Apparatus and method for charging a mobile device

• US 9,218,032 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2012
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shen, Jian, Yang, Tongzeng
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US13/571,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20140042873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 310/339
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/30 with mechanical input and electrical output, e.g. functioning as generators or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus may be a mobile device. The mobile device receives a first mechanical force applied to at least one region on the mobile device, performs a function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the first mechanical force, receives a second mechanical force applied to the at least one region on the mobile device, converts the second mechanical force into electrical energy using at least one piezoelectric element, and powers at least one component of the mobile device using the electrical energy.

Claims

1. A method for a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a first mechanical force applied to at least one region on the mobile device;

performing a function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the first mechanical force;

disabling the function unrelated to energy conversion for the at least one region on the mobile device;

receiving a second mechanical force applied to the same at least one region on the mobile device;

converting the second mechanical force into electrical energy using at least one piezoelectric element without performing the function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the second mechanical force; and

powering at least one component of the mobile device using the electrical energy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the electrical energy in the at least one component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one region is at least one button comprising a shaft that is configured to move through an opening in a case of the mobile device; and

the at least one button is configured to transfer the second mechanical force to the at least one piezoelectric element via the shaft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element comprises lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element has a rectangular shape.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

depleting a power supply such that the mobile device no longer has sufficient power to operate,

wherein the second mechanical force is received and converted into the electrical energy when the power supply is depleted.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet device, and a sensor device deployed in a field.

8. An apparatus, the apparatus being a mobile device, comprising:

means for receiving a first mechanical force applied to at least one region on the mobile device;

means for performing a function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the first mechanical force;

means for disabling the function unrelated to energy conversion for the at least one region on the mobile device;

means for receiving a second mechanical force applied to the same at least one region on the mobile device;

means for converting the second mechanical force into electrical energy using at least one piezoelectric element without performing the function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the second mechanical force; and

means for powering at least one component of the mobile device using the electrical energy.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for storing the electrical energy in the at least one component.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one region is at least one button comprising a shaft that is configured to move through an opening in a case of the mobile device; and

the at least one button is configured to transfer the second mechanical force to the at least one piezoelectric element via the shaft.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element comprises lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element has a rectangular shape.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for depleting a power supply such that the mobile device no longer has sufficient power to operate,

wherein the second mechanical force is received and converted into the electrical energy when the power supply is depleted.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet device, and a sensor device deployed in a field.

15. An apparatus, the apparatus being a mobile device, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive a first mechanical force applied to at least one region on the mobile device;

perform a function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the first mechanical force;

disable the function unrelated to energy conversion for the at least one region on the mobile device;

receive a second mechanical force applied to the same at least one region on the mobile device;

convert the second mechanical force into electrical energy using at least one piezoelectric element without performing the function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the second mechanical force; and

power at least one component of the mobile device using the electrical energy.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to store the electrical energy in the at least one component.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the at least one region is at least one button comprising a shaft that is configured to move through an opening in a case of the mobile device; and

the at least one button is configured to transfer the second mechanical force to the at least one piezoelectric element via the shaft.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element comprises lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element has a rectangular shape.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the

at least one processor is further configured to:

deplete a power supply such that the mobile device no longer has sufficient power to operate,

wherein the second mechanical force is received and converted into the electrical energy when the power supply is depleted.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet device, and a sensor device deployed in a field.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for executing on a mobile device, comprising code for:

receiving a first mechanical force applied to at least one region on the mobile device;

performing a function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the first mechanical force;

disabling the function unrelated to energy conversion for the at least one region on the mobile device;

receiving a second mechanical force applied to the same at least one region on the mobile device;

converting the second mechanical force into electrical energy using at least one piezoelectric element without performing the function unrelated to energy conversion in response to the second mechanical force; and

powering at least one component of the mobile device using the electrical energy.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising code for storing the electrical energy in the at least one component.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein:

the at least one region is at least one button comprising a shaft that is configured to move through an opening in a case of the mobile device; and

the at least one button is configured to transfer the second mechanical force to the at least one piezoelectric element via the shaft.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element comprises lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element has a rectangular shape.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising code for:

depleting a power supply such that the mobile device no longer has sufficient power to operate,

wherein the second mechanical force is received and converted into the electrical energy when the power supply is depleted.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the mobile device is one of a mobile phone, a tablet device, and a sensor device deployed in a field.