Power adapter having multi-DC power connectors

• US 8,410,632 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberpower Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cyberpower Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Chou, Yi-Chang, Wu, Chuan-Hsing, Chen, Grant, Lin, Ming-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US12/958,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146, 307/17, 307/11, 307/31, 307/15
• US Class Current: 307/17
• 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 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode

Abstract

The present invention discloses a power adapter has a power converter, a power output cable, a first DC power connector and multiple second DC power connectors. The power converter has a casing, a power converting circuit mounted in the casing, and an AC power inlet and DC power outlet electronically connected to the power converting circuit. The power output cable has a DC output and selective connector having two DC power pinholes and multiple selective pinholes surrounding the two DC power pinholes. The first DC power connector has two DC voltage pins and is selectively connected to the DC output and selective connector. Each of the second DC power connectors has a body, a DC plug formed on the body, two DC voltage pins formed on the body and one jumper pin formed on the body and corresponding to the selective pinholes of the power output cable to change voltage of the DC power output from the power converting circuit.

Claims

1. A power adapter having multi-DC power connectors, comprising:

a power converter having;

a casing;

a power converting circuit mounted in the casing;

an AC power inlet mounted through one side of the casing and electronically connected to the power converting circuit; and

a DC power outlet mounted through another side of the casing and electronically connected to the power converting circuit;

a power input cable electronically connected to the AC power inlet to provide AC power to the power converting circuit;

a power output cable having;

a first end electronically connected to the DC power outlet of the power converter; and

a second end having a DC output and selective connector having;

two DC power pinholes; and

multiple selective pinholes surrounding the two DC power pinholes;

a first DC power connector having two DC voltage pins and selectively connected to the DC output and selective connector;

multiple second DC power connectors, each of which selectively connects to the DC output and selective connector and has;

a body;

a DC plug formed on the body;

two DC voltage pins formed on the body; and

one jumper pin formed on the body and corresponding to the selective pinholes of the power output cable to change voltage of the DC power output from the power converting circuit.

2. The power adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power converting circuit is a switching power converting and comprises:

a rectifier electronically connected to the AC power inlet;

a storage capacitor electronically between the filter and a primary side of a transformer;

a secondary side unit electronically connected to a secondary side of the transformer to output a stable DC power;

a power switch electronically connected to the primary side of the transformer in serial;

a PWM controller having;

a PWM output terminal electronically connected to a controlling terminal of the power switch to adjust a duty cycle of the power switch; and

a feedback terminal;

a secondary side unit electronically connected to the secondary side of the transformer to output the DC power to the DC power outlet;

an output voltage feedback unit having a photo coupler having;

an LED serially connected to a connecting node of the rectifying and filtering unit and the inductor and ground; and

a photo-transistor connected to the feedback terminal of the PWM controller; and

an adjustable reference voltage unit connected to the LED of the photo-transistor of the first photo coupler to change the feedback voltage of the PWM controller so as to change voltage of the DC power from the secondary side unit.

3. The power adapter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the PWM controller further comprises:

a voltage sensing terminal electronically connected to a coil through a first voltage divider, wherein the coil inducts current changes of the primary side of the transformer and the first voltage divider outputs corresponding voltage changes to the voltage sensing terminal, so the PWM controller detects the voltage changes of the primary side of the transformer;

a current sensing terminal electronically connected to a resistor connected to the power switch in serial to directly sense the current changes of the primary side of the transformer;

a power terminal electronically connected to the coil through the diode to obtain a stable voltage.

4. The power adapter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the secondary side unit comprises:

a rectifying and filtering unit electronically connected to the secondary side of the transformer;

at least one output capacitor electronically connected to the DC power outlet; and

an inductor electronically connected between the rectifying and filtering unit and the at least one output capacitor.

5. The power adapter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the adjustable reference voltage unit comprises:

a jumper connector electronically to a connecting node of the inductor and the output capacitor and having jumper terminals matching the selective pinholes of the DC output and selective connectors;

a three-terminal adjustable regulator having an anode terminal, a cathode terminal and a reference terminal, wherein the anode terminal and the cathode terminal are respectively connected to the LED of the first photo coupler and the ground of the DC power from the secondary side unit; and

the reference terminal is electronically connected to a serial node of a second voltage divider; and

multiple resistors electronically connected between the serial node of the second voltage divider and corresponding jumper terminals of the jumper connector to selectively connected to an upper resistor of the second voltage divider.

6. The power adapter as claimed in claim 5, wherein power converting circuit further comprises an overheat protection unit having:

a second photo coupler having an LED and a photo-resistor;

a voltage regulator having a DC input and a DC output, wherein the DC input electronically connected to the connecting node of the inductor and the rectifying and filtering unit and outputting a fixed DC power to the DC output;

a third voltage divider consisted of an upper thermal resistor and a lower resistor, wherein one end of the upper thermal resistor is connected to the DC output, the other end is a connecting node of the upper thermal resistor and the lower resistor, the other end of the lower resistor is connected to the ground; and

a first and second transistors connected between the LED of the second photo coupler, the adjustable reference voltage unit and a serial node of the third voltage divider.

7. The power adapter as claimed in claim 6, further comprising multiple zener diodes with different breakdown voltages respectively connected to the resistors of the adjustable reference voltage unit 42 in serial to be over voltage protection.

8. The power adapter as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the first transistor is a PNP type and has:

an emitter electronically connected to the DC input;

a collector electronically connected to the connecting node of the third voltage divider through a diode, wherein the collector is connected to a cathode of the diode and the and an anode of the diode is connected to the DC output of the voltage regulator; and

a base;

the second transistor is a NPN type and has;

an emitter connected to an anode of the LED of the second photo couple and the anodes of the zener diodes;

a collector connected to the base of the first transistor; and

a base connected to the collector of the first transistor;

an cathode of the LED of the second photo coupler is connected to the ground and a photo-transistor is connected between the power terminal of the PWM controller and ground.