Combination power memory device

• US 8,321,619 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ecosol Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecosol Solar Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Kular, Andrew C., Zhu, Zuohang
• Primary Examiner(s): Misiura, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US12/447,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,856 Days
• Field of Search: 710/313, 710/305, 713300-340, 711/115
• US Class Current: 710/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 5/141 Battery and back-up supplies

Abstract

A portable power and/or memory device is disclosed, which device includes integrated management circuitry enabling on-board management of energy storage, power management, and memory management. In a preferred embodiment, the device of the present invention can store and make available both memory and power, and provides an on-board means for displaying the various memory and/or power parameters associated with the device, using a USB interface to receive power for storage and to communicate between onboard memory and a device to which the portable power and/or memory device is connected.

Claims

1. A portable power/memory device, comprising:

a data-storage element;

a power-storage element having a rechargeable energy-storage;

a controller having a USB interface capable of communicating with an external power device, said data-storage element and said power-storage element being coupled to said controller; and

,

a charging element capable of receiving charging power for delivery to and storage within said power-storage element via said USB interface, the charging element capable of regulating input voltage and current;

wherein the data-storage element, power-storage element, controller and charging element are self-contained;

wherein data can be stored to or conveyed from said data-storage element to external power devices communicating with said USB interface; and

wherein said power-storage element can provide power to external power devices.

2. The portable power/memory device of claim 1, wherein said charging element is further capable of receiving charging power via connection to a DC charge adapter.

3. The portable power/memory device of claim 1, wherein said portable power/memory device includes:

a display which displays a present level of energy available in said power-storage element.

4. The portable power/memory device of claim 1, wherein said portable power/memory device includes:

a display which displays a present level of memory available in said data-storage element.

5. The portable power/memory device of claim 1, wherein said portable power/memory device includes:

a display which displays a present level of memory used in said data-storage element.

6. The portable power/memory device of claim 1, wherein said portable device includes:

a display which displays;

a present level of energy available in said power-storage element;

a present level of memory available in said data-storage element; and

a present level of memory used in said data-storage element.

7. The portable power/memory device of claim 2, wherein said controller is configured with firmware source code for controlling said charging, storage, and power-providing operations.

8. The portable power/memory device of claim 1, wherein said power-storage element provides power to external power devices via said USB interface.

9. The portable power/memory device of claim 1, further comprising an output connector, wherein said power-storage element provides power to external power devices via said output connector.