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Energy conserving charger controller, circuitry and method

  • US 8,508,079 B1
  • Filed: 12/27/2008
  • Issued: 08/13/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A charger controller system for use with AC/DC adapter charger devices for recharging batteries of consumer electronic devices, which AC/DC adapter chargers are stand-alone or integrated with said consumer electronic devices (CEDs), comprising in operative combination:

  • a) a current controlling circuit element in series with, and intermediate between, a mains AC supply of power and an AC output for an AC/DC adapter device having a DC output for providing charging current to a CED connected to said AC/DC adapter;

    b) a current measuring circuit element connected downstream of said current controlling circuit element for measuring the current flow to said AC output and assessing the CED battery charge state;

    c) a microprocessor having leads connected to said current measurement circuit for receiving signals from said current measurement circuit representative of current draw on said AC output and said CED battery charge state, said microprocessor having a programmable control algorithm code structure;

    d) said microprocessor control algorithm code is structured to periodically assess the charge state of said CED battery and responsive thereto, to provide trigger signals to said current controlling circuit to enable, switch ON, or interrupt, turn OFF, flow of mains AC current to said AC output in response to the rate of current draw assessed charge state of said CED battery, said control algorithm code is structured to learn the measured charging load cycle of a CED battery which is connected to said AC/DC adapter DC output, and to provide, switch ON, full mains AC current to said AC output when said CED battery charge state requires charging power, turn OFF mains AC current to said AC output when said CED battery is no longer present or said CED battery charge state no longer requires charging power being in a trickle-charge maintenance mode, maintains said mains AC current OFF to prevent trickle-charge, and turns mains AC current ON again once the charge state of said CED battery is assessed as requiring full charging current;

    e) a power storage device connected to said microprocessor to provide power to said microprocessor when mains power is absent; and

    f) said system providing substantial energy savings as compared to uncontrolled AC adapter charger devices by preventing charger hysteresis and heat energy losses when said consumer electronic devices are not connected to otherwise uncontrolled AC adapter charger devices or the batteries of said CEDs are substantially fully charged or in a trickle-charge maintenance mode.

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