ENERGY-SAVING POWER ADAPTER/CHARGER

• US 20090295327A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VoltStar Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VoltStar Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Rimdzius, Donald, McGinley, James, McGinley, Valerie L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,910,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

Power devices for electronic devices, such as chargers for portable rechargeable devices and/or AC adapters, are disclosed, each power device provided with a switch for de-powering at least a portion of the power device when the electronic device is either not drawing power or is disconnected from the power device.

Claims

1. A power device for supplying power to a portable rechargeable electronic device, the power device comprising:

a first portion for receiving electrical input power from a source, the input having an input voltage;

a second portion for delivering electrical output power to the electronic device, the output power having an output voltage;

a connector located on the second portion and removably connectable with the electronic device; and

a switch assembly located remote from the first portion, the switch assembly having a member movable to and between first and second positions corresponding to respective “

on” and

“

off”

states, wherein the power device receives the input power in the “

on”

state, and the power device draws no input power in the “

off”

state.

2. The power device of claim 1 wherein the switch assembly member is a throw.

3. The power device of claim 2 wherein the throw is a toggle or rocker throw.

4. The power device of claim 1 wherein the switch assembly member is a sheath longitudinally movable to and between the first and second positions.

5. The power device of claim 1 wherein switch assembly member is manually movable to both the first and second positions by a user.

6. The power device of claim 1 further including a cable extending between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the first portion includes:

first and second prongs for electrical communication with a receptacle of a power outlet,

circuitry electrically connected to the prongs and to the cable for changing the input power to the output power, and

a housing from which the prongs and cable extend, the circuitry disposed within the housing,

the cable includes a first pair of wires for delivering power to the electronic device and a second pair of wires for communicating with the switch assembly.

7. The power device of claim 6 wherein the second pair of wires is connected such that the switch in the second position disconnects a prong from at least a portion of the circuitry to prevent power from being drawn by the power device.

8. The power device of claim 6 wherein the switch assembly is located proximate the second portion and connector thereof.

9. A power device for supplying power to a portable rechargeable electronic device, the power device comprising:

a first portion for receiving electrical input power from a source, the input having an input voltage;

a second portion for delivering electrical output power to the electronic device, the output power having an output voltage;

circuitry for converting the input power voltage to the output power voltage and for determining an “

off”

state of the circuitry;

a connector located on the second portion and removably connectable with the electronic device; and

a switch assembly having powered terminals, the switch assembly responsive to movement of at least a movable portion thereof to electrically connect the terminals and to provide an output signal to activate the circuitry to the “

on”

state,

wherein the circuitry automatically turns the circuitry to the “

off”

state, the circuitry drawing no power when in the “

off”

state.

10. The power device of claim 9 wherein the switch assembly movable portion is biased to a first position and is movable to a second position by force applied by the user, cessation of the force permitting the movable portion to return to the first position, the switch assembly producing the output signal only when in the second position.

11. The power device of claim 9 wherein the switch assembly movable portion is a pushbutton spring-biased to a first position and is movable to a second position by force applied by the user, the pushbutton in the second position electrically connecting the terminals to produce the output signal, the output signal being a momentary signal from a momentary connection of the terminals, and releasing the pushbutton permits return thereof to the first position.

12. The power device of claim 9 wherein the switch assembly movable portion is an orientation-dependent switch.

13. The power device of claim 9 wherein the switch assembly movable portion is a motion-sensing switch.

14. The power device of claim 9 wherein the circuitry includes a timer programmed with a predetermined time period, the timer providing a timer signal to the circuitry at the conclusion of the time period, and the circuitry automatically changes to the “

off”

state in response to the timer signal.

15. The power device of claim 9 wherein the circuitry includes a power sensing portion programmed with a predetermined threshold power level, wherein the circuitry automatically changes to the “

off”

state in response to the output power being at or below the threshold power level.

16. The power device of claim 9 wherein the circuitry includes a latching relay that is closed in response to the switch assembly output signal, the latching relay being opened in response to the output power being at or below a threshold power level to change the circuitry to the “

off”

state.

17. The power device of claim 9 wherein the circuitry includes a solid state switch element that opens in response to the output power being at or below a threshold power level to change the circuitry to the “

off”

state.

18. The power device of claim 9 wherein the switch assembly is located remote from the first portion.

19. The power device of claim 18 wherein the switch assembly is located proximate the second portion.

20. A power device for supplying power to a portable rechargeable electronic device, the power device comprising:

a first portion for receiving electrical input power from a source, the input having an input voltage;

a second portion for delivering electrical output power to the electronic device, the output power having an output voltage;

circuitry for converting the input power voltage to the output power voltage and for determining an “

off”

state of the circuitry;

a connector located on the second portion and removably connectable with the electronic device; and

a switch assembly located remote from the first portion and having powered terminals, the switch assembly responsive to movement of at least a movable portion thereof to electrically connect the terminals and activate the circuitry to the “

on”

state,

wherein the circuitry automatically turns the circuitry to the “

off”

state, the circuitry drawing no power when in the “

off”

state.

21. The power device of claim 20 wherein the circuitry includes a timer programmed with a predetermined time period, the timer providing a timer signal to the circuitry at the conclusion of the time period, and the circuitry automatically changes to the “

off”

state in response to the timer signal.

22. The power device of claim 20 wherein the circuitry includes a power sensing portion programmed with a predetermined threshold power level, wherein the circuitry automatically changes to the “

off”

state in response to the output power being at or below the threshold power level.

23. The power device of claim 20 wherein the switch assembly provides an output signal to activate the circuitry to the “

on”

state, and the circuitry includes a latching relay that is closed in response to the switch assembly output signal, the latching relay being opened in response to the output power being at or below a threshold power level to change the circuitry to the “

off”

state.

24. The power device of claim 20 wherein the circuitry includes a solid state switch element that opens in response to the output power being at or below a threshold power level to change the circuitry to the “

off”

state.

25. A power device for supplying power to a portable rechargeable electronic device, the power device comprising:

a first portion for receiving electrical input power from a source, the input having an input voltage;

a second portion for delivering electrical output power to the electronic device, the output power having an output voltage;

circuitry for converting the input power voltage to the output power voltage and for determining an “

off”

state of the circuitry;

a connector located on the second portion and removably connectable with the electronic device; and

a switch assembly having powered terminals to change the circuitry to the “

on”

state,

wherein the circuitry automatically turns the circuitry to the “

off”

state, the circuitry drawing no power when in the “

off”

state.

26. The power device of claim 25 wherein the switch assembly movable portion is biased to a first position and is movable to a second position by force applied by the user to change the circuitry to the “

on”

state.

27. The power device of claim 26 wherein cessation of the force permitting the movable portion to return to the first position.

28. The power device of claim 25 wherein the circuitry includes a timer programmed with a predetermined time period, the timer providing a timer signal to the circuitry at the conclusion of the time period, and the circuitry automatically changes to the “

off”

state in response to the timer signal.

29. The power device of claim 25 wherein the circuitry includes a power sensing portion programmed with a predetermined threshold power level, wherein the circuitry automatically changes to the “

off”

state in response to the output power being at or below the threshold power level.

30. The power device of claim 25 wherein the circuitry includes a latching relay that is closed in response to the switch assembly changing the circuitry to the “

on”

state, the latching relay being opened in response to the output power being at or below a threshold power level to change the circuitry to the “

off”

state.

31. The power device of claim 25 wherein the circuitry includes a solid state switch element that opens in response to the output power being at or below a threshold power level to change the circuitry to the “

off”

state.

32. The power device of claim 25 wherein the switch assembly is located remote from the first portion.

33. The power device of claim 25 wherein the switch assembly is located proximate the second portion.