SOLAR CHARGEABLE BATTERY FOR PORTABLE DEVICES
First Claim
1. A battery charging circuit for a portable device comprising:
- a switching regulator configured to receive a substantially DC power source from one or more photovoltaic cells at an input terminal and to charge a battery coupled to an output terminal; and
a controller configured to monitor the substantially DC power source and to provide one or more control signals to the switching regulator to selectively operate the switching regulator in a first mode when a voltage level of the substantially DC power source is above a first predefined voltage threshold and in a second mode when the voltage level of the substantially DC power source is below the first predefined voltage threshold, wherein the switching regulator operates with a predetermined regulated voltage level in the first mode and operates with a variable regulated voltage level that tracks the voltage level of the substantially DC power source in the second mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar chargeable battery comprises a built-in photovoltaic array and a programmable battery charging circuit. The photovoltaic array provides a variable power source in response to light. The battery charging circuit receives the variable power source and operates in different modes to charge the battery over a range of lighting conditions. For example, the battery charging circuit charges the battery to a substantially fixed regulated voltage level in a first mode when a voltage level of the variable power source is above a predefined threshold. The battery charging circuit charges the battery to an adjustable regulated voltage level in a second mode when the voltage level of the variable power source is below the predefined threshold.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A battery charging circuit for a portable device comprising:
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a switching regulator configured to receive a substantially DC power source from one or more photovoltaic cells at an input terminal and to charge a battery coupled to an output terminal; and a controller configured to monitor the substantially DC power source and to provide one or more control signals to the switching regulator to selectively operate the switching regulator in a first mode when a voltage level of the substantially DC power source is above a first predefined voltage threshold and in a second mode when the voltage level of the substantially DC power source is below the first predefined voltage threshold, wherein the switching regulator operates with a predetermined regulated voltage level in the first mode and operates with a variable regulated voltage level that tracks the voltage level of the substantially DC power source in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method to charge a battery from a variable DC power source, the method comprising:
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sensing a voltage level of the variable DC power source, wherein the variable DC power source is provided by a photovoltaic array; selectively operating in a first mode when the voltage level of the variable DC power source is above a predefined voltage threshold, wherein the variable DC power source charges the battery to a predetermined regulated voltage level in the first mode and the predetermined regulated voltage level is approximately 4.2 volts; and selectively operating in a second mode when the voltage level of the variable DC power source is below the predefined voltage threshold, wherein the variable DC power source charges the battery to an adjustable regulated voltage level in the second mode and the adjustable regulated voltage level is approximately equal to the voltage level of the variable DC power source less a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated solar charging battery package comprising:
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a battery layer placed on a bottom surface of an encapsulated package; a thermal barrier layer placed above the battery layer; a photovoltaic array layer placed above the thermal barrier layer; a protective layer placed above the photovoltaic array layer, wherein the protective layer forms a top surface of the encapsulated package; and a charging circuit configured to electrically interface the battery layer and the photovoltaic array layer, wherein the charging circuit occupies a portion of the battery layer in the encapsulated package. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A battery charger comprising:
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a power regulator configured to receive a variable DC power source and to charge a battery; and a controller configured to sense the variable DC power source, to operate the power regulator in a first mode when a voltage of the variable DC power source is above a predefined voltage level, and to operate the power regulator in a second mode when the voltage of the variable DC power source is below the predefined voltage level, wherein the power regulator charges the battery to a substantially fixed regulated voltage level in the first mode and to an adjustable regulated voltage level in the second mode.
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23. A solar chargeable replacement battery package for a handheld portable electronic device comprising:
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a package having a substantially similar form factor as the standard battery specified by a manufacturer of the device; a battery placed on a lower portion of the package; a photovoltaic array placed on top of the battery and isolated from the battery by a thermal barrier, wherein the photovoltaic array supplies power to charge the battery; and a clear protective layer placed on top of the photovoltaic array, wherein the clear protective layer forms a top surface of the package.
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24. A replacement battery kit for a portable electronic device, said replacement battery kit comprising:
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a replacement cover with a central opening; and a solar chargeable battery having a substantially similar form factor as the standard battery of the device, wherein the solar chargeable battery comprises; one or more photovoltaic cells configured for optical exposure through the central opening of the replacement cover after installation of the replacement battery kit; a battery; and a charging circuit configured to charge the battery from the photovoltaic cells.
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Specification