Portable Rechargeable Power Supply

• US 20130200841A1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tsuga Engineering, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tsuga Engineering, LLC
• Inventors: Krones, Daniel, Farkas, George, Ellis, Wesley
• Granted Patent: US 9,362,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• 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 7/0032 disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A portable power supply adapted to be connected to an external power source and to an electronic device comprises a main module comprising a battery, a satellite module comprising an input port, and output port, and an interface panel, and a tether cable, and a controller. The controller a first mode to allow the battery to be charged when the external power supply is connected to the input port, a second mode to allow power to be supplied to the electronic device from the battery when the electronic device is connected to the output port, and a third mode to allow the battery to be charged and power to be supplied to the electronic device when the external power supply is connected to the input port and the electronic device is connected to the output port.

Claims

1. A portable power supply adapted to be connected to an external power source and to an electronic device, the portable supply comprising:

a main module comprising a main board;

a satellite module comprising a satellite board and defining an interface system;

a tether cable comprising a plurality of cable conductors operatively connected between the main board and the satellite board; and

an electrical circuit having a first portion mounted on the main board and a second portion mounted on the satellite board, where the first portion comprises a rechargeable energy storage device;

whereby

the electrical circuit and the plurality of cable conductors allow the rechargeable energy storage device to be charged by connecting the external power supply to the interface system; and

the electrical circuit and the plurality of cable connectors allow power to be supplied to the portable electronic device by connecting the external power supply to the interface system.

2. A portable power supply as recited in claim 1, in which the interface system comprises:

an input port, where the external power supply is connected to the input port to charge the rechargeable energy storage device; and

an output port, where the portable power electronic device is connected to the output port when power is supplied to the portable electronic device.

3. A portable power supply as recited in claim 1, in which the interface system comprises an indicator panel for indicating a status of at least one characteristic of the portable power supply.

4. A portable power supply as recited in claim 2, in which the interface system further comprises an indicator panel for indicating a status of at least one characteristic of the portable power supply.

5. A portable power supply as recited in claim 1, in which:

the rechargeable energy storage device is a battery; and

the electrical circuit comprises;

a battery charger operatively connected to the battery and the input port, and

a power converter operatively connected to the battery and the output port.

6. A portable power supply as recited in claim 2, in which:

the rechargeable energy storage device is a battery; and

the electrical circuit comprises

a first satellite connector that forms the input port,

a second satellite connector that forms the output port,

a battery charger operatively connected to the battery and the first satellite connector, and

a power converter operatively connected to the battery and the second satellite connector.

7. A portable power supply as recited in claim 6, in which the electrical circuit further comprises a controller operatively connected to the battery charger and the power converter.

8. A portable power supply as recited in claim 7, in which:

the electrical circuit comprises at least one sensor for generating at least one data signal based on at least one parameter of the portable power supply; and

the controller comprises a software program for generating at least one control signal based on the at least one data signal for controlling at least one of the battery charger and the power converter.

9. A portable power supply as recited in claim 6, in which the power converter is a boost converter.

10. A portable power supply as recited in claim 2, in which:

the rechargeable energy storage device is a battery; and

the electrical circuit comprises

a first satellite connector that forms the input port,

a second satellite connector that forms the output port,

a battery charger operatively connected to the battery,

a power converter operatively connected to the battery,

an input switch operatively connected between the input port and the battery charger, and

an output switch operatively connected between the output port and the power converter.

11. A portable power supply as recited in claim 10, in which the electrical circuit further comprises a controller operatively connected to the battery charger, the power converter, the input switch, and the output switch.

12. A portable power supply as recited in claim 11, in which:

the electrical circuit comprises at least one sensor for generating at least one data signal based on at least one parameter of the portable power supply; and

the controller comprises a software program for generating at least one control signal based on the at least one data signal for controlling at least one of the battery charger, the power converter, the input switch, and the output switch.

13. A portable power supply as recited in claim 10, in which the power converter is a boost converter.

14. A portable power supply adapted to be connected to an external power source and to an electronic device, the portable supply comprising:

a main module comprising a battery;

a satellite module comprising

an input port,

an output port, and

an interface panel;

a tether cable; and

a controller;

whereby

the controller operates in

a first mode to allow the battery to be charged when the external power supply is connected to the input port;

a second mode to allow power to be supplied to the electronic device from the battery when the electronic device is connected to the output port; and

a third mode to allow the battery to be charged and power to be supplied to the electronic device when the external power supply is connected to the input port and the electronic device is connected to the output port.

15. A portable power supply as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a battery charger operatively connected to the battery and the input port, and

a power converter operatively connected to the battery and the output port;

whereby

the controller controls the battery charger to the battery in the first mode; and

the controller operates the power converter to supply power to the electronic device in the second mode.

16. A portable power supply as recited in claim 14, further:

at least one sensor for generating at least one data signal associated with at least one parameter of the portable power supply; and

the controller comprises a software program for generating at least one control signal based on the at least one data signal for controlling at least one of the battery charger and the power converter.

17. A portable power supply as recited in claim 15, in which the power converter is a boost converter.

18. A portable power supply as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a first satellite connector that forms the input port;

a second satellite connector that forms the output port;

a battery charger operatively connected to the battery;

a power converter operatively connected to the battery;

an input switch operatively connected between the input port and the battery charger; and

an output switch operatively connected between the output port and the power converter.

19. A method of providing power from an external power source to an electronic device, method comprising the steps of:

providing a main module comprising a battery;

providing a satellite module comprising

a input port,

an output port, and

an interface panel;

connecting a tether cable between the main module and the satellite module;

when the external power supply is connected to the input port and the electronic device is connected to the output port, supplying power to at least one of the electronic device and the battery; and

operating the interface panel to indicate at least a status of the battery.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

providing a first satellite connector to form the input port;

providing a second satellite connector to form the output port;

operatively connecting a battery charger to the battery;

operatively connecting a power converter to the battery;

operatively connecting an input switch between the input port and the battery charger;

operatively connecting an output switch between the output port and the power converter;

generating at least one data signals based on at least one parameter of the portable power supply; and

generating at least one control signal based on the at least one data signal for controlling at least one of the battery charger, the power converter, the input switch, and the output switch.