POWER CONTROL METHOD USED WITH TV MODULE OF PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

Abstract

A power control method used with a TV module of a portable electronic apparatus is used for selectively entering the TV module in a power-saving mode. At first, the portable electronic apparatus is activated. When the portable electronic apparatus is activated, the power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus is detected. If the power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus indicates that an external power source is used, the power-saving mode of the TV module is suspended. Optionally, the power-saving mode of the TV module is suspended if a priority setting condition indicates that play efficiency takes priority.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1( a) is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of playing cable TV programs on a notebook computer;

FIG. 1( b) is a flowchart illustrating a conventional power control method used with the TV module of the notebook computer;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the configuration of playing cable TV programs on a notebook computer according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a power control method according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a power control method according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a power control method according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power control method used with a TV module of a portable electronic apparatus for selectively entering the TV module in a power-saving mode, the power control method comprising steps of: activating the portable electronic apparatus;the TV module detecting a power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus after the portable electronic apparatus is activated; andsuspending the power-saving mode of the TV module if the power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus indicates that an external power source is used.

2. The power control method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of: detecting an operating condition of the TV module by the portable electronic apparatus; andsuspending the power-saving mode of the TV module if the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is operating.

3. The power control method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of executing the power-saving mode of the TV module if the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is shut off and the power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus indicates that a built-in power source is used.

4. The power control method according to claim 3 wherein the TV module is communicated with a TV signal terminal to process TV signals transmitted from said TV signal terminal so as to display the TV signals on the portable electronic apparatus.

5. The power control method according to claim 4 wherein the TV module stops processing the TV signals when the TV module enters the power-saving mode, and the TV module continuously processes the TV signals and stays at a stand-by state when the power-saving mode of the TV module is suspended.

6. The power control method according to claim 4 wherein the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is operating if the processed TV signals are displayed on the portable electronic apparatus, and the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is shut off if no processed TV signals are displayed on the portable electronic apparatus.

7. The power control method according to claim 3 wherein the power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus indicates whether the main power source is an external power source or a built-in power source, wherein said external power source is a power supply for providing stable electricity, and said built-in power source is a battery for providing a certain level of charged electricity.

8. The power control method according to claim 1 wherein the TV module is one of a TV card built in the portable electronic apparatus or a cardbus adapter inserted into the portable electronic apparatus.

9. The power control method according to claim 1 wherein the portable electronic apparatus is one selected from a group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer and a mobile phone.

10. A power control method used with a TV module of a portable electronic apparatus for selectively enter the TV module in a power-saving mode, the power control method comprising steps of: activating the portable electronic apparatus;the TV module detecting a priority setting condition after the portable electronic apparatus is activated; andsuspending the power-saving mode of the TV module if the priority setting condition indicates that play efficiency takes priority.

11. The power control method according to claim 10, further comprising steps of: detecting an operating condition of the TV module by the portable electronic apparatus; andsuspending the power-saving mode of the TV module if the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is operating.

12. The power control method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of executing the power-saving mode of the TV module if the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is shut off and the priority setting condition indicates that power-saving efficiency takes priority.

13. The power control method according to claim 12 wherein the TV module is communicated with a TV signal terminal to process TV signals transmitted from the TV signal terminal so as to display the TV signals on the portable electronic apparatus.

14. The power control method according to claim 13 wherein the TV module stops processing the TV signals when the TV module enters the power-saving mode, and the TV module continuously processes the TV signals and stays at a stand-by state when the power-saving mode of the TV module is suspended.

15. The power control method according to claim 13 wherein the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is operating if the processed TV signals are displayed on the portable electronic apparatus, and the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is shut off if no processed TV signals are displayed on the portable electronic apparatus.

16. The power control method according to claim 13 wherein the priority setting condition is set by executing an application program in the operation system run in the portable electronic apparatus, wherein the TV module continuously processes the TV signals and stays at a stand-by state when play efficiency takes priority, and the TV module stops processing the TV signals to enter the power-saving mode when the power-saving efficiency takes priority.

17. The power control method according to claim 10 wherein the TV module is a TV card built in the portable electronic apparatus or a cardbus adapter inserted into the portable electronic apparatus.

18. The power control method according to claim 10 wherein the portable electronic apparatus is one selected from a group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer and a mobile phone.

19. A power control method used with a TV module of a portable electronic apparatus for selectively enter the TV module in a power-saving mode, the power control method comprising steps of: activating the portable electronic apparatus;detecting an operating condition of the TV module;suspending the power-saving mode of the TV module if the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is operating;detecting a priority setting condition if the operating condition of the TV module indicates that the TV module is shut off;suspending the power-saving mode of the TV module if the priority setting condition indicates that play efficiency takes priority, wherein the priority setting condition is set by executing an application program in the operation system run in the portable electronic apparatus;detecting a power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus if the priority setting condition indicates that power-saving efficiency takes priority;suspending the power-saving mode of the TV module if the power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus indicates that an external power source is used; andthe TV module entering the power-saving mode if the power supply condition of the portable electronic apparatus indicates that a built-in power source is used.