Smart Charging Cable and Method for Operating a Portable Electronic Device

• US 20150357834A1
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe BIC
• Original Assignee: Societe BIC
• Inventors: McLean, Gerard F., Iaconis, Jean-Louis
• Granted Patent: US 9,800,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters

Abstract

A smart charging cable and a method of operating the cable are disclosed. The cable can analyze any input voltage to determine whether the input voltage is sufficient to charge the battery of an electronic device and/or to operate the electronic device. If not, the cable is capable of transforming the input voltage to a voltage sufficient to charge and/or operate.

Claims

1. A method for providing power to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) electrically connecting a cable to the electronic device and to an electrical power source so that the electrical power source charges a battery associated with the electronic device or provides power to the electronic device via the cable;

(b) analyzing a first voltage of the power source with an analyzing circuitry located on the cable; and

(c) dependent on a result from step (b) transforming the first voltage to a second voltage sufficient to charge the battery or to operate the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the result from step (b) is the first voltage is below the level sufficient to charge the battery and comprises a DC current and the first voltage is transformed up to the second voltage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the result from step (b) is the first voltage is above the level sufficient to charge the battery and comprises a DC current and the first voltage is transformed down to the second voltage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the result from step (b) is the first voltage comprises an AC current and the first voltage is transformed to a DC current and said transformed DC current is re-analyzed by step (b).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the result from step (b) is the first voltage is sufficient to charge the battery and charges the battery without being transformed.

6. A smart cable comprising:

(a) a cable having an input end and an output end; and

(b) an analyzing assembly electrically connected to the cable between the input end and the output end, wherein the analyzing assembly includes

a voltage analyzing circuit disposed to analyze a first voltage supplied to the input end of the cable;

at least one electrical converter to transform the first voltage to a second voltage sufficient to charge a battery of an electronic device or to power the electronic device, wherein the second voltage is supplied to the output end of the cable; and

a bypass circuit;

wherein when the first voltage is sufficient to charge the battery or to power the electronic device the first voltage is directed to the bypass circuit to charge the battery or to power the electronic device, and wherein when the first voltage is not sufficient to charge the battery or to power the electronic device the first voltage is transformed to the second voltage by the at least one electrical converter to charge the battery or to power the electronic device.

7. The smart cable of claim 6, wherein the at least one electrical converter comprises a DC/DC converter.

8. The smart cable of claim 7, wherein the DC/DC converter is a step-up converter.

9. The smart cable of claim 7, wherein the DC/DC converter is a step-down converter.

10. The smart cable of claim 6, wherein the at least one electrical converter comprises an AC/DC converter.

11. The smart cable of claim 6, wherein the voltage analyzing circuit further comprises an under voltage lock out device.

12. The smart cable of claim 6, wherein the voltage analyzing circuit further comprises a state of charge indicator.

13. The smart cable of claim 12, wherein the voltage analyzing circuit further comprises an operating switch connected to the state of charge indicator.

14. The smart cable of claim 6 further comprising an energy storage device that is capable of charging the battery or to power the electronic device.

15. The smart cable of claim 14, wherein the energy storage device comprises a second battery or a capacitor.

16. A method for providing power to an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) electrically connecting a cable to the electronic device and to an electrical power source so that the electrical power source charges a battery associated with the electronic device or provides power to the electronic device via the cable;

(b) analyzing a first voltage of the power source with an analyzing circuitry located on the cable;

wherein if the first voltage is less than a bypass voltage (c) transforming the first voltage to a bypass voltage with a converter to charge the battery and disabling a bypass circuit;

wherein if the first voltage is greater than the bypass voltage (d) disabling the converter and enabling the bypass circuit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein in step (c) if the first voltage is less than an under voltage lock out (e) disabling the bypass circuit and disabling the converter.

18. The method of claim 16, further including the step of (f) activating a battery check and disabling the converter and disabling the bypass circuit.

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

(a) electrically connecting a cable to the electronic device and to an electrical power source so that the electrical power source charges a first battery associated with the electronic device or provides power to the electronic device via the cable;

(b) charging a second energy storage within the electronic device and storing power in same;

(c) providing the stored power in the second energy storage device to the electronic device or charging the first battery with said stored power.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of

(d) analyzing a first voltage of the power source with an analyzing circuitry located on the cable;

and

(e) dependent on a result from step (b) transforming the first voltage to a second voltage sufficient to charge the battery or to operate the electronic device.