POWER DEVICE AND STORAGE APPARATUS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power adapter to connect a host apparatus to an external storage apparatus through USB cables via connectors, the power adapter comprising:
- a main USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to a main USB cable extending from the host apparatus;
an assist USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to an assist USB cable extending from the host apparatus;
a drive USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to a USB cable extending from the storage apparatus; and
a power supply current combining circuit that combines a current from the power supply terminal of the main USB connector and a current from the power supply terminal of the assist USB connector so as to output a combined current to the power supply terminal of the drive USB connector and that mutually inputs/outputs signals between the signal terminals of the main USB connector and the signal terminals of the drive USB connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One aspect of the embodiments utilizes a power adapter includes a main USB connector, an assist USB connector, a drive USB connector, and a power supply current combining circuit that combines a current from a power supply terminal of the main USB connector and a current from a power supply terminal of the assist USB connector so as to output a combined current to a power supply terminal of the drive USB connector. The adapter mutually inputs/outputs signals between the signal terminals of the main USB connector and the signal terminals of the drive USB connector.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power adapter to connect a host apparatus to an external storage apparatus through USB cables via connectors, the power adapter comprising:
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a main USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to a main USB cable extending from the host apparatus; an assist USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to an assist USB cable extending from the host apparatus; a drive USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to a USB cable extending from the storage apparatus; and a power supply current combining circuit that combines a current from the power supply terminal of the main USB connector and a current from the power supply terminal of the assist USB connector so as to output a combined current to the power supply terminal of the drive USB connector and that mutually inputs/outputs signals between the signal terminals of the main USB connector and the signal terminals of the drive USB connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A power adapter to connect a host apparatus to an external storage apparatus through USB cables via connectors, the power adapter comprising:
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a main USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to a main USB cable extending from the host apparatus; an assist USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to an assist USB cable extending from the host apparatus; a DC jack that includes a power supply terminal and a ground terminal and that is externally connected to an adapter cable extending from an AC adapter to convert AC power to DC power; a drive USB connector that includes a power supply terminal, a ground terminal, and a pair of signal terminals and that is externally connected to a USB cable extending from the storage apparatus; and a power supply current combining circuit that combines a current from the power supply terminal of the main USB connector, a current from the power supply terminal of the assist USB connector, and a current from the power supply terminal of the DC jack so as to output a combined current to the power supply terminal of the drive USB connector and that mutually inputs/outputs signals between the signal terminals of the main USB connector and the signal terminals of the drive USB connector. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A storage apparatus externally connected to a host apparatus via a USB interface, the storage apparatus comprising:
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a first USB connector from which a power supply line, a ground line, and a pair of signal lines extend; a second USB connector from which only a power supply line and a ground line extend; a first MOS-FET provided in the power supply line extending from the first USB connector; a second MOS-FET provided in the power supply line extending from the second USB connector; an output power supply line that connects output sides of the first and second MOS-FETs in common and that connects to a load; a first operational amplifier that receives an input-side voltage and an output-side voltage to the first MOS-FET, that performs control to turn on the first MOS-FET so as to supply power to the load when the input-side voltage is the same as or higher than the output-side voltage, and that performs control to turn off the first MOS-FET so as to prevent a reverse current to the input side when the input-side voltage is lower than the output-side voltage; a second operational amplifier that receives an input-side voltage and an output-side voltage to the second MOS-FET, that performs control to turn on the second MOS-FET so as to supply power to the load when the input-side voltage is the same as or higher than the output-side voltage, and that performs control to turn off the second MOS-FET so as to prevent a reverse current to the input side when the input-side voltage is lower than the output-side voltage; and a booster circuit that boosts a power supply voltage supplied through the power supply line extending from the first USB connector or the second USB connector and that supplies the boosted power supply voltage to the first and second operational amplifiers. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification