Power converter with integral battery

• US 20080012427A1
• Filed: 08/28/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, Scott, Thornton, Walter, Valdez-Wurtz, Kristie, Reynolds, Charles M.
• Application Number:
  US11/510,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012427A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A portable and lightweight power converter adapted to power a portable electronic device, and in addition, which includes a high power battery adapted to provide an output DC voltage to operate and/or charge a portable electronic device when no source power is present. Advantageously, the power converter includes converter circuitry as well as a high power battery packaged as an extremely small device, and further configured to charge a battery of a portable electronic device multiple times with recharging. The converter may further include charging circuitry configured to charge the converter battery when input power is connected.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

a housing;

a power converter circuit disposed in the housing and having an input configured to receive either an AC voltage or a DC voltage, and provide a converted DC output voltage at an output;

a battery disposed in the housing and configured to provide a DC voltage to the output when no voltage is provided to the input; and

wherein the battery is configured to couple to electrically and operate or charge a portable electronic device, wherein the battery is configured to generate power up to 15 watts, and a power density of at least 0.75 watts/cubic inch.

2. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the power converter has a power density of at least 1.0 watts/cubic inch.

3. The power converter as specified in claim 2 wherein the power density is at least 1.2 watts/cubic inches.

4. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the power converter battery is configured to generate continuous power up to 10 watts and the housing has a volume of less than about 13.33 cubic inches.

5. The power converter as specified in claim 4 wherein the battery is configured to continuously generate power of up to 5 watts and the housing has a volume of less than about 6.67 cubic inches.

6. The power converter as specified in claim 4 wherein the power converter has a power density of at least 1.0 watts/cubic inch.

7. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the power converter has a power density of at least 1.0 watts/cubic inch.

8. The power converter as specified in claim 6 wherein the housing has a volume of less than about 6.48 cubic inches.

9. The power converter as specified in claim 7 wherein the housing has a volume of less than about 4.46 cubic inches.

10. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the DC output voltage is selectable.

11. The power converter as specified in claim 10 further comprising a removable program module configured to establish the value of the DC output voltage.

12. The power converter as specified in claim 11 wherein the removable program module comprises a tip connector configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the portable electronic device.

13. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the battery is configured to fully charge a battery of the portable electronic device at least 2 times without charging.

14. The power converter as specified in claim 1 further comprising a charging circuit configured to charge the battery when the voltage is provided to the input.

15. The power converter as specified in claim 14 wherein the charging circuit automatically charges the battery when the voltage is provided to the input.

16. The power converter as specified in claim 13 wherein the battery is user replaceable.

17. The power converter as specified in claim 11 wherein the battery is user replaceable.

18. The power converter as specified in claim 16 wherein the battery comprises an alkaline or Lithium Ion battery.

19. The power converter as specified in claim 17 wherein the battery comprises a Lithium Ion or Lithium Polymer battery.