Electrical Power Supply With Removable Plug-In Cartridge

• US 20140265931A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hatch Transformers
• Original Assignee: Hatch Transformers
• Inventors: Greenwood, Simon Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/838,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]

Abstract

A power supply for supplying electrical power at a predetermined level is provided. The power supply includes circuitry configured to receive an electrical input and produce an electrical output. The power supply further includes a housing with an opening configured to receive a removable plug-in cartridge. The removable plug-in cartridge is configured to limit the electrical power output to the predetermined level.

Claims

1. A power supply that provides electrical power at a predetermined level, the power supply comprising:

circuitry configured to receive an electrical input and produce an electrical output;

a housing having an opening configured to receive a removable plug-in cartridge configured to limit the electrical power output to the predetermined level.

2. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge limits the current output of the power supply to a predetermined current level.

3. The power supply of claim 2, further comprising the removable plug-in cartridge marked with a current value, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge is configured to limit the current level of the electrical output to the current value.

4. The power supply of claim 2, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge comprises circuitry designed to output a constant current despite fluctuations in the voltage and current levels of the electrical input.

5. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge limits the voltage output of the power supply to a predetermined voltage level.

6. The power supply of claim 5, further comprising the removable plug-in cartridge marked with a voltage value, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge is configured to limit the voltage level of the electrical output to the voltage value.

7. The power supply of claim 5, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge comprises circuitry designed to output a constant voltage despite fluctuations in the voltage and current levels of the electrical input.

8. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the circuitry includes two connectors, and wherein the removable plug-in cartridge has two electrical terminals, each designed to be inserted into a respective one of the two connectors.

9. The power supply of claim 8, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge comprises a resistive element.

10. The power supply of claim 8, configured to supply power for one of an LED lighting system, a CFL lighting system, and an HID lighting system.

11. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the electrical power output of the power supply ranges from 1 watt to 100 watts.

12. The power supply of claim 11, wherein the electrical input accommodated by the power supply ranges from 90 volts to 300 volts.

13. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge is configured to interrupt a flow path between one or more beams light sources and one or more respective photodiodes, wherein the pattern of light detected by the photodiodes determines a current or voltage value of the electrical output.

14. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the circuitry and the removable plug-in cartridge include corresponding inductively-coupled elements, wherein a parameter of the inductively-coupled elements determines a current or voltage value of the electrical output.

15. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the inductively-coupled elements include some combination of magnetic components and reed switches.

16. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the inductively-coupled elements include a Hall Effect device.

17. An apparatus for supplying electrical power, the apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to receive an electrical input and generate an electrical output for one of an LED lighting system, a CFL lighting system, and an HID lighting system;

a housing having an opening configured to receive a removable plug-in cartridge configured to limit the electrical power output to the predetermined level.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 configured as a constant-current power source.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 configured as a constant-voltage power source.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge either limits the current output of the power supply to a predetermined current level, or limits the voltage output of the power supply to a predetermined voltage level.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge comprises circuitry designed either to output a constant current despite fluctuations in the voltage and current levels of the electrical input, or to output a constant voltage despite fluctuations in the voltage and current levels of the electrical input.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge is a resistive element.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the circuitry includes two connectors, and the removable plug-in cartridge has two electrical terminals, each designed to be inserted into a respective one of the two connectors, and wherein the removable plug-in cartridge is either marked with a current value such that the removable plug-in cartridge is configured to limit the current level of the electrical output to the current value, or marked with a voltage value such that the removable plug-in cartridge is configured to limit the voltage level of the electrical output to the voltage value.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electrical power output of the power supply ranges from 1 watt to 100 watts, and the electrical input accommodated by the power supply ranges from 90 volts to 300 volts.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge is configured to interrupt a flow path between one or more beams light sources and one or more respective photodiodes, wherein the pattern of light detected by the photodiodes determines a current or voltage value of the electrical output.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the removable plug-in cartridge wherein the circuitry and the removable plug-in cartridge include corresponding inductively-coupled elements such that a parameter of the inductively-coupled elements determines a current or voltage value of the electrical output, and wherein the inductively-coupled elements include either some combination of magnetic components and reed switches, or one or more Hall Effect devices.