Tip having active circuitry

• US 20070182388A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,365,524 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:

a power adapter to receive power from one of a DC external power source or an AC external power source, and to output a regulated output voltage (V_out); and

a tip, the tip including;

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

a voltage regulator to set V_prog based on a magnitude of V_out, wherein V_out is adjusted by adjusting V_prog to provide an adjusted V_out; and

a second connector to provide the adjusted V_out to an electronic device.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power adapter has a quicker response time in providing the adjusted V_out due to feedback of the adjusted V_prog.

3. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator compares a voltage based on V_out with an internal reference voltage to determine V_prog.

4. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the voltage regulator is selected based upon its predetermined regulation characteristics.

5. The power supply system of claim 1, where the power supply system does not suffer any voltage drop due to resistance of a cable between the power adapter and the tip.

6. A power supply system, comprising:

a power adapter to receive power from one of a DC external power source or an AC external power source, and to originally output a regulated output voltage (V_out); and

a tip, the tip including;

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

a voltage regulator to set V_prog based on a magnitude of V_out, wherein V_out is adjusted by adjusting V_prog to provide an adjusted V_out;

a second connector to provide the adjusted V_out to an electronic device; and

a comparator to detect an error in a relationship between V_out and V_prog.

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

8. The power supply system of claim 6, further including a switch to open, to prevent V_out from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

9. The power supply system of claim 6, wherein the tip includes a second lighting device to light when no error is detected.

10. The power supply system of claim 6, further including a switch to close, to allow V_out to reach the electronic device, when no error is detected.

11. The power supply system of claim 6, where the power supply system does not suffer any voltage drop due to resistance of a cable between the power adapter and the tip.

12. A tip, comprising:

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

a voltage regulator to set V_prog based on a magnitude of V_out, wherein V_out is adjusted by adjusting V_prog to provide an adjusted V_out; and

a second connector to provide the adjusted 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 V_out from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

16. The tip of claim 12, wherein the voltage regulator compares a voltage produced by a resistor divider circuit to an internal voltage to set V_prog.

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

18. A tip, comprising:

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

a voltage regulator to set V_prog based on a magnitude of V_out , wherein V_out is adjusted by adjusting V_prog to provide an adjusted V_out;

a second connector to provide the adjusted V_out to an electronic device; and

an active device to detect an error in a relationship between V_out and V_prog.

19. The tip of claim 18, further including a first lighting device to light when the error is detected.

20. The tip of claim 18, further including a switch to open, to prevent V_out from reaching the electronic device, when the error is detected.

21. The tip of claim 18, further including a switch to close, to allow V_out to reach the electronic device, when no error is detected

22. The tip of claim 18, wherein adjusted voltage does not have a decrease in voltage due to voltage drop due to the resistance of the cable.