Dual input AC and DC power supply having a programmable DC output utilizing single-loop optical feedback

• US 6,920,056 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mobility Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: MacDonald, Gilbert, Dubose, Richard Garrison, Wang, Chia hua
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/715,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 363/37, 363/65, 363/142, 307/64, 307/66, 307/72, 307/73, 307/75
• 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 dual input AC/DC power converter (10) having dual inputs (12,14) adapted to receive both an AC and DC input and provide a selectable DC voltage output (16) and a second DC output (18). The dual input AC/DC power converter (10) comprises a power converter circuit (20) having an AC-to-DC converter (22), a DC-to-DC booster converter (24), a feedback circuit (26), a filter circuit (25) and a DC-to-DC buck converter (28). Advantageously, the power converter (10) resolves many of the system management problems associated with carrying all of the different interface components necessary to power a wide variety of mobile products from either an AC or DC power supply. In addition, the feedback circuit (26) comprises single feedback loop having stacked photocouplers, one (PH1) controlling the AC-to-DC converter (22) and the other (PH3) controlling the DC-to-DC booster converter (24), to select the overall DC output voltage.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

a housing;

a first circuit having a first voltage input disposed in the housing converting an AC input voltage to a first DC voltage;

a second circuit having a second voltage input electrically isolated from the first voltage input and disposed in the housing converting a DC input voltage to a second DC voltage;

a third circuit disposed in the housing receiving the first and second DC voltages and generating a first DC output voltage at a first output; and

wherein the first circuit and the second circuit receive the respective AC input voltage and DC input voltage at a common single connector being integral to the housing and adapted to separately couple to a DC input cord and an AC input cord.

2. The power converter of claim 1 comprising a fourth circuit coupled to said first output and providing a second DC output voltage at a second output, wherein said second DC voltage output is independent of, and substantially lower than said first DC output voltage.

4. The power converter of claim 2 wherein said fourth circuit comprises a DC-to-DC buck converter providing said second DC output voltage, said DC-to-DC buck converter providing said second DC output voltage of between 3VDC and 15VDC.

9. The power converter of claim 1 wherein said first circuit is adapted to receive the AC input voltage having a range of 90VAC to 265VAC.

10. The power converter of claim 1 wherein said second circuit is adapted to receive the DC input voltage having a range of 11VDC to 16VDC.

11. The power converter of claim 2 wherein said first and second DC output voltages are programmable as a function of a removable program module.

12. The power converter of claim 2 wherein said fourth circuit comprises a removable program module, wherein said second DC output voltage is a function of said removable program modules.

13. The power converter of claim 2 further comprising a fifth circuit including a protection circuit providing an over-voltage protection function.

3. A power converter, comprising:

a housing;

a first circuit disposed in the housing converting an AC input voltage to a first DC voltage;

a second circuit disposed in the housing converting a DC input voltage to a second DC voltage;

a third circuit disposed in the housing receiving the first and second DC voltages and generating a first DC output voltage at a first input; and

wherein the first circuit and the second circuit receive the respective AC input voltage and DC input at a common single connector being integral to the housing and adapted to separately couple to a DC input cord and an AC input cord;

wherein said second circuit comprises a DC-to-DC boost converter, wherein said DC-to-DC boost converter is adapted to provide the second DC voltage of between 15VDC and 24VDC.

5. A power converter, comprising:

a housing

a first circuit disposed in the housing converting an AC input voltage to a first DC voltage;

a second circuit disposed in the housing converting a DC input voltage to a second DC voltage;

a third circuit disposed in the housing receiving the first and second DC voltages and generating a first DC output voltage at a first output; and

wherein the first circuit and the second circuit receive the respective AC input voltage and DC input voltage at a common single connector being integral to the housing and adapted to separately couple to a DC input cord and an AC input cord;

wherein said first DC output voltage is established via a removable program module, wherein said removable program module comprises a key adapted to be removably coupled to said power converter.

6. The power converter of claim 5 wherein said removable program module comprises a key having a resistor, wherein said first DC output voltage are a function of the value of said resistor.

7. The power converter of claim 5 wherein said key establishes an output voltage function.

8. The power converter of claim 5 wherein said key establishes an output current limiting function.