Method and apparatus for recharging batteries in a more efficient manner
First Claim
1. An electric charge cutoff device for delivering power to a terminal, comprising:
- a housing;
a terminal adaptor connectable to the terminal;
a cable extending from the housing and connected to the terminal adaptor, and including a conductive material and a shell positioned upon the conductive material, the cable configured such that a capacitance of the cable varies in response to a touch of a user applied to the shell;
a power connector plug connected to the housing and configured to receive power from a power source external to the housing;
a sensor circuit positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the cable, and configured to detect a power disablement condition that occurs when the sensor circuit detects that a load of the terminal varies, and configured to detect a power enablement condition that occurs when the sensor circuit detects that the capacitance of the cable varies in response to the touch of the user applied to the shell;
a latched relay positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the power connector plug and the terminal adaptor, and configured to disable reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source in response to the sensor circuit detecting the power disablement condition, and configured to enable reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source that is delivered to the terminal in response to the sensor circuit detecting the power enablement condition; and
a renewable energy source positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the sensor circuit, and configured to provide power to the sensor circuit when reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source is disabled.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery charger including a converter unit, a terminal adaptor, a cable, a battery, and/or multiple power connectors. A terminal, such as an electronic device, can be connected to the converter unit using the cable or directly to the converter unit without the cable. The converter unit determines when to draw power from an external power and when to cease drawing power from the external power source by detecting a power enablement condition or a power disablement condition. The power disablement condition occurs when the terminal is fully charged, the terminal is disconnected from the converter unit, and/or a charge time of the terminal exceeds the predetermined charge time threshold. The power enablement condition occurs when the terminal is initially connected to the converter unit and/or the terminal needs to be charged. The battery supplies power to components of the converter unit and/or the terminal.
160 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electric charge cutoff device for delivering power to a terminal, comprising:
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a housing; a terminal adaptor connectable to the terminal; a cable extending from the housing and connected to the terminal adaptor, and including a conductive material and a shell positioned upon the conductive material, the cable configured such that a capacitance of the cable varies in response to a touch of a user applied to the shell; a power connector plug connected to the housing and configured to receive power from a power source external to the housing; a sensor circuit positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the cable, and configured to detect a power disablement condition that occurs when the sensor circuit detects that a load of the terminal varies, and configured to detect a power enablement condition that occurs when the sensor circuit detects that the capacitance of the cable varies in response to the touch of the user applied to the shell; a latched relay positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the power connector plug and the terminal adaptor, and configured to disable reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source in response to the sensor circuit detecting the power disablement condition, and configured to enable reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source that is delivered to the terminal in response to the sensor circuit detecting the power enablement condition; and a renewable energy source positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the sensor circuit, and configured to provide power to the sensor circuit when reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for charging a battery comprising:
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detecting, using a sensor circuit, a variation in a capacitance of a cable that extends from a housing of a converter unit, the variation occurring in response to a user applying a touch to the cable, the sensor circuit being positioned within the housing; enabling, using a latched relay, reception of power into the housing from an external power source when the variation in the capacitance is detected, the latched relay being positioned within the housing; delivering the power, using the latched relay, to the battery of a terminal that is connected to the cable, the power being delivered to the battery through the cable and from the external power source when the power is enabled to be received into the housing; detecting, using the sensor circuit, a variation in a load of the terminal; disabling, using the latched relay, reception of the power into the housing from the external power source when the variation in the load is detected; and powering the sensor circuit with a renewable energy source when the power is disabled from being received into the housing, the renewable energy source being positioned within the housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification