POWER ADAPTER WITH INTERNAL BATTERY

• US 20110074360A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Falkenburg, David Robbins, Nugent, Michael, Kerr, Duncan
• Granted Patent: US 8,450,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

An adapter including an associated battery capable of powering an electronic device. The power adapter typically includes the battery as an integral component that is connected to a plug or other interface capable of mating with a power source, such as a wall socket. Thus, the adapter battery may provide power either to operate the device or charge a battery within (or otherwise associated with) the device even if the adapter is not connected to a power source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing power to an electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a battery operatively connected to the processor;

a power output operatively connected to the battery and configurable to be connected to the electronic device;

a relay operatively connected to the battery and the processor; and

a power input operatively connected to the battery and the relay.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing enclosing at least the processor, battery and switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the relay is operative to divert power from the power input to the power output, thereby bypassing the battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is operatively connected to the relay and controls bypassing the battery.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control line operatively connected to the processor and configurable to be operatively connected to a second processor within the electronic device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control line and the power output are contained within a single sheath.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the single sheath terminates in a magnetic connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a converter operatively connected to the power source;

a switch operatively connected to the converter and the switch;

a charger operatively connected to the relay and the battery, the charger between the relay and the battery;

a boost converter operatively connected to the charger and the switch, the boost converter between the charger and the switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the power switch is operative to prevent power from being outputted on the power output; and

the power switch is further operative to selectively supply power to a second power output.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in the event the adapter is not connected to the power source, determining if a charge of an electronic device battery exceeds a first threshold;

in the event the charge of the electronic device battery exceeds the first threshold, determining if a charge of the internal adapter battery exceeds a second threshold; and

in the event the charge of the internal adapter battery exceeds the second threshold, powering the electronic device from the internal adapter battery.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in the event the charge of the internal adapter battery does not exceed the second threshold, power the electronic device from the electronic device battery.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

in the event the charge of the electronic device battery does not exceed the first threshold, determining if the charge of the electronic device battery exceeds a third threshold;

in the event the charge of the electronic device battery exceeds the third threshold, determining if the charge of the internal adapter battery exceeds the second threshold; and

in the event the charge of the internal adapter battery exceeds the second threshold, charging the electronic device battery from the internal adapter battery.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in the event the charge of the internal adapter battery does not exceed the second threshold, suspending an operation of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in the event the charge of the electronic device battery does not exceed the first threshold, determining if the charge of the internal adapter battery exceeds a fourth threshold;

in the event the charge of the internal adapter battery exceeds the fourth threshold, operating the electronic device from the internal adapter battery; and

in the event the charge of the internal adapter battery does not exceeds the fourth threshold, suspending an operation of the electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second threshold and fourth threshold are the same.

10. A method for powering an electronic device from an adapter having an internal adapter battery, the method comprising:

determining if the adapter is connected to a power source;

in the event the adapter is connected to the power source, determine if the device is connected to the adapter;

in the event the device is connected to the adapter, operating the device from the power source; and

in the event the device is not connected to the adapter, charging the internal adapter battery.