Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – Battery or cell discharging – Regulated discharging
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-06-05
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
Battery or cell discharging
Regulated discharging
C320S136000, C307S048000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242892
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to portable electronic devices, such as portable radio communication devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When designing new portable electronic devices, a key goal is to reduce power consumption of the device. In portable radio communication devices, power is provided by a battery, via a DC/DC converter and a voltage regulator. The battery life of the device can be increased and hence talk-time or standby-time increased, by taking steps to reduce power consumption of the device. Many ideas directed to this goal have been developed.
One such idea in a cellular radio communication device is the provision of a standby (or idle) mode of operation in addition to the normal (talk-time) mode of operation. The standby mode is used when the device is turned on, but when the device is not actually transmitting or receiving any Radio Frequency (RF) signals. In this situation, the RF circuitry and data processing circuitry can remain unpowered, so that less power is consumed.
However, a problem with this arrangement is that other functions are still required during the standby mode, such as timing functions and user interface sensing functions. Power is still required by the circuits which perform these standby functions, and this is again provided by the battery, via the DC/DC converter and the voltage regulator. These last two components have a large power overhead and are a significant drain on the battery, particularly during standby mode.
There is a need to provide an improved electronic device which has reduced power consumption compared to known devices. This invention seeks to provide a portable electronic device and method which mitigates the above mentioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a portable electronic device arranged to be powered by a battery and to operate in an off-mode, a standby mode and an on-mode of operation, comprising: primary electronic circuitry, operable only during the on-mode; secondary electronic circuitry operable during the off-mode; standby circuitry operable during the standby mode; a power supply circuit, arranged for coupling to the battery in order to provide power to the electronic device during the on-mode; a secondary power source, arranged to be charged by the power supply circuit during the on-mode and further arranged for providing power to the second electronic circuitry during the off-mode, wherein the secondary power source is further arranged for providing power to the standby circuitry during the standby mode, such that the power supply circuit does not operate during the standby mode.
The portable electronic device preferably further comprises a trickle-charge circuit arranged to charge the secondary power source during the on-mode. Preferably the portable electronic device further comprises a switch arranged to selectively couple one of the power supply circuit and the secondary power source in order to provide power to the standby circuitry.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a portable electronic device arranged to be powered by a battery and having primary electronic circuitry arranged only to operate in an on-mode, standby circuitry arranged to operate in a standby mode and secondary electronic circuitry arranged to operate in an off-mode of operation, comprising the steps of: providing power to the primary electronic circuitry during the on-mode via a power supply circuit coupled to the battery; charging a secondary power source during the on-mode; providing power to secondary electronic circuitry during the off-mode via the secondary power source; providing power to the standby circuitry during the standby mode via the secondary power source, such that the power supply circuit does not operate during the standby mode.
Preferably the secondary electronic circuitry is a real-time clock circuit. The secondary power source is preferably a button cell. Preferably the primary circuitry provides main operating features of the device.
The primary circuitry preferably includes a microprocessor. Preferably the secondary power source is monitored by the standby circuitry during the standby mode, such that if the secondary power source falls below a predetermined voltage level, the power supply circuit is enabled.
The portable electronic device is preferably a mobile telephone.
In this way a protable electronic device is provided which has a reduced power consumption compared to known devices.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4673826 (1987-06-01), Masson
patent: 5200688 (1993-04-01), Patino
patent: 5739596 (1998-04-01), Takizawa et al.
patent: 5777454 (1998-07-01), McAndrews et al.
patent: 5804894 (1998-09-01), Lesson et al.
patent: 5814972 (1998-09-01), Shimida et al.
patent: 5986435 (1999-11-01), Koenck
Arnaud Thierry
Khlat Nadmi
Motorola Inc.
Parker Lanny L.
Toatley , Jr. Gregory J.
Tso Edward H.
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