Apparatus and method for managing power for mobile device

Abstract

An apparatus and method of managing power for a mobile device is disclosed, which can prevent an inflow of overcurrent to the device when the device is charged. The apparatus includes a state judgment unit to judge whether a battery of the mobile device is being charged, a voltage level detection unit to detect a voltage level of the battery if the battery is judged as being charged, and a control unit to control a driving of the mobile device in accordance with the detected voltage level.

1 . An apparatus to manage power for a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:
 a voltage level detection unit to detect a voltage level of the battery while the battery is being charged; and   a control unit to control a power of the mobile device according to the detected voltage level.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power level limitation unit to limit a power level supplied to the battery when the battery is being charged; and   a drive signal output unit to output a drive signal to drive the mobile device under the control of the control unit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a state judgment unit to sense whether a specified interface cable is connected to a port provided for the charging of the battery of the mobile device, and to judge whether the battery is being charged in accordance with the result of the sensing.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage level detection unit transfers a specified signal to the control unit if the detected voltage level exceeds a predetermined reference voltage level. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit controls a driving of the mobile device in accordance with an existence/nonexistence of the transferred signal. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit prevents the mobile device from being turned on when the voltage level detected by the voltage level detection unit is less than a predetermined reference voltage level. 
     
     
         7 . A method of managing power for a mobile device, the method comprising:
 detecting a voltage level of the battery while the battery is being charged; and   controlling a power of the mobile device according to the detected voltage level.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 limiting a power level supplied to the battery when the battery is being charged; and   outputting a drive signal to drive the mobile device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 sensing whether a specified interface cable is connected to a port provided for the charging of the battery of the mobile device; and   judging whether the battery is being charged in accordance with the result of the sensing.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the detecting the voltage level comprises outputting a specified signal if the detected voltage level exceeds a predetermined reference voltage level. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the controlling of the power of the mobile device comprises controlling a driving of the mobile device in accordance with an existence/nonexistence of the output signal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the controlling of the power of the mobile device comprises preventing the mobile device from being turned on when the detected voltage level is less than a predetermined reference voltage level.