Automatic disconnect of an AC source from a converter

• US 8,030,890 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hyatt, Edward C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/031,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 320/114, 320/103
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0032 disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A system for automatic disconnect of an AC source from a converter that includes a converter and a converter. The converter includes a power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage. The portable device contains a rechargeable battery where the portable device uses the DC voltage to charge the rechargeable battery. The connection of the converter to the AC power source is automatically disconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge or the portable device being disconnected from the converter and automatically reconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery being below a full charge or the portable device being reconnected to the converter.

Claims

1. A system for automatic AC disconnect of a converter comprising:

a converter comprising a power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage; and

a portable device comprising a rechargeable battery, the portable device using the DC voltage to charge the rechargeable battery, and the portable device generating a disconnect signal responsive to the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge,

wherein the connection of the portable device with the AC power source is triggered to be disconnected responsive to receiving the disconnect signal to indicate the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising the disconnect signal triggering a switch in the converter to automatically disconnect the portable device from the AC power source.

3. The system according to claim 1, the converter including a bootstrap power supply, the bootstrap power supply being activated upon connection of the converter to the portable device.

4. The system according to claim 3, the bootstrap power supply being activated upon connection of the bootstrap power supply to circuitry in the portable device.

5. The system according to claim 3, the bootstrap power supply when activated providing power to a controller in the converter, the controller receiving the disconnect signal and controlling the disconnecting of the portable device from the AC power source.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connection of the portable device to the AC power source is automatically reconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery being below a full charge or the portable device being reconnected to the converter.

7. The system according to claim 1, the converter further comprising a manual switch, the manual switch when activated causing the converter to connect to the AC power source.

8. A system for automatic AC disconnect of a converter comprising:

a converter comprising a power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage; and

a portable device containing a rechargeable battery, the portable device using the DC voltage to charge the rechargeable battery,

wherein the connection of the portable device with the AC power source is triggered to be disconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge or the portable device being disconnected from the AC power source, and

wherein the portable device generates current pulses on a power line between the portable device and the AC power source, the converter detecting the current pulses and disconnecting the portable device from the AC power source responsive to the detecting the current pulses.

9. The system according to claim 8, the converter further comprising a current sensor, the current sensor being capable of detecting the current pulses.

10. The system according to claim 9, the converter further comprising a super capacitor that provides power to a controller in the converter and the current sensor during bootstrap.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the connection of the portable device to the AC power source is automatically reconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery being below a full charge or the portable device being reconnected to the converter.

12. The system according to claim 8, wherein the converter further comprises a manual switch, the manual switch when activated causing the converter to connect to the AC power source.

13. A portable device comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a controller capable of monitoring a charge level of the rechargeable battery and sending a signal to a converter, the controller sending a signal comprising current pulses over a power connection to the converter when the rechargeable battery reaches a full charge; and

wherein the signal is useable at the converter for disconnecting the portable device from an AC power source when the rechargeable battery reaches a full charge and automatically reconnecting the portable device to the AC power source when the rechargeable battery is below a full charge.

14. The portable device according to claim 13, the controller sending a signal over a dedicated connection to the converter when the rechargeable battery reaches a full charge.

15. The portable device according to claim 13, the portable device further comprising circuitry activating a bootstrap power source on the converter when the portable device is connected to the converter.

16. A converter device comprising:

a power supply, the power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage;

disconnect circuitry, the disconnect circuitry capable of receiving a signal from a portable device and automatically disconnecting the converter device from the AC power source responsive to the received signal or automatically reconnecting the converter device to the AC power source responsive to the received signal; and

a bootstrap power source, the bootstrap power source being activated upon connection of the converter to the portable device.

17. The converter according to claim 16, the bootstrap power supply when activated providing power to the disconnect circuitry, the disconnect circuitry receiving the signal from the portable device and controlling the disconnecting of the converter from the AC power source.

18. The converter according to claim 16, wherein the converter comprises a wall wart.

19. A system for automatic AC disconnect of a converter comprising:

a converter comprising a power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage; and

a portable device containing a rechargeable battery, the portable device using the DC voltage to charge the rechargeable battery,

wherein the connection of the portable device to the AC power source is triggered to be disconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge or the portable device being disconnected from the AC power source, and

wherein the connection of the portable device to the AC power source is triggered to be reconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery being below a full charge or the portable device being reconnected to the AC power source.

20. A system for automatic AC disconnect of a converter comprising:

a converter comprising a power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage;

a manual switch, the manual switch when activated causing the portable device to be connected with the AC power source; and

a portable device containing a rechargeable battery, the portable device using the DC voltage to charge the rechargeable battery,

wherein the connection of the converter to the AC power source is triggered to be disconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge or the portable device being disconnected from the converter.

21. A system for automatic AC disconnect of a converter comprising:

a converter comprising a current sensor and a power supply, the power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage; and

a portable device containing a rechargeable battery, the portable device using the DC voltage to charge the rechargeable battery,

wherein the connection of the converter to the AC power source is triggered to be disconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge or the portable device being disconnected from the converter, and

wherein the converter disconnects the portable device from the AC power source responsive to the current sensor detecting a current on a power line between the portable device and the converter being below a defined level.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the connection of the portable device to the AC power source is automatically reconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery being below a full charge or the portable device being reconnected to the converter.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein the converter further comprises a manual switch, the manual switch when activated causing the converter to connect to the AC power source.