Abstract:
A charging device includes an electric energy generating module and a voltage regulating module electrically connected to the electric energy generating module and a battery. The electric energy generating module is configured for collecting and converting heat energy into electric energy, and outputting an voltage. The voltage regulating module receives the electric energy and regulates the output voltage of the electric energy into a stable voltage, and then the electric energy is outputted to charge the battery.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to charging devices, particularly, to a charging device used in a portable electronic device, and a method of operating the same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Portable electronic devices, such as mobile telephones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), generally are equipped with rechargeable batteries. When battery power is low or empty, a power source is required to recharge the battery. 
         [0005]    However, when power sources are not available, the portable electronic devices may not be recharged. In addition, the charger is usually separate component from the portable electronic device. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of a charging device, a portable electronic device employing the same, and a charging method thereof 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, portable electronic employing the device, and charging method thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a charging device charging a battery, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a portable electronic device with the charging device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is flow chart of a method of employing the charging device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a charging device and a portable electronic device, in accordance with another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]      FIGS. 1-2  show an exemplary embodiment of a charging device  100  used to charge a portable electronic device  200 , such as a mobile phone. The charging device  100  is installed in the portable electronic device  200 . The portable electronic device  200  includes a main body  201 , a charging socket  203 , and a battery  205 . The charging socket  203  is formed at one end of the main body  201 , and the battery  205  is located in the main body  201 . The charging socket  203  can be configured for connecting with a charging device to charge the battery  205 . 
         [0013]    The charging device  100  includes a heat energy collecting board  10 , an electric energy generating module  20 , a voltage regulating module  30 , a power processing module  40 , and an interface  50 . The electric energy generating module  20 , the voltage regulating module  30 , the power processing module  40  and the interface  50  are electrically connected in series. 
         [0014]    The heat energy collecting board  10  is made from aluminum oxide or other materials. The heat energy collecting board  10  is located inside the main body  201  and adjacent to electrical components, such as a motherboard, to collect heat. The heat energy collecting board  10  is configured for absorbing heat from outside or the inside of the portable electronic device  200 . The electric energy generating module  20  may be an existing thermoelectric cooler (TEC) chip, such as a TES1-049.39, a TES1-031.39 etc, which can absorb and convert heat energy from the heat energy collecting board  10  into electric energy, and output a voltage. A metal cover (not shown) can be set outside the electric energy generating module  20 , the metal used to conduct heat generated by the electric energy generating module  20  to prevent the electric energy generating module  20  from overheating. 
         [0015]    The voltage regulating module  30  is configured to receive the electric energy and regulate the output voltage into a stable voltage, and includes a controlling unit  31 , a voltage boosting unit  32 , and a voltage stabilizing unit  33 . The controlling unit  31  can control and activate the voltage boosting unit  32  and the voltage stabilizing unit  33  according to the output voltage from the electric energy generating module  20 . When the output voltage is less than an operating voltage, the controlling unit  31  controls the voltage boosting unit  32  to increase the output voltage. When the output voltage is greater than or equal to the operating voltage, the controlling unit  31  controls the voltage stabilizing unit  33  to regulate and stabilize the output voltage into stable voltage. 
         [0016]    The power processing module  40  includes a power management unit  41  and a power protection unit  42 . The power management unit  41  is configured for controlling the battery  205  to be charged or not, and processing current from the voltage regulating module  30 . When the battery  205  is fully charged, the power management unit  41  stops charging the battery  205 . The power protection unit  42  is configured for preventing the battery  205  from damage due to abnormal states, such as short circuit, high temperature, abnormal current, etc. The power processing module  40  is electrically connected with the battery  205  via the interface  50 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the process of the charging device  100  charging the battery  205  of the portable electronic device  200  may include the following steps: 
         [0018]    In step S 1 , the heat energy collecting board  10  collects heat from inside or outside of the portable electronic device  200 , and conducts the heat to the electric energy generating module  20 . 
         [0019]    In step S 2 , the electric energy generating module  20  converts heat energy into electric energy, and transmits the electric energy to the voltage regulating module  30 . 
         [0020]    In step S 3 , the controlling unit  31  of the voltage regulating module  30  determines whether the output voltage from the electric energy generating module  20  is less than an operating voltage or not. If the output voltage is greater than or equal to the operating voltage, the process goes to step S 4 , and if the output voltage is less than the operating voltage, the process goes to step S 5 . 
         [0021]    In step S 4 , the controlling unit  31  controls the voltage stabilizing unit  33  to regulate the output voltage into a stable operating voltage. 
         [0022]    In step S 5 , the controlling unit  31  controls the voltage boosting unit  32  to increase the output voltage to the operating voltage. 
         [0023]    In step S 6 , the power management unit  41  and the power protection unit  42  of the power processing module  40  manages the stable operating voltage to prevent the battery  205  from overcharging and other potential damages. 
         [0024]    In step S 7 , charging the battery  205 . 
         [0025]    The charging device may be independently and be directly mounted to the portable electronic device. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a charging device  300  can be mounted to a portable electronic device  400 , according to another embodiment. The charging device  300  includes a plug connector  65  and a cover  66 . The portable electronic device  400  includes a battery  401  and a charging socket  403  formed at one end of the portable electronic device  400 . 
         [0026]    The charging device  300  has substantially same configuration as that of the charging device  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The interface  50  is set in the plug connector  65 . When the plug connector  65  is inserted into the charging socket  403 , the charging device  300  is electrically connected to the battery  401  via the plug connector  65 . 
         [0027]    Another battery can be set in the charging device to store electric energy when the battery of the portable electronic device is fully charged. In practical use, the charging device utilizes heat energy released by the portable electronic device so as to prolong the use time of the battery. 
         [0028]    It is to be understood, however, that the plug connector  65  may be an universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), a universal serial bus (USB) etc. 
         [0029]    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.