suspend charging of a battery arranged in a housing with more components arranged and to perform charging of a battery arranged in a housing with fewer components arranged.

[0162] According to one embodiment, the electronic device (101) can adaptively ensure battery charging depending on the heat generation situation related to the battery when the charger is connected for charging while the charging pause function is activated.

[0163] In one embodiment, in an electronic device (101) including two or more batteries, charging can be temporarily suspended for a battery subject to heat generation restriction while charging is performed for a battery not subject to heat generation restriction, thereby providing a charging function optimized for the user's intention to charge the batteries themselves. Accordingly, battery charging restrictions due to heat generation can be minimized, ensuring both smooth operating performance and stable battery charging.

[0164] Electronic devices according to the various embodiments disclosed in this document may take various forms. Electronic devices may include, for example, portable communication devices (e.g., smartphones), computer devices, portable multimedia devices, portable medical devices, cameras, wearable devices, or home appliances. Electronic devices according to the embodiments of this document are not limited to the aforementioned devices.

[0165] The various embodiments of this document and the terminology used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the 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 the items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, each of the phrases "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" can include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among those phrases, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used merely to distinguish one component from another, and do not limit the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order). When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as "coupled" or "connected" to another (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0166] The term "module" used in 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. A module may be an integral component, or a minimum unit or part of such a component 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).

[0167] Various embodiments of the present document may be implemented as software (e.g., a program (140)) including one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., an internal memory (136) or an external memory (138)) readable by a machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)). For example, a processor (e.g., a processor (120)) of the machine (e.g., an electronic device (101)) may call at least one instruction among the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate 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 executable by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, 'non-transitory' simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and the term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily on the storage medium.

[0168] According to one embodiment, the method according to various embodiments disclosed in the present document may be provided as a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between sellers and buyers 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 may be downloaded from an application store (e.g., Play Store). TM ) or directly between two user devices (e.g., smart phones), online distribution (e.g., downloading or uploading). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be at least temporarily stored or temporarily created in a machine-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or an intermediary server.

[0169] According to various embodiments, each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include one or more entities, and some of the entities may be separated and placed in other components. According to various embodiments, one or more components or operations of the aforementioned components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (e.g., a module or a program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, the operations performed by a module, program, or other component 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.

[0170] According to one embodiment, a storage medium storing at least one computer-readable instruction, wherein the at least one instruction, when executed by at least one processor (120, 420) of an electronic device (101) including a plurality of batteries, causes the electronic device to perform at least one operation, wherein the at least one operation may include an operation of confirming that the plurality of batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489) are being charged using external power. According to one embodiment, the at least one operation may include an operation of confirming an application to be executed while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power.

[0171] In one embodiment, the at least one operation may include an operation of maintaining charging of the plurality of batteries using the external power, if the running application corresponds to the first application.

[0172] In one embodiment, the at least one operation may include, when the running application corresponds to a second application: determining, based on contextual information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, whether to maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or whether to pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries.

[0173] According to one embodiment, the at least one operation may include an operation of controlling, based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, to temporarily suspend charging of at least one battery among the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries among the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries among the plurality of batteries using the external power.

Claims

1. In an electronic device (101), Multiple batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489); At least one processor (120, 420); and Contains memory (130, 430) for storing instructions, The above instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the electronic device to: Using external power, it is confirmed that the above multiple batteries are being charged, While the above multiple batteries are being charged using the above external power, check the running application, If the above running application corresponds to the first application, the charging of the plurality of batteries is maintained using the external power, If the above running application corresponds to a second application: Based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, determine whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries; An electronic device, wherein the electronic device is set to control, based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, to temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries using the external power.

2. In paragraph 1, the second application, An electronic device that consumes more power than the amount of power consumed by the first application.

3. In the first or second paragraph, the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries includes at least one of the temperature information associated with each of the batteries measured by each of the plurality of temperature sensors (440) of the electronic device, The above instructions cause the electronic device to: Detecting the temperature associated with the plurality of batteries by using the plurality of temperature sensors each of which is positioned at different locations of the electronic device, An electronic device, wherein charging of a battery among the plurality of batteries having a temperature higher than a threshold temperature is paused based on the detected temperature, and charging of a battery having a temperature lower than the threshold temperature is performed.

4. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, It further includes a first housing (210) and a second housing (220) that are rotatably coupled to each other, a first battery (289a) is placed in the first housing, and a second battery (289b) is placed in the second housing. The above instructions cause the electronic device to: Check whether the state of the first housing and the second housing is in a folded state, an unfolded state, or a partially folded intermediate state with the first housing and the second housing facing each other, An electronic device configured to determine whether the batteries are placed adjacent to each other based on checking the states of the first housing and the second housing.

5. In the fourth paragraph, the instructions cause the electronic device to: An electronic device, wherein charging of the first and second batteries is set to be temporarily suspended in response to determining that the states of the first housing and the second housing are in the folded state.

6. In either of paragraphs 4 or 5, the instructions cause the electronic device to: In response to confirming that the state of the first housing and the second housing is the partially folded intermediate state or the unfolded state, confirming which of the first housing and the second housing is not in contact with an external object, An electronic device configured to suspend charging of a battery placed in a housing that is in contact with said external object, and to perform charging of a battery placed in a housing that is not in contact with said external object.

7. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, Further comprising a grip sensor (476), The situation information associated with the plurality of batteries includes information about a state in which the electronic device is gripped by a user, as detected by a grip sensor (476) of the electronic device. The above instructions cause the electronic device to: By using the grip sensor to determine which part of the electronic device is gripped by the user, information about the state in which the electronic device is gripped by the user is determined, An electronic device configured to suspend charging of a battery placed in proximity to a portion of the electronic device held by the user, and to perform charging of a battery placed away from a portion of the electronic device held by the user.

8. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 7, a plurality of housings are further included, and the plurality of batteries are arranged in different housings, The above instructions cause the electronic device to: An electronic device configured to suspend charging of a battery placed in a housing having a greater number of components among the plurality of housings and perform charging of a battery placed in another housing having a fewer number of components.

9. A method for controlling heat generation during charging in an electronic device (101) including a plurality of batteries, An operation to check that multiple batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489) are being charged using external power; An operation of checking an application that is running while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power; and An operation of maintaining charging of the plurality of batteries using the external power when the above-mentioned running application corresponds to the first application; If the above running application corresponds to a second application: An operation of determining, based on situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, to maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or to pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries; and A method for controlling heat generation during charging, comprising: an operation of controlling, based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, to temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and to maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries using the external power.

10. In paragraph 9, the second application, A method for performing heat generation control during charging, wherein the amount of power consumed is greater than the amount of power consumed by the first application.

11. In the 9th to 10th paragraphs, the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries includes at least one of the temperature information associated with each of the batteries measured by each of the plurality of temperature sensors (440) of the electronic device, The method comprises: an operation of detecting a temperature associated with the plurality of batteries using a plurality of temperature sensors (440) each of which is positioned at different locations of the electronic device; and A method for performing heat generation control during charging, comprising an operation of controlling charging of a battery having a temperature higher than a threshold temperature among the batteries based on the detected temperature, and performing charging of a battery having a temperature lower than the threshold temperature.

12. In any one of clauses 9 to 11, an operation for checking whether the state of the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) is a folded state, an unfolded state, or a partially folded intermediate state in which the first housing (210) and the second housing (220) are rotatably coupled to each other, a first battery (289a) is arranged in the first housing, and a second battery (289b) is arranged in the second housing; A method for performing heat generation control during charging, comprising an operation of determining whether the batteries are placed adjacent to each other based on checking the states of the first housing and the second housing.

13. In paragraph 12, A method for performing heat generation control during charging, comprising an operation of controlling to temporarily suspend charging of the first and second batteries in response to determining that the states of the first housing and the second housing are the folded states.

14. In any one of paragraphs 10 to 15, In response to confirming that the state of the first housing and the second housing is the partially folded intermediate state or the unfolded state, an operation of confirming which of the first housing and the second housing is not in contact with an external object; and A method for performing heat generation control during charging, comprising an action of controlling charging of a battery placed in a housing that is in contact with the external object and performing charging of a battery placed in a housing that is not in contact with the external object.

15. A storage medium storing at least one computer-readable instruction, wherein the at least one instruction, when executed by at least one processor (120, 420) of an electronic device (101) including a plurality of batteries, causes the electronic device to perform at least one operation, wherein the at least one operation is: An operation to check that multiple batteries (289a, 289b, 389a, 389b, 389c, 489) are being charged using external power; An operation of checking an application that is running while the plurality of batteries are being charged using the external power; and An operation of maintaining charging of the plurality of batteries using the external power when the above-mentioned running application corresponds to the first application; If the above running application corresponds to a second application: An operation of determining, based on situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, whether to pause charging of all of the plurality of batteries, to maintain charging of all of the plurality of batteries, or to pause charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries; and A storage medium including an operation of controlling, based on the situation information associated with the plurality of batteries, to temporarily suspend charging of at least one of the plurality of batteries and maintain charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries, and to perform charging of the remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries using the external power.

Images