System, method and apparatus for protecting consumer electronic devices from brownouts and short duration power outages

• US 6,510,067 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Toebes, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US09/706,437
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146, 363/144, 363/143, 363/141, 320/48, 320/30, 320/46, 320/43, 320/110, 320/138, 307/64, 307/69, 307/71, 307/81, 307/85
• US Class Current: 363/146
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A self-contained power supply module operating from utility power and having short term energy storage in the form of a battery or capacitor is adapted for powering electronic consumer devices especially during brief brownout and power outages of the utility. The self-contained power supply module is a low cost power supply having an integral AC plug adapted for connection in a standard electrical wall outlet. The integral battery or capacitor provides continuous and clean power to electronic consumer devices that may lose programmed information stored therein due to brief power interruptions thereto.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting consumer electronic devices from brownouts and short duration power outages, comprising:

a power converter;

an energy storage device;

power plug prongs adapted for insertion into a standard power outlet;

a power cable adapted for connection to a power input of a separate consumer electronic device; and

a housing, the housing enclosing the power converter and the energy storage device, the power plug prongs are fixedly attached to a side of the housing and the power cable is fixedly attached to another side of the housing;

whereby the power converter is adapted to receive power from the standard power outlet through the power plug prongs when a normal operating voltage is present thereon and from the energy storage device when the normal operating voltage is not present on the power plug prongs, the power converter operable to convert power received from either the power plug prongs or the energy storage device into a compatible voltage and current for transfer to a consumer electronic device over the power cable.

2. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the power converter converts an alternating current input to a direct current output.

3. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the power converter converts an alternating current input to an alternating current output.

4. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the power converter converts a first voltage input to a second voltage output.

5. The power supply module of claim 4, wherein the first voltage is from about 100 volts to about 250 volts and the second voltage is from about 5 volts to about 48 volts.

6. The power supply module of claim 4, wherein the first voltage is from about 110 volts to about 125 volts and the second voltage is from about 8 volts to about 24 volts.

7. The power supply module of claim 4, wherein the first voltage is about 117 volts and the second voltage is from about 9 volts to about 15 volts.

8. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

9. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is a capacitor.

10. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is a rechargeable battery.

11. The power supply module of claim 10, wherein the power converter charges the rechargeable battery.

12. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the housing is double insulated and the power plug contacts are adapted for connection to a neutral and an ungrounded circuit of the power outlet.

13. The power supply module of claim 1, wherein the power plug contacts are adapted for connection to a neutral, an ungrounded and a grounding circuit of the power outlet.

14. The power supply module of claim 13, wherein the housing is connected to a one of the power plug contacts which is adapted for connection to the grounding circuit of the power outlet.

15. The power supply module of claim 8, further comprising a battery holder attached to the housing, wherein the battery is removably connected to the battery holder.

16. The power supply module of claim 9, wherein the capacitor is enclosed in the housing.

17. The power supply module of claim 10, wherein the rechargeable battery is enclosed in the housing.

18. The power supply module of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device status indicator which indicates a charge condition of the energy storage device.

19. The power supply module of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device status indicator is a light.

20. The power supply module of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device status indicator is a flashing light.

21. The power supply module of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device status indicator is an audio tone generator.

22. The power supply module of claim 18, wherein the energy storage device status indicator is a pulsating audio tone generator.

23. The power supply module of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device status signal which indicates a charge condition of the energy storage device and is adapted to signal a status to the consumer electronic device.

24. The power supply module of claim 8, further comprising a battery condition monitor for monitoring the charge condition of the battery.

25. The power supply module of claim 24, further comprising a low battery annunciator connected to the battery condition monitor and adapted to send an alert signal when the battery is in a low charge condition.

26. The power supply module of claim 24, further comprising a low battery indicator light connected to the battery condition monitor and adapted to light up when the battery is in a low charge condition.

27. The power supply module of claim 26, wherein the low battery indicator light flashes on and off when the battery is in a low charge condition.

28. The power supply module of claim 10, further comprising a battery charger enclosed in the housing and adapted to charge the rechargeable battery.

61. The power supply module of claim 1, further comprising voltage transient and surge protection.

29. A method for protecting consumer electronic devices from brownouts and short duration power outages, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a power supply module comprising a power converter and an energy storage device connected thereto and enclosed in a housing separate from the consumer electronic device, wherein the housing includes power plug prongs adapted for insertion into a wall power outlet and provides power to a consumer electronic device over a power cable such that the power converter is adapted to receive power from the power plug prongs when a normal operating voltage is present thereon and from the energy storage device when the normal operating voltage is not present and converts the received power into a compatible voltage and current for transfer to a consumer electronic device over the power cable.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of charging the energy storage device.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of indicating a low charge on the energy storage device.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of annunciating a low charge on the energy storage device.

62. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of providing voltage transient and surge protection.

33. A system for protecting consumer electronic devices from brownouts and short duration power outages, the system comprising:

means for converting power;

means for storing energy;

means for connecting the power converting means to a standard power outlet;

means for connecting the power converting means to a power input of a consumer electronic device; and

means for enclosing the power converting means and the energy storage means, the enclosing means providing the standard power outlet connecting means and the power input connecting means whereby the power converting means is adapted to receive power from the standard power outlet connecting means when a normal operating voltage is present thereon and from the energy storage means when the normal operating voltage is not present and converting the received power into a compatible voltage and current for transfer to a consumer electronic device over the power input connecting means.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the power converting means converts an alternating current input to a direct current output.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the power converting means converts an alternating current input to an alternating current output.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the power converting means converts a first voltage input to a second voltage output.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first voltage is from about 100 volts to about 250 volts and the second voltage is from about 5 volts to about 48 volts.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the first voltage is from about 110 volts to about 125 volts and the second voltage is from about 8 volts to about 24 volts.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the first voltage is about 117 volts and the second voltage is from about 9 volts to about 15 volts.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the energy storage means is a battery.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the energy storage means is a capacitor.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein the energy storage means is a rechargeable battery.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the power converting means charges the rechargeable battery.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the enclosure means is double insulated.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for connecting the power converting means to the power outlet comprises means for connecting to a neutral, an ungrounded and a grounding circuit of the power outlet.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the enclosure means is connected to the grounding circuit of the power outlet.

47. The system of claim 40, further comprising means for holding the battery and means for attached the battery holding means to the enclosure means, wherein the battery is removably connected to the battery holding means.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the capacitor is enclosed in the enclosure means.

49. The system of claim 42, wherein the rechargeable battery is enclosed in the enclosure means.

50. The system of claim 33, further comprising a means for indicating energy storage status of a charge condition of the energy storage means.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the energy storage device status indicating means is a means for producing light.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the energy storage device status indicating means is a means for producing a flashing light.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the energy storage device status indicating means is a means for producing an audio tone.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the energy storage device status indicating means is a means for producing a pulsating audio tone.

55. The system of claim 33, further comprising a means for signaling an energy storage status which indicates a charge condition of the energy storage means and is adapted to signal a status to the consumer electronic device.

56. The system of claim 40, further comprising means for monitoring a charge condition of the battery.

57. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for annunciating a low charge condition of the battery and adapted to send an alert signal when the battery is in a low charge condition.

58. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for indicating a low charge condition of the battery and adapted to light up when the battery is in a low charge condition.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the low battery charge condition indicator means flashes a light on and off when the battery is in a low charge condition.

60. The system of claim 42, further comprising a means for charging the rechargeable battery charger in the enclosure means.

63. The system of claim 33, further comprising means for voltage transient and surge protection.

64. An apparatus for protecting consumer electronic devices from brownouts and short duration power outages, comprising:

a power converter;

an energy storage device;

a plug and cord having contacts adapted for connection to a standard power outlet;

a power cable adapted for connection to a power input of a consumer electronic device; and

a housing, the housing enclosing the power converter and attached to the energy storage device, wherein the plug and cord and the power cable are fixedly attached to the housing, whereby the power converter is adapted to receive power from the standard power outlet through the plug and cord when a normal operating voltage is present thereon and from the energy storage device when the normal operating voltage is not present and converts the received power into a compatible voltage and current for transfer to a consumer electronic device over the power cable.

65. The power supply module of claim 64, wherein the plug and cord is two wire.

66. The power supply module of claim 64, wherein the plug and cord is three wire.

67. The power supply module of claim 64, wherein the energy storage device is a battery.

68. The power supply module of claim 64, wherein the energy storage device is a capacitor.

69. The power supply module of claim 64, wherein the energy storage device is a rechargeable battery.

70. The power supply module of claim 69, wherein the power converter charges the rechargeable battery.

71. The power supply module of claim 64, wherein the housing is double insulated and the plug and cord contacts are adapted for connection to a neutral and an ungrounded circuit of the power outlet.

72. The power supply module of claim 64, wherein the plug and cord contacts are adapted for connection to a neutral, an ungrounded and a grounding circuit of the power outlet.

73. The power supply module of claim 67, further comprising a battery holder attached to the housing, wherein the battery is removably connected to the battery holder.

74. The power supply module of claim 68, wherein the capacitor is enclosed in the housing.

75. The power supply module of claim 69, wherein the rechargeable battery is enclosed in the housing.

76. The power supply module of claim 64, further comprising an energy storage device status indicator which indicates a charge condition of the energy storage device.