Battery-Backed Power Interface Transformer for Low-Power Devices

• US 20100052612A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Raji, Reza, Dawes, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• 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

A power interface enables a low-power device to be powered from an alternating current (AC) wall receptacle or light socket with automatic backup battery charging. The power interface of an embodiment comprises a transformer module that receives an input signal. The device includes a battery module coupled to the transformer module, and the battery module includes battery charging circuitry coupled to a battery. The device comprises an output controller coupled to the transformer module and the battery module. The output controller includes detector circuitry that detects a state of the input signal. The output controller automatically controls coupling of one of a transformer module output and a battery module output to a device output according to the state of the input signal.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a transformer module that receives an input signal;

a battery module coupled to the transformer module, the battery module comprising battery charging circuitry coupled to a battery; and

an output controller coupled to the transformer module and the battery module, wherein the output controller comprises detector circuitry that detects a state of the input signal, wherein the output controller automatically controls coupling of one of a transformer module output and a battery module output to a device output according to the state of the input signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the transformer module comprises transformer circuitry, wherein the transformer circuitry receives the input signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the transformer circuitry comprises a step-down transformer that reduces a voltage of the input signal.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the transformer module comprises regulator circuitry coupled to the transformer circuitry.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein a regulator circuitry output is coupled to the detector circuitry and the output controller.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the battery charging circuitry is coupled to the regulator circuitry.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the input signal is an alternating current (AC) signal.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device output is an alternating current (AC) signal.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device output is a direct current (DC) signal.

10. A device comprising:

transformer circuitry, wherein the transformer circuitry receives an input signal;

regulator circuitry coupled to the transformer circuitry;

a battery module coupled to the regulator circuitry, the battery module comprising battery charging circuitry coupled to a battery; and

an output controller, wherein a first input of the output controller is coupled to a power output of the regulator circuitry, wherein a second input of the output controller is coupled to a battery output of the battery module, wherein the output controller automatically switches one of the power output and the battery output as a device output according to a state of the input signal.

11. The device of claim 10, comprising a detector coupled to the regulator circuitry and the output controller, wherein the detector provides a control signal to the controller in response to a detected state of the input signal.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the transformer circuitry comprises a step-down transformer that reduces a voltage of the input signal.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the input signal is an alternating current (AC) signal.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the device output is an alternating current (AC) signal.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the device output is a direct current (DC) signal.

16. A method comprising:

receiving an input signal at a device;

generating a first output signal by transforming the input signal;

charging a battery of the device with the first output signal;

providing a second output signal that is an output of the battery;

detecting a state of the input signal; and

automatically controlling an output of the device to be one of the first output signal and the second output signal according to the state of the input signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein automatically controlling comprises coupling the first output signal to the output of the device when the state of the input signal is present.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the charging of the battery occurs when the state of the input signal is present.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein automatically controlling comprises coupling the second output signal to the output of the device when the state of the input signal is absent.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the transforming comprises reducing a voltage of the input signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the transforming comprises regulating the voltage of the input signal.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the input signal is an alternating current (AC) signal, and the output of the device is one of an alternating current (AC) signal and a direct current (DC) signal.