SOLAR CHARGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL

• US 20090128086A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Dong-Jo
• Granted Patent: US 8,174,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A contactless charging apparatus, comprising: a battery having an induction coil; and a charging unit for supplying a current generated by condensing solar light to a built-in magnetic field generating coil for charging the battery by inductive coupling between the magnetic field generating coil and the induction coil.

Claims

1. A contactless charging apparatus comprising:

a charging unit for supplying a current generated by condensing solar light to a built-in magnetic field generating coil to charge a battery by means of an inductive arrangement between the magnetic field generating coil and an induction coil connected to the battery.

2. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery is connected to a mobile terminal.

3. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging unit is implemented in a pad shape.

4. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charging unit comprises:

a solar module for condensing solar light and generating a current; and

a magnetic field generating coil wound onto the solar module in a first shape.

5. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 4, wherein the magnetic field generating coil shape and size varies according to a type of the solar module.

6. A contactless charging apparatus comprising:

a sub-storage unit for storing solar energy;

a charging unit having a magnetic field generating coil to store solar light and generate a current;

a battery chargeable by means of the magnetic field generating coil, in response to the generated current being conducted to the magnetic field generating coil; and

a controller for selectively conducting the generated current to the magnetic field generating coil or the sub-storage unit.

7. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller for selectively conducting the generated current to the magnetic field generating coil or the sub-storage unit is controlled based on a charging mode for the battery.

8. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller for selectively conducting the generated current to the magnetic field generating coil or the sub-storage unit is controlled based on a charging state of the battery.

9. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a switch for switching the conduction of the generated current between the magnetic field generating coil and the sub-storage unit under control of the controller.

10. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the charging unit comprises:

a solar module for condensing solar light and generating a current; and

a magnetic field generating coil wound onto the solar module in a first shape.

11. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the battery is connected to a mobile terminal, and the sub-storage unit comprises a capacitor.

12. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured such that the current flows through the magnetic field generating coil, when the battery is in charging mode.

13. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured such that the current flows to the sub-storage unit when the battery is not in charging mode.

14. The contactless charging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured such that the current flows to the sub-storage unit when the battery reaches a fully charged state.

15. A contactless charging method comprising:

condensing solar light to a built-in magnetic field generating coil to generate a current;

supplying the current via a charging unit; and

charging a battery by inductive coupling between the magnetic field generating coil and an induction coil.

16. The contactless charging method of claim 15, wherein the battery is connected to a mobile terminal.

17. The contactless charging method of claim 15, wherein if the battery is in charging mode and the battery is not a fully charged state, the current flows through the magnetic field generating coil, and when the battery is not in charging mode or when the battery has reached the fully charged state, the current flows to the sub-storage unit.