AC/DC portable power connecting architecture

• US 5,907,197 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Faulk, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/885,219
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 307/119, 307/116, 439/488, 439/188, 200/51.1, 200/51.09, 200/51 R, 364/707
• US Class Current: 307/119
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7035 comprising a separated limit switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7039 the coupling part with coding means activating the switch to establish different circuits

Abstract

A portable computer system which includes a modified C-7 power cord socket, which can receive either an AC power cord with a standard C-7 connector or a DC power cord with a modified C-7 connector. (However, the modified C-7 connector cannot be inserted into a standard C-7 socket.) Microswitches in the modified power cord socket detect the presence of the DC connector, and automatically adjust the power conversion circuit accordingly.

Claims

1. An electronic system, comprising:

a power supply, and at least one functional component connected to be powered by said power supply; and

a power cord connector, connected to said power supply, said power cord connector including

a guide structure which snugly receives a standard power cord connector,

power contacts which are electrically connected to said power supply, and

at least one presence detector which detects the presence of connector portions, on a connector which has been fully inserted into said guide structure, which do not fall within said standard power cord connector footprint;

said power supply including at least one component which is selectively connected to said power cord connector in dependence on an output of said presence detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said presence detector is a mechanical switch.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising more than one said presence detector, each configured to detect the presence of separate predetermined respective portions of a connector which has been fully inserted into said guide structure.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply includes a boost stage having a tapped inductor which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply includes a transformer having a tapped primary coil which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply includes first and second switching transistors, with said first switching transistor having a lower withstand voltage than said second switching transistor, and said first switching transistor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second switching transistor in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply includes first and second capacitors, with said first capacitor having a lower withstand voltage than said second capacitor, and said first capacitor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second capacitor in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.

10. A computer system comprising:

a power supply containing at least one inductor;

a programmable processor and a memory, connected to be powered by said power supply;

at least one user input device, and at least one output device;

a power cord connector on the exterior of said computer, including;

a guide structure which snugly receives a standard power cord connector;

power contacts which are electrically connected to said power supply, and

at least one switch which is mechanically actuated by the presence of connector portions, on a connector which has been fully inserted into said guide structure, which do not fall within said standard power cord connector footprint, and is electrically connected to reroute connections of said power supply, in dependence on whether said presence detector detects the presence of a connector which has a larger footprint than said standard connector.

11. The system of claim 10, comprising more than one said switch.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said power supply includes a boost stage having a tapped inductor which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said switch.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said power supply includes a transformer having a tapped primary coil which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said switch.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said power supply includes first and second switching transistors, with said first switching transistor having a lower withstand voltage than said second switching transistor, and said first switching transistor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second switching transistor in dependence on the state of said switch.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said power supply includes first and second capacitors, with said first capacitor having a lower withstand voltage than said second capacitor, and said first capacitor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second capacitor in dependence on the state of said switch.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.

17. A power connector, comprising:

a guide structure which is shaped to snugly receive standard AC power cord connectors of a first format, and also to snugly receive power cord connectors of a second format which is partially larger than said first format and is not a standard AC power cord format;

power contacts which are electrically connected to pass power; and

at least one switch which is actuated when a connector in said second format is fully inserted, but not when a connector in said first format is fully inserted.

18. The connector of claim 17, comprising more than one said switch.

19. The connector of claim 17, wherein said power supply includes a boost stage having a tapped inductor which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said switch.

20. The connector of claim 17, wherein said power supply includes a transformer having a tapped primary coil which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said switch.

21. The connector of claim 17, wherein said power supply includes first and second switching transistors, with said first switching transistor having a lower withstand voltage than said second switching transistor, and said first switching transistor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second switching transistor in dependence on the state of said switch.

22. The connector of claim 17, wherein said power supply includes first and second capacitors, with said first capacitor having a lower withstand voltage than said second capacitor, and said first capacitor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second capacitor in dependence on the state of said switch.

23. The connector of claim 17, wherein said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.

24. A power connector architecture, comprising:

a first power cord having a wall-connection end in a standard AC mains-connection format, and having an appliance end in a standard appliance-connection format for AC power;

a second power cord having a wall-connection end in a DC connection format, and having an appliance end which is partly larger than said standard appliance-connection format for AC power;

a first electrical appliance having thereon a power-input connector in said standard appliance-connection format, which will receive said first power cord but not said second power cord; and

a second electrical appliance having thereon

a power-input connector in a modification of said standard appliance-connection format, which will receive either said first power cord or said second power cord, and

at least one switch which is actuated by insertion of said first cord but not by insertion of said second cord.

25. The architecture of claim 24, wherein said second electrical appliance comprises more than one said switch.

26. The architecture of claim 24, wherein each said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.

28. The architecture of claim 24, wherein each said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.

29. A method for operating a computer system, comprising the steps of:

providing power to a memory from a power supply;

providing power to said power supply from a power cord connector on the exterior of said computer, which includes a guide structure which can snugly receive a standard power cord connector, power contacts which are electrically connected to provide power to said power supply, and presence detectors which detect the presence of connector portions, on a connector which has been fully inserted into said guide structure, which do not fall within said standard power cord connector footprint; and

changing the electrical connection of components of said power supply in dependence on the output of said presence detector.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said presence detector is a mechanical switch.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said power cord connector comprises more than one said presence detector, each configured to detect the presence of separate predetermined respective portions of a connector which has been fully inserted into said guide structure.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said power supply includes a boost stage having a tapped inductor which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein said power supply includes a transformer having a tapped primary coil which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said power supply includes first and second switching transistors, with said first switching transistor having a lower withstand voltage than said second switching transistor, and said first switching transistor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second switching transistor in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said power supply includes first and second capacitors, with said first capacitor having a lower withstand voltage than said second capacitor, and said first capacitor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second capacitor in dependence on the state of said presence detector.

36. A method for operating a computer system, comprising the steps of:

providing power to a memory from a power supply; and

providing power to said power supply from a power cord connector on the exterior of said computer, which includes a guide structure which can snugly receive a standard power cord connector, power contacts which are electrically connected to provide power to said power supply, and at least one switch which is mechanically actuated by the presence of connector portions, on a connector which has been fully inserted into said guide structure, which do not fall within said standard power cord connector footprint;

wherein said switch connects and disconnects at least one component of said power supply, to optimize said power supply for either an AC input or a DC input.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said power cord connector comprises more than one said switch.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said power supply includes a boost stage having a tapped inductor which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said switch.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said power supply includes a transformer having a tapped primary coil which is partially bypassed in dependence on the state of said switch.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein said power supply includes first and second switching transistors, with said first switching transistor having a lower withstand voltage than said second switching transistor, and said first switching transistor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second switching transistor in dependence on the state of said switch.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein said power supply includes first and second capacitors, with said first capacitor having a lower withstand voltage than said second capacitor, and said first capacitor being conditionally connected in parallel with said second capacitor in dependence on the state of said switch.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein said connector includes exactly two of said contacts.