GB2386027A - Mobile telephone with solar panel - Google Patents

Mobile telephone with solar panel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2386027A
GB2386027A GB0204865A GB0204865A GB2386027A GB 2386027 A GB2386027 A GB 2386027A GB 0204865 A GB0204865 A GB 0204865A GB 0204865 A GB0204865 A GB 0204865A GB 2386027 A GB2386027 A GB 2386027A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
telephone
solar panel
mobile telephone
battery
solar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0204865A
Other versions
GB0204865D0 (en
GB2386027B (en
Inventor
Laurence Keith Davidson
Gavin Antony Silver
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0204865A priority Critical patent/GB2386027B/en
Publication of GB0204865D0 publication Critical patent/GB0204865D0/en
Publication of GB2386027A publication Critical patent/GB2386027A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2386027B publication Critical patent/GB2386027B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering
    • H02J7/35—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
    • H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
    • H02S40/30—Electrical components
    • H02S40/38—Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E70/00—Other energy conversion or management systems reducing GHG emissions
    • Y02E70/30—Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)

Abstract

A mobile telephone having a rechargeable battery is provided additionally with a solar panel comprising at least one solar cell 30 mounted on the telephone and connected to charge the battery. The solar panel of the invention is mounted on the same side of the telephone as the earpiece 14.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
MOBILE TELEPHONE The present invention relates to a mobile telephone handset, this term being used to include cellular telephones and cordless telephones.
Mobile telephones require their own power supply and for this purpose include a battery, which is normally rechargeable at a bas station. However, when the mobile telephone is away from its base station or when there is no ready supply for electricity for the base station, then the telephone will cease to function once the power in the battery has run down.
Mobile telephones have a front side, on which are mounted the operating keys, the mouthpiece, the earpiece and a display screen. The rechargeable battery is normally mounted in the back of the telephone and the rear side is often formed by the removable cover of the battery compartment. In order to prolong the battery power between recharging, it has been proposed in US 5,898, 932 to incorporate a solar panel on the rear side of the telephone and to use its output to charge the battery.
The present inventors have recognised a serious disadvantage in this proposal in that users intuitively rest a mobile telephone, when it is not in use, on a horizontal surface with its front side facing upwards. The reasons for this are that placing the telephone face down muffles the sound and makes it more difficult to hear the telephone when it rings. Furthermore, the user would not be able to see the screen and would not be able to identity a caller or see if any calls have been missed. When resting in this attitude, the solar panel of the latter US patent does not receive any light and is all but ineffective.
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
According to the present invention, there is provided a mobile telephone having a rechargeable battery and a solar panel comprising at least one solar cell mounted on the telephone and connected to charge the battery, characterised in that the solar panel is mounted on the same side of the telephone as the earpiece of the telephone. In normal telephones, this will also result in the solar panel being mounted on the same side as the mouthpiece, the operating keys and a display screen.
It is known the form telephones of a frame carrying all the components of the telephone, surrounded by a casing that comprises a front and back cover that simply clip on to the frame. The front and back covers are readily replaceable and can be purchased separately either to repair a casing that has been inadvertently damaged or simply for aesthetic reasons, to personalise the telephone.
The present invention may be implemented by means of a front cover that incorporates a solar. panel. The contacts to connect the solar panel to the rechargeable battery may be formed on the cover and the frame. Alternatively, the cover may have a lead that plugs into a recharging socket on the frame.
As it is desirable for the solar panel to have as large an area as possible, it may extend around the sides of the telephone as they too will receive light when the telephone is resting on its back on a horizontal surface.
The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a conventional mobile telephone, and Figure 2 is a similar front view of a telephone of the invention.
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
Figure 1 shows a conventional mobile telephone 10 having an outer casing 12 with a projecting antenna 16. On the front face of the telephone there are mounted an earpiece or speaker 14, a screen 18, a keypad 24 with various number and function keys 22 and a mouthpiece or microphone 20.
The telephone has an internally mounted rechargeable battery that is accessed by removing the back cover of the telephone, not shown in the drawing. The lower edge of the telephone normally carries contacts and a socket to allow the internal battery to be recharged by resting the telephone in a base station or by plugging in a mains powered charger.
The front and rear covers that together form the casing 12 of the telephone are often removable and simply clip into place so that they may readily be replaced if accidentally damaged.
In the present invention, a solar (i. e. photovoltaic) panel comprising cells 30 is mounted on the front cover of the casing and is connected to supply power to the internal rechargeable battery. The cells of the solar panel surround the keypad 24, the screen 18, the mouthpiece 20 and the earpiece 14. As the telephone is normally placed faced up on a horizontal surface when it is not in use, the solar panel is always well positioned to receive ambient light and convert this light into electrical power to recharge the internal battery of the telephone.
The connection between the solar panel and the internal battery can be effected by means of contacts formed on the inner surface of the front cover that mate with contacts on the inner frame of the telephone.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
As the cover is formed separately from the frame of the telephone that supports its various working components, it is possible for the invention to be implemented with telephones of current design by supplying replacement front that incorporates a solar panel. In this case, it is possible to form the front cover with a lead to plug into the existing socket provided for connection of an external charger.
As the solar panel will function for most of the time that the telephone is not in use, its output will trickle charge the internal battery and supplement its own storage capacity significantly. If the telephone is not subjected to heavy usage, the solar cells could provide sufficient power to maintain the battery on full charge almost indefinitely.

Claims (6)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A mobile telephone having a rechargeable battery and a solar panel comprising at least one solar cell mounted on the telephone and connected to charge the battery, characterised in that the solar panel is mounted on the same side of the telephone as the earpiece of the telephone.
  2. 2. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solar panel is mounted on the same side as the mouthpiece, the operating keys and a display screen.
  3. 3. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solar panel is incorporated into a detachable front cover.
  4. 4. A mobile telephone as claimed in claim 3, wherein contacts are provided on the inner side of the front cover to establish an electrical connection with the battery.
  5. 5. A mobile telephone as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solar panel extends around the sides of the telephone.
  6. 6. A mobile telephone constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
GB0204865A 2002-03-01 2002-03-01 Mobile telephone Expired - Fee Related GB2386027B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0204865A GB2386027B (en) 2002-03-01 2002-03-01 Mobile telephone

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0204865A GB2386027B (en) 2002-03-01 2002-03-01 Mobile telephone

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0204865D0 GB0204865D0 (en) 2002-04-17
GB2386027A true GB2386027A (en) 2003-09-03
GB2386027B GB2386027B (en) 2005-07-13

Family

ID=9932098

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0204865A Expired - Fee Related GB2386027B (en) 2002-03-01 2002-03-01 Mobile telephone

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2386027B (en)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2878682A1 (en) * 2004-11-26 2006-06-02 Jean Philippe Charlier Portable telephone for e.g. industrial field, has semiconductor batteries, associated/not with rechargeable battery, with photovoltaic cells to obtain current of sufficient voltage, where one semiconductor battery is placed behind telephone
US7072696B2 (en) * 2004-06-22 2006-07-04 Mari Shaff Solar-powered mobile telephone
GB2423677A (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-08-30 Eaton Corp A wireless node driven by an ambient light charged power supply
EP1850577A1 (en) * 2006-04-28 2007-10-31 Jean-Philippe Charlier Mobile phone with photovoltaic power supply
GB2448774A (en) * 2007-04-28 2008-10-29 Timothy Mark Wedgwood Mobile phone with solar panel
GB2449078A (en) * 2007-05-09 2008-11-12 Paul Anthony Buckley Mobile phone with solar panel
US7890136B1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2011-02-15 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
EP2320626A1 (en) * 2009-11-06 2011-05-11 Lg Electronics Inc. Portable terminal comprising a detachable cover with solar cells
US9398124B2 (en) * 2014-12-04 2016-07-19 Octavio S. Portugal Cellular phone charging case assembly
FR3043273A1 (en) * 2015-11-02 2017-05-05 Moukangala Ngaka SYSTEM FOR POWERING AND RECHARGING SOLAR ENERGY FROM MOBILE DEVICES USING THE INTERNET
CN106790865A (en) * 2016-12-21 2017-05-31 北京晨客科技有限公司 A kind of passive accumulation of energy charge mobile phone shell, mobile phone external member and mobile phone charging method
US9674347B1 (en) 2003-11-22 2017-06-06 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US9883021B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2018-01-30 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US9883025B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2018-01-30 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US9948890B1 (en) 2005-04-08 2018-04-17 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10148803B2 (en) 2007-08-24 2018-12-04 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10175846B1 (en) 2008-06-30 2019-01-08 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7127271B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2006-10-24 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8229512B1 (en) 2003-02-08 2012-07-24 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8241128B1 (en) 2003-04-03 2012-08-14 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US7890089B1 (en) 2007-05-03 2011-02-15 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8559983B1 (en) 2007-05-03 2013-10-15 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8639214B1 (en) 2007-10-26 2014-01-28 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8472935B1 (en) 2007-10-29 2013-06-25 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8744720B1 (en) 2007-12-27 2014-06-03 Iwao Fujisaki Inter-vehicle middle point maintaining implementer
US8452307B1 (en) 2008-07-02 2013-05-28 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5579388A (en) * 1994-04-29 1996-11-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Network-independent electrical energy user with additional, photovoltaic power supply
US5644207A (en) * 1995-12-11 1997-07-01 The Johns Hopkins University Integrated power source
DE29905047U1 (en) * 1999-03-19 1999-11-04 Moritz Anke Chassis of mobile phones from solar cell / s
EP0982795A1 (en) * 1998-08-26 2000-03-01 ICO Services Ltd. Mobile communications terminal
WO2001065711A1 (en) * 2000-03-03 2001-09-07 Leem Sung Muk Mobile terminal with a solar cell
US6339311B1 (en) * 2000-11-15 2002-01-15 Lsi Logic Corporation Photovoltaic power source for portable electronic device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5579388A (en) * 1994-04-29 1996-11-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Network-independent electrical energy user with additional, photovoltaic power supply
US5644207A (en) * 1995-12-11 1997-07-01 The Johns Hopkins University Integrated power source
EP0982795A1 (en) * 1998-08-26 2000-03-01 ICO Services Ltd. Mobile communications terminal
DE29905047U1 (en) * 1999-03-19 1999-11-04 Moritz Anke Chassis of mobile phones from solar cell / s
WO2001065711A1 (en) * 2000-03-03 2001-09-07 Leem Sung Muk Mobile terminal with a solar cell
US6339311B1 (en) * 2000-11-15 2002-01-15 Lsi Logic Corporation Photovoltaic power source for portable electronic device

Cited By (44)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9883021B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2018-01-30 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10805451B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2020-10-13 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10425522B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2019-09-24 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10284711B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2019-05-07 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US9883025B1 (en) 2001-10-18 2018-01-30 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10805445B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-10-13 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10805442B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-10-13 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US7890136B1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2011-02-15 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US11190632B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2021-11-30 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US11184470B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2021-11-23 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8090402B1 (en) * 2003-09-26 2012-01-03 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US11184468B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2021-11-23 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US11184469B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2021-11-23 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10547723B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-01-28 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10805444B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-10-13 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10547722B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-01-28 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10547724B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-01-28 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10547725B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-01-28 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10805443B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-10-13 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10237385B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2019-03-19 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10560561B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-02-11 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10547721B1 (en) 2003-09-26 2020-01-28 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US9955006B1 (en) 2003-11-22 2018-04-24 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US9674347B1 (en) 2003-11-22 2017-06-06 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US11115524B1 (en) 2003-11-22 2021-09-07 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US7072696B2 (en) * 2004-06-22 2006-07-04 Mari Shaff Solar-powered mobile telephone
FR2878682A1 (en) * 2004-11-26 2006-06-02 Jean Philippe Charlier Portable telephone for e.g. industrial field, has semiconductor batteries, associated/not with rechargeable battery, with photovoltaic cells to obtain current of sufficient voltage, where one semiconductor battery is placed behind telephone
GB2423677A (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-08-30 Eaton Corp A wireless node driven by an ambient light charged power supply
GB2423677B (en) * 2005-01-31 2010-03-31 Eaton Corp Wireless node and method of powering a wireless node employing ambient light to charge an energy store
US10244206B1 (en) 2005-04-08 2019-03-26 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US9948890B1 (en) 2005-04-08 2018-04-17 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
EP1850577A1 (en) * 2006-04-28 2007-10-31 Jean-Philippe Charlier Mobile phone with photovoltaic power supply
GB2448774A (en) * 2007-04-28 2008-10-29 Timothy Mark Wedgwood Mobile phone with solar panel
GB2449078A (en) * 2007-05-09 2008-11-12 Paul Anthony Buckley Mobile phone with solar panel
US10148803B2 (en) 2007-08-24 2018-12-04 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10175846B1 (en) 2008-06-30 2019-01-08 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US10503356B1 (en) 2008-06-30 2019-12-10 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US11112936B1 (en) 2008-06-30 2021-09-07 Iwao Fujisaki Communication device
US8441227B2 (en) 2009-11-06 2013-05-14 Lg Electronics Inc. Portable terminal
CN102053665A (en) * 2009-11-06 2011-05-11 Lg电子株式会社 Portable terminal
EP2320626A1 (en) * 2009-11-06 2011-05-11 Lg Electronics Inc. Portable terminal comprising a detachable cover with solar cells
US9398124B2 (en) * 2014-12-04 2016-07-19 Octavio S. Portugal Cellular phone charging case assembly
FR3043273A1 (en) * 2015-11-02 2017-05-05 Moukangala Ngaka SYSTEM FOR POWERING AND RECHARGING SOLAR ENERGY FROM MOBILE DEVICES USING THE INTERNET
CN106790865A (en) * 2016-12-21 2017-05-31 北京晨客科技有限公司 A kind of passive accumulation of energy charge mobile phone shell, mobile phone external member and mobile phone charging method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0204865D0 (en) 2002-04-17
GB2386027B (en) 2005-07-13

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20060301