METHOD AND CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE

• US 20110001393A1
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Klinghult, Gunnar
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/319
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004

Abstract

A method and a circuit for energizing an electrical device are described.

Claims

1. A method for energizing an electrical device, wherein the electrical device is coupled via a switch to an electrical power supply, the method comprising:

generating electrical energy by converting energy of a mechanical movement into electrical energy, and

supplying the generated electrical energy to the switch to provide an electrical coupling of the electrical device to the electrical power supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a piezoelectric element is used for generating electrical energy by converting energy of the mechanical movement into electrical energy.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical device is detachably connectable to a further device via a plug and a matching socket, the electrical energy being generated by the mechanical movement of the plug being inserted into the socket.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the electrical device comprises a charger for charging the further device.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the electrical device comprises a power supply unit for supplying the further device with electrical energy from the electrical power supply.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the further device comprises a battery powered device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the battery powered device comprises a device selected from the group comprising a mobile device, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile navigation system, and a mobile computer.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising supplying electrical energy from the electrical device to the switch after the generated electrical energy was supplied to the switch, to maintain the electrical coupling of the electrical device to the electrical power supply.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated electrical energy is galvanically isolated from the switch.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated electrical energy is stored before being supplied to the switch.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the voltage of the generated electrical energy is limited to a predefined range.

12. A circuit for energizing an electrical device, comprising:

a switch adapted to couple the electrical device to an electrical power supply,

a converter adapted to generate electrical energy by converting energy of a mechanical movement into electrical energy,

a control circuit coupled to the switch and the converter, wherein the control circuit is adapted to supply the generated electrical energy from the converter to the switch to provide an electrical coupling of the electrical device to the electrical power supply.

13. The circuit according to claim 12, wherein the converter comprises a piezoelectric element for generating electrical energy by converting energy of the mechanical movement into electrical energy.

14. The circuit according to claim 12, wherein the electrical device is detachably connectable to a further device via a connector comprising a plug and a matching socket, wherein the converter is integrated into the connector such that the generated electrical energy is generated by the mechanical movement of the plug being inserted into the socket.

15. The circuit according to claim 14, wherein the electrical device comprises a charger for charging the further device.

16. The circuit according to claim 14, wherein the electrical device comprises a power supply unit for supplying the further device with electrical energy from the electrical power supply.

17. The circuit according to claim 14, wherein the further device comprises a battery powered device.

18. The circuit according to claim 17, wherein the battery powered device comprises a device selected from the group comprising a mobile device, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile navigation system, and a mobile computer.

19. The circuit according to claim 12, wherein the control circuit is further connected to the electrical device and configured to supply electrical energy from the electrical device to the switch after the generated electrical energy was supplied to the switch, to maintain the electrical coupling of the electrical device to the electrical power supply.

20. The circuit according to claim 12, wherein the control circuit further comprises a transformer for galvanically isolating the generated electrical energy from the switch.

21. The circuit according to claim 12, wherein the control circuit further comprises a capacitor for storing the generated electrical energy before it is supplied to the switch.

22. The circuit according to claim 12, wherein the control circuit further comprises a circuit arrangement for limiting the voltage of the generated electrical energy to a predefined range.

23. A system comprising:

a first electrical device and a second electrical device, the first electrical device being configured to adapt electrical energy from an electrical power supply to electrical requirements of the second electrical device,

a switch adapted to couple the first electrical device to the electrical power supply,

a connector for detachably connecting the first electrical device to the second electrical device, the connector comprising a plug and a matching socket,

a converter adapted to generate electrical energy by converting energy of a mechanical movement into electrical energy, the converter being integrated into the connector such that the generated electrical energy is generated by the mechanical movement of the plug being inserted into the socket,

a control circuit coupled to the switch and the converter, wherein the control circuit is adapted to supply the generated electrical energy from the converter to the switch to provide an electrical coupling of the first electrical device to the electrical power supply.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the first electrical device comprises a charger for charging the second electrical device.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the second electrical device comprises a battery powered device selected from the group comprising a mobile device, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile navigation system, and a mobile computer.

26. The system according to claim 23, further comprising an energy supply line for supplying energy from the first electrical device to the second electrical device, wherein the generated electrical energy is transmitted from the converter to the control circuit via the energy supply line.

27. A mobile device comprising:

a first part of a connector for detachably connecting an electrical device to the mobile device, the electrical device comprising a second part of the connector, the second part matching the first part,

a converter adapted to generate electrical energy by converting energy of a mechanical movement into electrical energy, the converter being integrated into the first part of the connector such that the generated electrical energy is generated by the mechanical movement occurring when the first part and the second part are connected.

28. The mobile device according to claim 27, wherein the electrical device comprises a charger for charging the mobile device.

29. The mobile device according to claim 27, wherein the mobile device comprises a battery powered device selected from the group comprising a mobile device, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a mobile navigation system, and a mobile computer.

30. A power supply device, comprising:

a power converter for adapting electrical energy from an electrical power supply to electrical requirements of an electrical device,

a switch adapted to couple the power converter to the electrical power supply,

a first part of a connector for detachably connecting the power supply device to the electrical device, the electrical device comprising a second part of the connector matching to the first part,

a converter adapted to generate electrical energy by converting energy of a mechanical movement into electrical energy, the converter being integrated into the connector such that the generated electrical energy is generated by the mechanical movement occurring when the first part and the second part are connected,

a control circuit coupled to the switch and the converter, wherein the control circuit is adapted to supply the generated electrical energy from the converter to the switch to provide an electrical coupling of the power converter to the electrical power supply.

31. The power supply device according to claim 30, wherein the power supply device comprises a charger for charging the electrical device.

32. The power supply device according to claim 30, wherein the converter is integrated in the first part of the connector.

33. The power supply device according to claim 30, wherein the converter is integrated in the second part of the connector.