RECONFIGURABLE ENERGY STORAGE AND POWER SUPPLY DEVICE

• US 20130181661A1
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goal Zero LLC (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Goal Zero LLC (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Workman, Robert E., Workman, Erik R., Atkin, Joseph R., Ford, Walker, Krantz, Norman
• Granted Patent: US 9,312,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• 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: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

Charging devices, modular adapters, and circuits are provided. One charging device including a body including a rechargeable energy storage device and a housing. The housing includes at least one first coupling portion. The charging device further includes a modular adapter including a second coupling portion configured to be mated to the first coupling portion of the housing. When mated to the housing, the modular adapter is configured to be electrically connected to the rechargeable energy storage device. When the modular adapter is mated to the housing, the body and the modular adapter form a single integrated and substantially rigid structure.

Claims

1. A charging device comprising:

a body comprising a rechargeable energy storage device and a housing, wherein the housing comprises at least one first coupling portion; and

a modular adapter comprising a second coupling portion configured to be mated to the first coupling portion of the housing, wherein, when mated to the housing, the modular adapter is configured to be electrically connected to the rechargeable energy storage device,

wherein, when the modular adapter is mated to the housing, the body and the modular adapter form a single substantially rigid structure.

2. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a first plurality of contacts and the modular adapter further comprises a second plurality of contacts, wherein the modular adapter is configured to be electrically connected to the rechargeable energy storage device through the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts, and wherein one of the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts comprises two or more conductive concentric rings.

3. The charging device of claim 2, wherein a first ring of the two or more conductive concentric rings is configured to transmit power at a first voltage and a second ring of the two or more conductive concentric rings is configured to transmit power at a second voltage that is different than the first voltage.

4. The charging device of claim 3, wherein the first voltage is approximately 3.7 volts and the second voltage is approximately 5 volts.

5. The charging device of claim 2, wherein the other of the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts comprises a plurality of prongs, wherein at least one of the plurality of prongs is configured to contact each of the plurality of conductive concentric rings when the modular adapter is mated to the housing.

6. The charging device of claim 1, wherein the modular adapter comprises an interface, and wherein at least a portion of the interface is configured to pivot between a use position and a storage position.

7. The charging device of claim 1, further comprising a mating adapter, wherein the charging device comprises a first charging device and the rechargeable energy storage device comprises a second rechargeable energy storage device, and wherein the mating adapter is configured to mate the first charging device to a second charging device and electrically connect the first rechargeable energy storage device to a second rechargeable energy storage device of the second charging device, and wherein, when the first charging device and the second charging device are mated, a power capacity of the mated first charging device and second charging device comprises a combined power capacity of the first rechargeable energy storage device and the second rechargeable energy storage device.

8. A charging device comprising:

a body comprising a rechargeable energy storage device and a housing, wherein the housing comprises at least one first coupling portion; and

a modular adapter comprising a second coupling portion configured to be mated to the first coupling portion of the housing, wherein, when mated to the housing, the modular adapter is configured to be electrically connected to the rechargeable energy storage device,

wherein, when the modular adapter is mated to the housing, the body and the modular adapter form a single substantially rigid structure, and

wherein the body comprises a plurality of contacts, wherein the plurality of contacts comprises a first set of one or more contacts that are configured to provide power from the rechargeable energy storage device to the modular adapter at a first voltage, and wherein the plurality of contacts comprises a second set of one or more contacts that are configured to provide power from the rechargeable energy storage device to the modular adapter at a second voltage that is different than the first voltage.

9. The charging device of claim 8, wherein the modular adapter comprises a plurality of concentric rings configured to mate with two or more of the plurality of contacts of the body.

10. A modular adapter for a charging device comprising:

a modular adapter body comprising a first coupling portion configured to be mated to a corresponding second coupling portion of a housing of the charging device, wherein, when mated to the housing, the modular adapter is configured to be electrically connected to a rechargeable energy storage device located within the housing,

wherein, when the modular adapter is mated to the housing, the housing and the modular adapter form a single substantially rigid structure.

11. The modular adapter of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of conductive concentric rings configured to electrically connect the modular adapter to the rechargeable energy storage device through a plurality of contacts of the charging device.

12. The modular adapter of claim 11, wherein a first ring of the plurality of conductive concentric rings is configured to transmit power at a first voltage and a second ring of the plurality of conductive concentric rings is configured to transmit power at a second voltage that is different than the first voltage.

13. The modular adapter of claim 12, wherein the first voltage is approximately 3.7 volts and the second voltage is approximately 5 volts.

14. The modular adapter of claim 10, further comprising an interface, wherein at least a portion of the interface is configured to pivot between a use position and a storage position.

15. A charging device comprising:

a circuit comprising a rechargeable energy storage device and a plurality of contacts that are electrically connected to the rechargeable energy storage device, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit power at a first voltage through at least one first contact of the plurality of contacts, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit power at a second voltage through at least one second contact of the plurality of contacts, wherein the first contact is configured to mate with a first conductive concentric ring of one or more modular accessories associated with the first voltage and the second contact is configured to mate with a second conductive concentric ring of one or more modular accessories associated with a second voltage.

16. The charging device of claim 15, wherein the first voltage is approximately 3.7 volts and the second voltage is approximately 5 volts.

17. The charging device of claim 15, wherein the circuit is configured to transmit power at the first voltage through a third contact, wherein the third contact is positioned equidistant with the first contact from a center point of an end cross-section of the charging device and is configured to mate with the first conductive concentric ring.

18. A modular adapter for a charging device comprising:

a modular adapter body comprising a first coupling portion configured to be mated to a corresponding second coupling portion of a housing of the charging device, wherein, when mated to the housing, the modular adapter is configured to be electrically connected to a rechargeable energy storage device located within the housing; and

a plurality of conductive concentric rings configured to electrically connect the modular adapter to the rechargeable energy storage device through a plurality of contacts of the charging device.

19. The modular adapter of claim 18, wherein a first ring of the plurality of conductive concentric rings is configured to transmit power at a first voltage and a second ring of the plurality of conductive concentric rings is configured to transmit power at a second voltage that is different than the first voltage.

20. The modular adapter of claim 19, wherein the first voltage is approximately 3.7 volts and the second voltage is approximately 5 volts.

21. A modular adapter for a charging device comprising:

an interface comprising a first conductor and a second conductor and configured to transmit power between the charging device and a device connected to the interface;

an adapter base comprising a plurality of contacts configured to be electrically coupled with contacts of the charging device;

a first rigid post coupled to a first contact of the adapter base;

a second rigid post coupled to a second contact of the adapter base;

a first pin configured to couple the first rigid post to the first conductor of the interface, such that the first pin and the first rigid post provide a conductive path from the first conductor of the interface to the first contact of the adapter base;

a second pin configured to couple the second rigid post to the second conductor of the interface, such that the second pin and the second rigid post provide a conductive path from the second conductor of the interface to the second contact of the adapter base;

wherein the interface is configured to pivot about an axis defined by the first pin and the second pin.

22. The modular adapter of claim 21, further comprising:

a first spring configured to press the first pin against the first rigid post; and

a second spring configured to press the second pin against the second rigid post.

23. The modular adapter of claim 21, wherein the interface is configured to pivot between a use position and a storage position, and wherein the modular adapter further comprises a stop member configured to press against a portion of the interface and provide resistance to releasably secure the interface in at least one of the use position and the storage position.