CHARGER
First Claim
1. A charger that converts a supply voltage from an AC power supply and charges a charging target, the charger comprising:
- a voltage conversion circuit configured to be connected to the AC power supply and to generate a DC voltage from the supply voltage in a starting state;
a pair of output terminals configured to supply the DC voltage output from the voltage conversion circuit to the charging target;
an auxiliary power supply interposed between a pair of electric paths connecting each of the output terminals and the voltage conversion circuit, and configured to receive power supplied from the voltage conversion circuit;
a voltage detection circuit configured to detect a terminal voltage at the auxiliary power supply and to output a detection result;
a voltage conversion control unit operated by receiving power supply from the auxiliary power supply, the voltage conversion control unit configured toreceive the detection result, andoutput a control signal that puts the voltage conversion circuit into the starting state in a period during which charging of the auxiliary power supply is necessary in a disconnected state in which the charging target is not connected to the pair of output terminals, and that puts the voltage conversion circuit into a stopping state in a period during which the charging of the auxiliary power supply is not necessary; and
a detection mechanism configured to detect a change in state from the disconnected state to a connected state in which the charging target is connected to the pair of output terminals, whereina first voltage that is an output voltage from the auxiliary power supply differs from a second voltage that is an input voltage to the charging target, andthe voltage conversion circuit separately outputs the first and second voltages,whereinthe voltage conversion circuit includes a converter that converts the supply voltage into the first and second voltages,the converter includes;
a power transformer that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding provided with a center tap;
a primary rectifier circuit that rectifies the supply voltage to generate the DC voltage;
an AC voltage generator that generates an AC voltage based on the DC voltage output from the primary rectifier circuit, and supplies the AC voltage to the primary winding; and
first and second secondary rectifier circuits that generate the first and second voltages by rectifying AC voltage induced in the secondary winding, respectively,the first secondary rectifier circuit is connected to both ends of the secondary winding and generates the first voltage, andthe second secondary rectifier circuit is connected to one end and the center tap of the secondary winding and generates the second voltage.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The charger includes a voltage conversion circuit that generates a DC voltage, output terminals that supply the DC voltage to a charging target, an auxiliary power supply interposed between a pair of electric paths connecting the output terminals and the voltage conversion circuit, a voltage detection circuit that detects a terminal voltage at the auxiliary power supply, a voltage conversion control unit operated by receiving power supply from the auxiliary power supply, the voltage conversion control unit configured to output a control signal that puts the voltage conversion circuit into a starting state in a period during which charging of the auxiliary power supply is necessary in a disconnected state in which the charging target is not connected to the output terminals, and that puts the voltage conversion circuit into a stopping state in a period during which the charging of the auxiliary power supply is not necessary, and a detection mechanism that detects a change in state from the disconnected state to a connected state in which the charging target is connected to the output terminals.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A charger that converts a supply voltage from an AC power supply and charges a charging target, the charger comprising:
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a voltage conversion circuit configured to be connected to the AC power supply and to generate a DC voltage from the supply voltage in a starting state; a pair of output terminals configured to supply the DC voltage output from the voltage conversion circuit to the charging target; an auxiliary power supply interposed between a pair of electric paths connecting each of the output terminals and the voltage conversion circuit, and configured to receive power supplied from the voltage conversion circuit; a voltage detection circuit configured to detect a terminal voltage at the auxiliary power supply and to output a detection result; a voltage conversion control unit operated by receiving power supply from the auxiliary power supply, the voltage conversion control unit configured to receive the detection result, and output a control signal that puts the voltage conversion circuit into the starting state in a period during which charging of the auxiliary power supply is necessary in a disconnected state in which the charging target is not connected to the pair of output terminals, and that puts the voltage conversion circuit into a stopping state in a period during which the charging of the auxiliary power supply is not necessary; and a detection mechanism configured to detect a change in state from the disconnected state to a connected state in which the charging target is connected to the pair of output terminals, wherein a first voltage that is an output voltage from the auxiliary power supply differs from a second voltage that is an input voltage to the charging target, and the voltage conversion circuit separately outputs the first and second voltages, wherein the voltage conversion circuit includes a converter that converts the supply voltage into the first and second voltages, the converter includes; a power transformer that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding provided with a center tap; a primary rectifier circuit that rectifies the supply voltage to generate the DC voltage; an AC voltage generator that generates an AC voltage based on the DC voltage output from the primary rectifier circuit, and supplies the AC voltage to the primary winding; and first and second secondary rectifier circuits that generate the first and second voltages by rectifying AC voltage induced in the secondary winding, respectively, the first secondary rectifier circuit is connected to both ends of the secondary winding and generates the first voltage, and the second secondary rectifier circuit is connected to one end and the center tap of the secondary winding and generates the second voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14)
a controller configured to receive the detection result, and output a control signal; and a voltage regulator configured to output a constant voltage to the controller.
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9. The charger according to claim 1, wherein
the voltage conversion circuit includes: -
a converter configured to convert the supply voltage into the DC voltage; and a signal transmitter configured to transmit the control signal to the converter.
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10. The charger according to claim 9, wherein
the converter includes: -
a power transformer that includes a primary winding and a secondary winding; a primary rectifier circuit that rectifies the supply voltage to generate the DC voltage; an AC voltage generator that generates an AC voltage based on the DC voltage output from the primary rectifier circuit, and supplies the AC voltage to the primary winding; and a secondary rectifier circuit that generates the DC voltage by rectifying the AC voltage induced in the secondary winding.
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13. The charger according to claim 1, wherein the voltage conversion control unit includes a secondary control unit provided with a storage, and
the secondary control unit stores information indicating that full charging of a rechargeable battery is detected in the storage, and the secondary control unit retains the information indicating that the full charging of the rechargeable battery is detected, but does not restart the charging of the rechargeable battery in an operating state of the secondary control unit. -
14. The charger according to claim 13, wherein the secondary control unit includes a microcomputer.
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12. (canceled)
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15. A charger that converts a supply voltage from an AC power supply and charges a charging target, the charger comprising:
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a voltage conversion circuit configured to be connected to the AC power supply and to generate a DC voltage from the supply voltage in a starting state; a pair of output terminals configured to supply the DC voltage output from the voltage conversion circuit to the charging target; an auxiliary power supply interposed between a pair of electric paths connecting each of the output terminals and the voltage conversion circuit, and configured to receive power supplied from the voltage conversion circuit; a voltage detection circuit configured to detect a terminal voltage at the auxiliary power supply and to output a detection result; a voltage conversion control unit operated by receiving power supply from the auxiliary power supply, the voltage conversion control unit configured to receive the detection result, and output a control signal that puts the voltage conversion circuit into the starting state in a period during which charging of the auxiliary power supply is necessary in a disconnected state in which the charging target is not connected to the pair of output terminals, and that puts the voltage conversion circuit into a stopping state in a period during which the charging of the auxiliary power supply is not necessary; and a detection mechanism configured to detect a change in state from the disconnected state to a connected state in which the charging target is connected to the pair of output terminals, wherein the detection mechanism includes the auxiliary power supply, a discharge route in which an electric charge accumulated in the auxiliary power supply is discharged to the charging target is formed by the change in state, and the change in state is detected based on a fluctuation in terminal voltage at the auxiliary power supply, the fluctuation in terminal voltage being associated with a formation of the discharge route. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification