Portable power converter pack

• US 6,894,439 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Aussie Light Company Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: The Aussie Light Company Pty Limited
• Inventors: Stewart, Ean Patrick, Burchill, Andrew Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Chuc
• Application Number:
  US10/275,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 315/241.P, 315/240, 315/39.51, 315/94, 315/3.6, 315/5.35, 315/5.12, 315/291, 315/219, 315/307, 307/326, 307/328, 307/150, 307/2, 307/26, 363/146, 363/15, 363/16
• US Class Current: 315/241.00P
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

A portable power converter comprising input means to receive low voltage DC input, voltage converter means for converting the low voltage DC input into high DC voltage output, the voltage converter means in electrical communication with the input means, output means for operably supplying the high DC voltage to an appliance. The output means is in electrical communication with the converter includes a housing adapted to receive at least one of the input means, the voltage converter means and the output means. Preferably, the portable power converter also includes processing means for controlling some of the functions of the device such as shutting it down when power falls below preselected threshold. The device may also include a remote control which may be manually activated or in an alternative embodiment activated by external environment stimuli.

Claims

1. A portable power converter comprising an input device to receive a low voltage DC input, a voltage converter to convert said low voltage DC input into a high DC voltage output, said voltage converter in electrical communication with the input device, an output device adapted to operably supply said high DC voltage to two or more appliances, said output device in electrical communication with the converter, and a housing adapted to receive at least one of the input device, the voltage converter and the output device, wherein the input device includes at least one input electrical conducting lead, the voltage converter includes a DC step-up transformer and the output device includes at least one output electrical conducting lead, wherein the low DC voltage input is in the range of from about 5 volts to about 50 volts, and wherein the high DC voltage output is in the range from about 200 volts to about 600 volts.

2. The portable power converter of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical output lead is at least about 100 meters in length.

3. The portable power converter of claim 2 wherein the at least one electrical output lead is at least about 200 meters in length.

4. The portable power converter of claim 3 wherein the at least one electrical output lead is at least about 500 meters in length.

5. The portable power converter of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a first internal compartment adapted to receive the voltage converter and a second internal compartment adapted to store the input device and the output device when not in use.

6. The portable power converter of claim 5 wherein the second compartment is further adapted to receive the two or more appliances when not in use.

7. The portable power converter of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed from two engageable components movable between a closed position and an open position.

8. The portable power converter of claim 7 wherein the two components are molded and are hingedly connected to allow rotation of the components relative to each other between the closed position and the open position.

9. The portable power converter of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical output lead comprises a plurality of interconnectable leads.

10. The portable power converter of claim 9 wherein each lead is about 10 meters in length.

11. The portable power converter of claim 1, further comprising two or more appliances.

12. The portable power converter of claim 11 wherein the two or more appliances comprise at least one electrical discharge lamp.

13. The portable power converter of claim 12 wherein the at least one electrical discharge lamp comprises a compact fluorescent lamp.

14. The portable power converter of claim 13 wherein the compact fluorescent lamp is held by a ceramic plastic fining engageable with at least one of an end of the output lead remote from the power converter or intermediate said end and the power converter means.

15. The portable power converter of claim 13 wherein the compact fluorescent lamp is protected by a transparent shield.

16. The portable power converter of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises attachment for fixing the housing to a surface.

17. The portable power converter of claim 16 wherein the attachment comprises at least one aperture to receive a fixing member.

18. The portable power converter of claim 16 wherein the attachment comprises a clamp engageable with the housing, said clamp including at least one aperture to receive a fixing member.

19. The portable power converter of claim 1 further comprising an inlet socket device located between the input device and the converter, and an outlet socket device located between the converter and the output device to removably engage the input device and output device respectively.

20. The portable power converter of claim 19 further comprising a switch device to control the delivery of power to the output device, the switch device movable between a first position in which an electrical circuit for distribution of power to the output device is open and a second position wherein the electric circuit is closed.

21. The portable power converter of claim 20 wherein the switch device includes a toggle switch.

22. The portable power converter of claim 20 wherein the input socket device, the output socket device and the switch device are located in an external recess of the housing.

23. The portable power converter of claim 22 wherein the external recess includes a protective barrier movable between a first position wherein access to the input socket device, the output socket device and the switch device is provided and a second position wherein the recess is protected from an external environment.

24. The portable power converter of claim 1 wherein the housing is waterproof.

25. The portable power converter of claim 1 further comprising a processing device.

26. The portable power converter of claim 25 wherein the processing device is a microprocessor.

27. The portable power converter of claim 26 where the microprocessor is programmed to perform at least one of control high voltage switching, control electro-luminescent lamp activity, control voltage converter shut down, receive data input from remote devices, respond to input by a user through a keyboard, monitor boost circuit voltages, control power up and power down sequences and shut down the system at the boost circuit level.

28. The portable power converter of claim 25 further comprising a power monitor engageable with the output terminals of a power source and in signal communication with the processing device.

29. The portable power converter of claim 25 further comprising a boost circuit device to boost DC voltage prior to delivery to the converter, said boost circuit device in electrical communication with the converter and the power source and located intermediate the converter and the power source.

30. The portable power converter of claim 29 wherein the boost circuit device is in signal communication with the processing device and subject to control by the processing device.

31. The portable power converter of claim 30 wherein the boost circuit device further comprises a circuit switching device to open or close a circuit to the voltage converter, said circuit switch device moveable between an on and off position in response to signal communication from said processing device.

32. The portable power converter of claim 25 further comprising a programming device.

33. The portable power converter of claim 32 wherein the programming device is a keyboard in signal communication with the processing device.

34. The portable power converter of claim 33 wherein the keyboard further comprises electro-luminescent backlighting.

35. The portable power converter of claim 25 further comprising a receiving device to receive a transmitted signal, said receiving device in signal communication with the processing device.

36. The portable power converter of claim 25 further comprising a switch pack, said switch pack comprising a secondary control unit and a switch, said secondary control unit in signal communication with the processing device.

37. The portable power converter of claim 36 wherein the switch pack further comprises a keypad control in signal communication with the secondary control unit and providing local control of the secondary control unit.

38. The portable power converter of claim 35 further comprising a remote control device.

39. The portable power converter of claim 38 wherein the remote control is manually activated.

40. The portable power converter of claim 38 wherein the remote control is activated by sensors responsive to environmental stimuli.

41. The portable power converter of claim 40 wherein the environmental stimuli include at least one of sound, movement, light and temperature.

42. A portable power converter comprising:

a weather resistant housing, comprising a handle and two hingedly engaged members movable between a closed position and an open position;

a power converter to convert a low DC voltage to a high DC voltage, the power converter located inside the housing;

an input lead to provide an electrical connection between a power source and the power converter;

an inlet lead to provide an electrical connection between a power source and the power converter;

at least one output lead to provide an electrical connection between the power converter and two or more appliances;

at least one outlet socket to removably receive the at least one output lead;

a switch for the at least one outlet socket, said switch movable between an off position in which an electrical circuit in a respective outlet lead is open and an on position in which the electric circuit is closed; and

two or more compact fluorescent lamps;

wherein the input lead, the at least one output lead and the two or more compact fluorescent lamps are stowable within the housing.

43. The portable power converter of claim 42 wherein the at least one output lead comprises multiple interconnectable extension leads.

44. The portable power converter of claim 42 further comprising a power source locatable within the weather resistant housing.

45. The portable power converter of claim 44 wherein the power source is a battery.

46. A portable power converter comprising an input device to receive a low voltage DC input, a voltage converter to convert said low voltage DC input into a high DC voltage output, said voltage converter in electrical communication with the input device, an output device adapted to operably supply said high DC voltage to two or more appliances, said output device in electrical communication with the converter, and a housing adapted to receive at least one of the input device, the voltage converter and the output device, wherein the low DC voltage input is in the range from about 8 volts to about 24 volts, and wherein the high voltage DC output is in the range from about 300 volts to about 400 volts.

47. The portable power converter of claim 46, wherein the high voltage DC output is in the range from about 320 volts to about 380 volts.