Power station with built in battery charger

• US 20070273325A1
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krieger, Michael, Ellsworth, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/710,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/106
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5066 Type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power station is provided. The power station may be designed as a versatile, portable power station addressing the most common needs of power for a consumer. The power station preferable can provide DC power, AC power, portable battery charging capability, and other power providing capabilities.

Claims

1. A portable power station, comprising:

a housing defining a cavity therein, the cavity being adapted to receive different size rechargeable batteries;

an AC outlet provided on the housing;

at least one DC input port;

a battery disposed within the housing;

a power inverter disposed in the housing, the power inverter configured to receive a DC input from the battery or the DC input port and provide an AC output to the AC outlet;

a portable battery charging circuitry disposed in the housing, the battery charger circuitry coupled to at least one DC input and the internal battery, and providing battery charging current to portable batteries in the cavity.

2. The portable power station of claim 1, wherein the battery charging circuitry is adapted to distinguish between chargeable and non-chargeable batteries.

3. The portable power station of claim 1, further comprising:

a lid hingedly connected to the housing and adapted to cover the cavity;

a slide member disposed in the cavity, the slide member being movable to accommodate different size portable batteries;

a first set of recharging contacts disposed on a top side of the cavity and a corresponding set of battery contacts provided on a first side of the slide member; and

a second set of recharging contacts disposed on a bottom side of the cavity and a corresponding set of battery contacts provided on a second side of the slide member, opposite the first side of the slide member.

4. The portable power station of claim 1, further comprising:

a hand cranked dynamo coupled to the battery.

5. The portable power station of claim 1 further comprising a controller coupled to the portable battery charger, the battery, and the power inverter.

6. The portable power station of claim 1, further comprising a cigarette lighter adaptor coupled to one of the DC input port.

7. The portable power station of claim 6 further comprising at least one DC output port.

8. The portable power station of claim 7, wherein the DC output port is adapted to output a USB compatible power output.

9. The portable power station of claim 7 wherein the DC output port is adapted to charge a mobile telephone.

10. The portable power station of claim 2, wherein the portable battery charging circuitry is adapted to charge only chargeable batteries.

11. The portable power station of claim 7 wherein the power inverter is configured to receive an AC input from an AC input port and provide a DC output to the battery, the portable battery charging circuit, or a DC output port.

12. The portable power station of claim 1, further comprising:

a first set of indicator lights configured to indicate the status of at least one of the portable battery charger or the power inverter.

13. The portable power station of claim 1, further comprising:

a second set of indicator lights configured to indicate the status of at least one of the battery or the portable batteries.

14. The portable power station of claim 1, further comprising:

a display connected to the portable battery charging circuit.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing; and

circuitry disposed within the housing coupled to a battery, a portable battery charger, a power inverter, a controller, at least one of a AC or DC input port, and at least one of an AC or DC output port;

the battery adapted to receive a DC input from the DC input port or the power inverter and provide a DC output, and coupled to the controller, the portable battery charger, and at least one of the DC output ports;

the power inverter adapted to receive a DC or AC input from at least one of the AC inputs, the DC inputs, or the battery, and provide a DC or AC output, and coupled to the controller, the portable battery charger, and at least one of the AC or DC output ports;

the portable battery charger adapted to receive a DC input from at least one of the battery, the DC input port, or the power inverter charger, to contain at least one rechargeable battery and provide DC input to the at least one rechargeable battery; and

the controller adapted to receive DC input from at least one of the battery, the DC input port, or the power inverter, regulate the operation of the battery, the portable battery charger, and the power inverter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the portable battery charger is adapted to distinguish between rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a lid hingedly connected to the housing and adapted to cover the cavity, the lid including contours adapted to fit the contour of different size batteries to hold the batteries within the cavity.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a lid hingedly connected to the housing and adapted to cover the cavity;

a slide member disposed in the cavity, the slide member being movable to accommodate different size portable batteries;

a first set of recharging contacts disposed on a top side of the cavity and a corresponding set of battery contacts provided on a first side of the slide member; and

a second set of recharging contacts disposed on a bottom side of the cavity and a corresponding set of battery contacts provided on a second side of the slide member, opposite the first side of the slide member.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a cigarette lighter adaptor coupled to the DC input port.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a USB port configured to output DC power.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a set of indicator lights disposed on the housing configured to indicate the status of the least one of the battery, the portable battery charger, or the power inverter.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a set of indicator lights configured disposed on the housing to indicate the status of at least one of the battery, the portable batteries, or the power inverter.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a display disposed on the housing configured to indicate the status of at least one of the battery, the portable battery charger, or the power inverter.