DC power adapter system

• US 6,266,261 B1
• Filed: 04/03/2000
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US09/541,826
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 363/144, 363/146
• US Class Current: 363/144
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/24 for radio transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4258 using a single converter stage both for correction of AC input power factor and generation of a regulated and galvanically isolated DC output voltage H02M1/4241 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/28 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate ac
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3378 in a push-pull configuration of the parallel type H02M3/3374 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3382 in a push-pull circuit arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3387 in a push-pull configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/086 for inductive purposes, e.g. printed inductor with ferrite core
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 : Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 : Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 : Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A secondary adapter for receiving a DC power signal and providing an ouput power signal as an input to an AC power adapter is disclosed. The AC power adapter may then provide a DC power signal to meet the input power requirements of an electronic appliance. While the AC power adapter is adapted to receive power from an AC power source, the secondary adapter converts a DC power source to provide an input power signal which is sufficient to power the AC power adapter. The secondary adapter enables the AC power adapter to provide power to the electronic appliance from either an AC power source or a DC power source.

Claims

1. In a system for providing DC power to a portable electronic appliance, the system including a primary power adapter having a power input terminal adapted for receiving AC power within at least one of a set AC voltage range and a set AC current range and having a power output terminal to provide a DC signal to meet an input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance, the improvement including a secondary power adapter comprising:

a DC power input terminal adapted to receive a power signal from a DC power source within at least one of a set DC voltage range and a set DC current range; and

a power output terminal adapted to couple to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter to apply an intermediate power signal to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter within at least one of the set AC voltage range and the set AC current range,

wherein the intermediate power signal applied to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter causes the primary power adapter to provide the DC signal to meet the input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary power adapter further includes one of a boost regulator and a push-pull circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate power signal is an AC power signal within a set AC voltage range of about 100 to 400 volts.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power output terminal of the secondary adapter mates with the power input terminal of the primary power adapter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC power input terminal of the secondary adapter is adapted to receive the power signal from the DC power source within a set DC voltage range of about twelve to fifteen volts.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance is one of an operational voltage and an operational current.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable appliance is one of a portable telephone, a portable computer, a game system and a video device, and wherein the primary power adapter provides the DC signal to the portable electronic appliance to meet one of an input voltage requirement and an input current requirement.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the primary power adapter is programmable to supply the DC signal to substantially meet an input current requirement of either a portable telephone or a portable computer.

9. A method of providing power to a portable electronic appliance having an input power requirement, the method comprising:

coupling a power output terminal of a primary power adapter to a power input terminal of the portable electronic appliance, the primary power adapter having a power input terminal adapted for receiving AC power within at least one of a set AC voltage range and a set AC current range;

coupling power output terminal of a secondary power adapter to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter to provide an intermediate power signal; and

coupling a DC power input terminal of the secondary power adapter to receive a power signal from a DC power source within at least one of a set DC voltage range and a set DC current range,

wherein the intermediate power signal applied to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter causes the primary power adapter to provide the DC signal to meet the input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further including generating the intermediate power signal from one of a boost regulator and a push-pull circuit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the intermediate power signal is an AC power signal within a set AC voltage range of about 100 to 400 volts.

12. The method of claim 9, the method further including mating the power output terminal of the secondary adapter with the power input terminal of the primary power adapter.

13. The method of claim 9, the method further including providing a DC voltage within a set DC voltage range of about twelve to fifteen volts to the DC power input terminal.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance is one of an operational voltage and an operational current.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the portable appliance is one of a portable telephone, a portable computer, a game system and a video device, and wherein the primary power adapter provides the DC signal to the portable electronic appliance to meet one of an input voltage requirement and an input current requirement.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the primary power adapter is programmable to supply the DC signal to substantially meet an input current requirement of either a portable telephone or a portable computer.

17. A secondary power adapter, the secondary power adapter comprising:

a DC power input terminal adapted to receive a power signal from a DC power source within at least one of a set DC voltage range and a set DC current range; and

a power output terminal adapted to couple to a power input terminal of a primary power adapter, said primary power adapter having a power input terminal adapted for receiving AC power within at least one of a set AC voltage range and a set AC current range and having a power output terminal to provide a DC signal to meet an input power requirement of a portable electronic appliance, to apply an intermediate power signal to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter within at least one of the set AC voltage range and the set AC current range,

wherein the intermediate power signal applied to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter causes the primary power adapter to provide the DC signal to meet the input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance.

18. The secondary power adapter of claim 17, wherein the secondary power adapter further includes one of a boost regulator and a push-pull circuit.

19. The secondary power adapter of claim 17, wherein the intermediate power signal is an AC power signal within a set AC voltage range of about 100 to 400 volts.

20. The secondary power adapter of claim 17, wherein the power output terminal of the secondary adapter mates with the power input terminal of the primary power adapter.

21. The secondary power adapter of claim 17, wherein the DC power input terminal of the secondary adapter is adapted to receive the power signal from the DC power source within a set DC voltage range of about twelve to fifteen volts.

22. The secondary power adapter of claim 17, wherein the input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance is one of an operational voltage and an operational current.

23. The secondary power adapter of claim 17, wherein the portable appliance is one of a portable telephone, a portable computer, a game system and a video device, and wherein the primary power adapter provides the DC signal to the portable electronic appliance to meet one of an input voltage requirement and an input current requirement.

24. The secondary power adapter of claim 23, wherein the primary power adapter is programmable to supply the DC signal to substantially meet an input current requirement of either a portable telephone or a portable computer.