External battery and satellite communication terminal

• US 9,325,826 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Mukae, Hisayuki, Koyama, Hiroshi, Nakajima, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/399,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20150133189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/572, 455/550.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• 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 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1853 Satellite systems for providing telephony service to a mobile station, i.e. mobile satellite service for selecting H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A device that can realize satellite communication with a popularized mobile phone in a case a large number of users communicate at a same time such as in a case where disaster strikes and the like. An external battery for charging a mobile phone includes a satellite antenna for performing satellite communication via a satellite communication channel and a satellite communication unit which causes the mobile phone to perform the satellite communication via the satellite antenna. The mobile phone and the external battery are connected with a cable and the like, and thereby a satellite communication terminal is configured.

Claims

1. An external battery that charges a mobile communication terminal comprising:

an electricity storage unit that stores electric power;

a charging unit that supplies the electric power stored in the electricity storage unit to the mobile communication terminal to charge the mobile communication terminal;

a satellite antenna to be used when performing satellite communication via a satellite communication channel;

a satellite communication unit that causes the mobile communication terminal to perform the satellite communication of message including a self-position via the satellite antenna; and

a selection unit that selects at least one of a charge mode to cause the charging unit to charge and a communication mode to cause the satellite communication unit to perform the satellite communication.

2. The external battery of claim 1, wherein the selection unit, when receiving a predetermined signal via the satellite communication, selects the communication mode.

3. The external battery of claim 2, further comprising:

an authentication unit that performs user authentication,

wherein the satellite communication unit causes to perform the satellite communication in cases where the authentication unit succeeds the user authentication and where the predetermined signal is received via the satellite communication.

4. The external battery of claim 3,

wherein the satellite communication unit causes to perform the satellite communication with only a predetermined communication partner in a case where the authentication unit fails the user authentication.

5. The external battery of claim 1,

wherein the mobile communication terminal includes a mobile antenna to be used when performing mobile communication via a mobile communication channel, and

wherein the selection unit selects the communication mode in a case where the mobile communication is not available via the mobile antenna.

6. The external battery of claim 5, further comprising:

an authentication unit that performs user authentication,

wherein the satellite communication unit causes to perform the satellite communication in cases where the authentication unit succeeds the user authentication and where the mobile communication is not available via the mobile antenna.

7. The external battery of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal reception unit that receives a positioning signal from a satellite in a case where the selection unit selects the communication mode.

8. The external battery of claim 1, wherein the signal reception unit receives the positioning signal of a plurality of frequency bands.

9. The external battery of claim 1, further comprising:

a measurement unit that measures values of biological information.

10. The external battery of claim 1,

wherein the satellite communication channel is a communication channel using an S band for a communication frequency band.

11. The external battery of claim 1,

wherein the satellite communication channel is a communication channel via a quasi-zenith satellite.

12. The external battery of claim 1, further comprising:

an information memory unit that stores route information showing an escape route.

13. A satellite communication terminal comprising the external battery of claim 1.

14. A satellite communication terminal having a mobile communication terminal and an external battery that charges the mobile communication terminal,

wherein the external battery includes:

an electricity storage unit that stores electric power;

a charging unit that supplies the electric power stored in the electricity storage unit to the mobile communication terminal to charge the mobile communication terminal;

a satellite antenna to be used when performing satellite communication via a satellite communication channel;

a satellite communication unit that causes the mobile communication terminal to perform the satellite communication via the satellite antenna; and

a selection unit that selects at least one of a charge mode to cause the charging unit to charge and a communication mode to cause the satellite communication unit to perform the satellite communication.