Charging method using external electrode switching between biometric sensor and charging circuit, and electronic device using the same

1. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a housing;

a groove formed in at least a part of the housing, facing towards an inside of the wearable electronic device;

a terminal disposed inside the groove;

at least one electrode exposed outwards from one surface of the housing;

a battery provided inside the housing;

a charger circuit connected electrically to the battery;

at least one sensor;

a switch configured to connect the charger circuit or the at least one sensor to the at least one electrode; and

at least one processor connected electrically to the charger circuit, the at least one sensor, and the switch,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine whether the wearable electronic device is coupled to a body, based on a signal acquired through the at least one sensor, and

control the switch to connect the charger circuit or the at least one sensor to the at least one electrode based on the determination,

wherein the at least one electrode comprises a first electrode and a second electrode,

wherein when a first signal is received from an external device through the terminal based on a first direction in which the wearable electronic device is coupled to the external device, the at least one processor is further configured to control the switch to connect the charger circuit to the first electrode, and

wherein, when a second signal is received from the external device through the terminal based on a second direction in which the wearable electronic device is coupled to the external device, the at least one processor is further configured to control the switch to connect the charger circuit to the second electrode.

2. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, when the at least one processor determines that the wearable electronic device is coupled to the body, the at least one processor is further configured to:

control the switch to connect the at least one sensor to the at least one electrode, and

generate biometric information related to the body based on a signal acquired through the at least one electrode.

3. The wearable electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the housing comprises:

a first surface facing in a first direction,

a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and

a side surface surrounding at least a part of a space between the first surface and the second surface, and

wherein the at least one electrode comprises:

the first electrode and the second electrode exposed outwards from the first surface of the housing, and

a third electrode and a fourth electrode exposed outwards from the second surface of the housing.

4. The wearable electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises:

a first sensor connected electrically to the at least one electrode, and configured to receive a signal through the at least one electrode, and

a second sensor configured to receive an external signal through at least one of the first surface or the second surface of the housing.

5. The wearable electronic device of claim 4 ,

wherein the first sensor comprises at least one of a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor, or a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor, and

wherein the second sensor comprises at least one of an optical sensor or a grip sensor.

6. The wearable electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the first electrode and second electrode exposed outwards from the first surface of the housing, or the third electrode and fourth electrode exposed outwards from the second surface of the housing are “L-shaped” or “U-shaped” electrodes symmetrical to each other, surrounding a periphery of the second sensor exposed outwards.

7. A wearable electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising:

a first surface facing in a first direction,

a second surface facing in a second direction opposite to the first direction,

at least one of a first groove formed in the second direction on a part of the first surface of the housing and a first terminal disposed inside the first groove, or a second groove formed in the first direction on a part of the second surface of the housing and a second terminal disposed inside the second groove, and

a side surface surrounding at least a part of a space between the first surface and the second surface;

a first conductive member exposed outwards from the first surface of the housing;

a second conductive member exposed outwards from the second surface of the housing;

a charger circuit provided inside the housing, and connected electrically to at least one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member;

a first sensor provided inside the housing, and connected electrically to at least one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member;

a control circuit connected electrically to the first conductive member, the second conductive member, the charger circuit, and the first sensor; and

a coupling member connected to a part of the housing, and configured to detachably couple the wearable electronic device to a part of a user's body,

wherein the first conductive member comprises a first electrode and a second electrode,

wherein the second conductive member comprises a third electrode and a fourth electrode,

wherein, when a first signal is received from an external device through the first terminal or the second terminal based on a first direction in which the wearable electronic device is coupled to the external device, the control circuit is configured to control at least one switch provided inside the wearable electronic device, to connect the charger circuit to the first electrode or the third electrode, and

wherein, when a second signal is received from the external device through the first terminal or the second terminal based on a second direction in which the wearable electronic device is coupled to the external device, the control circuit is further configured to control the at least one switch to connect the charger circuit to the second electrode or the fourth electrode.

8. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 ,

wherein the first sensor is configured to acquire physical information about the user, based on an external signal acquired through at least a part of the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, or the fourth electrode.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 ,

wherein the charger circuit is configured to charge a battery of the wearable electronic device, based on an external signal acquired through at least a part of the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, or the fourth electrode.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

determine whether the wearable electronic device is coupled to a body, based on a signal acquired through the first sensor or a second sensor, and

control at least one switch provided inside the wearable electronic device to connect the charger circuit or the first sensor to at least one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member based on a result of the determination.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 10 ,

wherein, when the control circuit determines that the wearable electronic device is coupled to the body, the control circuit is further configured to control the at least one switch to connect the first sensor to at least one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member, and

wherein, when the control circuit determines that the wearable electronic device is not coupled to the body, the control circuit is further configured to control the at least one switch to connect the charger circuit to at least one of the first conductive member or the second conductive member.