Method and apparatus for charge control of a portable terminal having a solar battery
View Patent ↗Provided is an apparatus for controlling charging of a portable terminal equipped with a solar battery that converts solar energy into an electrical energy, the apparatus including a thermistor in which a resistance value changes according to a temperature change; a comparator which outputs a first signal when a temperature surrounding the thermistor is less than a preset reference temperature as determined by the resistance value change of the thermistor according to the temperature change and outputs a second signal when the temperature is at least the preset reference temperature or more; and a charging unit which is activated and receives the electrical energy from the solar battery to charge a battery when the first signal is inputted from the comparator, and is deactivated and blocks the charge of battery in case the second signal is inputted.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a temperature sensing unit to measure a temperature;
a comparator configured to output a signal based at least in part on a determination that the temperature measured by the temperature sensing unit satisfies a specified temperature range; and
a charger operatively coupled with the comparator, the charger configured to:
pause an operation associated with solar battery-based battery charging, based at least in part on the signal output by the comparator; and
present a notification associated with the pausing of the operation.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the comparator is configured to output the signal based at least in part on a determination that the temperature measured by the temperature sensing unit falls outside a specified range.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the comparator is configured to:
output another signal, based at least in part on a determination that the temperature measured by the temperature sensing unit satisfies another specified temperature range.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the signal is a logic low signal and the other signal is a logic high signal.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the charger is configured to:
resume the operation based at least in part on the another signal.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the comparator is configured to:
output the another signal based at least in part on a determination that the temperature measured by the temperature sensing unit falls within a specified range.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensing unit comprises at least one thermistor.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charger is configured to:
present a notification associated with the pausing the operation, using least one of an acoustic signal or a visual signal.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication module to couple the apparatus with a network.
10. An apparatus comprising:
a temperature sensing unit to measure temperature information;
a solar-powered charger to charge a battery using solar energy; and
a controller operatively coupled with the temperature sensing unit and the charger, the controller configured to:
pause an operation associated with the charging, based at least in part on a determination that the temperature information satisfies a specified temperature range; and
present a notification associated with the pausing of the operation using an output device.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
output a signal based at least in part on a determination that the temperature falls outside a specified range.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
resume the operation associated with the charging, based at least in part on a determination that the temperature information satisfies another specified temperature range.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to:
output the another signal based at least in part on a determination that the temperature falls within a specified range.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensing unit comprises at least one thermistor.
15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
transmit a notification associated with the pausing of the operation to an electronic device external to the apparatus.
16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the output device comprises:
a LED, a display, a speaker or any combination thereof.
17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the notification comprises:
at least one of a text information or an image.
18. A method comprising:
obtaining temperature information;
charging a battery using electrical energy received from a solar battery operatively coupled with an electronic device;
activating at least one function based at least in part on a determination that the temperature information satisfies a specified temperature range; and
presenting a notification associated with the at least one function.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the activating comprises:
providing at least one function based at least in part on a determination that the temperature information falls outside a specified temperature range.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the charging comprises:
charging the battery while the electronic device is powered off.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the activating comprises:
transmitting information to another electronic device external to the electronic device.