AC-DC input adapter

• US 8,531,174 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Sharifipour, Bahman, Hu, Kaiti
• Primary Examiner(s): Behm, Harry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grubb, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/157,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20090310384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146, 323/266, 323/318, 323/351, 320/134, 320160-161
• US Class Current: 323/351
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

An output module for providing power to a device by using power from a source includes an inlet port, an outlet port, a power conversion circuit configured to receive power from the source through the inlet port and supply converted power to the device through the outlet port, and a control circuit coupled to the power conversion circuit and configured to determine a power requirement of the device and to operate the power conversion circuit to produce converted power having a parameter based upon the power requirement. Preferably, the power requirement is a charging requirement of a battery of the device.

Claims

1. An output module for providing power to a device by using power from a source, comprising:

a. an inlet port;

b. an outlet port;

c. means for receiving a signal from the device;

d. a power conversion circuit configured to receive power from the source through the inlet port and supply converted power to the device through the outlet port; and

e. a control circuit coupled to the power conversion circuit and configured to determine a power requirement of the device based on a determination of how the signal received from the device changes in response to adjustment to a voltage signal output to the device from the output module, wherein during the determination of the power requirement the voltage signal output is incremented linearly at a first rate greater than zero, and based upon the change in the signal received the voltage signal output is incremented at a second rate greater than zero, wherein the control circuit operates the power conversion circuit to produce converted power having a parameter based upon the power requirement.

2. The output module of claim 1, wherein the device is one of a personal computer, a notebook computer, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal entertainment device, a music entertainment device, a personal gaming system, a wireless electronic device, a digital camera, a video camera, an electronic device, a portable device, a handheld device, an appliance, and any combination thereof.

3. The output module of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises an automatic digital controller.

4. The output module of claim 1, further comprising a power supply configured as the source for the output module.

5. The output module of claim 4, further comprising a cable configured for delivering power from the output module to the device.

6. The output module of claim 5, wherein the cable is further configured for transmitting a signal between the output module and the device.

7. The output module supply of claim 4, wherein the power supply is one of an alternating current power supply and a direct current power supply.

8. The output module of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is coupled to the power supply through an adapter.

9. The output module of claim 8, wherein the adapter is one of an alternating current power input adapter and a direct current power input adapter.

10. The output module of claim 4, wherein the output module further comprises means for sensing a power current received from the power supply.

11. The output module of claim 10, wherein the power current comprises one of alternating current and direct current.

12. The output module of claim 4, wherein the output module and the power supply are coupled via an adapter interface.

13. The output module of claim 12, wherein the adapter interface comprises a surface configured to slidably couple the output module and the power supply.

14. The output module of claim 13, wherein the surface of the adapter interface comprises a channel.

15. The output module of claim 14, wherein the power requirement is a charging requirement of a battery of the device.

16. The output module of claim 1, wherein the output module is configured to determine the power requirement automatically.

17. The output module of claim 1, wherein the output module is configured to determine the power requirement according to sensed power consumption.

18. The output module of claim 1, wherein the output module is configured to determine a plurality of subsequent changes to the signal received from the device.

19. The output module of claim 18, wherein during the determination of the power requirement at least one of the subsequent changes in the signal received from the device prompts a subsequent change in the voltage signal output rate.

20. A universal power supply, comprising:

a. an input connector configured to couple with a power source;

b. an output connector configured to couple with a device;

c. a primary power conversion circuit configured to receive power from the input connector and to produce regulated power;

d. a secondary power conversion circuit configured to receive the regulated power through the input connector and supply converted power to the device through the output connector;

e. a control circuit coupled to the secondary power conversion circuit and configured to determine a power requirement of the device based on a determination of how a signal received from the device changes in response to adjustment to a voltage signal output to the device, wherein during the determination of the power requirement the voltage signal output is incremented linearly at a first rate greater than zero, and based upon the change in the signal received the voltage signal output is incremented at a second rate greater than zero, wherein the control circuit operates the secondary power conversion circuit to produce converted power having a parameter based upon the power requirement; and

f. means for receiving the signal from the device.

21. The universal power supply of claim 20, wherein the power requirement is a charging requirement of a battery of the device.

22. The universal power supply of claim 20, wherein the universal power supply is configured to determine a plurality of subsequent changes to the signal received from the device.

23. The universal power supply of claim 22, wherein during the determination of the power requirement at least one of the subsequent changes in the signal received from the device prompts a subsequent change in the voltage signal output rate.

24. A method of powering a device using power from a source, comprising:

a. receiving power from the source;

b. receiving a signal from the device;

c. determining a power requirement of the device with a control circuit based on determining how the signal received from the device changes in response to adjustment to a voltage signal output to the device, wherein during the determination of the power requirement the voltage signal output is incremented linearly at a first rate greater than zero, and based upon the change in the signal received the voltage signal output is incremented at a second rate greater than zero;

d. dynamically reacting to the power requirement of the device, thereby converting the power to produce converted power having a parameter based on the power requirement; and

e. supplying the converted power to the device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the power requirement is a charging requirement of a battery of the device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein a plurality of subsequent changes to the signal received from the device are determined.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein during the determination of the power requirement at least one of the subsequent changes in the signal received from the device prompts a subsequent change in the voltage signal output rate.

28. A system for supplying power comprising:

a. means for receiving power from a source;

b. means for determining a power requirement for a device based on determining how a signal received from the device changes in response to adjustment to a voltage signal output to the device, wherein during the determination of the power requirement the voltage signal output is incremented linearly at a first rate greater than zero, and based upon the change in the signal received the voltage signal output is incremented at a second rate greater than zero;

c. means for dynamically reacting to the power requirement of the device to thereby convert power to produce converted power having a parameter based on the power requirement of the device;

d. means for supplying the converted power to the device; and

e. means for receiving the signal from the device.

29. The system for supplying power of claim 28, wherein the device is one of a personal computer, a notebook computer, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal entertainment device, a music entertainment device, a personal gaming system, a wireless electronic device, a digital camera, a video camera, an electronic device, a portable device, a handheld device, an appliance, and any combination thereof.

30. The system for supplying power of claim 28, wherein the power requirement is a charging requirement of a battery of the device.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the means for determining the power requirement determine a plurality of subsequent changes to the signal received from the device.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein during the determination of the power requirement at least one of the subsequent changes in the signal received from the device prompts a subsequent change in the voltage signal output rate.