Patent Application
20090098832
The invention relates generally to mobile devices, and more particularly, to powering the components of mobile devices.
Mobile devices enable users to perform tasks once conducted only in the office or at home. For example, today's conventional cellular phone enables a user to send email, browser the Internet, schedule tasks, and conduct word processing all from a single device. The user has access to these functions wherever the user physically resides, as long as the mobile device is in the user's possession. These conventional mobile devices generally rely on a power cell to supply power and fuel the device. Typically, this power cell comprises a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion battery. The user must recharge the battery whenever it is depleted for continued operation of the mobile device.
Conventional mobile devices, however, for suffer from several shortcomings. First, conventional mobile devices do not include a power source with the capacity of powering the device for extended durations. For example, if a convention mobile device is powered on during a long trip, the mobile device will continually drain its power supply until it is depleted. Second, conventional mobile devices generally require a traditional power source, such as an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power outlet, to recharge the device. If a traditional power source is not available, the mobile device cannot be recharged. Lastly, conventional mobile devices typically rely on a single power cell. If the power cell becomes inoperable, for example, because exposed to water, the mobile device also becomes inoperable.
Thus, what is needed is a system and corresponding method that alleviates some or all of the aforementioned shortcomings.
A mobile device and a method for powering a mobile device are disclosed. In some embodiments, the mobile device comprises a processor that executes instructions for mobile applications, a transceiver that sends and receives data related to the mobile applications, a primary power cell that couples to the processor and the transceiver, an alternative power cell that couples to the processor and the transceiver and that generates electrical power from a renewable power source, and a switch that enables the primary power cell and the alternative power cell to power the processor and the transceiver.
For a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to”. Also, the term “couple, “couples,” or “coupled” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical or communicative connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections. In addition, the term “data source” should be interpreted to mean any source of data. For example, a database storing information created by two or more entities represents a plurality of data sources.
In this disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a sufficient understanding of the present invention. Those skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have been illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. Additionally, some details have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the understanding of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. It is further noted that all functions described herein may be performed in either hardware or software, or a combination thereof, unless indicated otherwise.
The following discussion is also directed to various embodiments of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, unless otherwise specified. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be illustrative of that embodiment, and not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
The storage 106 may represent any type of volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM), or any other medium for storing information, such as a hard drive, universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, and memory stick. The storage 106 may couple to the primary power cell 108 through the switch 120 and may couple to the alternative power cell 110 through the switch 114.
The processor 104 may represent any type of software and/or hardware that is capable of processing data related to the mobile device 100, such as Intel's PXA27x family of microprocessors, Texas Instruments' TCS3500 chip set, Intel's Core Duo processor, and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor 104 preferably includes a clock or oscillator that provides timing for the components of the mobile device 100. In at least some embodiments, the timing for the mobile device 100 is provided by a phase-locked-loop (PLL) circuit. The processor 104 may process, decode, convert, modify, arrange, and/or transform data associated with the mobile display 100. For example, the processor 104 may execute instructions related to mobile applications, such as text messaging, word processing, Internet browsing, and various mobile multimedia applications. The processor 104 may couple to the primary power cell 108 through the switch 122 and may couple to the alternative power cell 110 through the switch 116.
The transceiver 102 may represent any device for sending and receiving short range or long range wireless signals, such as a cellular transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, and an infrared transceiver. The transceiver 102 may couple to the primary power cell 108 through the switch 118 and may couple to the alternative power cell 110 through the switch 112.
The switches 112-122 may represent any type of circuit for controlling the flow of electrical power to the components of the mobile device 100. The switches 112-122 ensure that either the primary power cell 108 or the alternative power cell 110 powers the transceiver 102, the processor 104, and the storage 106 at all times. Because each switch 112-122 is preferably independent, either the primary power cell 108 or the alternative power cell 110 may power each component of the mobile device 100. For example, the primary power cell 108 may power the transceiver 102, while the alternative power cell 110 powers the processor 104.
Although not explicitly shown in
The solar panel 206 is configured to either partially or totally power the mobile device 200. Generally, the larger the surface area of the solar panel 206, the more electrical energy may be produced. The solar panel 206 may be the only power source for the mobile device 200 or may operate in conjunction with another power source, such as a battery and another alternative power source. For example, the mobile device 200 may comprise the solar panel 206 and a kinetic power generator. The solar panel 206 and the kinetic power generator may collectively power the mobile device 206 with or without a battery. Although the solar panel 206 is shown on the back of the upper frame 204, the solar panel 206 may reside at any suitable location, such as on the top, or bottom, and/or sides of the mobile device 200. In addition, although only one solar panel 206 is shown in
The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, each of the components of the mobile device may enter into a low power state after a predetermined length of inactivity to conserve power. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.
