Programmable power converter

• US 6,903,950 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobility Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Afzal, Ejaz, Dubose, Richard Garrison
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/623,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 363/37, 363/65, 363/142, 307/25, 307/26, 307/64, 307/65, 307/80
• US Class Current: 363/142
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control

Abstract

A power converter (10) adapted for receiving an AC input signal and a DC input signal and responsive thereto for providing a converted DC signal in which the converted DC signal has electrical characteristics which are selectable. The converter includes a programming circuitry (726) having a programmable memory (715) for storing a selection code, the programming circuitry (726) is cooperable for establishing the electrical characteristics of the converted DC signal based on the selection code.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

an input adapted to receive an input signal;

circuitry coupled to said input and responsive to said input signal providing a converted DC signal, said converted DC signal having electrical characteristics which are selectable;

programming circuitry having a selectively programmable memory adapted to store a selection code, said programming circuitry coupled with said circuitry and cooperable therewith adapted to establish an electrical characteristic of said converted DC signal based on said selection code; and

an output coupled to said circuitry and providing said converted DC signal, the converted DC signal adapted to power a portable electronic device, said output comprising a connector physically adapted to connect to the portable electronic device.

2. The power converter as specified in claim 1, wherein said electrical characteristics comprises one of:

signal voltage, signal current, signal power, signal polarity, and over-voltage protection threshold.

3. The power converter as specified in claim 1, wherein said programming circuitry comprises a variable resistive element having a value of resistance based on said selection code, and wherein said value of resistance establishes a corresponding signal voltage of said converted DC signal.

4. The power converter as specified in claim 1, wherein said memory is configured to be removable from said programming circuitry.

5. The power converter as specified in claim 1, wherein said memory is adapted to be programmed when said memory is coupled with said programming circuitry.

6. The power converter as specified in claim 1, wherein said memory is an electrically-programmable read-only memory (EPROM).

7. The power converter as specified in claim 1, wherein said programming circuitry further has an input adapted to receive a program signal indicative of said selection code, and responsive thereto, storing said selection code in said memory.

8. The power converter as specified in claim 7, wherein said programming circuitry input is adapted to receive the program signaling from a programming controller remotely via the Internet.

9. The power converter as specified in claim 7, wherein said programming circuitry is further adapted to receive program signaling from one of:

an optical signaling device, a magnetic induction signaling device, an acoustic signaling device, and direct connection signaling devices.

10. The power converter as specified in claim 1 further comprising a plug-in device coupled to said programming circuitry and adapted to receive said memory and couple with said programming circuitry.

11. A power converter system, comprising:

an input adapted to receive an input signal;

circuitry coupled to said input and responsive to said input signal providing a converted DC signal, wherein said converted DC signal has a selectable electrical characteristic;

programming circuitry coupled with said circuitry and cooperable therewith adapted to establish an electrical characteristic of said converted DC signal based on a selection code;

a coupler coupled to said programming circuitry, said coupler having a socket adapted to receive a removable memory and couple said memory to said programming circuitry, wherein said selection code is provided from said memory; and

an output coupled to said programming circuitry adapted to output said converted DC signal, the converted DC signal adapted to power a portable electronic device, the output comprising a connector physically adapted to connect to the portable electronic device.

12. The system as specified in claim 11, wherein said selection code is indicative of an electrical characteristic selection and is readable from said memory by said programming circuitry adapted for selecting said electrical characteristic selection upon said converted DC signal.

13. The system as specified in claim 11, wherein said memory is adapted to program said selection code when said memory is inserted into said coupler.

14. The system as specified in claim 11, wherein said memory is adapted to receive program signaling and be reprogramable by one of:

an optical signaling device, a magnetic induction signaling device, an acoustic signaling device, and direct connection signaling devices.

15. The system as specified in claim 11, wherein said memory is adapted to receive program signaling from a programming controller remotely via the Internet.

16. The system as specified in claim 11 further comprising a variable resistive element having a value of resistance which is effectuated based on said electrical characteristic selection, wherein the value of resistance establishes a corresponding signal voltage of said converted DC signal.

17. The system as specified in claim 11, wherein said programming circuitry further has an input adapted to receive a programming signal indicative of said selection code and responsive thereto storing said selection code in said memory.

18. The system as specified in claim 11, wherein said memory is an erasable-programmable read-only memory (EPROM) and said coupling is a plug-in device adapted to receive said EPROM.

19. The system as specified in claim 11, wherein said electrical characteristic comprises one of:

signal voltage, signal current, signal power, signal polarity, and over-voltage protection threshold.

20. A power converter, comprising:

an input adapted to receive an AC signal;

circuitry coupled to said input and responsive to said AC signal adapted to convert said AC signal to a DC signal, said DC signal having electrical characteristics which are selectable;

programming circuitry coupled to a programmable memory adapted to store a selection code, said programming circuitry coupled with said circuitry and cooperable therewith adapted to establish an electrical characteristic of said DC signal based on said selection code; and

an output outputting said DC signal adapted to power a portable electronic device, the output having a connector physically adapted to couple to the portable electronic device.

21. A power converter, comprising:

an input adapted to receive a DC input signal;

circuitry coupled to said input and responsive to said DC input signal adapted to convert said DC input signal to another DC signal, said another DC signal having an electrical characteristic which is selectable;

programming circuitry coupled to a programmable memory adapted to store a selection code, said programming circuitry coupled with said circuitry and cooperable therewith adapted to establish an electrical characteristic upon said another DC signal based on said selection code; and

an output outputting said DC signal adapted to power a portable electronic device, the output having a connector physically adapted to couple to the portable electronic device.

22. A power converter, comprising:

an input adapted to receive an AC signal;

circuitry coupled to the input and responsive to the AC signal adapted to convert the AC signal to a DC signal, the DC signal having an electrical characteristic which is selectable;

programming circuitry having a selection code, the programming circuitry coupled with the circuitry and cooperable therewith adapted to establish an electrical characteristic upon the DC signal based on the selection code, the programming circuitry further having an input adapted to receive a programming signal from remote of the power converter and selectively establish the selection code; and

an output outputting the DC signal being adapted to power a portable electronic device, the output having a connector physically adapted to couple to the portable electronic device.