Apparatus for charging batteries of devices at a selected DC voltage

• US 9,356,454 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnadyne Corporation
• Original Assignee: Magnadyne Corporation
• Inventors: Caren, Barry L., Yeh, Wen-Tsan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/215,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20150263551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 455/573, 455/569.1, 455/550.1, 361/810, 320/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/11 Supports for sets, e.g. incorporating armrests
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery charging apparatus for charging batteries of fixed voltage charge receiving batteries and flexible voltage charge receiving batteries. A wall receptacle charger outlet, an “all-in-one” vehicle or home charger, a hands-free docking station charger, a wall mountable USB charging strip and a holder for multiple charger receiving devices that includes a charger are disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable battery charger for a selectable charge receiving device comprising:

a housing having a first plug adapted to be inserted into a DC receptacle;

a second plug adapted to be inserted into an AC receptacle; and

at least one multiple voltage receptacle provided on the housing for charging the selectable charge receiving device and adapted to provide a default level of voltage and a predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage;

wherein the housing encloses;

a control circuit that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device that is adapted to be charged at a predetermined level of voltage that the device may be charged at and that provides a charging level signal;

a voltage switching circuit that receives the charging level signal; and

a variable output converter circuit controlled by the voltage switching circuit that is configured to provide a DC charging voltage to the selectable charge receiving device.

2. The portable battery charger of claim 1, wherein the housing has a first end and a second end, the first plug being located at the first end and the second plug being located at the second end.

3. The portable battery charger of claim 2, wherein the first end includes a protruding portion adapted to be inserted into a DC receptacle.

8. The portable battery charger of claim 1, wherein the first plug includes a first male electrical connector and the second plug includes a second male electrical connector.

4. A portable battery charger comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end;

a first plug coupled to the first end of the housing, the first plug being configured to be inserted into a DC receptacle and receive DC current from a DC power source;

a second plug coupled to the second end of the housing, the second plug being configured to be inserted into an AC receptacle and receive AC current from an AC power source;

a control circuit retained within the housing, the control circuit being configured to provide a charging level signal in response to a signal from a selectable charge receiving device;

a variable output converter circuit retained within the housing, the variable output converter circuit being configured to provide a DC charging voltage to the selectable charge receiving device;

a voltage switching circuit retained within the housing, the voltage switching circuit being configured to control the DC charging voltage provided by the variable output converter circuit in response to receiving the charging level signal;

a fixed output converter circuit retained within the housing, the fixed output converter circuit being configured to provide a fixed DC charging voltage;

a multiple voltage receptacle arranged on the housing for charging the selectable charge receiving device, the multiple voltage receptacle being electrically coupled to the variable output converter circuit and adapted to provide a default level of voltage and a predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage; and

a fixed voltage receptacle provided on the housing that is electrically coupled to the fixed output converter circuit and adapted to provide a fixed voltage level for a fixed charge receiving device that may only be charged at a fixed voltage level.

5. The portable battery charger of claim 4, wherein the variable output converter circuit includes a first DC-DC converter and the fixed output converter circuit includes a second DC-DC converter.

6. The portable battery charger of claim 4, wherein the variable output converter circuit includes a first AC-DC converter and the fixed output converter circuit includes a second AC-DC converter.

7. The portable battery charger of claim 4, wherein the first end includes a protruding portion adapted to be inserted into a DC receptacle.

9. A portable battery charger for a selectable charge receiving device comprising:

a housing having a first plug adapted to be inserted into a DC receptacle;

a second plug adapted to be inserted into an AC receptacle; and

at least one multiple voltage receptacle provided on the housing for charging the selectable charge receiving device and adapted to provide a default level of voltage and a predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage, wherein the housing encloses;

a control circuit that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device that is adapted to be charged at a predetermined level of voltage that the device may be charged at and that provides a charging level signal;

a voltage switching circuit that receives the charging level signal; and

a variable output converter circuit controlled by the voltage switching circuit that is configured to provide a DC charging voltage to the selectable charge receiving device; and

a fixed output converter circuit retained within the housing, the fixed output converter circuit being configured to provide a fixed DC charging voltage, and a fixed voltage receptacle provided on the housing that is electrically coupled to the fixed output converter circuit and adapted to provide a fixed voltage level for a fixed charge receiving device that may only be charged at a fixed voltage level.