Abstract:
A portable electronic device charger and a method for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, the charger includes a pendulum mounted to a housing and oscillating in response to movement of the housing. The pendulum includes a first trigger piece and a second trigger piece. The first trigger piece causes the rotation of a first gear element in a gear unit in one direction while the second trigger piece causes the rotation of a second gear element in an opposite direction. The charger also includes an electric generator that has an electric generator shaft rotated by the gear unit. The electric generator generates an electrical output. A circuit communicatively connected to the electric generator receives the electrical output and converts it to an output to be routed via an output coupling in the housing to deliver charge to a rechargeable battery in a portable electronic device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to charging electronic devices, and more particularly, to a portable electronic device charger.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The proliferation of small portable electronic devices including mobile phones and portable radios in recent years has underlined the need for small rechargeable batteries and battery chargers.  
           [0003]    Cell phone users frequently complain of how they are unable to use their cell phone in a critical situation due to low battery levels. Typically, a mobile phone battery lasts about 2 to 5 hours in the talk mode or 2 to 4 days in the standby mode. Currently, rechargeable batteries require an external power source for recharging such as a household electrical outlet.  
           [0004]    However, this does not fulfill the demand for re-charging batteries during prolonged outdoor activities or other situations where an external power source is often unavailable. In many situations, like camping, small portable electronic devices such as mobile phones stop functioning due to inadequate battery charge, leaving the user feeling stranded with no means of communication. Furthermore, during emergency situations in remote areas, having a reliable source of power to re-charge or supplement charge and use a mobile phone or a two-way radio for communication is extremely valuable.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, what is needed is a charger that is capable of charging a portable electronic device without using chemicals or chemical compounds. The charger would be capable of providing alternate methods for supplementing charge or charging a rechargeable battery often found in portable electronic devices.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A portable electronic device charger and a method for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, the charger includes a pendulum mounted to a housing and oscillating in response to movement of the housing. The pendulum includes a first trigger piece and a second trigger piece. The first trigger piece causes the rotation of a first gear element in a gear unit in one direction while the second trigger piece causes the rotation of a second gear element in an opposite direction. The charger also includes an electric generator that has an electric generator shaft rotated by the gear unit. The electric generator generates an electrical output. A circuit communicatively connected to the electric generator receives the electrical output and converts it to an output to be routed via an output coupling in the housing to deliver charge to a rechargeable battery in a portable electronic device.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a portable electronic device charger with a mobile phone;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 a  illustrates one embodiment of a front view of the portable electronic device charger;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 b  illustrates one embodiment of a side view of the portable electronic device charger shown in FIG. 2 a;    
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 c  illustrates a top view of the portable electronic device charger  5  shown in FIG. 2 a;    
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of one embodiment of a portable electronic device charger;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of the embodiment of the portable electronic device charger shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 a  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the electronic module box;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 b  illustrates a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the electronic module box;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 c  illustrates an electrical schematic for one embodiment of the portable electronic device charger  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the rotary bracket;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 a  illustrates one embodiment of the current collector slip ring plate;  
         [0019]    FIG  7   b  illustrates a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the current collector slip ring plate;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 illustrates a view of one embodiment of the planetary gear unit;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 a  and FIG. 8 b  illustrate cut out views of one embodiment of the gear elements; and  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a portable electronic device charger for use with a mobile music player.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    A portable electronic device charger and a method for using the same are described. In the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Several embodiments are described herein. However, there are other ways that would be apparent to one skilled in the art that may be practiced without specific details.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a portable electronic device charger  5  with a mobile phone  100 . The portable electronic device charger  5  is standalone electric charger for use with small portable electronic devices having a rechargeable battery, as for example, the mobile phone  100 .  
         [0025]    The portable electronic device charger  5  recovers energy from any of three sources of energy generated from within the portable electronic device charger  5  and converts the energy as electrical charge. The portable electronic device charger draws energy from within its three internal sources and converts the energy to electrical charge. These three sources of energy are (1) the pendulum movement occurring from the physical motion of the portable electronic device charger  5 , (2) mechanical spring energy of a wound spring, and (3) photovoltaic energy when the portable electronic device charger is exposed to sunlight.  
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the portable electronic device charger  5  does not use chemicals or chemical compounds. In alternative embodiments, the portable electronic device charger  5  may use chemicals or chemical compounds in addition to one or more of the energy sources described herein.  
         [0027]    As seen in FIG. 1, the portable electronic device charger  5  includes a lower body  10 , an upper body  20 , an electronic module box  50 , and an electric output socket  51 . The lower body  10  is coupled to the upper body  20  with screws. The lower body  10  may be removable from the upper body  20  in an alternative embodiment. A cable  60  is plugged into the electric output socket  51  of the portable electronic device charger  5  and the small portable electronic device  100 , and thereby the portable electronic device charger  5  is used to charge or run the small portable electronic device  100  having rechargeable battery.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 a  illustrates one embodiment of a front view of the portable electronic device charger  5 . The lower body  10 , the upper body  20 , and the electronic module box  50  are made of plastic material having high density and impact resistance. In alternative embodiments, the lower body  10 , upper body  20 , and electronic module box  50  may be made of other materials with high impact resistance. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 a , the assembled portable electronic device charger  5  is about four inches in diameter and overall height and may weigh about 2 pounds.  
         [0029]    The mechanical and the electrical components of the portable electronic device charger  5  are housed within the lower body  10  and the upper body  20 . In one embodiment, for activation of a mechanical storage unit inside the portable electronic device charger  5 , an activation mechanism is used. In one embodiment, the activation mechanism of the portable electronic device charger  5  is a key  64 , as for example, a car key, for winding a mechanical spring storage unit inside the portable electronic device charger  5  through a key alignment bushing  63 . The key alignment bushing  63  may be customizable by the user of the portable electronic device charger  5  for a choice of keys. In alternative embodiments, the activation mechanism may be a type of assembly other than a key.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 b  illustrates one embodiment of a side view of the portable electronic device charger  5  shown in FIG. 2 a . The electronic module box  50  includes a lower body  56  and an upper body  55  having a transparent window. In one embodiment, the entire electronic module box  50  may be made of a transparent plastic. In alternative embodiments, other transparent materials may be used. In one embodiment, the electronic module box  50  houses a photocell array. The transparent window allows for the activation of the photocell array inside the electronic module box  50  when exposed to sunlight.  
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the lower body  56  is adhesively or otherwise bonded to the upper body  20  of the portable electronic device charger  5 . In alternative embodiments, the lower and upper bodies  56  and  20  may be attached using other methods of attachment. The upper body  55  is mounted to the lower body  56  with screws and may be detachable to access electronic elements inside the electronic module box  50  by the user to customize preferences.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 2 c  illustrates a top view of the portable electronic device charger  5  shown in FIG. 2 a . The electronic module box  50  includes a photocell array  58  of Photovoltaic cells, electronic controllers, and an electric output socket  51  deliver electric charge to the small portable electronic device via a cable or other type of connection medium.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 illustrates a cross section of one embodiment of a portable electronic device charger  5 . Most of the mechanical, electrical and electronics elements are assembled and mounted within the upper body  20 .  
         [0034]    Referring to FIG. 3, a pendulum  21  is attached to pendulum brackets  22  on both sides of the pendulum rigidly with screws. In an alternative embodiment the pendulum may be attached differently. The pendulum is semi circular in shape and is made of steel. This element carries two spring pawls  37   a  and  37   b . The pendulum brackets  22  are made of steel plate and are suspended on bearings  26   a  and  26   b . Thereby, the pendulum  21  has the freedom to oscillate about the axis marked B-B whenever the user moves the portable electronic device charger  5 .  
         [0035]    A rotary bracket  30  supports the pendulum brackets  22 . The rotary bracket  30  is made out of plastic material. The rotary bracket  30  is mounted on a thrust bearing  41 , and a ball bearing,  42  and is free to rotate around axis marked A-A. The pendulum  21  mounted on pendulum brackets  22  and suspended by the rotary bracket  30 , is thereby free to oscillate and rotate at the same time. The rotary bracket  30  carries an assembly that includes an electric generator  23 , a planetary gear unit  24 , and a mechanical spring storage unit  25 . Three steel shafts including the electric generator shaft  27 , the planetary gear unit shaft  28 , and the mechanical spring storage unit shaft  29  are mounted to the rotary bracket  30  on ball bearings  26   c  and  26   d.    
         [0036]    The body of the electric generator  23  is anchored to the rotary bracket  30  through anchor  31 . This anchor prevents the body of the electric generator  23  from rotating when the shaft  27  is rotated. The electric generator  23  provides voltage output to terminals shown as “p-n” on the body of the electric generator  23 .  
         [0037]    The planetary gear unit  24  has two outer gear elements,  24   a , and  24   b . The gear element  24   a  is mounted to the electric generator shaft  27  and the gear element  24   b  is mounted to it&#39;s own shaft  28  sharing commonality with the mechanical spring storage unit  25 . The gear element  24   b  together with the shaft  28  and the shaft  29  is movable axially towards the electric generator  23  when the key  64  is pushed in. A key  64  winds a spring inside the mechanical spring storage unit  25  through the key alignment bushing  63 . This axial movement permits activation of the portable electronic device charger  5  by the mechanical spring storage  25  when the key  64  is pushed in.  
         [0038]    A current collector slip ring plate  32  is mounted on the upper side of the rotary bracket  30 . The current collector slip ring plate  32  is made out of electrically insulating material. A set of spring loaded carbon brushes  45  ride on the current collector slip ring plate  32 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section of the embodiment of the portable electronic device charger  5  shown in FIG. 3. The thrust bearing  41  and the ball bearing  42  are mounted on the bearing housing ring  40  and are positioned by ring plate  43  with a screw. This bearing housing ring  40  is made of plastic material and is fixed to the upper body  20  of the portable electronic device charger  5 .  
         [0040]    In one embodiment, two bouncer blocks  35  adhesively glued to the rotary bracket  30  limit the amplitude or the swing of the pendulum oscillations. However, these bouncer blocks  35  are not necessary to the invention.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 5 a  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the electronic module box  50 . The photocell array  58  is visible through the transparent window of the upper body  55  of the electronic module box  50  so that sunlight may be absorbed through the transparent window.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 5 b  illustrates a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the electronic module box  50 . The electronic components are mounted on wiring board  57  and this board is mounted on the lower body  56 . The upper body  55  has a transparent window to allow sunlight to hit the photocell array  58  of photovoltaic cells.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the rotary bracket  30 . The rotary bracket  30  supports the pendulum brackets  22  on bearings  26   a  through  26   d  and shafts  27  and  29 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 7 a  illustrates one embodiment of the current collector slip ring plate  32 . This plate carries two electrically conducting copper foil rings  33  and  34  adhesively bonded concentrically to the current collector slip ring plate  32 . This current collector slip ring plate  32  is mounted with four screws on the rotary bracket FIG. 6, 30. The copper foil rings  33  and  34  are soldered and connected to the electric generator  23 , terminals p-n.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 7 b  illustrates a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the current collector slip ring plate  32 . Two stationary spring-loaded carbon brushes  45  ride on the electrically conducting copper foil rings  33  and  34  on the current collector slip ring plate  32  that rotates along with the rotary bracket  30 . The stationary spring-loaded carbon brushes  45  provide an electrically conductive path to deliver electrical charge from the current collector slip ring plate  32  to wiring board  57  (shown in FIG. 5 c ), terminals p-n. The wiring board  57  is located in the electronic module box  55 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 8 a  illustrates a view of one embodiment of the planetary gear unit  24 . This planetary gear unit includes two gear elements  24   a  and  24   b . The spring pawls  37   a  and  37   b  associated with the gear elements  24   a  and  24   b  are illustrated as cut outs in FIG. 8 b.    
         [0047]    Referring to FIG. 8 a , each of the gear elements  24   a  and  24   b  of the planetary gear unit  24  are driven by corresponding spring pawls  37   a  and  37   b . These spring pawls ratchet on the saw tooth and thereby rotate the gear elements  24   a  and  24   b  in opposite direction when the pendulum oscillates. However, the electric generator shaft  27  continues to be rotated by the planetary gear unit  24  in the direction that correlates to the starting direction of the pendulum oscillation.  
         [0048]    In operation, the portable electronic device charger  5  recovers energy from any of the three sources of energy generated from within the portable electronic device charger  5 . These sources of energy include (1) the energy from the oscillations of the pendulum  21 , (2) the energy from the photocell array  58 , and (3) the mechanical energy of a wound spring in the mechanical spring storage unit  25 .  
         [0049]    In one embodiment, the portable electronic device charger  5  may recover energy only from the energy associated from oscillations of the pendulum  21 . In an alternative embodiment, the portable electronic device charger  5  may recover energy only from the energy associated with the mechanical energy of the wound spring in the mechanical spring storage unit  25 . In other alternative embodiments, the portable electronic device charger  5  may recover energy from the photocell array  58  in addition to one of the other two energy sources.  
         [0050]    Referring to FIG. 3, when the portable electronic device charger  5  is physically carried and moved, the oscillations of the pendulum  21  drive the planetary gear unit  24 . The spring pawl  37   a  drives the gear element  24   a  in one direction and the spring pawl  37   b  drives the gear element  24   b  in the opposite direction.  
         [0051]    Once the pendulum  21  starts oscillations, without a pause, starting in the clockwise direction, the planetary gear unit  24  continues to rotate the electric generator shaft  27  in clockwise direction. However, if the pendulum stops and then starts oscillations, again without pause, starting in an anticlockwise direction, the electric generator shaft  27  rotates in the anticlockwise direction.  
         [0052]    The planetary gear unit  24  increases the angular speed of the electric generator shaft  27  as compared to the angular speed of either of the gear elements  24   a  or  24   b . The shaft  27  drives the permanent magnet rotor (not shown) inside the electric generator  23 . The electrical output of the electric generator stator (not shown) terminates on the terminals “p-n”. When the rotary bracket  30  rotates together with the current collector slip ring plate  32 , the riding spring loaded carbon brush pair  45  continue to carry uninterrupted the electrical output from the electric generator to the wiring board  57  in FIG  5   c.    
         [0053]    In one embodiment of the invention, when the pendulum is in oscillating motion having reasonable inertia generated by the physical movement of the portable electronic device charger  5 , the mechanical energy equivalent of the pendulum converted to electrical units is approximately half watt, corresponding to 0.1 amperes at 5 volts. Under low physical activity level, when the movement of the portable electronic device charger  5  is low, as for example, when the user of the portable electronic device charger  5  is walking, the energy equivalent of the pendulum converted to electrical units is reduced. However, this does not present a drawback to the user of the portable electronic device charger  5 . As for example, if this reduced energy level is 0.25 watts corresponding to 0.05 amperes at 5 volts, and a specific small portable electronic device requires 0.2 amperes, then the user of the portable electronic device charger  5  has to be active for four minutes for every minute the user intends to operate such specific small portable electronic device.  
         [0054]    Yet another source of energy the portable electronic device charger  5  recovers is the stored energy from the mechanical spring storage unit  25 . This unit uses a wire spring (not shown) wound by the key  64 . The operation of this mechanical spring storage unit  25  requires that the shaft  29  be first aligned to the axis B-B. This is done with the key alignment bushing  63  that is spring loaded.  
         [0055]    When this key alignment bushing  63  is pushed in and the portable electronic device charger  5  rotated, the key alignment bushing  63  halts the shaft  29  and thereby aligns the shaft  29  to the keyhole along the axis B-B. After aligning the shaft  29 , the spring inside the mechanical spring storage unit  25  is wound using key  64 . The energy stored in the wound spring is then released to the planetary gear unit  24  when the key  64  is pushed in on the axis B-B. In turn, the planetary gear unit  24  rotates the electric generator shaft  27 . Simultaneously, the axial movement of the shaft  29  disengages spring pawls  37   a  and  37   b  disabling the operation of pendulum  21 . The energy stored by the mechanical spring storage unit  25  is dependent on the spring parameters. In one embodiment of the invention, the mechanical spring storage unit  25  is capable of delivering energy at a rate equivalent to 0.1 amperes at 5 volts for about a one minute duration.  
         [0056]    Referring to FIG. 5 b , another source of energy the portable electronic device charger  5  recovers is the energy from the photocell array  58  when exposed to light. The photocell array is part of the upper body  55  of the electronic module box  50 . The photocell array is wired directly to the circuit shown in FIG. 5 c , and delivers electrical output to the circuit from the converted sunlight. In one embodiment of the portable electronic device charger  5 , the energy output of the photocell array is about half watt corresponding to 0.1 amperes at 5 volts in bright sun light.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 5 c  illustrates an electrical schematic for one embodiment of the portable electronic device charger  5 . Electrical energy is derived from one of the three sources as discussed above. Referring to FIG. 5 c , the electric generator feeds its output to terminals marked “p” and “n”. The user of the portable electronic device charger  5  sets manually the voltage preference as for example 5 or fewer volts at the electric output socket  51  on the module “V”. The diodes marked D 1  through D 4  convert the electric generator current to direct current. During the operation of the portable electronic device charger  5 , the capacitor “C” stores the charge and reduces ripples in the electrical input to the module “E”. The input from the photocell array  58  connected to the terminals marked as “S 1 ” and “S 2 ” is protected from reverse current feed from module “E” when the portable electronic device charger  5  is not exposed to light. The electronic module “E” controls functions that include summing up the energy recovered from the electric generator  23  and the photocell array  58 , supply electrical charge to electric output socket  51  per user set requirement, limit electrical load on the electric generator  23 . In one embodiment of the portable electronic device charger  5 , the charging voltage and current is displayed with liquid crystal display.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a portable electronic device charger  5  for use with a mobile music player  101 . Although certain embodiments of the portable electronic device charger have been shown with a mobile phone and a mobile music player, there may be alternative embodiments where the portable electronic device charger may be used with other devices having rechargeable batteries. The invention is not limited to use with a mobile phone or a mobile music player.  
         [0059]    In one embodiment, the portable electronic device charger may be attachable as a module to the housing of a portable electronic device for which the portable electronic device charger is supplying power. In an alternative embodiment, the portable electronic device charger may be integrated within the portable electronic device.  
         [0060]    A portable electronic device charger and a method for using the same have been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.