GB2369533A

GB2369533A - Wireless telephone arranged to draw power from a rechargeable power source and provide power from a dynamo to that source

Info

Publication number: GB2369533A
Application number: GB0028983A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Ormson
Original assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Current assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Priority date: 2000-11-28
Filing date: 2000-11-28
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Also published as: GB0028983D0

Abstract

A wireless telephone consisting of a wireless telephone unit 2 and a housing and power unit 1. The power unit consists of a re-chargeable power source 8, a power circuit 6 and a dynamo 4. The power circuit 6 is connected and arranged to provide power to the wireless telephone unit 2. It is also connected and arranged to draw power from the rechargeable power source 8 and to provide power from the dynamo 4 to recharge the rechargeable power source 8.

Description

WIRELESS TELEPHONE UNIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a wireless telephone unit and particularly to a unit for use as an emergency telephone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of wireless mobile telephones has increased rapidly in the last few years to the extent that a significant proportion of populations in developed countries has a mobile telephone. This is both convenient and also provides the ability to contact help in the event of an emergency. However, a mobile telephone is not always available in an emergency. Even if a mobile telephone is available, the battery life of the hand held portable (HHP) telephone is limited.

There have been proposals for wireless emergency telephones using other power sources. In France, for example, motorways have solar powered units for use by stranded motorists. These require no cable for communication or power, and so have minimal installation cost.

There are, however, many locations where the use of solar powered units is impractical. In national parks solar arrays would be aesthetically impractical and beside railway tracks the solar arrays would be coted in dirt and cease to function. In addition, solar arrays are useless in low light conditions, such as in buildings or in regions of the world with low incident solar energy.

One particular problem area for emergency telephones is beside railway tracks. Currently, communications are by battery powered units whose battery is replaced at periodic intervals. This can be unreliable as the battery may be depleted before it is replaced.

We have appreciated the peculiar needs of a wireless emergency telephone and a wireless telephone for use in rugged conditions such as beside railway tracks.

In a broad aspect, the invention provides a wireless telephone comprising a wireless telephone unit in a housing, and a power unit comprising a rechargeable power source, a power circuit and a dynamo, wherein the power circuit is connected and arranged to provide power to the wireless telephone unit, and is connected and arranged to draw power from the rechargeable power source, and wherein the power circuit is connected and arranged to provide power from the dynamo to recharge the rechargeable power source.

An embodiment of the invention provides the advantage that power is always available either from the battery, or by recharging the battery with the dynamo.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: FIGURE 1 shows the main functional components of a wireless telephone unit embodying the invention; and FIGURE 2 shows further detail of a power unit embodying the invention.

The wireless telephone embodying the invention comprises a housing in the form of a cube shaped box with two doors to access a wireless telephone unit 2 and a power unit 1 contained therein. The box is preferably metal to be resistant to interference. If the box is of metal, a radio antenna is mounted on the exterior of the box. Each door has a microswitch arranged to open when the door is closed. The microswitch 22 forms part of the power unit 1 and disconnects the battery from other circuitry when the doors are closed to prevent unintentional power drain. The telephone unit 2 comprises known wireless telephone electronics including a CPU 10

which operates using RAM 12 and ROM 14 to execute operations and a keypad or other input 20 and display 19 for indicating status. Communication is provided by a radio unit 16 including any necessary A to D circuitry and RF devices to send and receive. A GSM or GSMR telephone unit would be appropriate, and is known to the skilled person.

The power unit 1 comprises a battery or other rechargeable power source, a dynamo 4, including a winding handle and a power circuit 6 connected to each of the dynamo 4 and battery 8 and to the telephone unit 2. The power unit is further shown in Figure 2.

On opening the doors, the switch 22 is closed connecting the battery 8 to a battery status circuit 24.

If there is sufficient power in the battery, the battery status circuit provides power to a battery LED 30 indicating that the telephone is"ready to call". If there is insufficient power, the battery LED 30 is not lit.

To charge the battery 8, a user operates the dynamo 4 which provides power via the dynamo status circuit 26 and battery status circuit 24. While charging, the battery status circuit provides power to a dynamo LED 28 indicating that"charging"is taking place. When the battery status circuit determines that the battery has sufficient charge, the battery LED 30 is lit.

To initiate a call to emergency services, a button on the keypad 20 is pressed. The telephone unit 2 locates a network and initiates a call to the emergency services.

In the case of GSM or other cellular systems, details of the local network can be preprogrammed to speed this connection. The network will provide CLI information in the usual manner. As the telephone will have a fixed location, the origin of the call can be determined. The telephone could also receive incoming calls as long as the battery has power and the doors are open.

The housing preferably includes a vandal alert feature so that the telephone automatically places a call to notify that a vandal is/has tampered with the device.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A wireless telephone comprising a wireless telephone unit in a housing, and a power unit comprising a rechargeable power source, a power circuit and a dynamo, wherein the power circuit is connected and arranged to provide power to the wireless telephone unit, and is connected and arranged to draw power from the rechargeable power source and to provide power from the dynamo to recharge the rechargeable power source.
2. A wireless telephone according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source is a battery.
3. A wireless telephone according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing includes a switch arranged to disconnect the rechargeable power source from the power circuit when the door is closed.
4. A wireless telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the power circuit includes a lamp to indicate the charge status of the rechargeable power source.
5. A wireless telephone according to any preceding claim, wherein the power circuit includes a lamp to indicate that the rechargeable power unit is charging.
6. A wireless telephone substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying figures.