Two-part battery charger/power cable article with multiple device capability

• US 6,064,177 A
• Filed: 01/05/1999
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steven C. Dixon
• Inventors: Dixon, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf Deneke
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/225,984
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/111, 320/112, 320/114, 439/121, 439/170, 439/171, 439/172, 439/173, 439/174, 439/175, 439/221, D13/107, D13/108, 455/575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

An article is disclosed which provides for powering or charging the battery of a variety of different electronic devices, with the article being in two parts. The first part has components such that it is "universal" for use with all of the variety of different devices, and the second part has components which are specific to the operation of only a single model, type or brand of such device or of closely related devices which operate with the same voltage and plug-compatibility requirements of the specific device. In particular, the article with both parts (modules) present will operate a specific model, type or brand of device. However one can disconnect the two parts from each other and connect a different second part for a different device to the same first part, thereby being able to operate two different devices with substitution of only one part (the second) rather than requiring substitution of the entire article when a difference device must be powered or its battery charged. The article is particularly useful for powering or charging the batteries of devices such as cellular telephones, computers and the like from house, office or other building electrical systems or from vehicle electrical systems.

Claims

1. An article for providing electrical operating power or battery charging power to an electronic device, which article comprises:

a first module comprising a first electrical circuit required for operating or charging a battery of said device and all other devices of like type, said module also comprising a first connector in said first circuit for electrical connection to a source of said power; and

a second module comprising second electrical circuit connecting with and supplementing said first circuit, said second circuit comprising a connector and components specific to said device and being releaseably connected to and cooperating with said first circuit to operate said device;

said first and second modules being separable from each other such that said first module can be connected to a different second module for operation of a different one of such devices.

2. An article as in claim 1 wherein said second circuit comprises components to convert voltage output of said first circuit to a lower voltage on which said device operates.

3. An article as in claim 1 wherein said first circuit comprises components to convert alternating current at said source to direct current.

4. An article as in claim 1 wherein said direct current is at a lower voltage than said alternating current.

5. An article as in claim 1 wherein said source comprises a building electrical system or a vehicle electrical system.

6. A power/battery charger cable article for conveying low voltage power from a source of said low voltage power to an electronic device, which device includes a shaped receiver for electrical connection to said device and which operates at a specific voltage, said article comprising:

a first module comprising;

a first electrical connector for electrical attachment to said source of low voltage power;

electrically connected thereto a first electrical circuit comprising only those universal circuit elements common to power or charging circuits for all devices in a plurality of different ones of said electronic device;

a first part of a second electrical connector connected to said first electrical circuit; and

a second module comprising;

a second part of said second electrical connector, said first and second parts releaseably interconnecting to conduct electrical current therebetween;

a second electrical circuit comprising those supplemental circuit elements which when electrically connected with said universal circuit elements of said first electrical circuit form a complete electrical circuit which provides electrical power to said device at said voltage required by such device;

an electrical conductor electrically connecting said second part of said second electrical connector to said second electrical circuit; and

a third electrical connector for electrically interconnecting said second circuit and said electronic device and shaped to interconnect with said shaped receiver of said device for transmission of said electrical power to internal electrical circuitry of said device;

whereby said article can be made serially operable for any of said plurality of said devices through different second modules serially connected to said first module, said third connector of each of said different second modules being shaped to interconnect with less than all of said plurality of said devices, allowing interchange of said devices and their serial connection to said source by interchange solely of said respective second modules.

7. An article as in claim 6 wherein said first electrical connector and said first electrical circuit are enclosed in a first housing and said third electrical connector and said second electrical circuit are enclosed in a second housing.

8. An article as in claim 6 wherein source voltage at said source is greater than said voltage on which said device operates, and said supplemental circuit elements comprise resistors of values appropriate to reduce at least in part said source voltage to said voltage at which said device operates.

9. An article as in claim 8 further wherein said universal circuit elements in said first circuit reduce said source voltage to an intermediate voltage equal to the highest voltage on which any of said plurality of said devices operates, and said supplemental circuit elements reduce said intermediate voltage to said voltage at which a specific device operates.

10. An article as in claim 6 wherein said first electrical connector comprises a male plug configured to fit into and electrically interconnect with a female socket installed in a vehicle, such that such plug/socket interconnection electrically connects said article to an electrical system of said vehicle, whereby said vehicle electrical system comprises said source providing electrical energy to said electronic device through said article.

11. A kit comprising an article as in claim 6 having one first module and associated therewith a plurality of said second modules, each second module having a third connector different from a third connector of any of other second modules in said plurality.