Power adaptor and storage unit for portable devices

• US 7,989,981 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Zhang, Xiaoyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries; Dru M
• Application Number:
  US11/701,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20070190848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence

Abstract

A power adaptor and storage unit is configured to simultaneously provide power to a portable electronic device and to a portable power module. In some cases, the portable power module is integrated into the power adaptor. The power adaptor receives power unusable by the electronic device, converts it to a usable form, stores some of the converted power if possible, and supplies the power to the device.

Claims

1. A power adaptor and storage unit for providing input power to an electronic device, comprising:

a. a housing, separate from the electronic device;

b. a portable power module, detachably coupled to the housing;

c. a first circuit disposed within the housing, the first circuit for optionally receiving a source power in a form unusable by the electronic device from an external source and converting the source power to the input power;

d. a pass-through circuit disposed within the housing, the pass-through circuit for selectively providing the input power from the first circuit to the electronic device;

e. a storage circuit disposed within the housing, the storage circuit for selectively storing the input power from the first circuit into the portable power module; and

f. a discharge circuit disposed within the housing, the discharge circuit for selectively providing the input power to the electronic device from the portable power module;

g. a control circuit coupled to the first circuit, the pass-through circuit, the storage circuit, the discharge circuit, and the portable power module, and the control circuit is configured to disable the pass-through circuit, disable the discharge circuit, and enable the storage circuit when the first circuit is coupled to the source power and the electronic device is not connected to the power adaptor and storage unit.

2. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 1, wherein the source power is AC power and the input power is DC power.

3. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 1, wherein the source power is DC power of one voltage and the input power is DC power of a different voltage.

4. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a second circuit for receiving a different type of source power, also in form unusable by the electronic device, and converting the different type of source power to the input power.

5. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 4, wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are coupled to the pass-through circuit.

6. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 1, wherein the power adaptor and storage unit comprises a plurality of operation phases, including a pure charging phase, a charging and converting phase, a pure converting phase, and a discharging phase.

7. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 6, wherein during the pure charging phase, the power adaptor and storage unit is coupled to the external source, and wherein the input power is supplied to a battery, thereby charging the battery.

8. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 6, wherein during the charging and converting phase, the power adaptor and storage unit is coupled to both the external source and the electronic device, and wherein the input power is supplied to a battery while the electronic device draws the input power from the power adaptor and storage unit.

9. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 6, wherein during the pure converting phase, the power adaptor and storage unit is coupled to both the external source and the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device draws the input power directly from the source power through the adaptor and storage unit.

10. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 6, wherein during the discharge phase, the power adaptor and storage unit is coupled to the electronic device, and wherein the electronic device draws power from the power adaptor and storage unit.

11. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 1, wherein the power adaptor and storage unit is configured to electrically and removably couple to the electronic device.

12. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 1, wherein the power adaptor and storage unit is configured to selectively operate using the input power, the storage circuit and the portable power module.

15. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 5, wherein the power output unit comprises a discharging circuit.

16. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 5, wherein the power output unit comprises a power converter.

13. A power adaptor and storage unit for a portable device, comprising:

a. a casing;

b. a power converter unit disposed within the casing, the power converter unit configured to selectively receive power from an external source in a form unusable by the portable device and to simultaneously produce usable power and storable power therefrom;

c. an energy storage unit disposed within the casing, the energy storage unit coupled to the power converter unit and configurable to receive the storable power therefrom and to store it as energy;

d. a power pass-through unit disposed within the casing, the power pass-through unit coupled to the power converter unit and configurable to channel the usable power therethrough to the portable device;

e. a power output unit disposed within the casing, the power output unit coupled to the energy storage unit and configurable to produce usable power from the energy within the energy storage unit and to supply it to the portable device; and

f. a controller unit disposed within the casing, the controller unit configured to control the provision of storable power from the power converter unit to the energy storage unit, and to control the channeling of usable power through the power pass-through unit to the portable device, and to control the provision of energy from the energy storage unit through the power output unit to the portable device, wherein the controller unit is further configured to disable the power pass-through unit, disable the power output unit, and enable the energy storage unit when the power adaptor and storage unit is coupled to the external power source and the portable device is not coupled to the power adaptor and storage unit.

14. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 13, wherein the energy storage unit comprises a battery and a charging circuit.

17. A power adaptor and backup power unit for an electronic device, comprising:

a. a body;

b. a power converter disposed within the body, the power converter configured to selectively receive power unusable by the electronic device from an external supply and to produce converted power usable by the electronic device;

c. an energy storage unit disposed within the body, the energy storage unit with an input coupled to the power converter through a first switching module and an output coupled a second switching module;

d. a third switching module disposed within the body, the third switching module coupled to the power converter; and

e. a controller disposed within the body, the controller coupled to the first, second and third switching modules, and configured to control the operation of the first, second, and third switching modules to optionally provide converted power from the power converter to an output of the power adaptor and backup power unit through one of the energy storage unit and the third switching module, and further configured to disable the second and third switching modules and enable the first switching module when the power convertor is coupled to the external supply and the electronic device is not coupled to the power adaptor and backup power unit.

18. A power adaptor and storage unit for a portable electronic device, comprising:

a. a body;

b. a power converter unit disposed within the body, the power converter unit configured to optionally receive power in a form unusable by the device from an external source and to produce a first usable power output and a storable power output from the received power when power is being received from the external source;

c. a storage unit with an energy level and a total capacity disposed within the body, the storage unit configured to receive the storable power output from the power converter unit and store it as energy if the energy level is less than the total capacity;

d. an output unit disposed within the body, the output unit configurable to receive energy from the storage unit and to produce a second usable power output from the received energy; and

e. a controller disposed within the body, the controller configured to determine if the power converter is receiving power from the external source, and if it is not, to direct the output unit to produce the second usable power output and to supply the second usable power output to the portable device, and if the power convertor is receiving power from the external source, and the portable electronic device is not coupled to the power adaptor and storage unit, then the controller is further configured to disable the output unit.

19. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to sense a charge level of a battery.

20. The power adaptor and storage unit of claim 18, wherein the power converter unit is removably coupled to the external source.