Power supply, and associated method, exhibiting selectable electrical characteristics

• US 7,166,937 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RadioShack Legacy Corporation
• Original Assignee: RadioShack Legacy Corporation
• Inventors: Chan, Chi Hung Edmond, Reynolds, Billy Edwin Jr., Wilson, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/787,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 307/151
• US Class Current: 307/151
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0025 Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for a power converter that provides operative power to a load device. The characteristics of the operative power are selectable, permitting the power supply to be used to power load devices of differing power requirements. An indicator indicates that electrical characteristics, such as voltage levels and polarities, to be exhibited by the operative power. A signal is generated by a command generator and provided to a power source. The power source extracts the informational content of the command and generates operative power of the selected characteristics.

Claims

1. Apparatus for facilitating supply of electrical energy, sourced at an energy source, of selected energy characteristics to power a load device that exhibits load characteristics, said apparatus comprising:

a tip member housing having a connector configured to connect with the load device;

an energy-characteristic selection identifier embodied at said tip member housing, said energy characteristic selection identifier configured at least selectably to identify the selected energy characteristics of the electrical energy to power the load device;

a command generator embodied at said tip member housing and adapted to receive indications of identifications made by said energy-characteristics selection identifier, said command generator configured to generate electrical commands of values responsive to the indications of the identifications made by said energy-characteristic selection identifier, the electrical commands for application to the energy source to instruct the energy source to generate energy of the selected energy characteristics.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy-characteristic selection identifier comprises at least a first selection switch, said at least the first selection switch positionable into a selected switch position, the selected switch position into which said first selection switch is positioned identifying, at least in part, the selected energy characteristics of the electrical energy needed to power the load device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the selected energy characteristics comprise a selected voltage level, and wherein the selected switch position into which said first selection switch is positionable identifies the selected voltage level.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the selected energy characteristics comprise a selected voltage polarity and wherein the selected switch position into which said first selection switch is positionable identifies the selected voltage polarity.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said at least the first selection switch comprises said first selection switch and at least a second selection switch, wherein the selected energy characteristics of the electrical energy needed to power the electrical device comprises a first selected energy characteristic and a second selected energy characteristic, the selected switch position into which said first selection switch is positioned identifying the first selected energy characteristic, and said second selection switch also positionable into a selected switch position, the selected switch position into which said second selection switch is positioned identifying the second selected energy characteristic.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first selected energy characteristic comprises a selected voltage level, wherein the second selected energy characteristic comprises a selected voltage polarity, wherein the selected switch position into which said first selection switch is positioned identifies the selected voltage level, and wherein the selected switch position into which said second selection switch is positioned identifies the selected voltage polarity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical commands generated by said command generator generates comprise modulated signals that are of values that identify the selected energy characteristics of the electrical energy needed to power the load device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the modulated signals forming the electrical commands generated by said command generator comprise pulse-modulated signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said command generator comprises a four-pin programmed part adapted to receive the indications of the identifications made by said energy-characteristic selection identifier, said four-pin programmed part for generating the modulated signals responsive thereto.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a conductive data line connectable between said four-pin programmed part and the energy source, the modulated signals generated by said four-pin programmed part communicated upon the data line for delivery to the energy source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a detector embodied at the energy source, said detector for detecting values of the modulated signals communicated thereto by said four-piece programmed part.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the energy source further comprises an energy characteristic selector adapted to receive indications of detections made by said detector, said energy characteristic selector operable responsive thereto for selecting the energy characteristics of the electrical energy sourced thereat.

13. A method for facilitating supply of electrical energy, sourced at an energy source, of selected energy characteristics to power a load device that exhibits load characteristics, said method comprising the operations of:

identifying, at a tip member having a connector that connects with the load device, the selected energy characteristics of the electrical energy needed to power the load device;

forming, at the tip member, electrical commands of values responsive to indications of the selected energy characteristics identified during said operation of identifying;

providing the electrical commands formed, at the tip member, during said operation of forming to the energy source; and

generating electrical energy at the energy source of the selected energy characteristics, responsive to the electrical commands provided thereto during said operation of providing.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the operation of powering the load device with the electrical energy generated during said operation of generating.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the electrical commands formed during said operation of forming comprise modulated signals.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said operation of forming is performed remote from the energy source.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said operation of providing comprises the operations of sending the electrical commands upon a wireline extending to the energy source.

18. Apparatus for facilitating supply of electrical energy, sourced at an energy source, of selected energy characteristics to power a load device that includes a tag member containing indicia of the load device, said apparatus comprising:

an energy-characteristic selection identifier comprising a non-contact sensor configured to sense indicia contained at the tag member of the load device;

a command generator adapted to receive indications made by said energy-characteristic selection identifier of the indicia contained at the tag member, said command generator configured to generate electrical commands of values responsive to the indications made by said energy-characteristic selection identifier, the electrical commands for application to the energy source to instruct the energy source to generate energy of the selected energy characteristics.