Dual input AC/DC to programmable DC output converter

• US 20030103366A1
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Published: 06/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobility Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Scott, Lord, Charles, DuBose, Garry, MacDonald, Gilbert
• Granted Patent: US 6,643,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control

Abstract

A power converter capable of receiving either an AC input voltage or a DC input voltage and generating a programmable DC output voltage. The converter comprises a first circuit that converts an AC input voltage to a predetermined DC first output voltage, and a second circuit that converts a DC input voltage to a predetermined second DC output voltage. The converter also comprise a third circuit which is adapted to receive the first and second DC voltages from first and second circuits to generate a selectable output DC voltage. In selected embodiments, the first and second DC output voltages provided by the first and second circuits, respectively, are generally the same value and are coupled to a common node that feeds the input terminal of the third circuit. Moreover, the third circuit is adapted to provide a selectable output DC voltage which may be set higher or lower than its DC input voltage. The third circuit may also be adapted to couple a set of removable programming keys that provide for a different associated DC output voltage. The programming key comprises a resistor, which may provide for a variety of functions, such as current-limiting, over-voltage protection, output voltage programming, and wrong-tip circuit protection.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

a first input circuit adapted to receive both an AC input voltage and generate a DC voltage;

a second input circuit adapted to receive an DC input voltage and generate a DC output voltage; and

an output voltage receiving said DC output voltage from both first and second input circuit and producing a programmable DC output voltage, said programmable DC output voltage being established by a single key regardless of whether the converter input voltage is an AC or DC voltage.

2. The converter of claim 1 wherein said output circuit includes a DC-to-DC down converter.

3. The converter of claim 2 wherein said second input circuit comprises an DC-to-DC up-converter.

4. The converter of claim 3 wherein said up-converter and down-converter are switching converters operating at the same frequency.

5. The converter of claim 3 wherein said first and second circuits generate a similar said DC output voltage to a common node, said common node being coupled to said output circuit.

6. The converter of claim 1 wherein said key of said output circuit is selectively removable from said converter, wherein said different programming keys establish different associated said DC output voltages.

7. The converter of claim 1 further comprising a tip adapted to be coupled to an external device to be powered by said converter, wherein said key is integral to said tip.

8. The converter of claim 1 wherein said removable key is a resistor.

9. The converter of claim 1 wherein said key establishes a over-voltage protection function.

10. The converter of claim 1 wherein said key establishes an output voltage function.

11. The converter of claim 1 wherein said key establishes a wrong-tip function.

12. The converter of claim 1 wherein said key establishes an output current limiting function.

13. The converter of claim 1 wherein said first input circuit includes a switching device;

wherein said switching device is an AC line switcher.

14. A power conversion device capable of receiving either an AC input voltage or a DC input voltage and generating a programmable DC output voltage, said device comprising:

a first circuit converting an AC input voltage to a predetermined DC first output voltage;

a second circuit converting a DC input voltage to a predetermined DC output voltage; and

a third circuit receiving said first and second predetermined DC voltages from first and second circuits and generating a selectable output DC voltage.

15. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said first circuit includes a switching device, wherein said switching device is an AC line switcher.

16. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said second circuit includes a DC-to-DC up converter, said up converter receiving said DC input voltage and producing a second predetermined DC output voltage.

17. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said third circuit includes a DC-to-DC down converter providing a selectable output DC voltage.

18. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said first and second predetermined voltages provided by said first and second circuit are generally the same value and are provided to a common node feeding said third circuit.

19. The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said selectable output DC voltage can be set to be higher than said input DC voltage.

20. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said third circuit is adapted to couple to a plurality of removable programming keys, said keys providing different associated DC output voltages.

21. The device as recited in claim 20 wherein said key is a resistor, said predetermined DC output voltage being a function of said resistor value.

22. The device as recited in claim 20 wherein said key establishes an output current limiting function.

23. The device as recited in claim 20 wherein said key establishes an over-voltage protection function.

24. The device as recited in claim 20 wherein said key establishes a output voltage function.

25. The device as recited in claim 20 wherein said key establishes a wrong-tip function.

26. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said third circuit includes a thermal-protection function.

27. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein said DC output voltage provided by said third circuit is between 3VDC and 24VDC.

28. The device as recited in claim 17 wherein said up-converter and said down-converter are coupled in a master/slave configuration.

29. The device as recited in claim 28 wherein said up-converter and said down-converter are configured in a standard boost/buck topology.