Cradle for receiving an adapter

• US 7,072,200 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• 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): Laxton, Gary L
• Application Number:
  US10/435,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146
• US Class Current: 363/146
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/72 Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• 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 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

A cradle casing has a DC/DC adapter to receive DC power from a DC power source and generate a first DC power signal. A sleeve accepts an AC/DC adapter, and guides movement of the AC/DC adapter when the AC/DC adapter is inserted into the cradle casing. The AC/DC adapter is capable of receiving AC power from an AC power source and generating a second DC power signal. A circuit receives at least one of the first DC power signal and the second DC power signal and outputs a third DC power signal.

Claims

1. A cradle casing, comprising:

a DC/DC adapter to receive DC power from a DC power source and generate a first DC power signal;

a sleeve to accept an AC/DC adapter, wherein the sleeve guides a movement of the AC/DC adapter when the AC/DC adapter is inserted into the cradle casing, the AC/DC adapter being capable of receiving AC power from an AC power source and generating a second DC power signal; and

a circuit to receive at least one of the first DC power signal and the second DC power signal and to output a third DC power signal.

2. The cradle casing according to claim 1, further including a mating device to electrically couple the cradle casing to the AC/DC adapter.

3. The cradle casing according to claim 1, further including an output cable to provide the third DC power signal to an electronic device.

4. The cradle casing according to claim 3, wherein the output cable is stored within an output cable storage device.

5. The cradle casing according to claim 3, wherein a tip is coupled to an end of the output cable to couple to the electronic device.

6. The cradle casing according to claim 3, further including a storage area to store at least one tip to couple an end of the output cable to the electronic device.

7. The cradle casing according to claim 1, further including a DC plug to couple the DC/DC adapter to the DC power source.

8. The cradle casing according to claim 1, wherein the AC/DC adapter further includes an AC plug to electrically couple the AC/DC adapter to the AC power source.

9. The cradle casing according to claim 1, wherein the circuit receives both the first DC power signal and the second DC power signal, and sums the first DC power signal and the second DC power signal to generate the third DC power signal.

10. A method, comprising:

inserting an AC/DC adapter into a sleeve of a cradle casing, wherein the cradle casing includes a DC/DC adapter, and the sleeve guides movement of the AC/DC adapter, and the AC/DC adapter receives AC power from an AC power source and generates a first DC power signal, and the DC/DC adapter receives DC power from a DC power source and generates a second DC power signal;

electrically mating the AC/DC adapter to the cradle casing, wherein the cradle casing includes a circuit to receive at least one of the first DC power signal and the second DC power signal and outputs a third DC power signal; and

coupling an output cable of the cradle casing to an electronic device, wherein the output cable provides the third DC power signal to the electronic device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the output cable is stored within an output cable storage device.

12. The method according to claim 10, further including plugging a DC plug of the cradle casing to the DC power source to couple the DC/DC adapter to the DC power source.

13. The method according to claim 10, further including plugging an AC plug of the AC/DC adapter to the AC power source to electrically couple the AC/DC adapter to the AC power source.

14. The method according to claim 10, further including coupling a tip to an end of the single output cable to couple to an electronic device.

15. The method according to claim 10, further including storing, in a storage area, at least one tip to couple an end of the single output cable to the electronic device.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the circuit receives both the first DC power signal and the second DC power signal, and sums the first DC power signal and the second DC power signal to generate the third DC power signal.