Method for controlling power and electronic device supporting the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12487654-B2
Application number	US-202418443702-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2024
Priority date	Jun 23, 2023
Publication date	Dec 2, 2025
Grant date	Dec 2, 2025

Abstract

An electronic device according to an embodiment may comprise a touch input unit, a first PMIC, a first switching circuit, and a battery controller. The battery controller may be configured to control the first switching circuit such that power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC. The battery controller may be configured to, while power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, obtain an input through the touch input unit. The battery controller may be configured to control, based on obtaining the input, the first switching circuit such that power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a touch input unit; a first power management integrated circuit (PMIC) configured to manage power supplied to electrical components of the electronic device; a battery; a first switching circuit connected to the battery and configured to selectively connect the touch input onit or the first PMIC to the battery; at least one processor; and a battery controller, wherein the battery controller is configured to: control the first switching circuit such that power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, wherein no power is supplied to the at least one processor as no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, while power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, obtain an input through the touch input unit, and control, based on obtaining the input, the first switching circuit such that power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, wherein power is supplied from the battery to the at least one processor through the first PMIC as power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein, based on power being supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power being supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, power is not supplied from the battery to the electrical components including the at least one processor through the first PMIC, and wherein based on power being supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, power is supplied from the battery to the electrical components through the first PMIC.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the touch input unit includes a touch IC and a touch panel, and wherein the touch IC is configured to: while power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, detect the input, and provide the detected input to the battery controller.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the touch input unit includes a touch IC and a touch panel, wherein the battery controller is configured to: while power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, control the first switching circuit such power is supplied from the battery to the touch IC and a portion of the touch panel.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the touch input unit is disposed on a side of the electronic device or in a region of a display of the electronic device.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the electronic device does not include a physical key, and wherein sides of the electronic device do not include a protruding portion.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the electronic device further comprises a plurality of housings, at least one hinge configured to rotate the plurality of housings, and a foldable display disposed in the plurality of housings, and wherein the touch input unit is disposed in a region corresponding to the at least one hinge in the electronic device.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a second PMIC configured to manage power supplied to the touch input unit, and a second switching circuit connected between the first PMIC and the second PMIC,
wherein the battery controller is configured to: based on the input, control the first switching circuit such that the battery and the first PMIC are connected, and based on the input, control the second switching circuit such that the first PMIC and the second PMIC are connected.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the input includes an input of touching the touch input unit for a designated time or an input of touching the touch input unit two or more times.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to: after power is supplied to the first PMIC, display an object through the display, and based on a user input on the object, control the battery controller such that a control signal is provided to the battery controller, the control signal being configured to cause the battery controller to perform an operation controlling the first switching circuit such that power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC.

11 . A method for controlling power in an electronic device, comprising:
controlling, by a battery controller of the electronic device, a first switching circuit of the electronic device such that power is supplied from a battery of the electronic device to a touch input unit of the electronic device and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, the first PMIC being configured to manage power supplied to electrical components of the electronic device, the first switching circuit being connected to the battery and configured to selectively connect the touch input unit or the first PMIC to the battery, wherein no power is supplied to the at least one processor as no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC; while power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, obtaining, by the battery controller, an input through the touch input unit; and controlling, by the battery controller, based obtaining on the input, the first switching circuit such that power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, wherein power is supplied from the battery to the at least one processor through the first PMIC as power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC.

12 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein, based on power being supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power being supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, power is not supplied from the battery to the electrical components including the at least one processor through the first PMIC, and wherein, based on power being supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, power is supplied from the battery to the electrical components through the first PMIC.

13 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the touch input unit includes a touch IC and a touch panel, wherein the method further comprises: while power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, detecting, by the touch IC, the input; and providing, by the touch IC, the detected input to the battery controller.

14 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the touch input unit includes a touch IC and a touch panel, wherein controlling the first switching circuit such that power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC comprises: while power is supplied from the battery to the touch input unit and no power is supplied from the battery to the first PMIC, controlling, by the battery controller, the first switching circuit such power is supplied from the battery to the touch IC and a portion of the touch panel.

15 . The method of 11 , wherein the touch input unit is disposed on a side of the electronic device or in a region of a display of the electronic device.

16 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the electronic device does not include a physical key, and wherein sides of the electronic device do not include a protruding portion.

17 . The method of 11 ,
wherein the electronic device further

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jun Jaeyoung
• Kim Byoungjun
• Kim Sunglak
• Kim Hyunmuk
• Ryu Jooyeol
• Yoon Shinhyuk
• Jang Gyudae
• Choi Jinwook
• Byun Kangwook
• Choi Junyoung
• Heo Changryong

Classifications

• G06F1/3203

  Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode · CPC title

• G06F1/1652

  the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable · CPC title

• G06F1/1681

  Details related solely to hinges (hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683) · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F1/3218 Primary

  of display devices · CPC title