Apparatus and method for charging a mobile device from another mobile device

• US 7,158,815 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Roh, Ji-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Application Number:
  US10/237,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/343.1, 455/343.5, 455/343.6, 320/114, 320/115, 320/103, 320/137
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for allowing a mobile device with a dead battery to be charged by another mobile device with a charged battery. The apparatus and method further provide for the prevention of damage to the batteries due to overcurrents that may occur due to battery voltage differences. Light emitting diodes are also provided to indicate the state of the charging device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first connector configured to receive battery power from a first mobile device;

a second connector configured to selectively transmit battery power to a second mobile device; and

a comparator configured to compare an input voltage level of the first mobile device transmitted from a regulator, an input voltage level of the second mobile device received from the second mobile device, and a reference voltage level, wherein the input voltage level transmitted by the regulator is less than or equal to the reference voltage level, wherein the second connector is configured to transmit battery power to the second mobile device if the input voltage level of the first mobile device or the reference voltage level is less than the input voltage level of the second mobile device, and to restrict a flow of battery power to the second mobile device if the input voltage level of the first mobile device or the reference voltage level is greater than the input voltage level of the second mobile device, in response to a signal generated by a transistor based on a comparison of the input voltage levels of the first and second mobile devices and the reference voltage level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device is a cellular telephone.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein both the first mobile device and the second mobile device are cellular telephones.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to prevent the second connector from transmitting battery power having an overcurrent.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the regulator is a low drop out regulator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transistor is a p-channel field effect transistor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a negative terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the second connector;

a positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to an input terminal of the regulator;

the positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a source input of the transistor;

an output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first input of the comparator;

an output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a gate input of the transistor;

a drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the second connector;

the drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a second input of the comparator; and

the positive terminal of the second connector is electrically coupled to the second input of the comparator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the regulator is configured to:

input an electrical power signal from the first connector;

limit the voltage level of the electrical power signal to a predetermined voltage; and

output a limited electrical power signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the predetermined voltage is 2.5 volts.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the comparator is configured to:

input the limited electrical power signal at the first input of the comparator;

input an electrical power signal from the second connector at the second input of the comparator;

output a low signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a higher voltage level than the electrical power signal from the second connector; and

output a high signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a lower voltage level than the electrical power signal from the second connector, wherein the low signal input into the drain input of the transistor enables the second connector to transmit battery power, and the high signal input into the drain input of the transistor disables the second connector from transmitting battery power.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first light emitting diode; and

the output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a second light emitting diode.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the negative terminal of the first connector, the negative terminal of the second connector, the first light emitting diode, and the second light emitting diode are all electrically coupled together.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving at a first connector battery power from a first mobile device;

comparing in a comparator an input voltage level of the first mobile device received from a regulator which is less than or equal to a reference voltage level, an input voltage level of a second mobile device coupled to the first mobile device, and the reference voltage level; and

selectively transmitting at a second connector battery power to the second mobile device in response to a signal generated by a transistor based on the comparison made by the comparator, comprising;

transmitting battery power to the second mobile device if the input voltage level of the first mobile device or the reference voltage level is less than the input voltage level of the second mobile device; and

restricting a flow of battery power to the second mobile device if the input voltage level of the first mobile device or the reference voltage level is greater than the input voltage level of the second mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device is a cellular telephone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein both the first mobile device and the second mobile device are cellular telephones.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising preventing the second connector from transmitting battery power having an overcurrent.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein preventing the second connector from transmitting battery power having an overcurrent utilizes the regulator, the comparator;

and the transistor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the regulator is a low drop out regulator.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the transistor is a p-channel field effect transistor.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

a negative terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the second connector;

a positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to an input terminal of the regulator;

the positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a source input of the transistor;

an output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first input of the comparator;

an output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a gate input of the transistor;

a drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the second connector;

the drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a second input of the comparator; and

the positive terminal of the second connector is electrically coupled to the second input of the comparator.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the regulator is configured to:

input an electrical power signal from the first connector;

limit the voltage level of the electrical power signal to a predetermined voltage; and

output a limited electrical power signal.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined voltage is 2.5 volts.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the comparator is configured to:

input the limited electrical power signal at the first input of the comparator;

input an electrical power signal from the second connector at the second input of the comparator;

output a low signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a higher voltage level than the electrical power signal from the second connector; and

output a high signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a lower voltage level than the electrical power signal from the second connector, wherein the low signal input into the drain input of the transistor enables the second connector to transmit battery power, and the high signal input into the drain input of the transistor disables the second connector from transmitting battery power.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first light emitting diode; and

the output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a second light emitting diode.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the negative terminal of the first connector, the negative terminal of the second connector, the first light emitting diode, and the second light emitting diode are all electrically coupled together.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

a first connector configured to receive battery power from a first mobile device;

a second connector configured to selectively transmit battery power to a second mobile device;

a regulator;

a comparator; and

a transistor, wherein;

a negative terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the second connector;

a positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to an input terminal of the regulator;

the positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a source input of the transistor;

an output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first input of the comparator;

an output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a gate input of the transistor;

a drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the second connector;

the drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a second input of the comparator; and

the positive terminal of the second connector is electrically coupled to the second input of the comparator.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second connector is configured to transmit battery power to the second mobile device if an input voltage level of the first mobile device or a reference voltage level is less than an input voltage level of the second mobile device, and to restrict a flow of battery power to the second mobile device if the input voltage level of the first mobile device or the reference voltage level is greater than the input voltage level of the second mobile device.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the regulator is configured to:

input an electrical power signal from the first connector;

limit the voltage level of the electrical power signal to a predetermined voltage; and

output a limited electrical power signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the comparator is configured to:

input the limited electrical power signal at the first input of the comparator;

input an electrical power signal from the second connector at the second input of the comparator;

output a low signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a higher voltage level than the electrical power signal from the second connector; and

output a high signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a lower voltage level than the electrical power, signal from the second connector, wherein the low signal input into the drain input of the transistor enables the second connector to transmit battery power, and the high signal input into the drain input of the transistor disables the second connector from transmitting battery power.

30. The apparatus of claim 26,wherein the output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first light emitting diode, and the output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a second light emitting diode.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the negative terminal of the first connector, the negative terminal of the second connector, the first light emitting diode, and the second light emitting diode are all electrically coupled together.

32. A method, comprising:

receiving at a first connector battery power from a first mobile device; and

selectively transmitting at a second connector battery power to a second mobile device; and

preventing the second connector from transmitting battery power having an overcurrent utilizing a regulator, a comparator and a transistor, wherein;

a negative terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the second connector;

a positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to an input terminal of the regulator;

the positive terminal of the first connector is electrically coupled to a source input of the transistor;

an output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first input of the comparator;

an output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a gate input of the transistor;

a drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the second connector;

the drain output of the transistor is electrically coupled to a second input of the comparator; and

the positive terminal of the second connector is electrically coupled to the second input of the comparator.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein selectively transmitting at a second connector battery power to a second mobile device comprises:

transmitting battery power to the second mobile device if an input voltage level of the first mobile device or a reference voltage level is less than an input voltage level of the second mobile device; and

restricting a flow of battery power to the second mobile device if the input voltage level of the first mobile device or the reference voltage level is greater than the input voltage level of the second mobile device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the regulator is configured to:

input an electrical power signal from the first connector;

limit the voltage level of the electrical power signal to a predetermined voltage; and

output a limited electrical power signal.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the comparator is configured to:

input the limited electrical power signal at the first input of the comparator;

input an electrical power signal from the second connector at the second input of the comparator;

output a low signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a higher voltage level than the electrical power signal from the second connector; and

output a high signal from the output terminal of the comparator if the limited electrical power signal has a lower voltage level than the electrical power signal from the second connector, wherein the low signal input into the drain input of the transistor enables the second connector to transmit battery power, and the high signal input into the drain input of the transistor disables the second connector from transmitting battery power.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the output terminal of the regulator is electrically coupled to a first light emitting diode, and the output terminal of the comparator is electrically coupled to a second light emitting diode.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the negative terminal of the first connector, the negative terminal of the second connector, the first light emitting diode, and the second light emitting diode are all electrically coupled together.