Power adapters for powering and/or charging peripheral devices

• US 7,573,159 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Robbin, Jeffrey L., Ng, Stanley Carl, DeIuliis, Daniele, Hodge, Andrew Bert, Anderson, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries; Dru M
• Application Number:
  US11/076,617
• Time in Patent Office: 1,616 Days
• Field of Search: 307/150
• US Class Current: 307/150
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A power adapter for a peripheral device such as portable electronics device is disclosed. The power adapter includes a housing that contains electrical components associated with the power adapter. The power adapter also includes a data port provided at a surface of the housing. The data port is configured to provide external power to the peripheral device.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

a power adapter including a housing, a first Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection port, a second USB connection port, and a power port, the housing at least partially enclosing one or more electrical components for converting a first electrical power to a second electrical power,

wherein the power port is configured to receive the first electrical power using a power plug located on the housing,

wherein the first USB connection port is configured to output the second electrical power based on at least the first electrical power, the second electrical power exceeding incidental USB power, the first USB connection port including a first plurality of data contacts and a plurality of power contacts, the plurality of power contacts being connected to the power port through the one or more electrical components, and

wherein the second USB connection port includes a second plurality of data contacts coupled to the first plurality of data contacts in the first USB connection port, such that data can be transferred between the first USB connection port and the second USB connection port.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second USB connection port of the power adapter includes a power contact and a data contact.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the USB connection ports comprises at least one data contact and at least one power contact.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first USB connection port of the power adapter is substantially situated at a surface of the power adapter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power adapter is capable of electrically coupling to an AC power outlet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first USB connection port of the power adapter is configured to interface with a connector capable of carrying USB signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first USB connection port of the power adapter is configured to interface with a connector capable of carrying USB signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power adapter comprises a plurality of electrically conductive wires coupling a plurality of data and power contacts in the first USB connection port to a corresponding plurality of data and power contacts in the second USB connection port.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second USB connection port includes at least one power contact and at least one data contact.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein when a first connector of a transmission cable mates with the first USB connection port of the power adapter, the respective power contacts are electrically coupled together and to an electrically conductive wire in the transmission cable to carry power.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more electrical components include at least one transformer and one rectifier.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing includes an opening, the opening partially exposing the power port.

11. For use in an electronic system including a peripheral device, a method of providing power to the electronic system comprising:

providing a transmission cable including a first connector at one end and a second connector at an opposite end, the transmission cable being capable of transmitting power and data;

providing a power adapter including a housing, a first USB connection port, a second USB connection port, and a power port, the housing at least partially enclosing one or more electrical components for converting a first electrical power to a second electrical power;

configuring the power port to receive the first electrical power via at least a first prong and a second prong;

configuring the first USB connection port on the power adapter to be able to connect to the first connector, the first USB connection port including a first plurality of data contacts and a plurality of power contacts, the plurality of power contacts being connected to the power port through the one or more electrical components;

configuring the second USB connection port to be able to provide data to and receive data from the first USB connection port, the second USB connection port including a second plurality of data contacts,

configuring the first connector of the transmission cable to be able to connect to the first USB connection port; and

configuring the second connector of the transmission cable to be able to connect to a peripheral device,

wherein configuring the first connection port includes configuring the first USB connection port to output the second electrical power instead of power received at the second connection port, the second electrical power based on at least the first electrical power, to the peripheral device through the plurality of power contacts and the transmission cable, such that the peripheral device is able to operate at a normal level of operation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring the first connection port on the power adapter to be able to connect to the first connector comprises providing a power contact and a data contact in the first connection port.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing power to the host device from a power source separate from the power adapter when the power adapter is connected to the peripheral device.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more electrical components include at least one transformer and one rectifier.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein the housing includes an opening, the opening partially exposing the power port.

14. A method for powering electronic devices including at least a peripheral device, the method comprising:

providing a power adapter including a housing, a first connection port, a second connection port, and a power port including at least a first prong and a second prong, where the first and second prongs are integral with the housing, the housing at least partially enclosing one or more electrical components for converting a first electrical power to a second electrical power, the first connection port including a first plurality of data contacts and a plurality of power contacts, the plurality of power contacts being connected to the power port through the one or more electrical components, the second connection port including a second plurality of data contacts coupled to the first plurality of data contacts in the first connection port such that data can be transferred between the first connection port and the second connection port; and

providing a cable with connectors at opposite ends, the cable being configured to transmit both power and data;

enabling a first mode of use in which a host device is connected to the peripheral device using the connectors of the cable, wherein incidental power and data are transmitted via the cable and a battery on the peripheral device is charged at a first rate using the incidental power; and

enabling a second mode of use in which the power adapter is connected to the peripheral device using the connectors of the cable;

wherein enabling the second mode of use includes;

enabling the power port to receive the first electrical power; and

enabling the first connection port to output the second electrical power, the second electrical power based on at least the first electrical power, to the peripheral device through the plurality of power contacts and the cable, wherein the battery on the peripheral device is charged at a second rate using the second electrical power, the second rate being faster than the first rate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein no data can be transmitted between the power adapter and the peripheral device when enabling the second mode of use.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a power adapter having a second connection port comprises providing a power adapter having a second connection port that includes a power contact and a data contact.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a power adapter having a first connection port comprises disposing the first connection port on a surface of the power adapter.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more electrical components include at least one transformer and one rectifier.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the housing includes an opening, the opening partially exposing the power port.

24. A power adapter comprising:

a power port to receive a first power;

first circuitry to convert the first power to a second power;

a housing at least partially enclosing the first circuitry;

a first USB port to couple to a host device, the first USB port comprising a USB connector including a plurality of data pins for exchanging data with the host device and a power pin for receiving an incidental power from the host device; and

a second USB port to couple to a peripheral device having a battery, the second USB port including a plurality of data pins coupled to the data pins of the first USB port and a power pin for providing the second power to charge the battery on the peripheral device,

wherein the second power is capable of charging the battery on the peripheral device at a faster rate than the incidental power received from the host device.

25. The power adapter of claim 24 wherein the adapter provides the second power to the peripheral device instead of the incidental power received at one of the power pins of the first USB port from the host device in order to more quickly charge the battery on the peripheral device.

26. The power adapter of claim 24 wherein the incidental power received from the host device is insufficient to charge the battery on the peripheral device.

27. The power adapter of claim 24 wherein the first power is received using a plurality of prongs.

28. The power adapter of claim 27 wherein the plurality of prongs are moveable.

29. The power adapter of claim 24 wherein the first circuitry comprises a transformer and a rectifier.

30. An electronic system comprising:

a peripheral device comprising a battery and a peripheral port, the peripheral port comprising a plurality of power and data pins;

a power adapter comprising;

a power port to receive a first power;

first circuitry to convert the first power to a second power;

a housing at least partially enclosing the first circuitry;

a first USB port to couple to a host device, the first USB port comprising a USB connector including a plurality of data pins for exchanging data with the host device and a power pin for receiving an incidental power from the host device; and

a second USB port including a plurality of data pins coupled to the data pins of the first USB port and a power pin for providing the second power; and

a cable for connecting the peripheral port of the peripheral device to the second USB port such that the peripheral device receives the second power, wherein the second power is capable of charging the battery on the peripheral device at a faster rate than the incidental power.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising:

a host device comprising a third USB port, the third USB port comprising a USB connector and including a plurality of power and data pins, the power pins providing a third power, the third USB port coupled to the second USB port,

wherein the magnitude of the second power is greater than the magnitude of the third power.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the second power is capable of charging a battery in the peripheral device at a faster rate than the third power.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the power adapter provides the second power to the peripheral device instead of the third power received at the second USB port from the host device in order to more quickly charge a battery on the peripheral device.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the power adapter provides the second power to the peripheral device instead of the third power received at the second USB port from the host device such that the peripheral device can operate in a normal mode of operation.

35. The system of claim 30 wherein the third power received from the host device is insufficient to charge a battery on the peripheral device.

36. The system of claim 30 wherein the peripheral device is a media player.

37. The system of claim 30 wherein the host device is a portable computer.