Abstract:
An electrical power generating device ( 10 ) is provided for supplying electrical power to a charger of a rechargeable electronic device. Suitably, the charger has a connector at one end adapted to interface with the rechargeable electronic device and has at another end a standard electrical plug. The electrical power generating device ( 10 ) includes: an electric generator ( 12 ) that generates electrical power when driven; and, a receptacle ( 30 ) which receives electrical power from the generator ( 12 ). The receptacle ( 30 ) is provisioned with a standard electrical outlet ( 34 ) adapted to fit the standard electrical plug of the charger such that the electrical power received by the receptacle ( 30 ) from the electric generator ( 12 ) is output through the standard electrical outlet ( 34 ).

Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The present inventive subject matter relates to the electrical arts. Particular application is found in conjunction with handheld and/or portal electronic devices such as a mobile telephone, a laptop or notebook computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a portable radio or television, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver or tracking device, etc. While the specification makes particular reference thereto, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present inventive subject matter are also amenable to other like applications.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Many portable and/or handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile telephones, laptop or notebook computers, portable radio receivers and/or handheld radio transmitters, PDAs, GPS devices, etc.) are rechargeable devices, e.g., powered by rechargeable batteries. When the batteries are discharged, the electronic devices become inoperable until they or their batteries are sufficiently recharged. For this purpose then, typically, each device comes with its own distinct charger. More specifically, the charger and electronic device are typically equipped with a mated pair of male and female or other like connectors (one of the pair arranged on the charge and the other on the device) by which the charger and device are selectively joined or engaged with one another to recharge the device and/or the batteries in the device. The other end of the charger (i.e., the end not connected to the electronic device) is typically equipped or provisioned with a standard plug or the like that is designed and/or arranged to fit a standard electrical power outlet or socket such as, e.g., a standard 12 V DC automotive electric power outlet (a.k.a., a standard automobile cigarette lighter socket), a standard North American 120 V AC wall outlet, a standard European wall outlet, etc. Accordingly, when the charger and device are joined together or otherwise engaged with one another and the charger is plugged into a standard outlet or socket at its other end, the device and/or the device&#39;s batteries are recharged.  
         [0003]     However, the use of a charger in the foregoing manner has certain limitations. For example, commonly, the connectors used to interface the device and charger with one another are unique to that device-charger pair. Accordingly, a charger from one device often cannot be used to recharge another device because the connectors are not designed or arranged to mate correctly or otherwise fit together. Additionally, using a charger in the forgoing manner assumes that there is electrical power available from the standard outlet or socket into which the charger is plugged. In many cases, however, conventional electrical power sources may be dead, offline or otherwise unavailable. For example, a natural disaster or other disturbance may have disrupted or shut down the conventional electric power grid in a given region; an automobile otherwise used as a power source may have run out of fuel; the portable electronic device may be located in a remote region where electrical power is not readily available from a conventional or fixed source; etc. Moreover, it is in just such instances (i.e., emergencies) that one may most appreciate the ability to recharge dead or discharged batteries and/or to provide electrical power for an otherwise inoperative electronic device.  
         [0004]     To address the forgoing problem, there are various options. For example, replacement or backup batteries for the electronic device may be kept on hand in the case of an emergency. However, these backup or replacement batteries may only have a limited shelf-life and when ultimately used they will still only have a limited operational lifetime that may not be sufficiently long in some circumstances. Moreover, different electronic devices often use different types of batteries (i.e., with different physical sizes and/or shapes, and/or different voltage or amperage ratings, etc.). Accordingly, it may be unduly burdensome to maintain a reserve or backup supply or inventory of all the different types of batteries for all the different electronic devices an individual may want to use in an emergency situation.  
         [0005]     As another option, some portable electronic devices have been developed with an integrated hand driven or manually powered electric generator. These electric generators, however, only provide electric power to the device with which they are integrated. Other electronic devices are still vulnerable to running out of electric power and risk becoming inoperable absent a suitable source of electric power to recharge and/or power them. Moreover, integrating a hand driven or manually powered electric generator into an electronic device tends to add bulk and/or weight to the overall device thereby negatively impacting its attractiveness as a portable or handheld device. For example, an integrated hand driven or manually powered electrical generator is generally not practical for devices such as mobile telephones, PDAs, laptop or notebook computers, etc. insomuch as the added bulk and/or weight tends to detract from the portable, handheld and/or mobile nature of the devices. Additionally, relatively more delicate electronic devices or relatively more delicate components thereof may not be well suited to the mechanical stresses and/or vibrations that may be introduced by the manual operation of an integrated electric generator.  
         [0006]     Of course, other so called backup electric generators are also known. These electric generators, however, are often too big, bulky and/or heavy for many applications and/or in many instances are not sufficiently portable for casual or impromptu use. Simply put, these types of electric generators are often overkill or too much generator for the job. Additionally, such generators typically run on gasoline or some other similar fuel, and accordingly, their usefulness is limited by the availability of this fuel. For example, in some situations, the fuel needed to run the electric generator maybe in short supply or unattainable. More specifically, in a large natural disaster or other catastrophe, for example, gas stations or other fuel pumping facilities may be shut down or inoperable thereby restricting access to fuel reserves. Accordingly, absent the availability of additional fuel, once any fuel on hand has been exhausted, an electric generator that runs on the fuel can no longer be used to power or recharge the electronic devices one may wish to use.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, a new and improved multiuse electric power generating device and/or method for powering and/or recharging diverse electronic devices is disclosed that overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical power generating device is provided for supplying electrical power to a charger of a rechargeable electronic device. Suitably, the charger has a connector at one end adapted to interface with the rechargeable electronic device and has at another end a standard electrical plug. The electrical power generating device includes: an electric generator that generates electrical power when driven; and, a receptacle which receives electrical power from the generator. The receptacle is provisioned with a standard electrical outlet adapted to fit the standard electrical plug of the charger such that the electrical power received by the receptacle from the electric generator is output through the standard electrical outlet.  
         [0009]     In accordance with another embodiment, a method for supplying electrical power to a charger of a rechargeable electronic device is provided. Suitably, the charger has a connector at one end adapted to interface with the rechargeable electronic device and has at another end a standard electrical plug. The method includes: driving an electric generator to produce electrical power; and, supplying the produced electrical power to a receptacle that is provisioned with a standard electrical outlet adapted to fit the standard electrical plug of the charger. Ultimately, the electrical power supplied to the receptacle is output through the standard electrical outlet.  
         [0010]     Numerous advantages and benefits of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The inventive subject matter may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting. Further, it is to be appreciated that the drawings are not to scale.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary multiuse electric power generating device embodying aspects of the present inventive subject matter.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary wind powered drive for the multiuse electric power generating device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     For clarity and simplicity, the present specification shall refer to structural and/or functional elements, entities and/or facilities, relevant standards, protocols and/or services, and other components and features that are commonly known in the art without further detailed explanation as to their configuration or operation except to the extent they have been modified or altered in accordance with and/or to accommodate the embodiment(s) presented herein.  
         [0015]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a multiuse electric power generating device  10  includes an electric generator  12 , e.g., containing in a housing  13 . Suitably, the electric generator  12  is a dynamo, a Gramme or some other version of a dynamo, an alternator, or any other suitable type of electric generator as is known in the art. In the illustrated example, the electric generator  12  produces electrical power in response to and/or is driven by the rotation of a rotor shaft  14  that is operatively coupled to the electric generator  12 . However, alternate mechanical arrangements and/or movements are optionally employed to drive the electric generator  12  to produce electrical power therefrom.  
         [0016]     Suitably, the multiuse electric power generating device  10  has sufficient power generating capacity for and is equipped to power the chargers of various diverse types of rechargeable handheld and/or portable electronic devices such as mobile telephones, laptop or notebook computers, portable radio receivers and/or handheld radio transmitters, PDAs, GPS devices, and other similar personal electronic devices, e.g., which have rechargeable batteries that are normally recharged via a charger designed for the particular device and adapted to plug into a standard electrical outlet or socket. In one exemplary embodiment, the device  10  is portable, e.g., with the housing  13  taking the form of cube or other shape on the order of approximately 4 inches per side and weighing less than approximately 10 pounds. While the foregoing is deemed a reasonable tradeoff between size, weight and power generating capacity, it is to be appreciated that other dimensions, shapes, weights, power generating capacities, etc. are also contemplated.  
         [0017]     Suitably, the electric generator  12  is hand driven or manually powered. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a crank or handle  16  is attached to the rotor shaft  14  that is operatively coupled to the electric generator  12 . Manually turning the crank or handle  16  rotates the shaft  14  thereby driving the electric generator  12  to produce electric power.  
         [0018]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , an optional wind powered turbine or wind drive  20  is provided for driving the electric generator  12 . Optionally, the handle  16  is selectively detached form the shaft  14  and the wind drive  20  is selectively attached to the shaft  14  via a mechanical coupling  22 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the wind drive  20  includes a propeller or a set of wind cups, blades or other wind-catching armatures  24  that are operatively connected or attached to a drive shaft  26 . Suitably, the drive shaft  26  is operatively coupled to the coupling  22  through a set of suitable gears housed in a gearbox  28  so that when the drive shaft  26  is rotated by the armatures  24  due to the blowing of wind on the armatures  24 , the coupling  22  is in turn rotated with sufficient force or toque to drive the electric generator  12  connected to the coupling  22  via the rotor shaft  14 , thereby producing electric power from the electric generator  12 . Accordingly, if a user desires to manually drive the electric generator  12 , then the wind drive  20  is detached from the rotor shaft  14  and the handle  16  is attached to the rotor shaft  14 . Alternately, if the user desires to have the wind drive the electric generator  12 , then the handle  16  is detached from the rotor shaft  14  and the wind drive  20  is attached to the rotor shaft  14 . Alternately, the wind drive  20  is optionally arranged to connect to the handle  16  and turn the same thereby rotating the shaft  14 .  
         [0019]     With reference again to  FIG. 1 , the electrical power produced by the electric generator  12  is delivered to a receptacle  30  where it is available for output from the device  10 . In the illustrated example, the receptacle  30  is connected to the device  10  and/or housing  13  via a flexible cord  32  containing appropriate conductors and/or wires suitable for transporting the electrical power that passes therethrough. As shown, the receptacle  30  is provisioned with and/or includes a standard outlet or socket  34 . Suitable standard outlets and/or sockets include, e.g., standard NEMA, IEC, CEE and/or JIS electrical power outlets and/or sockets, standard 12 V DC automotive electric power outlets (a.k.a., a standard automobile cigarette lighter socket) or other standard DC outlets and/or sockets, standard North American 120 V AC wall outlets, standard European wall outlets or other standard International wall outlets, etc. Accordingly, the receptacle  30  is arranged to receive the corresponding standard plug found on many conventional chargers for rechargeable electronic devices. Notably, the multiuse electric power generating device  10  is not intended to replace the charger of any particular rechargeable electronic device. Rather, the standard outlet or socket  34  allows the device  10  to be used in conjunction with and/or to power any charger having a matching standard plug, and hence the device  10  can provide the electrical power to recharge a number of diverse types of rechargeable electronic devices without having to duplicate each of a plurality of different interfaces specific and/or unique to those different electronic devices. Additionally, the flexible cord  32  allows the receptacle  30  to move freely (i.e., independently of the housing  13  and/or the rest of the device  10 ) thereby aiding in insulating any charger and/or its associated electronic device that may be connected and/or plugged into the receptacle  30  from vibrations and/or mechanical stresses that might be introduced by the manual driving of the electric generator  12 .  
         [0020]     Suitably, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the device  10  is equipped with a conditioning circuit  40  operatively arranged between the electric generator  12  and the receptacle  30 . The circuit  40  conditions the electrical power produced by the electric generator  12  before it is delivered to the receptacle  30  so as to be in a form compatible with the kind or type of standard outlet or socket  34  that is being used. That is to say, the circuit  40  optionally adjusts the voltage, current and/or waveform shape of the electric power produced by the electric generator  12  so as to fall within acceptable parameters designated for the standard outlet or socked  34  equipped in the receptacle  30 . For example, if the electric generator  12  produces AC (Alternating Current) power and the standard outlet or socket  34  equipped in the receptacle  30  is designated for DC (Direct Current) power, the conditioning circuit  40  rectifies the current with an appropriate rectifier or the like and an optional smoothing circuit. Conversely, yet in a similar fashion, the condition circuit  40  optionally converts DC power output from the generator  12  to AC power which is then delivered to the receptacle  30  if the configuration of the device  10  so demands. Of course, if the generator  12  already produces the form of power (i.e., DC or AC) that is to be used at the receptacle  30 , then the conversion is omitted from the conditioning circuit  40 .  
         [0021]     Additionally, the circuit  40  also optionally filters out noise that may be present in the generated electrical power, e.g., as a result of the manual and/or inconsistent driving of the electric generator  12 . However, since it is contemplated that the electronic devices being recharged are commonly battery operated, the acceptable noise tolerances are somewhat relaxed from what they would be if the electronic devices were being operated directly from the power generated by the device  10 .  
         [0022]     In one optional embodiment, the receptacle  30  is provisioned with and/or includes a plurality of standard outlets or sockets  34 . In this manner, the receptacle  30  optionally accommodates a number of different standard plugs making the multiuse electric power generating device  10  even more flexible. As illustrated, an optional switch  42  is provided by which a user selects the specific outlet  34  being used in a given instance. Suitably, the switch  42  controls or regulates the operation of the condition circuit  40  to achieve the desired form of electrical power being delivered to the receptacle  30 , i.e., so that it is compatible with standard outlet  34  being used in the particular instance. Alternately, the switch  42  optionally selects between a plurality of different conditioning circuits  40  corresponding to the plurality of different standard outlets  34  provisioned in the receptacle  30 . That is to say, e.g., one circuit  40  optionally conditions the electrical power output from the generator  12  to be compatible with one of the standard outlets  34  in the receptacle  30 , while another different circuit  40  conditions the electrical power output from the generator  12  to be compatible with another different standard outlet  34  in the receptacle  30 , and the switch  42  selects which one of the two circuits  40  the electrical power from the generator  12  is routed through and to which one of the two outlets  34  in the receptacle  30  it is delivered.  
         [0023]     In yet another optional embodiment, the multiuse electric power generating device  10  is also equipped with a battery  50  that stores generated electrical power from the generator  12  until it is desired to be output from the receptacle  30 . Suitably, the switch  42  also controls the charging and discharging of the battery  50 . That is to say, e.g., optionally when the switch  42  is in one given position, electrical power from the generator  12  is directed and/or routed to the battery  50 , optionally, through the conditioning circuit  40  which in the selected mode prepares the power or otherwise makes it compatible for charging the battery  50 . When the switch  42  is moved to another given position, the battery  50  discharges its stored electrical energy which is routed (optionally, again through the circuit  40  for appropriate conditioning) to the receptacle  30  where the electrical power is available to be used as desired. Optionally, the battery  50  charges and/or discharges automatically depending upon the amount of electrical power that is being produced by the generator  12  and/or the load connected to the receptacle  30  at any given time. That is to say, if there is an otherwise excess or surplus of electrical power (i.e., electrical power which is not being used at the time) being produced by the generator  12 , then this surplus automatically charges the battery  50 , while on the other hand, if there is a deficiency in electrical power being produced by the generator  12  (i.e., less than can be handled by the load connected to the receptacle  30 ), then the battery  50  automatically discharges its reserved electrical power to the extent available to make up the difference.  
         [0024]     It is to be appreciated that in connection with the particular exemplary embodiments presented herein certain structural and/or function features are described as being incorporated in defined elements and/or components. However, it is contemplated that these features may, to the same or similar benefit, also likewise be incorporated in other elements and/or components where appropriate. It is also to be appreciated that different aspects of the exemplary embodiments may be selectively employed as appropriate to achieve other alternate embodiments suited for desired applications, the other alternate embodiments thereby realizing the respective advantages of the aspects incorporated therein.  
         [0025]     It is also to be appreciated that particular elements or components described herein may have their functionality suitably implemented via hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. Additionally, it is to be appreciated that certain elements described herein as incorporated together may under suitable circumstances be stand-alone elements or otherwise divided. Similarly, a plurality of particular functions described as being carried out by one particular element may be carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting independently to carry out individual functions, or certain individual functions may be split-up and carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting in concert. Alternately, some elements or components otherwise described and/or shown herein as distinct from one another may be physically or functionally combined where appropriate.  
         [0026]     In short, the present specification has been set forth with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the present specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.