Power supply system

• US 8,212,386 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/620,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 307/12, 439/43, 439/166, 439/174, 439/175
• US Class Current: 307/12
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46

Abstract

A power supply system. The power supply system may have a power circuit having a switch and adapted to generate a first output voltage and a second output voltage, depending on the state of the switch. It also includes an output connector coupled to the power circuit, where the output connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A voltage output indicator device is coupled to the first and second electrical contacts. The voltage output indicator device indicates that the power circuit is producing the first output voltage or the second output voltage, so that the user is aware of the voltage being output by the power supply system.

Claims

1. A power supply system configured to power a plurality of portable electronic devices, the power supply system comprising:

a power circuit adapted to generate a first output voltage and a second output voltage at the same time; and

an output connector coupled to the power circuit, wherein the output connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts including a first set of contacts adapted to provide the first output voltage and a second set of electrical contacts adapted to provide the second output voltage at the same time as the first output voltage, the first and second sets of contacts being different,

wherein the output connector is adapted to connect to a first connector configured to connect to and be detachable from the output connector and electrically couple to the first set of contacts to provide the first output voltage to a first electronic device, wherein the first connector is further configured to connect to a first port of the first electronic device, and

wherein the output connector is adapted to connect to a second connector configured to connect to and be detachable from the output connector and electrically couple to the second set of contacts to provide the second output voltage to a second electronic device, wherein the second connector is further configured to connect to a second port of the second electronic device, and

wherein the system comprises the first connector and the second connector, and

wherein the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts share a common ground line.

2. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the power circuit is adapted to receive an AC input signal.

3. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the power circuit is adapted to receive a DC input signal.

4. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the power circuit includes an AC to DC conversion circuit and a DC to DC conversion circuit.

5. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the first voltage is about 16 Volts and wherein the second voltage is about 19 Volts.

6. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein there are exactly three electrical contacts in the plurality of electrical contacts including a first electrical contact at ground, a second electrical contact at 16 Volts, and a third electrical contact at 19 Volts.

7. The power supply system of claim 1 further comprising a casing disposed around at least a portion of the power circuit.

8. The power supply system of claim 1 further comprising an auxiliary connector coupled to the power circuit.

9. The power supply system of claim 8 wherein the auxiliary connector is adapted to connect to a USB connector.

10. The power supply system of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary connector is coupled to the power circuit through an auxiliary connection port.

11. The power supply system of claim 10, wherein the power circuit is adapted to generate a third output voltage that is output through the auxiliary connection port, wherein the third output voltage is lower than the first output voltage and the second output voltage.

12. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the first connector is configured to electrically couple to the first set of contacts to provide the first output voltage to a third electronic device, wherein the third electronic device is different than the first electronic device.

13. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a first connector tip and the second connector is a second connector tip.

14. The power supply system of claim 1, wherein the first connector has a first body portion configured to connect to and be detachable from the output connector and a first mating portion configured to connect to and be detachable from the first port of the first electronic device, and wherein the second connector has a second body portion configured to connect to and be detachable from the output connector and a second mating portion configured to connect to and be detachable from the second port of the second electronic device, a form factor of the first body portion being equal to a form factor of the second body portion and a form factor of the first mating portion being different than a form factor of the second mating portion.