JP2000069132A - Portable communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the charging frequency of a battery power source and to increase a wait time by using a photovoltaic generation means as a main power source and a battery power source as an auxiliary power source and charging the battery power source with excessive electric power of the photovoltaic generation means by an electric power control means. SOLUTION: When the electric power generated by the photovoltaic generation means 21 is large enough to drive respective system constituent elements, the power control means 19 drives the system constituent elements with the electric power generated by the photovoltaic generation means 21 through a main CPU 15. When the power control means 19 judges that the electric power generated by the photovoltaic generation means 21 is much larger than the power needed to the system constituent elements, the battery power source 17 is charged with its excessive power. When light is not enough and the sufficient electric power is not supplied to the respective system constituent elements, the power control means 19 drives the respective system constituent elements through the CPU 15 with the electric power of the battery power source 17 and the electric power of the photovoltaic generation means 21. Consequently, the use frequency of the battery power source 17 is decreased to compensate a decrease of the electric power of the battery power source 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable communication device represented by a portable telephone, a simplified portable telephone system, and the like, and more particularly to a technology capable of waiting for a long time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid technological progress in the semiconductor field and the telecommunication field in recent years, mobile communication has become very familiar, and various mobile communication terminals have been provided to the general market. . Above all, portable communication devices such as portable telephones and personal handyphone systems (PHS) are widely spread and used because of their simplicity in terms of price and operation.

Hereinafter, a system configuration of a typical portable communication device will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a typical portable communication device.

Conventional portable communication devices include a portable communication device main body 1, a liquid crystal panel 3 for displaying various information to a user, and a storage device 5 for storing user's personal data such as a telephone number. A liquid crystal driver 7 for driving the liquid crystal panel 3; an antenna 11 for transmitting and receiving radio waves; a control circuit 9 for controlling the antenna 11; And a main CPU 15 for controlling each system component in the mobile communication device main body 1 and a battery power supply 17 for supplying electric power for driving the mobile communication device. .

When using the portable communication device, the user connects the portable communication device body 1 to an external power supply such as a home power supply in advance, supplies power from the external power supply to the battery power supply 17, and charges the battery power supply 17. . Then, after sufficient power for driving each system component in the portable communication device main body 1 is stored in the battery power source 17,
The portable communication device main body 1 is removed from the external power source, carried, and can be operated. When the portable communication device is disconnected from the external power supply, all the power required for the operation of the system elements constituting the portable communication device is supplied from the charged battery power supply. After the power in the battery power supply 17 is consumed, the battery power supply 17 is charged again using the external power supply. Generally, the maximum time during which the portable communication device can be used continuously without making a call by charging the battery power supply 17 once is called a standby time.

[0007]

As described above, at present,
When a mobile communication device is used, it is necessary to charge a battery power supply, and power supply from the battery power supply is a basic element for driving the mobile communication device. This includes
The background is that the technical easiness of using battery power and the technology related to battery power are approaching the stage of completion, and problems related to their performance and safety have been solved.

[0008] However, recent movements in reducing the size and weight of portable communication devices have caused new problems. That is, as the size of the battery power supply progresses, the electric capacity of the battery power supply decreases, so that the standby time and the actual use time such as a call decrease, and the frequency of charging the battery power supply increases.

[0009] Such a problem impairs the original purpose of the portable communication device, and an urgent solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable communication device capable of reducing the frequency of charging a battery power supply and realizing a long standby time.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized by a photovoltaic power generating means for receiving and generating light and a chargeable / dischargeable battery for assisting the power of the photovoltaic power generating means. It is provided with a power supply and power control means for charging the battery power supply with surplus power of the photovoltaic power generation means.

[0012]

According to the above construction, the photovoltaic power generation means serves as the main power supply, the battery power supply serves as the auxiliary power supply, and the power control means charges the battery power supply using the power from the photovoltaic power generation means. And the standby time can be increased.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration and operation of a portable communication device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a portable communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The portable communication device of the first embodiment includes a portable communication device main body 1, a liquid crystal panel 3 for displaying various information to the user, and a user for storing personal data such as telephone number data. Understand the storage device 5, a liquid crystal driver 7 for driving the liquid crystal panel 3, an antenna 11 for transmitting and receiving radio waves, a control circuit 9 for controlling the antenna 11, and an instruction command by a key operation from a user. A key matrix 13 for controlling, a main CPU 15 for controlling each system component in the portable communication device main body 1, and a photovoltaic power generation unit 2 for receiving light and generating power.
1, a chargeable / dischargeable battery power supply 17 for controlling the power of the photovoltaic power generation means 21, and a power control means 19.

Next, the operation of the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the power control means in the portable communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

When the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation means 21 is sufficient to drive each system component, the power control means 19 transmits the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation means 21 to the main CPU 15. The transmission is performed to drive the system components (case C1). When the power control unit 19 determines that the electric power generated by the photovoltaic power generation unit 21 is more than the driving amount of each system component, the power control unit 19 converts the surplus electric power to the battery power. 17, and the battery power 17 is charged with the surplus power using the surplus power (case C2). Thus, the frequency of using the battery power can be reduced, and the power of the battery power can be compensated for.

Conversely, if sufficient light cannot be obtained, and thus sufficient power for driving each system component cannot be obtained from the photovoltaic power generation means 21 or if power is not supplied from the photovoltaic power generation means 21, The power control means 19 includes the battery power source 1
7 and the power from the photovoltaic means 21 are jointly supplied or only the power stored in the battery power supply 17 is transmitted to the main CPU 15 to drive the system components (case C3).

In the present embodiment, the main power source is power generation by light. However, there is no problem if power is generated using dynamic energy such as vibration as an energy source.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a portable communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, a photovoltaic power generation panel 21 which is a panel-shaped photovoltaic power generation battery is provided as a photovoltaic power generation means on the back of the portable communication device. Thereby, it is possible to obtain electric power through the solar power generation panel 21 that receives the sunlight, not only during standby, but also during a call. Panel 2 for solar power generation even during calls that consume the most power
1 through the battery power supply 17
It is possible to reduce the power consumption of the inside and increase the standby time.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a portable communication device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, the photovoltaic power generation panel 21 can be inserted into and taken out of the portable communication device main body 1. When the photovoltaic power generation is required, the photovoltaic power generation panel 21 can be carried. The solar power generation panel 21 is housed in the portable communication device main body 1 when it is not needed, by drawing out from the communication device main body 1 and generating power. In this case, if the photovoltaic power generation panel 21 is configured to be accommodated in a folded state, when the photovoltaic power generation panel 21 is pulled out, the photovoltaic power generation panel 21 has a large area and receives a large amount of sunlight. As a result, more power is generated and the standby time increases.

The positions of the speaker 25 and the microphone 29 of the main body of the portable communication device are not necessarily fixed, but may be replaced by the structure of the communication device.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a portable communication device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the fourth embodiment, the main body cover 31 is provided on the main body 1 of the portable communication device, and the solar power generation panel 21 is provided on the surface of the main body cover 31. In this case, during standby, solar power is generated with the main unit cover closed,
Charge the battery power. And, during the call, FIG.
The user opens the main body cover 31 as shown in FIG. Power can be generated as long as sunlight is available during a call.

(Fifth Embodiment) In the examples described so far, the photovoltaic power generation panel is always integrated with the portable communication device main body. For example, as shown in FIG.
The photovoltaic power generation panel 21 may be detachable from the portable communication device main body 1, and the photovoltaic power generation panel 21 may be attached / detached as necessary. In this case, the power control means performs the role of recognizing the presence or absence of the solar power generation panel 21 and determining the power source required for driving the system. in this case,
The area of the photovoltaic power generation panel 21 can be increased to such an extent that there is no problem in carrying, and larger power can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the photovoltaic power generation means is a panel-shaped photovoltaic battery. However, as long as the photovoltaic battery has a function of converting sunlight into electric power, any shape can be used. It may be.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the photovoltaic power generation means is used as the main power supply, the battery power supply is used as the auxiliary power supply, and the power control means charges the battery power supply with the surplus power from the photovoltaic power generation means. In addition, it is possible to reduce the charging frequency of the battery power supply and increase the standby time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of a mobile communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an operation of a power control unit in the mobile communication device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a mobile communication device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a mobile communication device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a mobile communication device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a mobile communication device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a mobile communication device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a conventional portable communication device.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photovoltaic device for receiving and generating light, a chargeable / dischargeable battery power source for assisting the power of the photovoltaic device, and charging the battery power source with surplus power of the photovoltaic device. And a power control unit. 2. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic power generation means comprises a solar cell.