Apparatus for producing an output voltage to power an electronic device

• US 7,081,008 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Tan
• Original Assignee: William Tan
• Inventors: Tan, William
• Primary Examiner(s): DUVERNE, JEAN F
• Application Number:
  US10/530,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/503, 439/490, 439/498, 439/63, 439/638, 439/304, 362/236, 362/249
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/648 being plural resistors among which a selection is made
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

Apparatus for producing an output voltage V_o to power an electronic device is disclosed herein. According to the preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a power supply (100) having two or more first connection elements (108) in which some or all of the first connection elements (108) are in series with different respective resistive loads (103) and circuitry for maintaining the first connection elements (108) at different voltages, and a connector assembly (200) arranged to be coupled between the power supply (100) and the electronic device. The connector assembly (200) includes at least two second connection elements (204) for connection to respective ones of the first connection elements (108) and electrically connectable to the electronic device and also includes selection means, in the form of an electrical wire (203), for modifying the voltage difference between the first connection elements (108) to which the second connection elements (204) are connected, whereby the connector assembly (200) draws a selected voltage from the power supply (100) and passes the selected voltage V_o to the electronic device.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing an output voltage to power an electronic device, the apparatus comprising

a power supply comprising two or more first connection elements in which some or all of the first connection elements are in series with different respective resistive loads and circuitry for maintaining the first connection elements at different voltages;

and

a connector assembly arranged to be coupled between the power supply and the electronic device,

the connector assembly having at least two second connection elements for connection to respective ones of the first connection elements and electrically connectable to the electronic device, the connector assembly further having selection means for modifying the voltage difference between the first connection elements to which the second connection elements are connected, whereby the connector assembly draws a selected voltage from the power supply and passes the selected voltage to the electronic device.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are more than two first connection elements and the selection means includes one or more auxiliary connection elements which are connectable to selected ones of the first connection elements to vary the voltage difference between the first connection elements to which the second connection elements are attached.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the auxiliary elements are electrically connected to each other.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein sides of the resistive loads away from the first connection elements are mutually connected to a point in a voltage divider circuit.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 when dependent on claim 3, wherein upon connection of the auxiliary connection elements to selected ones of the first connection elements, the voltage at said point in the voltage divider is held substantially constant and the voltage difference is varied between the first connection elements to which the second connection elements are attached.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein sides of the resistive loads away from the first connection elements are mutually connected to a point in a voltage divider circuit.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein sides of the resistive loads away from the first connection elements are mutually connected to a point in a voltage divider circuit.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

11. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

12. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

23. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

24. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

13. A power supply comprising two or more first connection elements in which some or all of the first connection elements are in series with different respective resistive loads and circuitry for maintaining the first connection elements at different voltages, the power supply being arranged to be coupled to a connector assembly having at least two second connection elements for connection to respective ones of the first connection elements of the power supply and electrically connectable to an electronic device, the connector assembly further having selection means for modifying the voltage difference between the first connection elements to which the second connection elements are connected, whereby the connector assembly draws a selected voltage from the power supply and passes the selected voltage to the electronic device.

14. A power supply according to claim 13, wherein there are more than two first connection elements and the selection means of the connector assembly includes one or more auxiliary connection elements which are connectable to selected ones of the first connection elements to vary the voltage difference between the first connection elements to which the second connection elements are attached.

15. A power supply according to claim 13, wherein the sides of the resistive loads away from the first connection elements are mutually connected to a point in a voltage divider circuit.

16. A power supply according to claim 15, wherein upon connection of the auxiliary connection elements to selected ones of the first connection elements, the voltage at said point in the voltage divider is held substantially constant and the voltage difference is varied between the first connection elements to which the second connection elements are attached.

17. A power supply according to claim 14, wherein the sides of the resistive loads away from the first connection elements are mutually connected to a point in a voltage divider circuit.

27. A connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

18. A connector assembly arranged to be coupled between a power supply and an electronic device, the power supply comprising two or more first connection elements in which some or all of the first connection elements are in series with different respective resistive loads and circuitry for maintaining the first connection elements at different voltages, the connector assembly comprising

at least two second connection elements for connection to respective ones of the first connection elements of the power supply and electrically connectable to the electronic device, and

selection means for modifying the voltage difference between the first connection elements of the power supply to which the second connection elements are connected, whereby the connector assembly draws a selected voltage from the power supply and passes the selected voltage to the electronic device.

19. A connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein the power supply comprises more than two first connection elements and the selection means includes one or more auxiliary connection elements which are connectable to selected ones of the first connection elements of the power supply to vary the voltage difference between the first connection elements of the power supply to which the second connection elements are attached.

20. A connector assembly according to claim 19, wherein the auxiliary elements are electrically connected to each other.

21. A connector assembly according to claim 20, wherein upon connection of the auxiliary connection elements to selected ones of the first connection elements, the voltage difference is varied between the first connection elements of the power supply to which the second connection elements are attached.

22. A connector assembly according to claim 18, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

25. A connector assembly according to claim 19, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.

26. A connector assembly according to claim 20, wherein the second connection elements are electrically connectable to the electronic device via an electric cable.