Patent Application
20100097032
1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to charging devices, particularly, to a charging device for a portable electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), generally are equipped with chargeable batteries. When battery power is low or empty, a power source is required to charge the battery.
However, when power sources are not available, the portable electronic device may not be conveniently recharged. In addition, the charger is usually a separate component from the portable electronic device.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of a charging device and a portable electronic device employing the same can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present charging device and a portable electronic device employing the same. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to
The electric energy generating unit 120 can use an existing G-sensor, which can convert kinetic energy into electric energy, an output current and a voltage. The converted energy by the electric energy generating unit 120 may be not stable enough to directly charge the battery 205. Therefore, the voltage regulating module 130 is configured for converting and regulating the unstable voltage from the electric energy generating unit 120 into a stable operating voltage capable of charging the battery 205.
The existing charging unit 140 is configured to apply the common charging mode to charge the battery 205. The existing charging unit 140 can be electrically connected to the 110 volts or the 200 volts power source, and can regulate the voltage from the power source to charge the battery 205.
The switching unit 150 is electrically connected to the voltage regulating unit 130 and the existing charging unit 140. The switching unit 150 is configured to switch on the common charging mode or the kinetic energy charging mode to charge the battery 205. The switching unit 150 can be a switch on the portable electronic device 200 or a software program to manually switch between charging modes as described above. For example, when the existing charging unit 140 is connected to the power source, then the switching unit 150 receives a detecting signal and automatically switches the existing charging unit 140 on. When the existing charging unit 140 is disconnected with the power source, then the switching unit 150 automatically switches the voltage regulating unit 130 on to supply electric energy for the battery 205.
The power protecting unit 160 is electrically connected to the switching unit 150. The power protecting unit 160 is configured for preventing the battery 205 damage due to abnormal states, such as overcharging, overvoltage, short circuit, overheating, etc. When any abnormal state of the charging device 100 and the battery 205 occurs, the power protecting unit 160 can detect the abnormal commands and stop charging the battery 205 via the interface 170.
In use, when the existing charging unit 140 is electrically connected to a power source, the charging device 100 is in the common charging mode, the switching unit 150 switches the existing charging unit 140 on, then the charging device 100 can use the power source to charge the battery 205. When the existing charging unit 100 is disconnected with the power source, the charging device 100 is in the kinetic energy charging mode, the switching unit 150 automatically switches the voltage regulating unit 130 on, then the electric energy generating unit 120 converts kinetic energy into electric energy, and the voltage regulating unit 130 converts the unstable voltage from the electric energy generating unit 120 into a stable operating voltage capable of charging the battery 205. The power protecting unit 160 protects the battery 205 from being damaged due to any abnormal states.
The charging device may be directly mounted to the portable electronic device. Referring to
The electric energy generating unit 320, the voltage regulating unit 330, the existing charging unit 350, the switching unit 360, the power protecting unit 370, the plug 380, and the portable electronic device 400 have substantially the same configuration as those of the charging device 100 and the portable electronic device 200 as shown in
Another battery can be set in the charging device 100 to be used as the energy storing unit 340. In practical applications, the charging device can charge the battery, and can also store and supply electric energy to prolong use time of the battery.
It is to be understood that the plug 380 may be an universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), an universal serial bus (USB) etc.
The charging device have a common charging mode and a kinetic energy charging mode and can use kinetic energy and the existing power source to charge the battery. The charging device is convenient to operate and can store electric energy and charge the battery when necessary.
It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200810304975.8 | Oct 2008 | CN | national |
This application is related to a co-pending U.S. patent application (Attorney Docket No.: US22974), entitled “CHARGING DEVICE, PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE EMPLOYING THE SAME, AND CHARGING METHOD THEREOF”, by Hsing-Yuan Hsieh. This application has the same assignee as the present application. The above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference.
