Multiple interface device charger with removable battery pack

• US 8,072,183 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Griffin Technology
• Inventors: Griffin, Paul P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/402,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20100231165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A charging accessory for a portable electronic device having a device input connector includes a main charger body portion having a power supply connection to an AC wall outlet that receives an AC power supply voltage. Power conversion circuitry converts the AC power supply voltage to a DC power supply voltage. A device connector is electrically coupled to the DC power supply voltage and configured to couple the DC power supply voltage to the device input connector of the portable electronic device. The main body also has a battery pack connector that is electrically coupled to the DC power supply voltage. The battery pack connector couples to a battery pack through a charging body connector that electrically connects to the battery pack connector and receives the DC power supply voltage when the battery pack is mounted on the main charger body portion. A rechargeable battery in the battery receives the DC power supply voltage to recharge the rechargeable battery. A device connector allows the battery pack to be directly coupled to the device input connector on the portable electronic device to provide an addition portable power supply for the device.

Claims

1. A charging accessory for a portable electronic device having a device input connector, said accessory comprising:

a main charger body portion comprising;

a power supply connection to an AC wall outlet that receives an AC power supply voltage;

power conversion circuitry that converts the AC power supply voltage to a DC power supply voltage;

a device connector that is electrically coupled to the DC power supply voltage and configured to couple the DC power supply voltage to the device input connector of the portable electronic device;

a battery pack connector that is electrically coupled to the DC power supply voltage; and

a battery pack comprising;

a charging body connector that electrically connects to the battery pack connector and receives the DC power supply voltage when the battery pack is mounted on the main charger body portion,

a rechargeable battery that receives the DC power supply voltage to recharge the rechargeable battery; and

a device connector that allows said battery pack to be coupled to the device input connector on said portable electronic device such that said rechargeable battery provides power to said portable electronic device.

2. The charging accessory of claim 1 further comprising power conditioning circuitry for altering a voltage or current level of the DC power supply voltage.

3. The charging accessory of claim 1 wherein said main charger body portion further comprises a battery pack mounting cavity.

4. The charging accessory of claim 1 wherein said battery pack further comprises a battery level display that indicates a charge level of the rechargeable battery.

5. The charging accessory of claim 1 further comprising a first magnetic member positioned in the main charger body and a second magnetic member positioned in the battery pack such that said battery pack is magnetically held against said main charger body in a charging position.

6. The charging accessory of claim 1 wherein the device connector on the main charger body further comprises a cable having a connector that couples to the device input connector of the portable electronic device.

7. The charging accessory of claim 1 wherein the charger body connector on the battery pack consists solely of a first and second charging contact.

8. A charging accessory for an electronic device having a device input connector, said accessory comprising:

a main body portion comprising;

a power supply connection to an external AC power supply AC that receives an AC power supply voltage;

power conversion circuitry that converts the AC power supply voltage to a DC power supply voltage;

a pair of charger body charging contacts that are electrically coupled to the DC power supply voltage; and

a battery pack comprising;

a pair of battery pack charging contacts that electrically connects to the pair of charging contacts and receives the DC power supply voltage,

a rechargeable power supply that receives the DC power supply voltage to recharge the rechargeable power supply; and

a device connector that allows said battery pack to be coupled to the device input connector on said electronic device such that said rechargeable battery provides power to said portable electronic device and said portable electronic device and said coupled battery pack can be portably carried as a single unit.

9. The charging accessory of claim 8 wherein the main body portion further comprises a device connector that is electrically coupled to the DC power supply voltage and configured to couple the DC power supply voltage to the device input connector of the portable electronic device.

10. The charging accessory of claim 8 wherein a housing of said battery pack and a housing of said main body portion form a substantially six sided polygon when coupled together in a charging position.

11. The charging accessory of claim 8 further comprising a first magnetic member positioned in the main body portion and a second magnetic member positioned in the battery pack such that said battery pack is magnetically held against said main charger body in a charging position.

12. The charging accessory of claim 11 wherein a polarity of said magnetic members is selected to insure proper alignment of said charging contacts when said battery pack is coupled to said main body portion.

13. The charging accessory of claim 8 wherein said battery pack further comprises a LED battery level display that indicates a charge level of the rechargeable power supply.

14. The charging accessory of claim 8 further comprising a second charging portion that couples to a 12-volt outlet wherein the second charging portion receives power from the 12-volt outlet and provides conditioned power to a pair of charging contacts and wherein said second charging portion has a mounting portion for receiving said battery pack such that said second charging portion can recharge said battery pack.

18. The charging accessory of claim 8 further comprising a second charging portion that couples to a 120-volt wall outlet wherein the second charging portion receives power from the 120-volt outlet and provides conditioned power to a pair of charging contacts and wherein said second charging portion has a mounting portion for receiving said battery pack such that said second charging portion can recharge said battery pack.

15. A charging accessory for a portable electronic device having a device input connector, said accessory comprising:

a main body portion comprising;

a 12-volt outlet adapter body that receives a 12-volt power supply voltage when inserted into a 12-volt outlet;

power conversion circuitry that converts the 12-volt power supply voltage to a charging voltage;

a pair of charger body charging contacts that are electrically coupled to the charging voltage; and

a device connector that is electrically coupled to the charging voltage and configured to couple the charging voltage to the device input connector of the portable electronic device; and

a battery pack comprising;

a pair of battery pack charging contacts that electrically connects to the pair of charging contacts and receives the charging voltage,

a rechargeable power supply that receives the charging voltage to recharge; and

a device connector that allows said battery pack to be directly coupled to the device input connector on said electronic device such that said rechargeable power supply provides power to said portable electronic device.

16. The charging accessory of claim 15 further comprising a first magnetic member positioned in the main body portion and a second magnetic member positioned in the battery pack such that said battery pack is magnetically held against said main body portion in a charging position.

17. The charging accessory of claim 15 wherein said battery pack further comprises a LED battery level display that indicates a charge level of the rechargeable power supply.

19. The charging accessory of claim 15 wherein the device connector further comprises a cable.

20. The charging accessory of claim 15 wherein a housing of said main body portion has a mounting cavity that receives a housing of said battery pack such that said battery pack and said main body portion form a unitary structure when coupled together in a charging position.