Portable Battery Operated Power Supply

• US 20080284370A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Techtium Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Techtium Ltd.
• Inventors: Manor, Dror, Weinstein, Guy
• Application Number:
  US11/908,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284370A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A portable battery-powered power supply or charger for use with electronic devices containing a primary or secondary battery. In order to control the current flow into and out of its battery, the portable power supply uses a bidirectional charge controller. The battery is installed in a housing which preferably has a single connector port to which a flexible current lead may be plugged. The bidirectional charge controller enables the battery either to supply current to the electronic device, to charge the device'"'"'s internal battery, or it allows the battery, if it is a secondary battery, to be charged by connection to an externally powered charger, such as a wall mains adapter. Both of these functions are achieved through a single connection port.

Claims

1. A portable power supply for a battery operated electronic device, comprising:

a housing for containing a removable rechargeable battery;

a bidirectional charge controller controlling current flow into and out of said rechargeable battery; and

a single connecting port for inputting current through said bidirectional charge controller to said rechargeable battery from an external power supply, and for outputting current from said rechargeable battery through said bidirectional charge controller to said electronic device.

2. A portable power supply according to claim 1 and wherein said rechargeable battery has a first terminal voltage, and said device requires a second voltage for operation, and said bidirectional charge controller converts current output from said rechargeable battery at said first terminal voltage to said second voltage for powering said device.

3. A portable power supply according to claim 1 and wherein said device has an internal rechargeable battery for operation, and wherein said portable power supply battery has a first terminal voltage, and said device battery has a second terminal voltage, and said bidirectional charge controller converts current output from said portable power supply battery at said first terminal voltage to said second voltage for charging said device battery.

4. A portable power supply according to claim 2 and wherein said first terminal voltage is lower than said second terminal voltage.

5. A portable power supply according to claim 1 and wherein said bidirectional charge controller determines periodically whether said connecting port is connected to an external power supply to receive charge current or to an electronic device to supply current.

6. A portable power supply according to claim 5 and wherein said bidirectional charge controller disconnects said rechargeable battery from said connection port for a predetermined time interval, and determines whether any voltage appearing on said connection port remains essentially constant during said predetermined time interval or shows a drop during said predetermined time interval.

7. A portable power supply according to claim 6 and wherein said predetermined time interval is less than 500 milliseconds.

8. A portable power supply according to claim 6 and wherein said voltage drop during said predetermined time interval is at least 300 millivolts.

9. A portable power supply according to claim 3 and wherein said first terminal voltage is lower than said second terminal voltage.

10. A portable power supply according to claim 1 wherein a rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

11. A portable power supply according to claim 2 wherein said rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

12. A portable power supply according to claim 3 wherein a rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

13. A portable power supply according to claim 4 wherein a rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

14. A portable power supply according to claim 5 wherein a rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

15. A portable power supply according to claim 6 wherein said rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

16. A portable power supply according to claim 7 wherein said rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

17. A portable power supply according to claim 8 wherein said rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.

18. A portable power supply according to claim 9 wherein said rechargeable battery is removably disposed within said housing.