Multi-functional hub integrated with AC power supply

• US 10,574,070 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2019
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simpower Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Simpower Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Dong-Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Snyder, Steven G
• Application Number:
  US16/429,084
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/00 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

In order to achieve the aforesaid object and other objects, the hub of the present invention is electrically connected with an electronic device, an AC source, and at least one portable device which are located in the outside environment. The hub includes a first connector, at least one second connector, a third connector, a first switch member, a second switch member, a third switch member, a fourth switch member, a DC/DC converter and a control circuit. The first connector is electrically connected with the electronic device, the first connector is a USB-C. The second connector is electrically connected with the portable device. The third connector comprises an AC/DC converter, the third connector is electrically connected with the AC source via the AC/DC converter. The first switch member, one end of the first switch member is connected with the first connector. The second switch member, one end of the second switch member is connected with the first switch member, another end of the second switch member is connected with the second connector. The third switch member, one end of the third switch member is connected with the first connector, another end of the third switch member is connected with the AC/DC converter. The fourth switch member, one end of the fourth switch member is connected with the second connector, another end of the fourth switch member is connected with the third connector. The DC/DC converter, one end of the DC/DC converter is connected with the third connector, another end of the DC/DC converter is connected between the first switch member and second switch member. The control circuit is connected with the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the AC/DC converter. The control circuit is configured to control the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the AC/DC converter.

Claims

1. A hub, electrically connected with an electronic device, an alternating current (AC), and at least one portable device, the hub comprising:

a first connector electrically connected with the electronic device, the first connector being a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) port;

at least one second connector electrically connected with the portable device;

a third connector electrically connected with the alternating current (AC) source via an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter;

a first switch member wherein one end of the first switch member is electrically connected with the first connector;

a second switch member wherein one end of the second switch member is electrically connected with the first switch member and another end of the second switch member is electrically connected with the second connector;

a third switch member wherein one end of the third switch member is electrically connected with the first connector and another end of the third switch member is electrically connected with the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter;

a fourth switch member wherein one end of the fourth switch member is electrically connected with the second connector and another end of the fourth switch member is electrically connected with the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter;

a direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter wherein one end of the direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter is electrically connected with the third connector and another end of the direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter is electrically connected between the first switch member and the second switch member; and

a control circuit electrically connected with the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, the control circuit configured to control the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter.

2. A hub, electrically connected with an electronic device, an alternating current (AC) source, and at least one portable device, the hub comprising:

a first connector electrically connected with the electronic device, the first connector being a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) port;

at least one second connector electrically connected with the portable device;

a third connector electrically connected with the alternating current (AC) source via an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter;

a first switch member wherein one end of the first switch member is electrically connected with the first connector;

a second switch member wherein one end of the second switch member is electrically connected with the first switch member and another end of the second switch member is electrically connected with the second connector;

a third switch member wherein one end of the third switch member is electrically connected between the first switch member and the second switch member and another end of the third switch member is electrically connected with the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter;

a fourth switch member wherein one end of the fourth switch member is electrically connected with the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter and another end of the fourth switch member is electrically connected with the second connector;

a direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter electrically connected between the first switch member and the second switch member; and

a control circuit electrically connected with the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, the control circuit configured to control the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter.

3. A hub electrically connected with an electronic device, an AC source, an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, and at least one portable device, the hub electrically connected with the alternating current (AC) source via the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, the hub comprising:

a first connector electrically connected with the electronic device, the first connector being a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) port;

at least one second connector electrically connected with the portable device;

a third connector electrically connected with the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter;

a first switch member wherein one end of the first switch member is electrically connected with the first connector;

a second switch member wherein one end of the second switch member is electrically connected with the first switch member and another end of the second switch member is electrically connected with the second connector;

a third switch member wherein one end of the third switch member is electrically connected between the first switch member and the second switch member and another end of the third switch member is electrically connected with the third connector;

a fourth switch member wherein one end of the fourth switch member is electrically connected with the third connector and another end of the fourth switch member is electrically connected with the second connector;

a direct current to direct current (DC/DC) converter electrically connected between the first switch member and the second switch member; and

a control circuit electrically connected with the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter, the control circuit configured to control the first switch member, the second switch member, the third switch member, the fourth switch member and the alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter.