Power charger with charge indicating power button

• US 9,923,392 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bollinger Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Halo2Cloud, LLC (Evercel, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weinstein, Nathan Daniel, Miller, Garold C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pacheco, Alexis
• Application Number:
  US14/677,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20150288205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320103, 320114, 320101, 320115, 320110, 320111, 320112, 320128, 320106, 320160, 320148, 307150, 307 66
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A power charger includes a case; a battery housed in the case; a power connection port housed in the case; a battery control module operatively connecting the battery with the power connection port; a power button operatively connected to actuate the battery control module between a first mode in which electrical current can flow from the battery to the power connection port, and a second mode in which electrical current can flow from the power connection port to the battery; and at least one LED operatively connected to be energized by the battery control module for illuminating the power button according to a battery charge level.

Claims

1. A power charger article comprising:

a case;

a battery housed in the case;

a power connection port housed in the case;

a battery control module operatively connecting the battery with the power connection port;

a switch operatively connected to actuate the battery control module between a first mode in which electrical current can flow from the battery to the power connection port, and a second mode in which electrical current can flow from the power connection port to the battery;

a translucent or transparent cage defining an outer edge of the power connection port;

wherein the cage is mounted within an opening in a side of the case that is sized to receive the cage;

wherein the cage is operatively connected as a power button that is mechanically operable to actuate the switch; and

at least one LED operatively connected to be energized by the battery control module, and positioned to illuminate the cage of the power connection port when energized by the battery control module.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the switch and the battery control module are mutually configured so that the power button acts as a toggle button, with a first actuation of the switch causing the battery control module to enter the first mode and with a second actuation of the switch causing the battery control module to enter the second mode.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the switch and the battery control module are mutually configured so that the power button acts as a press-and-hold button, with actuation of the switch causing the battery control module to enter the first mode and with release of the switch causing the battery control module to enter the second mode.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the at least one LED includes a first LED of a first color and a second LED of a second color, the battery control module is configured to monitor a level of battery charge and to energize only the first LED in response to the level of battery charge within a first range, to energize the first LED and the second LED together in response to the level of battery charge within a second range, and to energize only the second LED in response to the level of battery charge within a third range.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the first range is from about 66% to about 100%, the second range is from about 33% to about 66%, and the third range is from about 0% to about 33%.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the at least one LED includes a first LED of a first color, a second LED of a second color, and a third LED of a third color, the battery control module is configured to monitor a level of battery charge and to energize only the first LED in response to the level of battery charge within a first range, to energize only the second LED in response to the level of battery charge within a second range, and to energize only the third LED in response to the level of battery charge within a third range.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein the first range is from about 66% to about 100%, the second range is from about 33% to about 66%, and the third range is from about 0% to about 33%.

8. The article of claim 1 wherein the opening of the cage permits insertion of a cable into the power connection port.

9. The article of claim 8 wherein the opening of the cage is shaped such that insertion of a standard USB plug into the power connection port causes the cage to move into the case, thereby actuating the switch, and to remain at its inward position until the standard USB plug is removed from the power connection port.