Universal multiple device power adapter and carry case
First Claim
1. A power adapter comprising:
- an input configured to receive input power;
a switch coupled to the input and configured to selectively couple the input to one of a low-voltage output and a high-voltage output, the switch being in one of a low-voltage position and a high-voltage position, respectively;
a selector circuit coupled to the input and to the switch and configured to provide a control signal to the switch such that the switch will be in the low-voltage position if the input receives input power having a DC voltage lower than a threshold voltage and will be in the high-voltage position if the input power has an AC voltage higher than the threshold voltage; and
a low-voltage cutout circuit configured to inhibit electrical current from flowing through the switch if the voltage input power is below a low-voltage cutout threshold, wherein the value of the low-voltage cutout threshold is determined by a peak inverse voltage of a zener diode within the low-voltage cutout circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a carrying case with an integrated power supply system for providing power to multiple electronic devices from a single power source. In addition to allowing quick access and storage of various electronic devices, the carrying case also allows the individual electronic devices to be easily connected to the power source and eliminates the need to carry multiple charging cords. In certain embodiments, the power supply system further includes an additional battery or other power source, which increases the runtime of connected electronic devices and reduces the need to carry additional individual batteries for the individual devices. With different connectors on the input to the power system, different AC or DC power sources may be utilized. Different connectors can also be used to provide power to different electronic devices.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A power adapter comprising:
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an input configured to receive input power; a switch coupled to the input and configured to selectively couple the input to one of a low-voltage output and a high-voltage output, the switch being in one of a low-voltage position and a high-voltage position, respectively; a selector circuit coupled to the input and to the switch and configured to provide a control signal to the switch such that the switch will be in the low-voltage position if the input receives input power having a DC voltage lower than a threshold voltage and will be in the high-voltage position if the input power has an AC voltage higher than the threshold voltage; and a low-voltage cutout circuit configured to inhibit electrical current from flowing through the switch if the voltage input power is below a low-voltage cutout threshold, wherein the value of the low-voltage cutout threshold is determined by a peak inverse voltage of a zener diode within the low-voltage cutout circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 24)
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6. A power supply system for receiving and processing power of different voltages, the system comprising:
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an input apparatus configured to be coupled to a plurality of different socket configurations each associated with one of relatively-high AC voltage and relatively-low DC voltage; an output device configured to couple to at least one electronic device to provide output power to the electronic device, the output power having an associated voltage appropriate for the electronic device; a power adapter coupled to the input apparatus and the output device and configured to automatically provide input power received through the input apparatus having the relatively-low DC voltage to low-DC-voltage converter circuitry and having the relatively-high AC voltage to high-AC-voltage converter circuitry to produce the output power for the electronic device; and a low-voltage cutout circuit configured to inhibit electrical current from flowing to the at least one electrical device if voltage at the input apparatus is below a low-voltage cutout threshold, wherein the value of the low-voltage cutout threshold is determined by a peak inverse voltage of a zener diode within the low-voltage cutout circuit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A portable power supply system for providing power from different sources having different voltages to portable electronic devices, the system comprising:
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a plurality of input connectors configured to fit into receptacles associated with respective AC and DC voltages; a single input cord, wherein the input cord and the input connectors are configured to be removably coupled together; a plurality of output connectors configured to fit into power receptacles of portable electronic devices; a power adapter coupled to the single input cord and configured to be coupled to the output connectors and including coupling means for automatically coupling high-voltage AC signals received by the single input cord to high-voltage AC-to-DC converter circuitry and automatically coupling low-voltage DC signals received by the single input cord to low-voltage DC-to-DC converter circuitry; and a low-voltage cutoff circuit configured to inhibit power to the plurality of output connectors if the voltage at the input cord is below a low-voltage cutoff threshold, wherein the value of the low-voltage cutout threshold is determined by a peak inverse voltaae of a zener diode within the low-voltage cutout circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of providing an appropriate level of DC power, the method comprising:
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receiving input power; automatically coupling the received input power to a high-voltage apparatus if the input power has a voltage above a first threshold; automatically coupling the received input power to a low-voltage apparatus if the input power has a voltage below the first threshold; automatically decoupling the received input power from the high-voltage apparatus and the low-voltage apparatus if the input power has a voltage below a second threshold, wherein the value of the second threshold voltage is based on a peak inverse voltage of a zener diode; processing the input power in an appropriate one of the high-voltage apparatus and the low-voltage apparatus to produce the appropriate level of DC power; and outputting the DC power if the input power has voltage above the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification