Integrated power adapter system for portable computers

• US 8,472,176 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Stella, Cristiano Gianluca, Consentino, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US13/184,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20120014057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.27, 361/679.28
• US Class Current: 361/679.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An integrated power adapter system for a portable computer may include a power adapter for providing power to the portable computer, extractable elements for connection to an external socket, and a dissipation grid for reducing the temperature of the cover screen. The power adapter system may be a slim power adapter system being removable from and integrated with the cover screen of the portable computer.

Claims

1. A power adapter system for a portable computer having a screen and a first housing carrying the screen, the power adapter system comprising:

a power adapter configured to be positioned in the first housing and to provide power to the portable computer;

at least one extractable element configured to be coupled between a power source and said power adapter; and

a thermal dissipater coupled to said power adapter.

2. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein the portable computer comprises a second housing, and a hinge rotatably coupling the first and second housings;

and

wherein said at least one extractable element is carried by one of the first and second housings of the portable computer.

3. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one extractable element comprises a plurality thereof, said plurality of extractable elements comprises a local area network (LAN) cable, and a power cable with associated plug to be coupled to the power source.

4. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein said power adapter is in direct contact with said thermal dissipater.

5. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein said thermal dissipater is carried in a front side of the first housing and adjacent the screen.

6. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein said thermal dissipater is carried in a back side of the first housing.

7. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one extractable element is adjacent said thermal dissipater.

8. The power adapter system according to claim 7 wherein the first housing has an increased thickness in correspondence with said at least one extractable element.

9. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein the portable computer comprises a battery;

and wherein said power adapter is separate from the battery.

10. The power adapter system according to claim 1 wherein said power adapter comprises an integrated alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) power adapter circuit.

11. The power adapter system according to claim 10 wherein said AC/DC power adapter circuit comprises:

first and second input terminals;

first and second output terminals;

a booster circuit configured to be coupled to an AC voltage source via said first and second input terminals; and

a converter circuit configured to be coupled to said booster circuit and to provide a continuous output voltage at said first and second output terminals for powering the portable computer.

12. The power adapter system according to claim 11 wherein said AC/DC power adapter circuit comprises a power factor control circuit;

and wherein said booster circuit comprises at least one first power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) having a control terminal configured to be coupled to said power factor control circuit.

13. The power adapter system according to claim 11 wherein said AC/DC power adapter circuit comprises a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit;

and wherein said converter circuit comprises at least one second power MOSFET having a control terminal configured to be coupled to said PWM circuit.

14. The power adapter system according to claim 12 wherein said at least one first power MOSFET comprises at least one of a MDmesh™

V power MOSFET, a FDmesh™

II power MOSFET, or a SuperMESH 5 ™

power MOSFET carried in a PowerFLAT™

8×

8 package.

15. A power adapter system for a portable computer having a screen, a first housing carrying the screen, a second housing, and a hinge rotatably coupling the first and second housings, the power adapter system comprising:

an integrated circuit (IC) power adapter configured to be positioned in the first housing and to provide power to the portable computer;

a plurality of extractable elements configured to be coupled between a power source and said IC power adapter; and

a thermal dissipater configured to be coupled to said IC power adapter.

16. The power adapter system according to claim 15 wherein said plurality of extractable elements are carried by one of the first and second housings.

17. The power adapter system according to claim 15 wherein said plurality of extractable elements comprises a local area network (LAN) cable, and a power cable with associated plug to be coupled to the power source.

18. The power adapter system according to claim 15 wherein said IC power adapter is in direct contact with said thermal dissipater.

19. The power adapter system according to claim 15 wherein said thermal dissipater is carried in a front side of the first housing and adjacent the screen.

20. The power adapter system according to claim 15 wherein said thermal dissipater is carried in a back side of the first housing.

21. The power adapter system according to claim 15 wherein said plurality of extractable elements is adjacent said thermal dissipater.

22. A portable computer device comprising:

a screen;

a first housing carrying said screen;

a second housing;

a hinge configured to rotatably couple said first and second housings; and

a power adapter system comprising

an integrated circuit (IC) power adapter configured to be positioned in said first housing and to provide power thereto,

a plurality of extractable elements configured to be coupled between a power source and said IC power adapter, and

a thermal dissipater configured to be coupled to said IC power adapter.

23. The portable computer device according to claim 22 wherein said plurality of extractable elements are carried by one of the first and second housings.

24. The portable computer device according to claim 22 wherein said plurality of extractable elements comprises a local area network (LAN) cable, and a power cable with associated plug to be coupled to the power source.

25. The portable computer device according to claim 22 wherein said IC power adapter is in direct contact with said thermal dissipater.

26. The portable computer device according to claim 22 wherein said thermal dissipater is carried in a front side of said first housing and adjacent said screen.

27. A method of making a power adapter system for a portable computer having a screen and a first housing carrying the screen, the method comprising:

positioning a power adapter in the first housing to provide power to the portable computer;

coupling at least one extractable element between a power source and the power adapter; and

coupling a thermal dissipater to the power adapter.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the portable computer comprises a second housing, and a hinge rotatably coupling the first and second housings;

and wherein the at least one extractable element is to be carried by one of the first and second housings of the portable computer.

29. The method according to claim 27 wherein the at least one extractable element comprises a plurality thereof, the plurality of extractable elements comprises a local area network (LAN) cable, and a power cable with associated plug to be coupled to the power source.

30. The method according to claim 27 further comprising positioning the power adapter in direct contact with the thermal dissipater.