Battery pack sensor for an AC adapter
First Claim
1. An AC adapter for charging a first battery pack if the first battery pack is present, and for charging a second battery pack if the second battery pack is present, the first and second battery packs having different voltages, said AC adapter comprising:
- means having a sense input and an output for supplying power at said output, wherein the voltage level of said output is regulated by a sense signal provided at said sense input;
means coupled to said power supplying means for sensing the voltage level of said output and for providing said sense signal at a level so that said power supplying means regulates said output to a first voltage level appropriate for charging the first battery pack;
switching means coupled to said sense input and having a battery selection signal input for receiving a battery selection signal, wherein if said battery selection signal indicates that the second battery pack is present, said switching means modifies the level of said sense signal so that said power supplying means regulates said output to a second voltage level appropriate for charging the second battery pack; and
means coupled to said switching means and having a battery indicating input, said means for providing said battery selection signal, wherein said battery selection signal is set to a predetermined voltage level indicative of the second battery pack being present if said battery indicating input is connected to a predetermined voltage level and wherein said battery selection signal is not provided if said battery indicating input is unconnected.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An AC adapter including an automatic battery voltage selection circuit that senses which battery pack is installed in an electronic device and regulates the AC adapter output voltage at an appropriate level. A battery voltage selection signal providing circuit provides the battery voltage selection signal indicative of the particular battery pack present. An output voltage sensor senses the output voltage of the AC adapter and provides a proportional sense signal to a feedback circuit which controls the AC adapter output. A switching circuit coupled to the output voltage sensor and to the battery voltage selection signal providing circuit modifies the sense signal depending upon the state of the battery voltage selection signal, so that the AC adapter output voltage is regulated at an appropriate level for the particular battery pack installed. If a first battery pack is installed, the AC adapter regulates the output voltage at a first level and if a second battery pack is installed, the AC adapter output voltage is regulated at a second, higher voltage level. The switching circuit is preferably implemented with a transistor switching circuit.
171 Citations
39 Claims
-
1. An AC adapter for charging a first battery pack if the first battery pack is present, and for charging a second battery pack if the second battery pack is present, the first and second battery packs having different voltages, said AC adapter comprising:
-
means having a sense input and an output for supplying power at said output, wherein the voltage level of said output is regulated by a sense signal provided at said sense input; means coupled to said power supplying means for sensing the voltage level of said output and for providing said sense signal at a level so that said power supplying means regulates said output to a first voltage level appropriate for charging the first battery pack; switching means coupled to said sense input and having a battery selection signal input for receiving a battery selection signal, wherein if said battery selection signal indicates that the second battery pack is present, said switching means modifies the level of said sense signal so that said power supplying means regulates said output to a second voltage level appropriate for charging the second battery pack; and means coupled to said switching means and having a battery indicating input, said means for providing said battery selection signal, wherein said battery selection signal is set to a predetermined voltage level indicative of the second battery pack being present if said battery indicating input is connected to a predetermined voltage level and wherein said battery selection signal is not provided if said battery indicating input is unconnected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An AC adapter for charging a first battery pack if the first battery pack is present, and for charging a second battery pack if the second battery pack is present, said AC adapter comprising:
-
means having a sense input and an output for supplying power at said output appropriate for charging the first or second battery packs, wherein said output is regulated by a sense signal provided at said sense input; switching means coupled to said sense input and having a battery selection signal input for receiving a battery selection signal, wherein said switching means provides said sense signal to regulate said output appropriate for charging the first or second battery pack depending upon said battery selection signal; and means coupled to said switching means for providing said battery selection signal, wherein said battery selection signal input is unconnected when the first battery pack is present, and wherein said battery selection signal input is connected to said battery selection signal providing means and said battery selection signal is set to a predetermined voltage level when the second battery pack is present. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
Specification