PORTABLE POWER CHARGER WITH TWO-WAY CHARGING INTERFACE

• US 20130076298A1
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bollinger Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Halo2Cloud, LLC (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Garold C., Weinstein, Nathan Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,973,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/085 Pocket lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• 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

A portable power charger having an internal rechargeable battery is provided with a power connection port than can act in a power input mode when the charger is connected with an external power source via the power connection port and in a power output mode when at least one electronic device is connected to the charger via the power connection port. The power charger may be connected with both an external power source and an electronic device via the power connection port at the same time, wherein the charge supplied from the external power source recharges the charger and any electronic device connected to the charger. The charger also can automatically turn on if a connector cable is connected to the power connection port with either an external power supply or an electronic device connected at the other end of the cable to supply or draw power through the cable.

Claims

1. A portable charger unit for recharging at least one electronic device having a rechargeable internal battery, said portable charger unit comprising:

a charger housing internally storing a rechargeable battery; and

a power connection port operatively connected to the internal battery capable of acting as a power input and a power output depending on what is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port;

wherein said charger unit acts as a power input when the power connection port is connected to an external power source that provides an electrical charge to the charger unit, and said charge is used for recharging the internal battery when the charger unit is connected to said power source via the power connection port;

wherein said charger unit acts as a power output when the power connection port is connected to at least one electronic device, and a charge is provided from the internal battery of the charger unit to the electronic device to recharge the internal battery of said electronic device when said electronic device is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port.

2. The portable charger unit according to claim 1, further comprising a connector cable capable of connecting the charger unit with an external power source and at least one electronic device at the same time via the power connection port.

3. The portable charger unit according to claim 2, wherein the connector cable comprises:

a first end having an interface adapted for connection with the power connection port;

a second end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the external power source and the at least one electronic device; and

a third end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the at least one electronic device and a second electronic device if the at least one electronic device is already connected to the second end of the connector cable.

4. The portable charger unit according to claim 2, wherein the charger unit automatically turns on when the first end of the connector cable is connected to the power connection port and either an external power source or at least one electronic device is connected to at least one of the second end and the third end of the connector cable.

5. The portable charger unit according to claim 4, wherein the charger unit automatically turns off if one of the following shut-off conditions occurs:

(i) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and an external power source, the internal battery of the charger unit is fully charged;

(ii) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and at least one electronic device, the internal battery of the at least one electronic device is fully charged; and

(iii) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and an external power source and at least one electronic device at the same time the internal battery of the charger unit and the internal battery of the at least one electronic device are fully charged.

6. The portable charger unit according to claim 5, wherein the charger unit automatically turns off after a predesignated time delay following the occurrence of one of the shut-off conditions.

7. The portable charger unit according to claim 2, wherein when the charger unit is connected to the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time via the connector cable, the power connection port acts as a power input to recharge the internal battery of the charger unit from the external power source;

and

wherein the internal battery of the electronic device is also recharged from the external power source via the charger unit.

8. The portable charger unit according to claim 1, further comprising a processing unit operatively connected to the internal battery for controlling recharging of the internal battery when said charger unit is connected to an external power source via the power connection port and said port acts as a power input.

9. The portable charger unit according to claim 8, wherein said processing unit controls recharging of at least one electronic device connected to the charger unit via the power connection port and said port acts as a power output.

10. The portable charger unit according to claim 9, wherein the power connection port acts as a power input when connected to the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time, and

wherein the processing unit directs a charge to the at least one electronic device from the external power source via the charger unit when the power connection port of the charger unit is connected to the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time.

11. The portable charger unit according to claim 10, wherein the power connection port switches from acting as a power input to acting as a power output when the external power source is disconnected from the power connection port while the at least one electronic device remains connected to the power connection port, and

wherein a charge is directed form the internal battery of the charger unit to the at least one electronic device.

12. The portable charger unit according to claim 8, further comprising power indicator means provided on the charger housing and operatively controlled by the processing unit to indicate the power capacity in the internal battery of the charger unit.

13. A portable charger unit for recharging at least one electronic device having a rechargeable internal battery, said portable charger unit comprising:

a charger housing internally storing a rechargeable battery;

a power connection port operatively connected to the internal battery capable of acting as a power input and a power output depending on what is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port; and

a connector cable having a first end adaptable for connection with the power connection port and at least a second free end capable of connecting the charger unit with at least one of an external power source and at least one electronic device;

wherein said charger unit acts as a power input when the power connection port is connected to an external power source that provides an electrical charge to the charger unit via the connector cable, and said charge is used for recharging the internal battery when the charger unit is connected to said power source; and

wherein said charger unit acts as a power output when the power connection port is connected to at least one electronic device via the connector cable, and a charge is provided from the internal battery of the charger unit to the electronic device to recharge the internal battery of said electronic device when said electronic device is connected to the charger unit.

14. The portable charger unit according to claim 13, wherein the connector cable is capable of connecting the charger unit with the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time via the power connection port.

15. The portable charger unit according to claim 14, wherein the connector cable comprises:

a first end having an interface adapted for connection with the power connection port;

a second end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the external power source and the at least one electronic device; and

a third end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the at least one electronic device and a second electronic device if the at least one electronic device is already connected to the second end of the connector cable.

16. The portable charger unit according to claim 13, wherein the charger unit automatically turns on when the first end of the connector cable is connected to the power connection port and either an external power source or at least one electronic device is connected to the second free end of the connector cable.

17. The portable charger unit according to claim 16, wherein the charger unit automatically turns off if one of the following shut-off conditions occurs:

(i) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and an external power source, the internal battery of the charger unit is fully charged;

(ii) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and at least one electronic device, the internal battery of the at least one electronic device is fully charged; and

(iii) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and an external power source and at least one electronic device at the same time the internal battery of the charger unit and the internal battery of the at least one electronic device are fully charged.

18. The portable charger unit according to claim 17, wherein the charger unit automatically turns off after a predesignated time delay following the occurrence of one of the shut-off conditions.

19. The portable charger unit according to claim 13, wherein when the charger unit is connected to the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time via the connector cable, the power connection port acts as a power input to recharge the internal battery of the charger unit from the external power source;

and

wherein the internal battery of the electronic device is also recharged from the external power source via the charger unit.

20. The portable charger unit according to claim 13, further comprising a processing unit operatively connected to the internal battery for controlling recharging of the internal battery when said charger unit is connected to an external power source via the power connection port and said port acts as a power input.

21. The portable charger unit according to claim 20, wherein said processing unit controls recharging of at least one electronic device connected to the charger unit via the power connection port and said port acts as a power output.

22. The portable charger unit according to claim 21, wherein the connector cable is capable of connecting the charger unit with the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time via the power connection port;

wherein the power connection port acts as a power input when connected to the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time, and

wherein the processing unit directs a charge to the at least one electronic device from the external power source via the charger unit when the power connection port of the charger unit is connected to the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time.

23. The portable charger unit according to claim 22, wherein the power connection port switches from acting as a power input to acting as a power output when the external power source is disconnected from the power connection port while the at least one electronic device remains connected to the power connection port, and

wherein a charge is directed form the internal battery of the charger unit to the at least one electronic device.

24. The portable charger unit according to claim 20, further comprising power indicator means provided on the charger housing and operatively controlled by the processing unit to indicate the power capacity in the internal battery of the charger unit.

25. A method for using a portable power charger having a rechargeable internal battery operatively connected to a power connection port capable of operating in a power input mode and a power output mode, said method comprising:

connecting the power charger to a first end of a connector cable via the power connection port of the power charger;

placing the power charger in the power input mode if a second end of the connector cable is connected to an external power source, whereby an electrical charge is provided to the internal battery from the external power source to recharge the internal battery; and

placing the power charger in the power output mode if the second end of the connector cable is connected to at least one electronic device having an internal battery, whereby an electrical charge is provided from the internal battery of the power charger to recharge the internal battery of the at least one electronic device.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

determining if the second end of the connector cable is connected to one of the external power source and the at least one electronic device, and if a third end of the connector cord is simultaneously connected to the other of the external power source and the at least one electronic device; and

if so

placing the power charger in the power input mode.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of:

simultaneously recharging the internal battery of the power charger from the external power source and directing a charge from the external power source to the at least one electronic device connected to the power charger via the connector cable from the external power source.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

switching the power charger from the power input mode to the power output mode if the power charger is disconnected from the external power source but still connected to the at least one electronic device; and

providing an electrical charge from the internal battery of the power charger to recharge the internal battery of the at least one electronic device.

29. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

switching the power charger from the power output mode to the power input mode if, after the power charger is already connected to the at least one electronic device to provide an electrical charge to the at least one electronic device from the internal battery of the power charger, the power charger is connected to the external power source to supply an electrical charge to the power charger from the external power source.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:

charging the at least one electronic device from the external power source via the power charger.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of:

waiting until the at least one electronic device already connected to the power charger is already fully charged before switching the power charger from the power output mode to the power input mode and thereafter charging the internal battery of the power charger from the external power source.

32. A method for using a portable power charger having a rechargeable internal battery and a processing unit each operatively connected to a power connection port, said method comprising:

determining, using the processing unit, if a connector cable is connected to the power connection port; and

, if so

determining, using the processing unit, if the connector cable is also connected to at least one of (i) an external power source supplying an electrical charge through the connector cable, and (ii) an electronic device attempting to draw an electrical charge through the connector cable; and

, if so

turning on the power charger.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of:

shutting off the power charging if the internal battery of the power charger is fully charged and if the internal battery of any electronic device connected to the power charger via the connector cable is fully charged.

34. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

determining, using the processing unit, if any electronic device is still connected to the connector cable;

confirming if the internal battery of the power charger is fully charged, and if the internal battery of any electronic device still connected to the connector cable is fully charged; and

, if so

shutting off the power charger after a time delay.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the power charger is capable of operating in a power input mode and a power output mode, said method further comprising the steps of:

placing the power charger in the power input mode if the connector cable is connected to an external power source, whereby an electrical charge is provided to the internal battery from the external power source to recharge the internal battery; and

placing the power charger in the power output mode if the connector cable is connected to at least one electronic device having an internal battery, whereby an electrical charge is provided from the internal battery of the power charger to recharge the internal battery of the at least one electronic device.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

determining if a free end of the connector cable is connected to one of the external power source and the at least one electronic device, and if another free end of the connector cord is simultaneously connected to the other of the external power source and the at least one electronic device; and

if so placing the power charger in the power input mode.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

switching the power charger from the power input mode to the power output mode if the power charger is disconnected from the external power source but still connected to the at least one electronic device; and

providing an electrical charge from the internal battery of the power charger to recharge the internal battery of the at least one electronic device.

38. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of:

switching the power charger from the power output mode to the power input mode if, after the power charger is already connected to the at least one electronic device to provide an electrical charge to the at least one electronic device from the internal battery of the power charger, the power charger is connected to the external power source to supply an electrical charge to the power charger from the external power source.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising the step of:

charging the at least one electronic device from the external power source via the power charger.