Programmable power adaptor

• US 7,646,107 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Targus International LLC
• Original Assignee: Targus Group International Incorporated (Targus International LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini; Albert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amaya; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/953,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66, 307/11, 307/39, 307/20, 307/24, 320/106, 320/107, 439/955, 439/488, 439/489, 439/172
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

Methods and systems for programmable power adaptors that can be programmed to adapt electrical power for one or more electronic devices. A programmable power adaptor optionally includes a user interface and/or other user input mechanism(s), which allows users to preset voltage requirements for one or more electronic devices. The pre-settings are stored in memory for future use. The programmable power adaptor is optionally configurable for multiple electronic devices, and/or multiple users. The programmable power adaptor optionally informs users of faults, proper device usage, and/or provides database access.

Claims

1. A programmable power adaptor, comprising:

an electrical input port;

an electrical output port;

a cable comprising a first end coupled to the electrical output port, and a second end comprising a connector;

a plurality of interchangeable connector tips each having a respective type and physical characteristic indicative of said type, the plurality connector of tips selectively attachable to the connector of the second end;

a memory comprising configuration information to associate an electronic device with a respective power requirement and connector tip type; and

a programmable controller coupled to the electrical input port, the electrical output port, and the memory;

wherein the programmable controller detects an indicator of a physical characteristic of one of the plurality of connector tips selectively attached to the electrical output port to identify the connector tip type and accesses the memory to determine the electrical power requirement associated with the identified connector tip type in the configuration information, and wherein the programmable controller adapts electrical power provided to the electrical output port according to the electrical power requirement.

2. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information associates one or more of the plurality of connector tips with an electrical power requirement of a respective electronic device.

3. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the memory stores configuration information associated with a plurality of electronic devices.

4. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 3, wherein the memory stores configuration information associated with a plurality of electronic devices for a plurality of users.

5. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of electrical output ports, wherein the programmable controller simultaneously adapts electrical power provided to one or more of the plurality of electrical output ports according to a connector tip type attached to the respective output port.

6. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 1, further comprising a battery coupled to the memory, wherein the battery provides back-up power for the memory.

7. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 6, wherein the battery further provides at least temporary back-up power to one or more electronic devices coupled to the electrical output port.

10. The power adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the programmable controller adapts alternating current to direct current.

11. The power adaptor according to claim 10, wherein the programmable controller further adapts a first direct current voltage to a second direct current voltage.

12. The power adaptor according to claim 10, wherein the programmable controller is configured to adapt a variety of alternating current frequencies to a direct current.

13. The power adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is configured to identify the type of connector tip attached to the electrical output port using only the indicator of the physical characteristic of the attached connector tip.

14. The power adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is configured to receive feedback from the attached connector tip, and where the programmable controller is configured to identify the type of connector tip using the indicator and the feedback.

15. The programmable power adapter of claim 1, further comprising a data port communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the configuration information is updated using the data port.

16. The programmable power adapter of claim 15, wherein the data port comprises a universal serial bus port.

17. The programmable power adapter of claim 15, wherein the data port comprises a wireless communications port.

18. The programmable power adapter of claim 15, wherein the data port comprises a network port.

8. A programmable power adapter, comprising:

an electrical input port;

an electrical output port;

a memory;

a user interface communicatively coupled to the memory to allow a user to input configuration information for an electronic device, wherein the configuration information associates the electronic device with a type of connector tip that is selectively connectable to the electrical output port with an electrical power requirement of the electronic device, the memory configured to store the configuration information; and

a programmable controller to detect an indicator of a physical characteristic of a connector tip selectively connected to the electrical output port, to identify the connector tip type using the indicator, and to adapt electrical power provided to the electrical output port according to the electrical power requirement associated with the identified connector tip type and electronic device in the configuration information.

9. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises a touch-sensitive liquid crystal display.

27. The programmable power adaptor according to claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises a liquid crystal display.

28. The programmable power adapter of claim 8, wherein the user interface is communicatively coupled to an electronic device database comprising respective electrical power requirements and associated connector tip types of a plurality of electronic devices.

29. The programmable power adapter of claim 28, wherein the user interface allows a user to input configuration information by selecting one of the plurality of electronic devices in the electronic device database.

30. The programmable power adapter of claim 29, wherein the electronic device database is stored in the memory.

31. The programmable power adapter of claim 29, further comprising a data port communicatively coupled to the memory.

32. The programmable power adapter of claim 31, wherein the electronic device database is updated using the data port.

33. The programmable power adapter of claim 31, wherein the data port comprises a universal serial bus port.

34. The programmable power adapter of claim 31, wherein the data port comprises a network port.

35. The programmable power adapter of claim 31, wherein the data port comprises a wireless communications port.

36. The programmable power adapter of claim 28, wherein the electronic device configuration information is associated with a user of the programmable power adapter.

37. The programmable power adapter of claim 36, wherein the memory comprises electronic device configuration information for a plurality of users.

38. The programmable power adapter of claim 37, wherein the user interface allows for selection of one of the plurality of users, and wherein upon selecting one of the plurality of users, the user interface is configured to display the configuration information associated with the selected user.

39. The programmable power adapter of claim 37, wherein the user interface allows for selection of one of the plurality of users, and wherein upon selecting one of the plurality of users, the programmable controller is configured to adapt power provided to the electrical output port according to the configuration information associated with the selected user.

40. The programmable power adapter of claim 8, wherein the user interface is configured to display an identifier of an electronic device upon detecting attachment of a connector tip of the type associated with the electronic device in the configuration information.

41. The programmable power adapter of claim 40, wherein the user interface is configured to display a connectivity status of the electronic device.

19. A method for adapting electrical power for an electronic device, comprising:

storing configuration information for a plurality of electronic devices, the configuration information comprising an electrical power requirement and a connector tip type associated with each respective electronic device;

detecting an indicator of a physical characteristic of a connector tip selectively coupled to an output of a power adapter;

receiving feedback from the connector tip;

identifying the connector tip type using the indicator and the feedback; and

adapting power provided to the output according to an electrical power requirement associated with the identified connector tip type in the configuration information.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the configuration information comprises configuration information for a plurality of users.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising updating the configuration information.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein updating the configuration information comprises receiving updated configuration information from an external device via a data port.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the data port comprises one selected from the group consisting of:

a universal serial bus data port, a wireless communications data port, and a network data port.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein adapting power provided to the output comprises converting an alternating current electrical source to a direct current.

25. The method according to claim 19, further comprising receiving a user input identifying an electronic device and associating the electronic device with a connector tip in the configuration information.

26. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause a power adapter to perform a method of providing power to an electronic device, the method comprising:

storing configuration information for a plurality of electronic devices, the configuration information comprising an electrical power requirement and a connector tip type associated with each of the plurality of electronic devices;

detecting an indicator of a physical characteristic of a connector tip selectively coupled to an output of the power adapter;

receiving feedback from the connector tip;

identifying the connector tip type using the indicator and the feedback;

accessing the configuration information to determine a power requirement associated with the identified connector tip type; and

adapting electrical power provided to the power outlet according to the electrical power requirement associated with the detected connector tip type in the configuration information.