Mobile device having solar cell and power control method thereof

1. A method for a power control of a mobile device having a solar cell, the method comprising:

ascertaining whether a battery is available for the mobile device;

when the battery is unavailable or absent, determining whether a power control unit of the mobile device is connected with an external power source;

when the power control unit is not connected with the an external power source, establishing a power supply path between a solar cell and the power control unit; and

supplying electric power of the mobile device from the solar cell through the power supply path.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving electric power supplied from an external power source; and

cutting off the power supply path between the solar cell and the power control unit.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

executing at least one function of the mobile device by using electric power supplied from the solar cell through the power supply path, wherein the at least one function is selectable based on an available power from the solar cell; and

when the power control unit is connected with the external power source, cutting power supply path between the solar cell and the power control unit and executing at least on function by using electric power supplied from the an external power source.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the executing of at least one function includes:

selecting a particular function among functions of the mobile device, based on both the average power consumption and the priority of each function; and

activating the selected particular function.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the executing of at least one function includes:

activating a predefined specific function;

receiving a user's selection of a particular function other than the predefined specific function; and

if the electric power supplied from the solar cell is greater than a power consumption required for the execution of the predefined specific function, activating the user's selected particular function.

6. A method for a power control of a mobile device having a solar cell, the method comprising:

ascertaining whether a battery is available for the mobile device;

when the battery is available with the mobile device powered off, determining whether a power control unit of the mobile device is connected with an external power source;

when the power control unit is not connected with the external power source, establishing a power supply path between the battery and the solar cell; and

charging the battery by using electric power supplied from the solar cell through the power supply path.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving electric power supplied from an external power source; and

cutting off the power supply path between the battery and the solar cell.

8. A method for a power control of a mobile device having a solar cell, the method comprising:

ascertaining whether a battery is available for the mobile device;

when the battery is available with the mobile device powered on, determining whether a power control unit of the mobile device is connected with an external power source;

when the power control unit is not connected with the external power source, establishing a first power supply path between the solar cell and a power control unit; and

supplying electric power of the mobile device from the battery and the solar cell through the power supply path.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

executing at least one function of the mobile device by using electric power supplied from both the solar cell and the battery;

receiving electric power supplied from an external power source; and

cutting off the first power supply path between the solar cell and the power control unit.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

establishing a second power supply path between the battery and the solar cell; and

charging the battery by using electric power supplied from the solar cell through the second power supply path.

11. A mobile device comprising:

a solar cell configured to produce electric power under the sunshine;

a rechargeable battery configured to supply electric power to the mobile device; and

a control unit configured to receive the electric power supplied from at least one of the battery and the solar cell, an external power source and to supply electric power of the mobile device from the solar cell through the power supply path according to whether a battery is available and whether the power control unit is connected with an external power source, wherein the at least one function is selectable based on an available power from the solar cell.

12. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to execute the at least one function by using the electric power supplied from the solar cell if the battery is unavailable or absent.

13. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is further configured to select a particular function among functions of the mobile device, based on both the average power consumption and the priority of each function, and to activate the selected particular function.

14. The mobile device of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is further configured to activate a predefined specific function, to receive a user's selection of a particular function other than the predefined specific function, and if the electric power supplied from the solar cell is greater than a power consumption required for the execution of the predefined specific function, to activate the user's selected particular function.

15. The mobile device of claim 11 , further comprising:

an external power connector configured to be connected with an external power source,

wherein if the external power connector is connected with the external power source, the control unit is further configured to cut off a power supply path from and to the solar cell.

16. The mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to charge the battery by using the electric power supplied from the solar cell if the battery is available with the mobile device powered off.

17. A power supply unit for use in a mobile device, the power supply unit comprising:

a solar cell configured to produce electric power under the sunshine;

a rechargeable battery configured to supply electric power to a power control unit; and

the power control unit configured to receive the electric power supplied from at least one of the rechargeable battery, an external power source and the solar cell, and to deliver electric power to the mobile device

wherein the power control unit is further configured to deliver power to a main control unit configured to determine whether the power control unit is not connected with an external power source, when the battery is unavailable or absent, and to execute at least one function of the mobile terminal by using the electric power supplied from the solar cell when the power control unit is not connected with the external power source, wherein the at least one function is selectable based on an available power from the solar cell.

18. The power supply unit of claim 17 , wherein the power control unit is further configured to select a particular function among functions of the mobile device, based on both the average power consumption and the priority of each function, and to activate the selected particular function.

19. The power supply unit of claim 17 , wherein the power control unit is further configured to activate a predefined specific function, to receive a user's selection of a particular function other than the predefined specific function, and if the electric power supplied from the solar cell is greater than a power consumption required for the execution of the predefined specific function, to activate the user's selected particular function.

20. The power supply unit of claim 17 , further comprising:

an external power connector adapted to be connected with an external power source,

wherein if the external power connector is connected with the external power source, the power control unit is further configured to cut off a power supply path from and to the solar cell.

21. The power supply unit of claim 17 , wherein the power control unit is further configured to charge the battery by using the electric power supplied from the solar cell if the battery is available with the mobile device powered off.