Battery adapter capable of receiving power from at least two power sources and of being in a docking station, and a battery arrangement including a battery charger and a docking station

• US 6,177,778 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alexander Technologies Europe Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alexander Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Miller, Jay Stephen, Bollman, Trent Lee, Frank, Michael Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/282,078
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/113, 320/114, 320/115, 320/165, 307/66, 307/72, 307/150, 363/142
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A battery adapter includes a base unit, a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein, a first connection arrangement and a second connection arrangement. Each of the first and second connection arrangements is capable of receiving power from an external power source. The external power source may be provided via a docking station. The battery adapter also includes a device which is conductively coupled to each of the first and second connection arrangements. The device receives the power from the first connection arrangement and/or the second connection arrangement for charging and/or discharging the battery.

Claims

1. A battery adapter, comprising:

a base unit;

a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein;

a first connection arrangement;

a second connection arrangement, each of the first and second connection arrangements being capable of receiving power from an external power source; and

a circuit arrangement that at least one of charges and discharges the battery, the circuit arrangement being conductively coupled to each of the first and second connection arrangements, the circuit arrangement receiving the power from at least one of the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement.

2. The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein the circuit arrangement includes a power delivery arrangement and a battery charging/discharging arrangement which is conductively connected to the power delivery arrangement.

3. The battery adapter according to claim 2,

wherein the power delivery arrangement is conductively conducted to each of the first and second connection arrangements,

wherein the battery charging/discharging arrangement receives the power from the power delivery arrangement, and

wherein the battery charging/discharging arrangement at least one of charges and discharges the battery by utilizing the received power.

4. The battery adapter according to claim 2,

wherein the current is generated in one of the first and second connection arrangements by the power received from the external power source, and

wherein the power delivery arrangement prevents the current from flowing through one of the first and second connection arrangements into another one of the first and second connection arrangements.

5. The battery adapter according to claim 4, wherein the power delivery arrangement includes a first set of diodes and a second set of diodes, the first set of diodes preventing the current from flowing into the second connection arrangement, the second set of diodes preventing the current from flowing into the first connection arrangement.

6. The battery adapter according to claim 5, wherein the first set of diodes is conductively connected to the first connection arrangement, and the second set of diodes is conductively connected to the second connection arrangement.

7. The battery adapter according to claim 2, further comprising:

a reverse battery protection arrangement electrically coupled to the battery charging/discharging arrangement, the reverse battery protection arrangement disabling an electrical connection between the battery and the battery charging/discharging arrangement if the battery is improperly connected to the battery adapter via the battery holder.

8. The battery adapter according to claim 2, wherein the power delivery arrangement includes a switching arrangement and a sensing arrangement, the sensing arrangement detecting the current flowing in a single arrangement of the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement, the sensing arrangement causing the switching arrangement to electrically connect the single arrangement to the battery.

9. The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first connection arrangement is a conductive socket which is adapted for receiving a power connection plug from the external power source.

10. The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein the second connection arrangement includes at least one conductive grooved member which is adapted for coupling to a conductive strip of the external power source.

11. The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein the base unit is adapted for inserting into a bay of a docking station, and wherein the docking station provides the power to at least one of the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement when the base unit is inserted into the bay of the docking station.

12. The battery adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reverse battery protection arrangement conductively coupled to the circuit arrangement, the reverse battery protection arrangement preventing at least one of the battery and the battery adapter from being damaged if the battery is improperly connected to the battery adapter via the battery holder.

13. The battery adapter according to claim 12,

wherein the reverse battery protection arrangement includes a sensing arrangement and a switching arrangement,

wherein, if the sensing arrangement determines that the battery is properly connected to the battery adapter, the sensing arrangement controls the switching arrangement to enable an electrical connection between the circuit arrangement and the battery, and

wherein, if the sensing arrangement determines that the battery is improperly connected to the battery adapter, the sensing arrangement controls the switching arrangement to disable the electrical connection between the circuit arrangement and the battery.

14. The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first connection arrangement is configured to receive the power from a power socket, and wherein the second connection arrangement is configured to receive the power from a power connector which is provided in a bay of a docking station.

15. The battery adapter according to claim 1, wherein:

the battery holder is fixedly coupled to the base unit; and

the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement are part of the base unit.

16. A battery arrangement, comprising:

a docking station including at least one bay, the at least one bay including a power arrangement for providing power; and

at least one battery adapter including;

a base unit adapted for coupling to the at least one bay of the docking station,

a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein,

a first connection arrangement and a second connection arrangement, each of the first and second connection arrangements being capable of receiving power from an external source, at least one of the first and second connection arrangements being capable of receiving power from the power arrangement, and

a circuit arrangement that at least one of charges and discharges the battery, the circuit arrangement being conductively coupled to each of the first and second connection arrangements, the device receiving the power from at least one of the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement.

17. The battery arrangement according to claim 16,

wherein the power arrangement includes at least one conductive strip which is electrically coupled to an external power source,

wherein the first connection arrangement receives the power from the power arrangement when the at least one battery adapter is inserted into the at least one bay, and

wherein the first connection arrangement includes a conductive groove portion for coupling to the at least one conductive strip of the power arrangement.

18. The battery arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the docking station includes at least one first indicator and at least one second indicator, the at least one first indicator being actuated when the docking station receives the power from the external power source, the at least one second indicator being actuated when the base unit is charging in the docking station via the at least one bay.

19. The battery arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the battery adapter includes a reverse battery protection arrangement which is conductively coupled to the circuit arrangement, the reverse battery protection arrangement preventing at least one of the battery and the battery adapter from being damaged if the battery is improperly connected to the battery adapter via the battery holder.

20. The battery arrangement according to claim 16, wherein:

the battery holder is fixedly coupled to the base unit; and

the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement are part of the base unit.

21. A battery adapter, comprising:

a base unit;

a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein;

a first connection arrangement;

a second connection arrangement, each of the first and second connection arrangements being capable of receiving power from an external power source;

a power delivery arrangement conductively connected to each of the first and second connection arrangements, the power delivery arrangement receiving the power from at least one of the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement;

a battery charging/discharging arrangement conductively connected to the power delivery arrangement, the power delivery arrangement providing power to the battery charging/discharging arrangement, the battery charging/discharging arrangement being provided for at least one of charging and discharging the battery; and

a reverse battery protection arrangement conductively coupled to the battery charging/discharging arrangement, the reverse battery protection arrangement preventing at least one of the battery and the battery adapter from being damaged if the battery is improperly connected to the battery adapter via the battery holder.

22. The battery adapter according to claim 21, wherein the base unit is adapted to be inserted into a bay of a docking station, and wherein the docking station provides the power to at least one of the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement when the base unit is inserted into the bay of the docking station.

23. The battery adapter according to claim 21, wherein:

the battery holder is fixedly coupled to the base unit; and

the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement are part of the base unit.

24. A battery adapter, comprising:

a base unit;

a battery holder coupled to the base unit and receiving a battery therein;

a first connection arrangement;

a second connection arrangement, each of the first and second connection arrangements being capable of receiving power from an external power source; and

a circuit arrangement that at least one of charges and discharges the battery, the circuit arrangement being conductively coupled to each of the first and second connection arrangements, the circuit arrangement receiving the power from both of the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement.