GB2307143A

GB2307143A - Mechanically Powered Radio Transceiver

Info

Publication number: GB2307143A
Application number: GB9602131A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert William Jeffs; Mark Steven Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-10
Filing date: 1996-02-02
Publication date: 1997-05-14
Also published as: GB9602131D0; GB9523158D0

Abstract

A radio transceiver such as a mobile telephone uses power from a battery (13) when operating in the receive mode, which uses little power, and provides means (15) for inputting mechanical energy to drive an electrical generator when operating in the higher power requirement transmit mode. The mechanical input means comprises a spring for storing the input mechanical energy. In a further embodiment, the generator recharges a rechargeable battery

Description

A Radio Transceiver This invention relates to a radio transceiver, and more particularly to a portable radio transceiver.

A radio transceiver is an item of electronic equipment, such as a walkie-talkie or mobile telephone, which is able to both receive and transmit radio signals. Typically, known portable transceivers comprise a battery which powers their electronic circuitry.

A disadvantage of this arrangement is that the transceiver is not able to transmit or receive once its battery is exhausted. Often, transceivers comprise rechargeable batteries, and a further disadvantage of this is that it is not possible to recharge the battery whilst away from the location of the battery recharger. Radio transceivers only consume a small amount of power in their receive mode, however in the transmit mode they consume a large amount of power, with the result that their batteries quickly become exhausted if they are frequently used to transmit.

I have now devised a transceiver which alleviates the above-mentioned problem.

In accordance with this invention, as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a transceiver comprising an electronic circuit having a portion arranged to transmit radio signals and a portion arranged to receive radio signals, a battery for supplying power to said receive portion of the circuit in a receive mode of operation, and an electrical generator for supplying power to said transmit portion of the circuit in a transmit mode of operation, said electrical generator comprising means for storing mechanical energy, means for inputting mechanical energy into said storage means and means for converting the stored mechanical energy into an electrical current.

The battery supplies power to the receive circuit in the receive mode, so that the transceiver is able to receive radio signals. It will be appreciated that even a small battery is able to power the receive circuit for a considerable amount of time, since it draws very little current.

In the transmit mode, the transmit circuit is powered by current which is generated mechanically from the source of stored mechanical energy. When the amount of stored mechanical energy runs low, it can be replenished using the means for inputting mechanical energy.

A transceiver in accordance with this invention is thus usable almost indefinitely, subject to there being sufficient energy in the battery to power the receive circuit in the receive mode of operation.

Preferably the battery comprises a rechargeable battery, the electrical generator being arranged to recharge the battery. The battery may be recharged during the transmit mode of operation. Alternatively, the battery may be charged during the receive mode, or when the transceiver is switched off.

Preferably the means for storing mechanical energy comprises a spring. Preferably the means for inputting mechanical energy comprises a rotary actuator, such as a key, knob or dial.

Preferably, the battery is also connected to said transmit portion of the circuit during said transmit mode of operation, so that the transceiver can transmit for a small amount of time when no mechanical energy is stored.

When the transceiver is taken out of the transmit mode, the source of stored mechanical energy continues to release its stored energy, say to recharge the battery. However, locking means may be provided for locking said source of stored mechanical energy in a condition in which mechanical energy is stored. In this manner, there is no need to replenish the mechanical energy before entering the talk mode again.

In some instances it may be inconvenient to keep having to input mechanical energy into the transceiver to render it operable.

Thus, in accordance with this invention, as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a transceiver comprising an electronic circuit having a portion arranged to transmit radio signals and a portion arranged to receive radio signals, a rechargeable battery for supplying power to said electronic circuit, an electrical generator for recharging said battery, and means for inputting mechanical energy to drive said generator.

When the battery is charged, the transceiver can be used to transmit and receive, and it is envisaged that the battery will have a sufficient capacity to enable substantially normal use. However, in the event that the battery becomes exhausted, e.g. as a result of heavy use, it can be recharged from power generated by the generator. The receive circuit uses very little power, and thus the rechargeable battery can be recharged from the generator, when it is low in charge, so as to ensure that the receive portion of the circuit receives sufficient power to remain operable.

Preferably the transceiver comprises an electrical socket for connecting to a conventional external source of power for recharging the battery. Thus, the battery may also be recharged from the mains supply or from a car battery. The rechargeable battery is preferably removable from the transceiver, so that it can be recharged remotely, or so that it can be exchanged for a recharged battery.

In one embodiment the electrical generator may be arranged to store mechanical energy, so that the stored energy can be slowly released over a period of time. In this embodiment the generator may also be arranged to supply power to said circuit, so that the transceiver can still be used even when the battery is completely exhausted or when there is insufficient power to transmit.

In an alternative embodiment the means for inputting mechanical energy may be connected directly to the electrical generator, so that power is only generated when mechanical energy is being input into the transceiver.

Embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of an example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 which is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of mobile telephone in accordance with this invention; and FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of mobile telephone in accordance with this invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a mobile telephone comprising an upright rectangular plastics body 10 having a compact electrical generator device 11 snapengaged onto its rear wall. A conventional keypad, display, microphone and speaker are mounted on the front wall (not shown) of the body 10. A telescopic aerial 12 projects from the top wall of the body 10, the aerial being extendable when the telephone is in use. A small rechargeable battery 13 is mounted inside the housing.

The electrical generator device 11 comprises a rectangular plastics housing 14 which detachably fits tightly against the rear wall of the body 10, and makes electrical contact therewith via spring-biassed terminals (not shown) which project from the rear wall of the body 10.

A compact alternator, dynamo or other rotary electrical generator (not shown) is mounted inside the housing of the generator device 11, the rotary generator being driven by a spring (not shown) which has been mechanically wound by a rotary dial 15 disposed on the rear wall of the housing.

In a receive mode of the mobile telephone, the rechargeable battery 13 powers its circuitry, such that it is able to detect when incoming calls are received and to provide an audible signal to alert the user of the telephone that a person is trying to call.

Before answering the call, the user must extend the aerial 12 and turn the dial 15 several times in order to store mechanical energy in the spring. When the dial 15 is released, the spring slowly unwinds and thereby drives the rotary electrical generator: this generates sufficient power for the user to answer the call and transmit signals. The dial 15 may need to be turned several times during a long telephone conversation, and for this purpose an alarm may be provided to warn the user that he needs to rewind the spring.

The rotary electrical generator also recharges the rechargeable battery 13 during the telephone conversation.

However, it is also possible to top up the battery 13 when the phone is not in use by winding the spring and allowing it to unwind.

The electrical generator device 11 is removable from the body for servicing, or so that a conventional rechargeable battery can be used instead. Preferably the shape of the electrical generator is configured so that it can be attached to conventional mobile telephones in place of their rechargeable battery.

In a further embodiment, a lock may be provided on the electrical generator device, so that the spring can be wound and then locked in its wound condition. Thus, when a call is received the user just has to unlock the spring before he can answer the call.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown an alternative embodiment of mobile telephone and like parts are given like reference numerals. The telephone comprises a plastics body 10 having a portion on its rear, which houses an electrical generator device 20. A rechargeable battery 21 is snap engaged onto the rear wall of the body 10.

The battery 21 comprises a rectangular plastics housing 14, which detachably fits tightly against the rear wall of the body below the generator 20. The battery 21 makes electrical contact therewith via spring-biassed terminals (not shown), which project from the rear wall of the body.

A rotary dial 15 on the rear wall of the body 10 is geared to a rotary electrical generator, which is mounted inside the body.

In use, the battery 21 is recharged either by removing it from the telephone and connecting it to a conventional remote charging device, or by connecting a charging lead to a terminal (not shown) on the underside of the body 10. In the event that the battery runs low on charge, whilst away from a conventional recharging source, it can be replenished by turning the dial 15 for a minute or so, in order to charge the battery from the electrical generator device.

Claims

1) A transceiver comprising an electronic circuit having a portion arranged to transmit radio signals and a portion arranged to receive radio signals, a battery for supplying power to said receive portion of the circuit in a receive mode of operation, and an electrical generator for supplying power to said transmit portion of the circuit in a transmit mode of operation, said electrical generator comprising means for storing mechanical energy, means for inputting mechanical energy into said storage means and means for converting the stored mechanical energy into an electrical current.

2) A transceiver as claimed in claim 1, in which the battery is rechargeable, the electrical generator being arranged to recharge the battery.

3) A transceiver as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the means for storing mechanical energy comprises a spring.

4) A transceiver as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means for inputting mechanical energy comprises a rotary actuator.

5) A transceiver as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the battery is connected to said transmit portion of the circuit during said transmit mode of operation.

6) A transceiver as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising locking means for locking said source of stored mechanical energy in a condition in which mechanical energy is stored.

7) A transceiver substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

8) A transceiver comprising an electronic circuit having a portion arranged to transmit radio signals and a portion arranged to receive radio signals, a rechargeable battery for supplying power to said electronic circuit, an electrical generator for recharging said battery, and means for inputting mechanical energy to drive said generator.

9) A transceiver as claimed in claim 8, comprising an electrical socket for connecting to a conventional source or power for recharging the battery.

10) A transceiver as claimed in claims 8 or 9, in which the rechargeable battery is removable.

11) A transceiver as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, in which the electrical generator is arranged to store mechanical energy.

12) A transceiver as claimed in claim 11, in which the electrical generator is arranged to supply electrical current to said circuit.

13) A transceiver as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, in which the means for inputting mechanical energy is connected directly to said electrical generator.

14) A transceiver substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.