Battery Management for Portable Terminals with Detachable External Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased power consumption in portable terminals due to added multimedia functions leads to frequent battery charging needs, and the use of detachable external batteries often results in insufficient embedded battery capacity during use and charging, causing inconvenience and potential power shortages.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling battery discharging and recharging in portable terminals with detachable external batteries, where the controller manages power distribution between the embedded and external batteries, prioritizing the use and charging of either based on connection status, user selection, and battery charge levels to ensure uninterrupted operation and extended battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If an external battery is used to extend power supply duration, then the battery operation time is improved, but the embedded battery capacity becomes insufficient when the external battery is detached
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of the embedded battery when the external battery is connected and charging is available. The controller detects the charging state and prioritizes charging the embedded battery first, ensuring it is sufficiently charged before the external battery is detached, thus preventing power shortage when switching to embedded battery only operation
2Loss of time
If both embedded and external batteries are charged simultaneously, then the charging time is reduced, but the embedded battery charge capacity becomes insufficient for continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The charging process is segmented into sequential phases rather than simultaneous charging. The controller first charges the embedded battery to ensure sufficient capacity for continuous operation, then charges the external battery. This segmentation ensures the embedded battery is adequately charged while still utilizing the external battery for extended capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded battery is charged first as a preliminary action before charging the external battery. This ensures that when the external battery is detached, the embedded battery has sufficient capacity to maintain continuous operation, addressing the insufficiency problem while still reducing total charging time through sequential rather than serial charging
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and method for controlling battery discharging in a portable terminal having a detachable external battery are provided. The method includes determining if the external battery (173) has been connected with the portable terminal when the portable terminal is booted, receiving power from the external battery (173) when the external battery (173) is connected with the portable terminal and receiving power from an embedded battery (171) of the portable terminal when the external battery (173) has been completely discharged. Furthermore, in charging the batteries (171,173), the embedded battery (171) of the portable terminal is first charged when battery charging current is input in a state that the external battery (173) has been connected with the portable terminal, and the external battery (173) is charged when the embedded battery (171) has been completely charged. Power from the external battery (173) is first used when a portable terminal assembled with the external battery (173) is used, and an embedded battery (171) is first charged in charging batteries. Therefore, the embedded battery capacity of the portable terminal can be maintained as much as possible. Furthermore, although the external battery (173) is separated from the portable terminal during battery charging/discharging, the embedded battery capacity can be maintained as much as possible. As a result, even if only the embedded battery (171) is used, a using time of the embedded battery (171) can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to improve the user's convenience.