AC/DC power converter

• US 7,646,620 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Inventors: MacDonald, Gilbert, Smith, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US11/213,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 363/37, 363/65, 363/142, 363/64, 307/66, 307/72, 307/73, 307/75
• US Class Current: 363/142
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• 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 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3385 with automatic control of output voltage or current H02M3/33561 takes precedence

Abstract

A dual input AC/DC power converter (10) having dual inputs (12, 14) adapted to receive both an AC and DC input and provide a selectable DC voltage output (16) and a second DC output (18). The dual input AC/DC power converter (10) comprises a power converter circuit (20) having an AC-to-DC converter (22), a DC-to-DC booster converter (24), a feedback circuit (26), a filter circuit (25) and a DC-to-DC buck converter (28). Advantageously, the power converter (10) resolves many of system management problems associated with carrying all of the different interface components necessary to power a wide variety of mobile products from either an AC or DC power supply. In addition, the power converter (10) also advantageously includes dual output voltage terminals (16/18) to allow for multiple mobile devices of varying power requirements to be powered, simultaneously, by a single converter.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

a first circuit having a first pulse width modulator (PWM) and configured to convert an AC input voltage to a first DC voltage;

a second circuit having a second PWM and configured to convert a DC input voltage to a second DC voltage;

a third circuit receiving the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage, and configured to control the first PWM and the second PWM and generate a variable first DC output voltage; and

a fourth circuit receiving the variable output voltage and generating a second DC output voltage which is independent of and substantially lower than the first DC output voltage.

2. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the third circuit is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the PWMs.

3. The power converter as specified in claim 1 further comprising a program module configured to enable a resistor to establish the first DC output voltage.

4. The power converter as specified in claim 3 wherein the program module is removable from the power converter.

5. The power converter as specified in claim 3 wherein the third circuit comprises a tip configured to interface the first DC output voltage to a portable electronic device.

6. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the tip is selectively detachable from the power converter.

7. The power converter as specified in claim 6 further comprising a feedback loop, wherein the tip forms a portion of the feedback loop.

8. The power converter as specified in claim 7 wherein the feedback loop controls the PWMs.

9. The power converter as specified in claim 8 wherein the feedback loop comprises two branches, one said branch being coupled to the first PWM and the other said branch being coupled to the second PWM.

10. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the fourth circuit comprises a second tip configured to interface the second DC output voltage to a second portable electronic device.