Cradle for receiving an adapter

• US 7,193,873 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Systems LLC (AppBrilliance, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L
• Application Number:
  US11/400,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 363/142, 363/146, 320/108, 320/111, 320/115, 320/114
• 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 storage area to accept an 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 when inserted into the cradle casing and generating a second DC power signal;

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 4, 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 4, further including a second 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 cradle casing, comprising:

a storage area to accept an adapter when the adapter is inserted into the cradle casing, the adapter being capable of receiving power from a power source and generating a DC voltage;

an output cable to provide a DC power signal to an electronic device;

a mating device to electrically couple the adapter to the cradle casing;

a first regulation device to generate a first DC output voltage from the DC voltage; and

a routing circuit to receive a first programming signal and to output the first programming signal to the regulation device to set the first DC output voltage.

11. The cradle casing of claim 10, wherein the first regulation device is located within a DC adapter in the cradle casing.

12. The cradle casing of claim 10, wherein the first regulation device is located within the adapter which is inserted into the cradle casing which is an AC/DC adapter.

13. The cradle casing of claim 10, wherein the first regulation device is located within a DC adapter in the cradle casing;

a second regulation device is located within the adapter which is inserted into the cradle casing, where the adapter is an AC/DC adapter and generates a second DC output voltage; and

the routing circuit receives a second programming signal and transmits the second programming signal to the second regulation device to set the second DC output voltage.

14. The cradle casing of claim 13, wherein the routing circuit receives the first DC output voltage and the second DC output voltage.

15. The cradle casing of claim 14, wherein the routing circuit sums the first DC output voltage and the second DC output voltage to create a third DC output voltage.

16. The cradle casing of claim 10, wherein the adapter inserted into the cradle casing generates a first DC output voltage when the adapter is inserted into the cradle casing.

17. A cradle casing, comprising:

a storage area to accept an adapter when the adapter is inserted into the cradle casing, the adapter being capable of receiving power from a power source and generating a DC voltage;

a mating device to electrically couple the adapter to the cradle casing;

a routing circuit to receive a first programming signal and to output the first programming signal; and

a first regulation device to receive the first programming signal and the DC voltage, and to generate a first DC output voltage based on the first programming signal, wherein the routing circuit receives the first DC output voltage from the first regulation device.

18. The cradle casing of claim 17, wherein the first regulation device is located within a DC adapter in the cradle casing.

19. The cradle casing of claim 17, wherein the first regulation device is located within the adapter which is inserted into the cradle casing which is an AC/DC adapter.

20. The cradle casing of claim 17, wherein the first regulation device is located within a DC adapter in the cradle casing;

a second regulation device is located within the adapter which is inserted into the cradle casing, where the adapter is an AC/DC adapter and generates a second DC output voltage; and

the routing circuit receives a second programming signal and transmits the second programming signal to the second regulation device to set the second DC output voltage.

21. The cradle casing of claim 20, wherein the routing circuit receives the first DC output voltage and the second DC output voltage.

22. The cradle casing of claim 21, wherein the routing circuit sums the first DC output voltage and the second DC output voltage to create a third DC output voltage.

23. The cradle casing of claim 17, wherein the adapter inserted into the cradle casing generates a first DC output voltage when the adapter is inserted into the cradle casing.