Portable electrical power system to supply direct current voltage

• US 5,929,597 A
• Filed: 04/23/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Fiskars Corporation (Fiskars Oyj Abp)
• Inventors: Boda, James C., Pfeifer, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US08/842,062
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/111, 320/112, 320/114, 320/128, 320/FOR 101, 320/FOR 104, 320/FOR 111, 320/FOR 118, 320/DIG. 32, 307/19, 307/46, 307/64, 307/150, 307/151, 363/62
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/256 Carrying devices, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A Portable Power System configured to supply an appropriate voltage to an electrical device. The system includes a battery pack having at least one cell supplying a first direct current voltage, and an adapter. The adapter, which is electrically connected to the battery pack by an electrical cord, is configured to be mechanically connected to the device. The adapter also includes a DC to DC voltage converter supplying a second direct current voltage to the device, the second voltage being smaller than the first voltage but sufficient to permit the intended operation of the device.

Claims

1. A portable power system, comprising:

a battery pack having at least one cell, the battery pack supplying a first direct current voltage;

an adapter electrically connected to the battery pack by an electrical cord, the adapter being formed of two mating portions;

a DC to DC voltage converter received within the adapter, the converter supplying a second direct current voltage, the second voltage being smaller than the first voltage; and

a voltage selector to selectively match the second voltage to a rated voltage of a device powered by the power system, the voltage selector selectively matching the second voltage to the rated voltage upon coupling the two mating portions.

2. A portable power system, comprising:

a battery pack having at least one cell, the battery pack supplying a first direct current voltage;

an adapter electrically connected to the battery pack by an electrical cord; and

a zero current crossing synchronized converter received within the adapter, the converter supplying a second direct current voltage, the second voltage being smaller than the first voltage.

3. An electrical power supply system for any of a plurality of electrical devices which are carried by a user while in use and which have different rated input voltage requirements, comprising:

a plurality of adapters each adapted to be fitted to at least a respective one of the plurality of electrical devices, each adapter having a rated voltage indicator which represents the rated voltage of the respective one of the electrical devices;

a power converter adapted to be removably mounted on any of the plurality of adapters and having a rated voltage sensor, the rated voltage sensor coupled to the rated voltage indicator of an adapter to sense the rated voltage when the power converter is mounted on the adapter;

a remote power source supplying power at a first voltage significantly higher than at least some of the rated voltages of the plurality of electrical devices; and

a cord electrically connecting the remote power source to the power converter, the power converter converting the first voltage to an indicated one of the rated voltages responsive to the rated voltage sensor sensing the rated voltage.

4. The electrical power system of claim 3, wherein the remote power source is a DC battery pack.