초록 ▼

A holster for a handheld, power intensive electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, incorporates within it a supplemental battery pack. The supplemental battery pack is used to recharge or maintain main, onboard battery pack of the cellular telephone and also to power certain supplemental cir

A holster for a handheld, power intensive electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, incorporates within it a supplemental battery pack. The supplemental battery pack is used to recharge or maintain main, onboard battery pack of the cellular telephone and also to power certain supplemental circuits. The use of the docking-holster at least doubles the useful life of the device battery, which may be kept conveniently small.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [8.] A docking unit for a handheld, power-intensive electronic device, the electronic device having a rechargeable battery and at least two electrical power contacts, the docking unit comprising:a receiving surface of the docking unit adapted to receive the electronic device, at least f

[ We claim:] [8.] A docking unit for a handheld, power-intensive electronic device, the electronic device having a rechargeable battery and at least two electrical power contacts, the docking unit comprising:a receiving surface of the docking unit adapted to receive the electronic device, at least first and second contacts disposed on the receiving surface of the cavity for connection to respective ones of the electrical power contacts of the electronic device;a supplemental battery mounted on the docking unit and coupled to the first and second contacts for delivering power to the main battery; anda power management circuit mounted in the docking unit, the power management circuit selectively coupling the supplemental battery to the first and second contacts, the power management circuit including a sensor for periodically sensing the amount of charge of the main battery, a current value store of the power management circuit storing a standby current value and a fast charge current value, the power management circuit entering a shutdown mode and cutting power to the electronic device if the sensed current is less than the standby current value, the power management circuit entering a standby mode if the sensed current is greater than or equal to the standby current value but less than the fast charge current value and delivering a controlled amount of power which is less than a maximum optimum amount of power to the electronic device, the power management circuit entering into a fast charge mode if the sensed current is greater than or equal to the fast charge current value and delivering the maximum optimum amount of power to the electronic device.