Power management for a portable electronic device

• US 6,628,107 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: La Rosa, Dean, Bang, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/000,047
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/49, 363/17, 363/50, 363/90, 363/39, 323/282, 323/266, 323/272, 323/268, 323/222, 307/125, 361/93, 361/111
• US Class Current: 323/266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2215/063 by smoothing the transmission power envelope

Abstract

A system for a supplemental power source for a hand held portable electronic device is provided. A super capacitor is connected in parallel to a main battery of the portable electronic device. When the main battery becomes disconnected, the super capacitor is used to power the portable electronic device. The super capacitor is also used to provide compensation for the internal impedance of the main battery and the path impedance between the main battery and the load.

Claims

1. A system for providing a supplemental power supply to a portable electronic device, comprising:

a battery connected to a portable electronic device through battery contacts;

a device power supply, the device power supply being supplied power by the battery;

a super capacitor employed to provide power to the device power supply when the battery loses connection with the battery contacts; and

an inrush current limiter electrically connected to the super capacitor.

2. The system of claim 1, the super capacitor being connected electrically in parallel with the battery.

3. The system of claim 1, the inrush current limiter being connected electrically in series with the super capacitor.

4. The system of claim 1, the device power supply providing power to load components of the portable electronic device.

5. The system of claim 4, the portable electronic device load components including a microprocessor, a radio, and peripherals.

6. The system of claim 1, the battery being rechargeable.

7. The system of claim 6, the battery being a lithium-ion battery.

8. The system of claim 6, the battery being a nickel-cadmium battery.

9. The system of claim 6, the battery being a nickel-metal-hydride battery.

10. A method for providing a supplemental power supply to a portable electronic device, comprising:

providing a battery to a portable electronic device, the battery providing power to the portable electronic device through battery contacts;

providing a super capacitor electrically in parallel with the battery;

providing an inrush current limiter electrically in series with the super capacitor; and

employing the super capacitor to provide power to the portable electronic device when the battery loses connection with the battery contacts.

11. A method for providing impedance compensation for a battery in a portable electronic device, comprising:

providing a battery to a portable electronic device, the battery providing power to the portable electronic device through battery contacts; and

providing a super capacitor electrically in parallel with the battery, the super capacitor providing internal impedance compensation if an internal impedance of the battery rises to a predetermined level.

12. The method of claim 11, the super capacitor being further employed to provide power to the portable electronic device when the battery loses connection with the battery contacts.

13. A system for a hand-held mobile terminal comprising:

a battery;

a super capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the battery, the super capacitor being operable to share a common load with the battery.

14. The system of claim 13, the system being operable to distribute the demand placed on the battery and super capacitor in accordance with their respective capacity and power capabilities.