Electronic device with two power supply modes

• US 5,793,123 A
• Filed: 06/20/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Multimedia SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Multimedia SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Ho, Wai Keung, Grossier, Michel, Mingot, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/492,576
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66, 307/64, 307/70, 307/75, 307/71, 307/72, 307/74, 307/80, 307/81, 307/85, 320/2, 323/229, 323/285, 327/320, 361/625, 363/37, 363/74, 363/81
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

The disclosure concerns an electronic device, for example a radio-alarm clock, that can be powered from the mains power supply or from batteries and can operate without interruption when changing from one of these power supplies to the other. It comprises a support connected to the mains and a mobile part that can be placed in electrical contact with said support and that includes at least one electronic circuit requiring power. This electronic circuit is powered from the mains via a first diode when said mobile part is placed in electrical contact with said support, and is powered by at least one battery via a second diode when said mobile part is removed from said support.

Claims

1. An audio and/or video device having a power supply to supply electric power to an electronic circuit of the device, said power supply being in first and second parts, comprising:

the first part disposed in a support connectable to a mains power supply and having an output of a rectified voltage through a first electrically conducting metallic contacts,

the second part disposed in a mobile part of the device including said electronic circuit,

said second part receiving a battery providing an output voltage lower than the rectified output voltage of said first part, and coupled in series with a current blocking diode to form a series circuit having first and second terminals, said terminals of said series circuit being coupled to a second electrically conducting metallic contacts,

said second electrically conducting metallic contacts ensuring electrical continuity with said first electrically conducting metallic contacts of said first part when said mobile part is placed with said support,

said first diode of the series circuit being blockable in a non-conducting state to protect the battery against a back current, the electrical circuit being powered by said battery through said first diode when said mobile part is no longer in electrical contact with said support, so that the continuity of operation of the electronic circuit is not disturbed when said mobile part is removed from or supportably placed with said support.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a second diode is included to couple the electrical power supply of said electronic circuit provided by the rectified voltage from said support.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the rectified voltage is greater than that the output voltage of said battery reverse biasing said first diode in a non-conducting state while said electronic circuit is powered from the mains.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said first and second diodes are disposed in said mobile part.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said mobile part also includes a means for illumination connected between said metallic terminals providing electrical contact with said support.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said support includes an antenna which can be coupled to the electronic circuit when said mobile part is supportably placed with said support.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit is dedicated to be at least one of the following devices:

liquid crystal video display, laser disk, magnetic tape player, and radio-alarm clock.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said battery is re-chargeable from the mains when said mobile part is in electrical contact with said support.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the metallic contacts are spherical pins protruding from a surface of the support.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a radio receiver.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said second contacts of said mobile part are made of flat phosphor-bronze springs.

12. A radio receiver having a power supply to supply an electronic circuit of the device, said power supply being in first and second parts, comprising:

the first part disposed in a support connectable to a main and having an output of a rectified voltage through first electrically conducting metallic contacts in the form of spherical pins slightly protruding from a surface of said support,

the second part disposed in a mobile part of the device including said electronic circuit,

said second part receiving a battery providing an output voltage lower than the rectified output voltage of said first part and coupled in series with a current blocking diode to form a series circuit having first and second terminals, said terminals of said series circuit being coupled to second electrically conducting metallic contacts,

said second electrically conducting metallic contacts ensuring electrical continuity with said first electrically conducting metallic contacts of said first part when said mobile part is placed with said support,

said diode of the series circuit being blockable in a non-conducting state to protect the battery against a back current, the electrical circuit being powered by said battery through said diode when said mobile part is no longer in electrical contact with said support, so that the continuity of operation of the electronic circuit is not disturbed when said mobile part is removed from or placed with said support.