Electrical power supplying system having an electrical power supplying docking station with a multi-function module for use in diverse environments

• US 9,927,837 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Original Assignee: PUCline, LLC
• Inventors: Fleisig, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries, Dru
• Application Number:
  US14/957,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 307 22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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: G06F 13/4081 Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• 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: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An electrical power supplying system for use in diverse environments supporting electrical power consuming devices. The portable electrical power supplying system including: a module docking station with a module docking receptacle and base station portion having integrated external power cord storage compartments; and a multi-function module is docked in the module docking receptacle and can be manually removed and used locally as well as at remote locations, in several different subsystem functionalities. The module docking station includes: a base housing portion having an external power cord storage compartment, with an internal spool about which a power cord can be neatly wrapped up and contained within the external power cord storage compartment; and a power receptacle housing portion, connected to the base housing portion and supporting the module docking receptacle, and containing a plurality of AC power receptacles, and one or more USB-type DC power receptacles.

Claims

1. A portable electrical power supplying system for use in an ambient environment and supplying AC electrical power to AC electrical power consuming devices, and DC electrical power to DC electrical power consuming devices, said portable electrical power supplying system comprising:

an electrical power supplying docking station having a module docking receptacle, within which a first module dock interface is mounted;

said electrical power supplying docking station including (i) an electrical power cord with a power plug for receiving an AC line voltage supplied from a standard AC power receptacle, (ii) an AC electrical power conditioning circuit for conditioning the AC line voltage to produce AC electrical power for use in said portable electrical power supplying system, (iii) a voltage level sensing circuit for automatically detecting changes in the AC line voltage supplied from the standard AC power receptacle, and also (iv) an AC/DC power conversion circuit for converting AC electrical power to DC electrical power for supplying within said electrical power supplying docking station;

said electrical power supplying docking station supporting (i) a plurality of AC power receptacles for supplying AC electrical power to AC electrical power consuming devices using AC electrical power cords, and (ii) one or more USB-type DC power receptacles for supplying DC electrical power to DC electrical power consuming devices using DC electrical power cords;

a multi-function dockable module, dockable within said module docking receptable, and supporting (ii) an emergency-light illumination mode and a night-light illumination mode when said multi-function dockable module is docked within said module docking receptacle, and (ii) said night-light illumination mode when said multi-function dockable module is removed from and located outside of said module docking receptacle;

wherein said multi-function dockable module further includes

(i) a battery power storage subsystem, including a rechargeable battery, for storing DC electrical power supplied by said AC/DC power conversion circuit in said electrical power supplying docking station,

(ii) a solid-state light emitting assembly energizable by DC electrical power supplied by said battery power storage subsystem,

(iii) a light level sensing circuit for sensing the light level in said ambient environment,

(iv) a subsystem controller being responsive to said voltage level sensing circuit for controlling the supply of DC electrical power from said battery power storage subsystem to said solid-state light emitting assembly during said emergency-light illumination mode, and said subsystem controller also being responsive to said light level sensing circuit for controlling the supply of DC electrical power from said battery power storage subsystem to said solid-state light emitting assembly during said night-light illumination mode, and

(v) a second module dock interface for interfacing with said first module dock interface when said multi-function dockable module is docked within said module docking receptacle so that said first and second module dock interfaces interconnect, and DC electrical power is supplied from said AC/DC power conversion circuit in said electrical power supplying docking station to said battery power storage subsystem in said multi-function dockable module, as needed to recharge said rechargeable battery;

wherein during said emergency-light illumination mode, said voltage level sensing circuit detects changes in the AC line voltage from the standard AC power receptacle, and in response to detected changes in the AC line voltage, said subsystem controller automatically controls the supply of DC electrical power from said battery power storage subsystem to said solid-state light emitting assembly so that said solid-state light emitting assembly produces visible illumination for emergency lighting in said ambient environment; and

wherein during said night-light illumination mode, said light level sensing circuit detects changes in the light level of the ambient environment, and in response to detected changes in the light level of the ambient environment, said subsystem controller automatically controls the supply of DC electrical power from said battery power storage subsystem to said solid-state light emitting assembly so that said solid-state light emitting assembly produces visible illumination for night-lighting in said ambient environment.

2. The portable electrical power supplying system of claim 1, wherein said electrical power supplying docking station further comprises a base housing portion having an external power cord storage compartment, with an internal spool about which a power cord can be neatly wrapped up and contained within said external power cord storage compartment.

3. The portable electrical power supplying system of claim 1, wherein said multi-function dockable module is manually removed from said module docking receptacle in said electrical power supplying docking station by lifting up said multi-function dockable module, and disengaging the physical connection between said first and second module dock interfaces.

4. The portable electrical power supplying system of claim 1, wherein said rechargeable battery comprises one or more solid-state batteries.

5. The portable electrical power supplying system of claim 1, wherein said light level sensing circuit comprises a photo-sensor and electronic circuitry for detecting ambient illumination levels and generating analog or digital signals corresponding to the detected ambient illumination levels.

6. The portable electrical power supplying system of claim 1, wherein said solid-state light emitting assembly comprises a lens structure employing refractive, diffractive and/or reflective principles, for shaping the light beam emitting from said solid-state light emitting assembly.

7. The portable electrical power supplying system of claim 1, wherein said first and second module dock interfaces comprises a pair of mated, male and female, USB-type connectors.