WO2011107834A1

WO2011107834A1 - Portable communication device

Info

Publication number: WO2011107834A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/050963
Authority: WO
Inventors: Morten Nielsen
Original assignee: SCI Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: SCI Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-05
Filing date: 2010-03-05
Publication date: 2011-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-05

Abstract

Presented and claimed is a portable device for communication, in particular a mobile telephone, in which short-time operation with transmitting and receiving is possible even with empty rechargeable battery. For this pin pose, in addition to a main rechargeable battery (14), which is provided and designed for normal operation and is charged by a separate charging device at a power outlet, the device (10) has a rapidly rechargeable back-up battery (16), which is charged by an integrated electromechanical generator (22) This generator, which supplies electricity during movement of the device, is an unbalance rotation generator (22), known per se, or a linear generator Dining short-time operation, the main battery (14) is not connected to the electronics (12) of the device, and the limited functions of the device necessary for the short-time operation are supplied with current by the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery (16) In addition, a switch (32), able to be actuated from outside or automatically, is built in. The device according to the invention proves valuable especially in situations where a call must be enabled by all means and where an interactive operation is necessary.

Description

Portable Communication Device

This invention relates to a portable communication device, in particular a mobile telephone which is equipped with an autonomous power source.

In the following, the portable communication device, which is the subject matter of the present patent application, will be designated as mobile telephone. Understood by this designation, however, should also be other communication devices containing autonomous power sources and enabling wireless communication, such as walkie- talkies, iPods (of the company Apple), smartphones and portable calling devices.

Known mobile telephones have as power source a rechargeable battery located in the housing, which rechargeable battery has to be charged from time to time with the aid of an external power source., The original nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries have been replaced in the meantime by lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

Batteries for mobile telephones represent a compromise between opposing demands. On the one hand, they are supposed to supply current as long as possible, and, on the other hand, they are supposed to be small and lightweight so that they may be accommodated in the limited housing dimensions of the mobile telephone, A typical rechargeable battery in a mobile telephone today has a life (duration of supply of operating voltage in standby mode) of about 120 hours and a duration of operation (with telephone operation) of about 5 hours. These values, which represent only approximations and are constantly being improved by designers, apply at room temperature and are lower at lower temperatures.

Despite these substantial power ratings, it happens relatively often that the rechargeable battery is empty when the telephone is needed for communi-cation. Usually this is because the user has foi gotten to load the device beforehand, even though all devices today are equipped with a display of the still available battery capacity. Admittedly, this display is imprecise because it is derived from the respective battery voltage, and this voltage does not begin to sink until toward the end of the charge, especially with lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. Concerning this subject, Figure I shows a discharge diagram for rechargeable batteries or other batteries with a constant current discharge at 1 20 mA for batteries with comparable charging capacity. While the terminal voltage of carbon-zinc rechargeable batteries and alkaline cells, as a first approximation, sinks linearly from 1.4 V to 0.8 V, NiMH and lithium-ion rechargeable batteries supply a practically constant voltage during the first 80 to 90% of the life, and the decline from 12 V or respectively 1.35 V to 0.8 V occurs only during the last 10 to 20% of the !ife. Thus it is no wonder that, as a rule, a rechargeable battery warning comes too late to be able to recharge the rechargeable battery.

This apparent drawback of known mobile telephones - which is also, by the way, to be found with such devices that are charged with solar cells - can be very annoying in many situations.

Disclosed in the German utility mode! No. DE 20 2005 008 566 Ul is the automatic recharging of a cell phone rechargeable battery; the technical problem of the invention and its solution are neither described nor hinted at, however, It is therefore an object of the present invention to create a mobile telephone that remains available for calls even with empty rechargeable battery, multiple calls extending over long periods of time also being possible. Understood by "calls" are not just simple, merely transmitted messages, but full-fledged, interactive calls with a connection partner .

This object is achieved by the invention as defined in the independent claim. Special embodiments of the inventive subject matter form the subject matter of the dependent claims, The nature of the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery available is not critical. It can be a miniaturized version of the main rechargeable battery, i.e. of the first rechargeable battery, that is a NiMH or lithium-ion rechargeable battery, but it can also be a supercapacitor (known per se), i.e. a double-layer capacitor, which distinguishes itself by a high energy density.

In general, the size of the second rechargeable battery should be selected such that its functioning is ensured without it taking up too much room in the device. Since it can be continuously recharged during operation, a size representing 10 to 20% of the main rechargeable battery suffices, as a rule, expressed as energy density value (Wh/g).

The built-in generator for charging the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery is mechanically driven, when the device is moved. It is preferably disposed as far from the centre of the device as possible so that during its involuntary movement as great an amplitude as possible is achieved. Used as the mechanical part of the generator can be a self-winding mechanism, which is known as part of automatic mechanical watches in which the spring is wound in little steps by a rotor during arm movements of the wearer, The rotor, which usually has ball bearings, stands still during movements of the watchcase, owing to its inertia and the force of gravity. A torque is hereby exerted on the winding mechanism The spring is typically wound in both rotational directions (bidirectionally). If the rotational movement of the case lies in the axis of the rotor, then the principle is based alone on the moment of inertia of the rotor. In the case of rotational movements perpendicular to the axis of the rotor, the eccentricity thereof has an effect: The rotor is usually of only semicircular shape; thus its centre of gravity does not coincide with its axis. If the watch is turned only slightly out of the horizontal, this possibly suffices for a 180-degree rotation of the rotor . This technology known from watchmaking may be converted into a mechanically operated charging device for a rapidly rechargeable back-up battery by adding a generator, preferably composed of coil, permanent magnet and commutator rectifier. Details of a charging generator constructed in this way will not be given here; one skilled in the art, with his knowledge and skill, is able to construct such a generator, which is used in principle, by the way, in the so-called automatic quartz watches (Seiko Kinetik, ETA Autoquarz). Another possibility for a mechanically operated charging generator can be learned from the U.S. patent specification No 6,220,719 Bl and the U.S. patent application No. US 2003/0197433 Al ; involved are electromotive linear generators, in which at least one permanent magnet can move linearly in both directions inside at least one coil. With this movement, current is produced according to the Faraday principle.

As a preferred additional measure, the invention provides for covering the electromechanical charging generator for the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery with a transparent material, whereby it becomes visible from out-side and its proper functioning can be visually monitored.

The inner circuitry for the rechargeable batteries in the mobile telephone can be achieved in such a way that, with attachment of an outer charging source, both rechargeable batteries are charged in series, or only just the main rechargeable battery. Moreover a switch, operable from outside, can be provided, which switches on and off the auxiliary operation of the mobile telephone with the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery.

The invention will now be explained more closely using an embodiment example. This example is given only for better comprehension, in a way non-limiting for the invention.

Reference is made to the drawing in which Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the inside of a mobile telephone

according to the invention.

The mobile telephone 10 of Figure 2 has the usual components, namely a keypad, an antenna, a display screen, a slot for a SIM card, a microphone, a loudspeaker, etc. All these parts are not shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, electronics 12, including all circuitry elements necessary for operation of the telephone, are integrated at the appropriate place in the telephone apparatus. Shown fuitheimore are a main rechargeable battery 14 and a rapidly rechargeable back-up battery 16. The lines 18A to 18D connect the minus pole of the two rechargeable batteries 14 and 16 to the minus pole of the electronics 12 and the minus pole 18E of the charging socket 20, with the aid of which the main rechargeable battery 14 can be charged by an external charging device (not shown).

Disposed in the lower right-hand corner region of the telephone apparatus 10 as shown in Figure 2 is the electromechanical generator 22 for charging the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery 16. Of course any other desired installation location may be chosen. The generator 22 is shown schemati-caiiy in Figure 2 as an unbalance rotation generator with an oscillating weight capable of rotation in the direction of the doub!e arrow 24, (As mentioned above, a linear generator, for example, can also be used )

As is common in mobile telephones, the main rechargeable battery 14 is connected via a line 18C, 26 to the charging connection 20, which enables the charging of the rechargeable battery 14 from outside by means of a charging device which is plugged into the connection 20. From the main rechargeable battery 14, a single- wired line 28 leads to a first contact level (switch level) 30 of a press switch 32, whose inoperative position corresponds to the position drawn, in which the first contact level 30 is connected to the ++ pole of the electronics 12. Assigned to this++ pole are all functions for which the telephone apparatus is designed, and which allow themselves also to be activated accordingly . This mode of operation, i.e. normal operation, also requires the most electricity. The plus pole of the electromechanical generator 22 is connected, on the one hand, via a free-wheeling diode 34 and the line 36, to the plus pole of the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery 16, and, on the other hand, via the second switching level 38 of the press switch 32, to the + pole of the electronics 12. The rapidly rechargeable back-up battery can thereby be constantly charged when the device 10 is moved (whereby the electro-mechanical generator 22 supplies current), but it is not in connect-ion with the telephone electronics 12. When the switch 32 is pressed, when the main rechargeable battery 14 is empty, the main rechargeable battery is separated from the ++ pole of the electronics 12, by opening the contacts 30, and instead the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery is connected to the + pole of the electronics 12 via the closed contacts 38. In the electronics 12, lying at the + pole are only those functions that are necessary for auxiliary operation, and superfluous functions are switched off. The electronics therefore use less electricity, and the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery can maintain the auxiliary operation for longer.. It is possible to provide the press switch 32 with a lock-in function so that the auxiliary operation is switched on continuously. In this case, a display of the switched-on auxiliary operation is preferred, for instance through a miniature LED (indicated by broken lines in Figure 2 without a possibly needed current-limiting resistor, and designated by 40), so that the switching off of the auxiliary operation is not forgotten.

During emergency operation it is possible, through constant movement of the device 10, to maintain the charging state of the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery 16 and to prolong the call duration. The invention has been explained by describing an embodiment example of the inventive subject matter. The scope is not thereby limited. Instead numerous additions, changes and further developments are possible in the context of the claimed subject matter. For example, instead of the switch 32 or in addition to this switch, auxiliary operation can be automatically switched on (and switched off again) by dialing a specific number of the electronics 12; however, such a possibility requires suffi-cient residual charge in the main rechargeable batter y. Furthermore, a display of the charged state of the rapidly rechargeable back-up batter y can also be pr ovided on the display of the device, besides the already existing display of the amount of charge in the main rechargeable battery.

Claims

1 , Portable communication device ( 10), which is equipped with a first rechargeable battery (14), which makes possible operation of the device independently of the power supply network, characterized in that it is further equipped with a rapidly rechargeable back-up battery (16), which is charged by an electromechanical generator (22) that supplies current during movement of the device, and in that the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery (16) makes possible operation of the device even with insufficiently charged first rechargeable battery (14).

2. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the charging capacity of the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery (16) corresponds to 10 to 20% of that of the first rechargeable battery (14). .

3, Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electro-mechanical generatoi (22) is an unbalance rotation generator in which an asymmetrically hung, rotationally capable, oscillating weight drives an electrical generator with coil and permanent magnet when the oscillating weight is set in rotation during movement of the device,

4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electromechanical generator (22) is a linear generatoi in which a permanent magnet carries out a linear motion inside a coil when the device is correspondingly moved,

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electromechanical generator is visible from outside in that it is situated under a transparent cover .

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a switch (32) is provided with which the device is switchable from normal operation into auxiliary operation, whereby the switch (32) in inoperative position activates the normal operation.

7 Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in auxiliary operation, only those functions are supported that are necessary for this operation.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that switched-on auxiliary operation is indicated on a display, in particular by means of an LED (40).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the state of charge of the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery is shown on the display of the device.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rapidly rechargeable back-up battery (16) is chargeable simulta-neously with the first rechargeabie battery ( 14), when the device is connected to an external charging device.

1 1. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is a mobile telephone.