METHOD OF SWITCHING POWER MODES AND A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONFIGURED TO PERFORM THE SAME

• US 20110080155A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: ALDRIDGE, Dustin
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/318
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of switching power modes on a portable electronic device and a portable electronic device configured to perform the same. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a portable electronic device, having a housing; a processor received within the housing; a display screen connected to the processor and exposed by the housing; a piezoelectric switch connected to the processor disposed in the housing, the piezoelectric switch having a piezoelectric element which generates an electric charge in response to forces applied to the piezoelectric element; and an actuator for engaging the piezoelectric element, the actuator being exposed by the housing and movable within the housing to transfer externally applied forces to the piezoelectric element; wherein the processor is configured for switching between at least two power modes in response to the generation of the electric charge by the piezoelectric element.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a processor received within the housing;

a display screen connected to the processor and exposed by the housing;

a piezoelectric switch connected to the processor disposed in the housing, the piezoelectric switch comprising a piezoelectric element which generates an electric charge in response to forces applied to the piezoelectric element; and

an actuator for engaging the piezoelectric element, the actuator being exposed by the housing and movable within the housing to transfer externally applied forces to the piezoelectric element;

wherein the processor is configured for switching between at least two power modes in response to the generation of the electric charge by the piezoelectric element.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises the display screen, wherein the display screen is movable within the housing in response to externally applied forces to apply forces to the piezoelectric element.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the display screen is moveable between a first position and a second position, the display screen applying a greater force to the piezoelectric element in the second position than in the first position.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the display screen is a touch-sensitive display.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to switch from a power saving mode to a full-power mode in response to the generation of the electric charge by the piezoelectric element.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the power saving mode is a sleep-mode.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the power saving mode is an off-mode.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to deactivate the display screen in the power saving mode.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric switch further comprises a signal conditioner electrically connected to the piezoelectric element and the processor for preparing the electric charge for the processor.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein the signal conditioner comprises a voltage regulator for receiving the electric charge generated by the piezoelectric element and providing a regulated electric signal to the processor if the electric charge exceeds a threshold.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 9, wherein signal conditioner comprises a relay operably connected to the piezoelectric element and switchable between at least two states in response to the generation of an electric charge by the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric relay providing an electric signal to the processor.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the electric signal is a voltage provided by a power supply when the relay is in a first state.

13. A method of switching power modes on a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

monitoring an output of a piezoelectric element;

receiving a force at the piezoelectric element;

generating an electric charge at the piezoelectric element in response to the force being received by the piezoelectric element; and

switching the portable electronic device between a first power mode and a second power mode in response to the generation of the electric charge.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first power mode is a power saving mode and second power mode is a full-power mode.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the power saving mode is a sleep-mode.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the power saving mode is an off-mode.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a display screen of the portable electronic device is deactivated in the power saving mode and wherein switching the portable electronic device to the full-power mode comprises reactivating the display screen.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising initiating the power saving mode in response to detection of a trigger condition.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising regulating the voltage of the electric charge generated by the piezoelectric element.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising switching a relay between at least two states in response to the generation of the electric charge, wherein switching the portable electronic device between the first power mode and the second power mode is performed in response to the switching of the relay.