Programmable power supply

• US 6,809,943 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US10/313,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 363/144, 363/147, 363/20, 363/21.1, 363/24, 363/25, 363/78, 363/79, 363/80, 363/97, 363/98, 363/132, 323/293, 323/297
• US Class Current: 363/144
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2027/2819 Planar transformers with printed windings, e.g. surrounded by two cores and to be mounted on printed circuit
• 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 1/4258 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 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• 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 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3372 of the parallel type
• 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: H02M 7/003 : Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0203 : Cooling of mounted components H05K1/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0262 : Arrangements for regulating voltages or for using plural voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/029 : having a programmable lay-out, i.e. adapted for choosing between a few possibilities
• 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 progammable power supply for providing a regulated DC output power is disclosed. The power supply provides the output power to any one of a plurality of electronic devices adapted for receiving the output power at an operational voltage or an operational current. The power supply receives a programming signal to maintain the output power at the operational voltage or operational current associated with a particular selected electronic device. Accordingly, by varying the programming signal, the power supply can be programmed to provide output power to any one of several electronic devices having differing input power requirements.

Claims

1. A connector adapter for use in coupling an electronic device to a power supply, the connector adapter comprising:

a first plurality of contacts to mate with a cable connector of a cable coupled to the power supply;

a second plurality of contacts to mate with contacts of the electronic device; and

a circuit which remotely programs a parameter of an output of the power supply,

where the circuit and at least a portion of each of the contacts in the first plurality and second plurality of contacts are disposed within a single housing, and at least two contacts in the first plurality of contacts are electrically connected to at least two contacts in the second plurality of contacts without a cable disposed between the first and second plurality of contacts.

2. The connector adapter of claim 1 wherein the second plurality of contacts have a shape and dimensions based on a shape and dimensions of the contacts of the electronic device.

3. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the parameter programmed by the circuit is voltage.

4. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the parameter programmed by the circuit is current.

5. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the circuit provides a current path to ground potential of the output of the power supply.

6. The connector adapter of claim 5, wherein the current path forms a portion of a voltage divider circuit.

7. The connector adapter of claim 1, wherein the circuit provides a current path to an ouput voltage of the power supply.

8. The connector adapter of claim 7, wherein the current path forms a portion of a voltage divider circuit.

9. Power supply equipment comprising:

a power supply for producing output power at a connector disposed on a distal end of a cable, a proximal end of the cable originating at the power supply; and

a connector adapter including;

a first plurality of contacts to mate with contacts of an electronic device; and

a second plurality of contacts to mate with contacts of an electronic device; and

a circuit which remotely programs a parameter of the output power produced by the

power supply,

wherein the circuit and at least a portion of each of the contacts in the first plurality and second plurality of contacts are disposed within a single housing, and at least two contacts in the first plurality of contacts are electrically connected to at least two contacts in the second plurality of contacts without a cable disposed between the first and second plurality of contacts.

10. The power supply equipment of claim 9, wherein the proximal end of the cable includes a connector which detachably mates with power supply output connector.

11. The power supply equipment of claim 9, wherein the second plurality of contacts have a shape and dimensions based on a shape and dimensions of the contacts of the electronic device.

12. The power supply equipment of claim 9, wherein the parameter programmed by the circuit is voltage.

13. The power supply equipment of claim 9, wherein the parameter programmed by the circuit is current.

14. The power supply equipment of claim 9, wherein the circuit provides a current path to ground potential of the output power produced by the power supply, the current path forming a portion of a voltage divider circuit.

15. The power supply equipment of claim 9, wherein the circuit provides a current path to an output voltage of the power supply, the current path forming a portion of a voltage divider circuit.

16. Power supply equipment comprising:

a power supply for producing output power at a connector disposed on a distal end of a cable, a proximal end of the cable originating at the power supply, the connector and cable each having first, second, and third conductors which are respectively coupled to each other, the first conductor being electrically coupled to a ground of the power supply; and

a connected adapter having a first connector with three contacts which respectively detachably mate with the three conductors of the connector disposed on the distal end of the cable and a second connector having first and second contacts which respectively detachably mate with power and ground contacts of an electronic appliance, the first and second contacts of the first connector of the connector adapter being respectively electrically coupled to the first and second contacts of the second connector of the connector adapter, the connector adapter housing a conductor coupled between the second and third contacts of the first connector of the connector adapter to provide an analog feedback control signal to the power supply to program a parameter of the output power, the analog feedback control signal being provided to the power supply without conversion to a digital signal.

17. The power supply equipment of claim 16, wherein the parameter is voltage.

18. The power supply equipment of claim 16, wherein the parameter is current.

19. The power supply equipment of claim 16, wherein the proximal end of the cable includes a connector which detachably mates with a power supply output connector.

20. Power supply equipment comprising:

a power supply for producing output power at a connector disposed on a distal end having first, second, and third conductors which are respectively coupled to each other, the first conductor being electrically coupled to the output power produced by the power supply and the second conductor being electrically coupled to a ground of the power supply; and

a connector adapter having a first connector with three contacts which respectively detachably mate with the three conductors of the connector disposed on the distal end of the cable and a second connected having a first and second contacts which respectively detachably mate with power and ground contacts of an electronic appliance, the first and second contacts of the first connector of the connector being adapter respectively electrically coupled to the first and second contacts of the second connector of the connector adapter, the connector adapter housing a circuit coupled between the second and third contacts of the first connector of the connector adapter to provide an analog feedback control signal to the power supply to program a parameter of the output power, the analog feedback control signal being provided to the power supply without conversion to a digital signal.

21. The power supply equipment of claim 20, wherein the parameter is voltage.

22. The power supply equipment of claim 20, wherein the parameter is current.

23. The power supply equipment of claim 20, wherein the proximal end of the cable includes a connector which detachably mates with a power supply output connector.