Abstract:
An electric power supply circuit that provides electric power to a mobile telecommunication device is provided. The electrical power supply circuit can be plugged in to a power grid or receive transformed energy from an alternate energy source. The electrical power supply circuit may provide converted electrical energy to a mobile telecommunication device from the power grid, the transformed energy or a rechargeable battery. Further, the electrical power supply can charge the rechargeable battery from either or both the electrical power grid or the transformed energy. A management module assesses the available electrical sources and the state of the electrical sources so as to switch an appropriate electrical power source to be input to the mobile telecommunication device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Phase application submitted under 35 U.S.C. §371 of Patent Cooperation Treaty application serial no. PCT/EP2010/064597, filed Sep. 30, 2009, and entitled DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER TO A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, AND PORTABLE EQUIPMENT USING THE SAME which application claims priority to French patent application serial no. 0904675, filed Sep. 30, 2009, and entitled DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER TO A MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, AND PORTABLE EQUIPMENT USING THE SAME. 
         [0002]    Patent Cooperation Treaty application serial no. PCT/EP2010/064597, published as WO 2011/039326, and French patent application serial no. 0904675, are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a device for supplying electric power to a mobile telecommunication equipment, for example, for a mobile phone or a laptop. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to a first one of its aspects, the invention more particularly relates to a device for supplying electric power to a mobile telecommunication equipment comprising an electronic supply circuit comprising an input terminal designed to be plugged to the power grid, an output terminal adapted to be plugged to the portable equipment, a ground terminal electrically isolated from the input terminal, an electric power source arranged between the input and output terminals and adapted for supplying the portable equipment with electric power via the output terminal, the electric power source further being connected to the ground terminal and comprising a rechargeable battery for storing the electric power. 
         [0005]    Such an electric power supplying device is well known by the skilled person to supply electric power, for example to a mobile phone. In view of the increasing electric power needs of mobile telecommunication equipments (and, particularly mobile phones which offer the user more and more services at the same time), a delicate compromise should be made between, on the one hand, the weight of the electric power source, and on the other hand, its capacity to restore electric power to supply said portable equipment. 
         [0006]    Based on this original observation, the main object of the present invention is to propose a supply device which aims to reduce at least one of the previously mentioned limitations. To this end, the supply device, which still further conforms to the generic definition given in the preamble above, is substantially characterized in that it comprises a switching regulator comprising:
       a servo switch comprising:
           a first commutator arranged between the input terminal and the electric power source, and   a second commutator arranged between the electric power source and the output terminal,   
           a management module comprising a first terminal connected to the first commutator and a second terminal connected to the second commutator, the management module being adapted to assess a charge state of the rechargeable battery, and to drive the servo switch according to said charge state, the first commutator is adapted to direct the electric power coming from the input terminal among the electric power source and the first terminal, the second commutator being adapted to direct the electric power coming from the second terminal among the electric power source and the output terminal.       
 
         [0011]    Thanks to these arrangements, it is possible to supply sufficient electric power to the portable equipment while minimizing the weight of the electric power source. This contributes in broadening the functional possibilities of the supply device according to the invention. 
         [0012]    According to a second one of its aspects, the invention relates to a mobile telecommunication equipment using the supply device according to the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made for an illustrative and non limitative purpose, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  schematically represents a simplified view of a mobile telecommunication equipment comprising a device for supplying electric power according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    According to a first of its aspects, as previously mentioned and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the invention relates to a device  1  for supplying electric power E to a mobile telecommunication equipment  2  (for example, for a mobile telephone or a laptop). This supply device  1  comprises an electronic supply circuit  3  comprising:
       an input terminal  30  designed to be plugged to the power grid  4 ,   an output terminal  31  adapted to be plugged to the portable equipment  2 ,   a ground terminal  32  electrically isolated from the input terminal  30 ,   an electric power E source  33  arranged between the input and output terminals  30 ,  31  and adapted to supply the mobile equipment  2  with electric power E via the output terminal  31 . The electric power E source  33  is further connected to the ground terminal  32  and comprises a rechargeable battery  330  adapted to store the electric power E.       
 
         [0020]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the supply device  1  comprises a switching regulator  5  comprising:
       a servo switch  50  comprising:
           a first commutator  501  arranged between the input terminal  30  and the electric power E source  33 , and   a second commutator  502  arranged between the electric power E source  33  and the output terminal  31 ,   
           a management module  51  comprising a first terminal  511  connected to the first commutator  501  and a second terminal  512  connected to the second commutator  502 , the management module  51  being adapted to assess a charge state A i  of the rechargeable battery  330 , and to drive the servo switch  50  according to said charge state A i,  the first commutator  501  being adapted to direct the electric power E coming from the input terminal  30  among the electric power E source  33  and the first terminal  511 , the second commutator  502  being adapted to direct the electric power E coming from the second terminal  512  among the electric power E source  33  and the output terminal  31 .       
 
         [0025]    Preferably, the management module  51  is adapted to assess an active connection state B between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4 . When, on the one hand, the connection between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4  exhibits the active state B (that is to say, when the input terminal  30  is plugged to the power grid  4 ) and, on the other hand, the rechargeable battery  330  exhibits the charge state A i  corresponding to the rechargeable battery  330  full charge A 0  (that is to say, Ai=A 0 ), the servo switch  50  is adapted to supply the electric power E to the output terminal  31  from the input terminal  30  by bypassing the electric power E source  33  (for example, by passing through the management module  51  via the first and second terminals  511 ,  512 ). 
         [0026]    Thanks to these arrangements, the supply device  1  is capable of supplying the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  with electric power E directly from the power grid  4  (without passing through the electric power E source  33 ). This tends to reduce a number of “charged/uncharged” cycles of the rechargeable battery  330  thus contributing to increase its service life. 
         [0027]    Advantageously, the management module  51  is adapted, as specified above, to assess the active connection state B between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4 . When, on the one hand, the connection between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4  exhibits the active state B and, on the other hand, the rechargeable battery  330  exhibits the charge state A i  corresponding to the rechargeable battery  330  incomplete charge A 1  (that is to say, A i =A 1 ), the servo switch  50  is adapted to supply the electric power E from the input terminal  30 , to both the output terminal  31  and to the electric power E source  33 . 
         [0028]    Thanks to these arrangements, the supply device  1  is capable of supplying the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  with electric power E directly from the power grid (without passing through the electric power E source  33 ) while recharging the rechargeable battery  330 . This makes it possible to maintain the supply of the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  during the charging of the rechargeable battery  330 . This contributes in broadening the functional possibilities of said supply device  1 . 
         [0029]    Preferably, the management module  51  is adapted to assess an interrupted connection state C between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4 . When the connection between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4  exhibits the interrupted state C (that is to say, when the input terminal  30  is unplugged from the power grid  4 ), the servo switch  50  is adapted to supply electric power E to the output terminal  31  from the electric power E source  33 . 
         [0030]    Thanks to these arrangements, everything being unplugged from the power grid  4 , the supply device  1  is able to supply the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  with electric power E. This contributes in broadening the functional possibilities of said supply device  1 . 
         [0031]    Advantageously, the supply device  1  may comprise at least one auxiliary power M j  capturing module  6  adapted to detect the auxiliary power M j  and a transformation module  7  connected to the capturing module  6  and adapted to transform the auxiliary power M j  (provided by the capturing module  6  to the transformation module  7 ) into electric power E. The transformation module  7  is further mounted in parallel on the electric power E source  33  between the ground terminal  32  and the second terminal  512 . The second commutator  502  is adapted to direct the electric power E coming from the transformation module  7  towards the electric power E source  33  and/or towards the output terminal  31 . 
         [0032]    Thanks to these arrangements, the supply device  1  is more environment-friendly as it can transform into electric power E, the auxiliary energy M j , preferably, of “renewable energy” type, thus contributing, in fine, to reduce greenhouse gases. 
         [0033]    Advantageously, when the connection between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4  exhibits the interrupted state C, the servo switch  50  is adapted to supply electric power E to the output terminal  31  via the second commutator  502 , at the same time, from the transformation module  7  and from the electric power E source  33 . 
         [0034]    Thanks to these arrangements, the supply device  1  ensures the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  greater operating autonomy of in the absence of the power grid  4 . In fact, at least one part of the electric power E is supplied to the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  from the transformation module  7 , thus contributing to reduce as much the depletion of the rechargeable battery  330  (and which can, due to this fact, remain in working order for longer). 
         [0035]    Preferably, when, on the one hand, the connection between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4  exhibits the interrupted state C, and on the other hand, the rechargeable battery  330  exhibits the charge state A i  corresponding to the rechargeable battery  330  incomplete charge A 1 , the servo switch  50  is adapted to supply the electric power E from the transformation module  7 , to both the output terminal  31  and to the electric power E source  33 . 
         [0036]    Thanks to these arrangements, it is possible to use the auxiliary power M j  to recharge the rechargeable battery  330  in absence of the power grid  4  (for example, in disaster areas during environmental phenomenon such as earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.). Thus, the supply device  1  may be used by the emergency services to recharge the depleted rechargeable battery  330 , thus contributing, in fine, in saving human lives. 
         [0037]    Advantageously, the servo switch  50  is further adapted to supply the electric power E to the output terminal  31  from the transformation module  7 . This embodiment is particularly appropriate for the case described above when the management module  51  is adapted to assess the active connection state B between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4 . When, on the one hand, the connection between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4  exhibits the active state B (that is to say, when the input terminal  30  is plugged to the power grid  4 ) and, on the other hand, the rechargeable battery  330  exhibits the charge state A i  corresponding to the rechargeable battery  330  full charge A 0  (that is to say, A i =A 0 ), the servo switch  50  is adapted to supply the electric power E to the output terminal  31  from the input terminal  30  by bypassing the electric power E source  33  (for example, by passing through the management module  51  via the first and second terminals  511 ,  512 ). 
         [0038]    Thanks to these arrangements, the output terminal  31  may be supplied in a hybrid manner, at the same time, by the transformation module  7  (of renewable type of electric power E) and by the power grid  4  (of non renewable type of electric power E, for example fossil). This contributes in making the supply device  1  more environment-friendly. 
         [0039]    Preferably, the servo switch  50  is further adapted to supply electric power E, at the same time, to the output terminal  31  and to the electric power E source  33  from the transformation module  7 . This embodiment is particularly adapted to the case described above when the management module  51  is adapted to assess the active connection state B between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4 . When, on the one hand, the connection between the input terminal  30  and the power grid  4  exhibits the active state B, and on the other hand, the rechargeable battery  330  exhibits the charge state A i  corresponding to the rechargeable battery  330  full charge A 1  (that is to say, A i =A 1 ), the servo switch  50  is adapted to supply the electric power E from the input terminal  30 , to both the output terminal  31  and to the electric power E source  33 . 
         [0040]    Thanks to these arrangements, the output terminal  31  and the rechargeable battery  330  may be supplied in a hybrid manner, at the same time by the transformation module  7  (of renewable energy type electric power E) and by the power grid  4  (of non renewable type of electric power E, for example fossil). This contributes in making the supply device  1  more environment-friendly. 
         [0041]    Preferably, the capturing module  6  is adapted to detect at least one amongst the following auxiliary energies M j : (a) solar energy M 0 ; (b) thermal energy M 1 ; (c) kinetic energy M 2 ; (d) radio wave energy M 3 . 
         [0042]    Thanks to these arrangements, the supply device  1  is more environment-friendly as it can transform into electric power E, the solar energy M 0 , and/or the thermal energy M 1 , and/or the kinetic energy M 2 , and/or radio wave energy M 3 . Furthermore, this contributes in broadening the functional possibilities of said supply device  1 , particularly, during the use of the supply device  1  by the emergency services in disaster areas. 
         [0043]    Advantageously, the electric power E source  33  comprises a linear charger  331  adapted to make the electric power E entering the electric power E source  33  pass towards the rechargeable battery  330  or exiting the electric power E source  33  from the rechargeable battery  330 . 
         [0044]    This simplifies the use of the supply device  1  on a daily basis and contributes in increasing the service life of the rechargeable battery  330  by the fact of the temporal linearization of its “charged/uncharged” cycles. 
         [0045]    According to a second aspect, the invention relates to the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  using the supply device  1  according to the invention. 
         [0046]    Preferably, the supply device is integrated within the mobile telecommunication equipment  2 . 
         [0047]    This facilitates the use of the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  on a daily basis, particularly during emergency situations where it is necessary to reduce the risk of loss of the supply device  1 . 
         [0048]    Alternatively, (case not shown), the supply device  1  may be linked to the mobile telecommunication equipment  2  using a linking means (not shown), for example, using an electric wire. 
         [0049]    Thanks to these arrangements, it becomes easier to handle the supply device  1  in space, for example, to orient more precisely the capturing module  6  opposite the sun.