Universal surge protector for notebook computers

• US 6,556,410 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion (Phils), Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion (Phils), Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Bell, Ronnie L., Manning, William R., Veino, Clint D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US09/601,228
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 361/56, 361/111, 361/117, 361/118, 361/127, 361/58, 361/91.1
• US Class Current: 361/118
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/042 comprising means to limit the absorbed power or indicate damaged over-voltage protection device

Abstract

A surge protector for portable personal computers, or notebooks, of the shunting type, employs two differently rated metal oxide varistors in a manner enabling operation with several differently rated AC power services the surge protector is designed to provide an optimum effective clamping voltage with a low let-through voltage.

Claims

1. A universal surge protector for protecting a portable notebook computer (“

notebook”

) and an associated power adapter from harmful electrical disturbances occurring on an alternating current (“

AC”

) power line when the notebook is powered by a direct current (“

dc”

) battery voltage generated by a power adapter while coupled to an AC power service over the line and neutral sides of an AC power line,

the surge protector comprising in combination

a higher rated voltage and current diverting and absorbing semiconductor device (“

diverting and absorbing device”

) coupled across the line and neutral sides of an AC power line for protecting a notebook and a power adapter from harmful electrical disturbances while the surge protector is coupled to a higher rated AC power service by an AC power line,

a lower rated diverting and absorbing device for diverting harmful electrical disturbances from a notebook and a power adapter and

a switch for coupling the lower rated diverting and absorbing device across the line and neutral sides on an AC power line in parallel with the higher rated diverting and absorbing device for protecting a notebook and power adapter from harmful electrical disturbances while the surge protector is coupled to a lower rated AC power service by an AC power line;

wherein the switch couples the lower rated diverting and absorbing device across an AC power line while the AC power line is coupled to a lower rated AC power source and dc-couples the lower rated diverting and absorbing device from across the AC power line while the AC power line is coupled to a higher rated AC power service.

2. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the higher and lower diverting and absorbing devices include metal oxide varistors (“

MOVs”

).

3. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the diverting and absorbing devices include transorbs.

4. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the diverting and absorbing devices include sidactors.

5. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the switch includes a switching circuit responsive to voltages of a lower rated AC power service to couple the lower rated diverting and absorbing device across an AC power line and responsive to voltages of a higher rated AC power service to de-couple the lower rated diverting and absorbing device from across an AC power line.

6. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the lower rated diverting and absorbing device protects the notebook and power adapter from harmful electrical disturbances while coupled to an AC power service rated from about 100 to about 120 VAC.

7. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the lower rated absorbing and diverting device is coupled between the lower rated diverting and absorbing device and a protected notebook and power adapter.

8. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the lower rated absorbing and diverting device is coupled between the higher rated diverting and absorbing device and a protected notebook and a power adapter.

9. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the switch includes an electro-mechanical relay including a moveable conductive contact having a closed circuit position for coupling the lower rated diverting and absorbing device across the line and neutral sides of an AC power line while coupled to a low rated AC power service for enabling the lower rated and the higher rated diverting and absorbing devices to divert harmful electrical disturbances away from a notebook and power adapter.

10. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the switch includes an electro-mechanical relay including a moveable conductive contact having an open circuit position for de-coupling the lower rated diverting and absorbing device from across the line and neutral sides of an AC power line when coupled to a high rated AC power service leaving the high rated diverting and absorbing device to divert harmful electrical disturbances away from a notebook and power adapter.

11. The surge protector of claim 1 wherein the switch includes an electro-mechanical relay having a moveable conductive portion having a closed circuit switch position for coupling the lower rated diverting and absorbing device across the line and neutral sides of an AC power line for the high and low rated diverting and absorbing devices to divert harmful electrical disturbances away from a notebook and power adapter while the surge protector is coupled to a low rated AC power service and

the relay having a moveable conductive portion having an open circuit position for decoupling the lower rated diverting and absorbing device from across the line and neutral sides of an AC power for the high rated diverting and absorbing device to divert harmful electrical disturbances away form a notebook and power adapter while the surge protector is coupled to high rated AC power service.

12. The surge protector of claim 11 wherein the switch further includes a first transistor coupled to the relay

for switching the moveable conductive portion of the relay to its closed circuit position when the first transistor is turned ON when the surge protector is coupled to a low rated AC power service and

for switching the moveable conductive portion of the relay to its open circuit position when the first transistor is turned OFF when the surge protector is coupled to a high rated AC power service.

13. The surge protector of claim 12 wherein the switch further includes a second transistor coupled to the first transistor for preventing the first transistor from turning ON to move the conductive portion of the relay to its closed circuit position when the surge protector is coupled over an AC power line to the high rated AC power service.

14. A universal surge protector for protecting a battery powered notebook computer and an associated power adapter from harmful electrical disturbances occurring on an AC power line while the notebook is powered by a dc voltage generated by a power adapter coupled to an AC power source over the line and neutral sides of an AC power line,

the surge protector comprising in combination

a high voltage section for coupling to the line and neutral sides of an AC power line and including a high voltage rated MOV fixedly coupled across line and neutral for diverting harmful electrical disturbances away from a notebook and power adapter through the high voltage rated MOV when an AC power line is coupled to a high rated AC power service over an AC power line and

a low voltage section for coupling to the line and neutral sides of an AC power line including a low voltage rated MOV and

a switch for coupling the low voltage rated MOV in parallel with the high voltage rated MOV for diverting harmful electrical disturbances away from a notebook and power adapter through the high and low voltage MOVs while the surge protector is coupled to a lower rated AC power service and for de-coupling the low voltage rated MOV from an AC power line when the surge protector is coupled to a high voltage rated AC power service

wherein the first section further includes a slow acting fits coupled to the line side of an AC power line for protecting the notebook, power adapter and surge protector form a short circuit occurring across an AC power line while the line is coupled to an AC power service.

15. A universal surge protector for protecting a battery powered notebook computer and an associated power adapter from harmful electrical disturbances occurring on an AC power line while the notebook is powered by a dc voltage generated by a power adapter coupled to an AC power source over the line and neutral sides of an AC power line,

the surge protector comprising in combination

a high voltage section for coupling to the line and neutral sides of an AC power line and including a high voltage rated MOV fixedly coupled across line and neutral for diverting harmful electrical disturbances away from a notebook and power adapter through the high voltage rated MOV when an AC power line is coupled to a high rated AC power service over an AC power, line and

a low voltage section for coupling to the line and neutral sides, of an AC power line including a low voltage rated MOV and

a switch for coupling the low voltage rated MOV in parallel with the high voltage rated MOV for diverting harmful electrical disturbances away from a notebook and power adapter through the high and low voltage MOVs while the surge protector is coupled to a lower rated AC power service and for de-coupling the low voltage rated MOV from an AC power line when the surge protector is coupled to a high voltage rated AC power service

wherein the second section further includes a thermal fuse coupled to the line side of an AC power line for protecting a notebook and power adapter from a thermal run-away circuit occurring at the low voltage MOV.

16. An inline surge protector for protecting a portable device and an associated power adapter for the portable device from harmful electrical disturbances, the power adapter having an input to receive AC power and an output to provide DC power to the portable device, the power adapter further including a power cord having a first end, for coupling to the AC power source and a second end for coupling to the input of the power adapter, the surge protector comprising:

a housing;

surge protection circuitry contained within the housing;

an input, coupled to the surge protection circuitry, and adapted to couple to the second end of the power cord of the power adapter and including a recessed male receptacle;

an output, coupled to the surge protection circuitry, and adapted to couple to the input of the power adapter;

an outlet power cord, that is external to the housing and coupled between the housing and the output of the surge protector, including a female AC connector; and

a switch and a second surge protection component, wherein the switch and the second surge protection component are coupled in series between the first output conductor and the second output conductor;

wherein the surge protection circuit includes a first input conductor, a second input conductor, a first output conductor, a second output conductor, and a first surge protection component coupled across the first input conductor and the second input conductor.

17. The inline surge protector of claim 16, wherein the switch is constructed and arranged to selectively open and close based on an input voltage of the surge protector.

18. The inline surge protector of claim 16, wherein the first surge protection component includes a MOV.

19. The inline surge protector of claim 18, wherein the second surge protection component includes a MOV.

20. An inline surge protector for protecting a portable device and an associated power adapter for the portable device from harmful electrical disturbances, the power adapter having an input to receive AC power and an output to provide DC power to the portable device, the power adapter further including a power cord having a first end for coupling to the. AC power source and a second end for coupling to the input of the power adapter, the surge protector comprising:

a housing;

surge protection circuitry contained within the housing;

an input, coupled to the surge protection circuitry, and adapted to couple to the second end of the power cord of the power adapter;

an output, coupled to the surge protection-circuitry, and adapted to couple to the input of the power adapter; and

a switch and a second surge protection component, wherein the switch and the second surge protection component are coupled in series between the first output conductor and the second output conductor;

wherein the surge protection circuitry includes a first input conductor, a second input conductor, a first output conductor, a second output conductor and a first surge protection component coupled across the first input conductor and the second-input conductor.

21. The inline surge protector of claim 20, wherein the switch is constructed and arranged to selectively open and close based on an input voltage of the surge protector.

22. The inline surge protector of claim 21, wherein the first surge protection component has a voltage rating that is higher than a voltage rating of the second surge protection component.

23. The inline surge protector of claim 22, wherein the first surge protection component includes a MOV.

24. The inline surge protector of claim 23, wherein the second surge protection component includes a MOV.

25. A method of providing surge protection to a portable device and an associated power adapter for the portable device from harmful electrical disturbances, the power adapter having an input for coupling to an AC power source to receive AC power and an output to provide DC power to the portable device, the power adapter further including a power cord having a first end for coupling to the AC power source and a second end for coupling to the input of the power adapter, the method comprising:

providing a surge protector having an input and an output;

coupling the input of the surge protector to the second end of the power cord of the power adapter; and

coupling the output of the surge protector to the input of the power adapter;

wherein the output of the surge protector includes a cable having at one end a female AC connector, and wherein the step of coupling the output of the surge protector includes coupling the female AC connector of the surge protector to a male AC connector on the power adapter; and

wherein the input of the surge protector includes a housing and a recessed male AC receptacle provided in the housing, and wherein the step of coupling the input of the surge protector includes coupling the recessed male AC receptacle to a female connector of the power cord of the power adapter by inserting the female connector into the recessed male receptacle.

26. A method of providing surge protection to a portable device and an associated power adapter for the portable device from harmful electrical disturbances, the power adapter having an input for coupling to an AC power source to receive AC power and an output to provide DC power to the portable device, the power adapter further including a power cord having a first end for coupling to the AC power source and a second end for coupling to the input of the power adapter, the method comprising:

providing a surge protector having an input and an output;

coupling the input of the surge protector to the second end of the power cord of the power adapter; and

coupling the output of the surge protector to the input of the power adapter;

wherein the surge protector includes a first surge protection component and a second surge protection component, and wherein the method further comprises detecting an input voltage to the surge protector, and coupling the second surge protection component across input power lines if the input voltage is less than a predetermined voltage;

wherein the output of the surge protector includes a cable having at one end a female AC connector, and wherein the step of coupling the output of the surge protector includes coupling the female AC connector of the surge protector to a male AC connector on the power adapter; and

wherein the input of the surge protector includes a male AC connector, and wherein the step of coupling the input of the surge protector includes coupling the male AC connector to a female connector of the power cord of the power adapter.

27. A method of providing surge protection to a portable device and an associated power adapter for the portable device from harmful electrical disturbances, the power adapter having an input for coupling to an AC power source to receive AC power and an output to provide DC power to the portable device, the power adapter further including a power cord having a first end for coupling to the AC power source and a second end for coupling to the input of the power adapter, the method comprising:

providing a surge protector having an input and an output;

coupling the input of the surge protector to the second end of the power cord of the power adapter; and

coupling the output of the surge protector to the input of the power adapter;

wherein the surge protector includes a first surge protection component and a second surge protection component, and wherein the method further comprises detecting an input voltage to the surge protector, and coupling the second surge protection component across input power lines if the input voltage is less than a predetermined voltage.