USB power supply

• US 9,257,893 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
• Original Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
• Inventors: Chung, Shu Hung Henry, Tse, Chung Fai Norman, Chan, Yau Chung John
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US13/952,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 713/323
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• 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 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

Abstract

A universal serial bus (USB) power supply is disclosed as including a main body (12) and a cable (24) releasably connectable with each other, the main body (12) being releasably connectable to a direct current (DC) power source and having a USB receptacle (20) electrically connectable with the DC power source. The cable (24) includes a USB plug (26) releasably connectable with the USB receptacle (20) to establish electrical connection and data communication there-between and a connector (30) electrically connected with the USB plug (26). The power supply is operable in a detached mode in which the main body (12) is out of connection with the cable (24) and in an attached mode in which the main body (12) is releasably connected with the cable (24). The power supply is adapted, when in the attached mode, to automatically change the voltage of a DC power output from the connector (30).

Claims

1. A universal serial bus (USB) power supply including:

a first unit, and

a second unit releasably connectable with said first unit,

wherein said first unit is releasably connectable to a direct current (DC) power source for receiving a DC power there-from, said first unit including a first USB connection part electrically connectable with said DC power source,

wherein said second unit includes a second USB connection part releasably connectable with said first USB connection part to establish electrical connection and data communication there-between and a connector electrically connected with said second USB connection part,

wherein said power supply is operable in a detached mode in which said first unit is out of connection with said second unit and in an attached mode in which said first unit is releasably connected with said second unit,

wherein, when in said attached mode, said power supply is adapted to automatically change the voltage of a DC power output from said connector,

wherein said power supply includes a current sensor which, when said power supply is in said attached mode, is adapted to detect electricity current output from said first USB connection part,

wherein said first unit includes a converter adapted to change the voltage of a DC power received from said DC power source for output, and

wherein, when said power supply is in said attached mode, and during detection by said current sensor of said electricity current output from said first USB connection part, said converter is adapted to first output a DC power at a first pre-determined voltage and to increase the voltage of DC power outputted thereby from said first pre-determined voltage until said current sensor senses a step change of the electric current output from said first USB connection part, whereupon said converter is adapted to continue to output a DC power at the voltage at which said step change of the electric current output from said first USB connection part is detected.

2. The power supply according to claim 1 wherein, when in said attached mode, said power supply is adapted to automatically change the voltage of said DC output from said connector to match or substantially match the operation voltage of an electrical and/or electronic equipment electrically connected with said connector.

3. The power supply of claim 2 wherein said second unit includes an authentication identifier which, when said power supply is in said attached mode, is readable by said first unit for identification of said second unit.

4. The power supply of claim 3 wherein, when said power supply is in said attached mode, said power supply is adapted to automatically change the voltage of said DC output from said connector to match or substantially match the operation voltage of said electrical and/or electronic equipment electrically connected with said connector only if said second unit is identified by said first unit.

5. The power supply of claim 3 wherein said authentication identifier of said second unit is readable by said first unit through a D−

(Pin

     2) of said first USB connection part.

6. The power supply of claim 1 wherein said first USB connection part is a USB receptacle and said second USB connection part is a USB plug.

7. The power supply of claim 1 wherein, when said power supply is in said detached mode, said converter is adapted to change the voltage of said DC power received from said DC power source to a second pre-determined voltage for output.

8. The power supply of claim 7 wherein, when said power supply is in said attached mode, said converter is adapted to change the voltage of said DC power received from said DC power source to a third voltage which is different from said second pre-determined voltage.

9. The power supply of claim 7 wherein, upon change of said power supply from said attached mode to said detached mode, said first unit is adapted to automatically change the DC power output from said converter to said second pre-determined voltage.

10. The power supply of claim 1 wherein said first unit includes said current sensor.

11. The power supply of claim 1 wherein, when said power supply is in said attached mode, said converter is adapted to increase the voltage of DC power outputted thereby in steps of substantially equal voltage.

12. The power supply of claim 1 wherein said first unit includes a microcontroller for controlling operation of said power supply.

13. The power supply of claim 1 wherein, when said power supply is in said detached mode, said first unit is adapted to be connected with an electrical and/or electronic equipment via said first USB connection part to charge and/or power said electrical and/or electronic equipment with a plurality of dedicated charging port standards.

14. The power supply of claim 1 wherein said second unit includes a cable.

15. The power supply of claim 1 wherein said second unit includes a memory for storing data allowing, when said power supply is in said attached mode, automatic changing of the voltage of a DC power output from said connector, and wherein said data in said memory are reconfigurable via said second USB connection part of said second unit.