Tip having active circuitry

• US 20050024030A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thomas W. Lanni
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,193,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/274
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/56 using semiconductor devices in series with the load as final control devices G05F1/461 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• 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

Abstract

A power supply system includes an adapter to receive power from a power source, and output a regulated output voltage (V_out). A tip receives V_out from the adapter, and output V_out to an electronic device. The tip includes active circuitry to adjust a programming voltage (V_prog). V_prog is fed back to the adapter to control a magnitude of V_out.

Claims

1. A power supply system, comprising:

an adapter to receive power from a power source, and output a regulated output voltage (V_out);

a tip to receive V_out from the adapter, and output V_out to an electronic device, wherein the tip includes active circuitry to adjust a programming voltage (V_prog), wherein V_prog is fed back to the adapter to control a magnitude of V_out.

2. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the active circuitry includes a voltage regulator to set V_prog, based on the magnitude of V_out.

3. The power supply according to claim 2, wherein the voltage regulator compares V_out with an internal reference voltage to determine V_prog.

4. The power supply according to claim 2, wherein the voltage regulator is selected based upon its predetermined regulation characteristics.

10. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the power source provides DC power.

11. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the power source provides A/C power.

5. A power supply system, comprising:

an adapter to receive power from a power source, and output a regulated output voltage (V_out);

a tip to receive V_out from the adapter, and output V_out to an electronic device, the tip including active circuitry to adjust a programming voltage (V_prog), and V_prog being fed back to the adapter to control a magnitude of V_out,

wherein the active circuitry includes a comparator to detect an error in a relationship between V_out and V_prog.

6. The power supply system of claim 5, wherein the tip includes a first lighting device to light when the error is detected.

7. The power supply system of claim 5, further including a switch to open, to prevent V_out from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

8. The power supply system of claim 5, wherein the tip includes a second lighting device to light when no error is detected.

9. The power supply system of claim 5, further including a switch to close, to allow V_out to reach the electronic device, when no error is detected.

12. A tip, comprising:

a first connector, to receive a regulated output voltage (V_out), and output a programming voltage (V_prog), wherein V_prog is utilized to control V_out;

a circuit to provide a predetermined fraction of V_out;

control circuitry to compare the predetermined fraction of V_out with a reference voltage so that V_prog and V_out are controlled to equal respective desired values; and

a second connector to provide the desired value of V_out to an electronic device.

13. The tip of claim 12, further including a comparator to detect an error in a relationship between V_out and V_prog.

14. The tip of claim 13, further including a first lighting device to light when the error is detected.

15. The tip of claim 13, further including a switch to open, to prevent Vout from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

16. The tip of claim 13, further including a second lighting device to light when no error is detected.

17. The tip of claim 13, further including a switch to close, to allow Vout to reach the electronic device, when no error is detected.