Power converter having airplane power source frequency detector

• US 20090128105A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Inventors: McCoy, Bryan W., DuBose, Richard G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/275
• 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 3/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

A power converter having an aircraft power source detector configured to limit the amount of power that can be drawn by the power converter when utilized in an aircraft. The power converter may detect an artifact of the aircraft power source, such as the 400 Hz ripple noise on an aircraft power line, or existing in the aircraft cabin, such EMI or aircraft lighting.

Claims

1. A power converter, comprising:

a first circuit having an input configured to receive a power source having a first voltage, and configured to convert the first voltage to a second voltage provided to an output, the first circuit configured to power a portable electronic device; and

a second circuit coupled to the first circuit and configured to identify if the power source is an aircraft power source by detecting a frequency component of the power source.

2. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the first circuit is configured to respond to the second circuit when the aircraft power source is detected.

3. The power converter as specified in claim 2 wherein the first circuit is configured to limit an output power provided to output when the aircraft power source is detected.

4. The power converter as specified in claim 3 wherein the first circuit is configured to limit a current of the output power when the aircraft power source is detected.

5. The power converter as specified in claim 2 wherein the first circuit is energized upon detection of the aircraft power source frequency.

6. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the second circuit is configured to detect the absence of a frequency component of the aircraft power source.

7. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the second circuit is configured to detect a presence of generally a 400 Hz signal provided by the aircraft power source.

8. The power converter as specified in claim 6 wherein the second circuit is configured to detect the absence of generally a 50-60 Hz signal provided by the power source.

9. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the power converter further includes a connector configured to couple to the aircraft power source.

10. The power converter as specified in claim 9 wherein the converter has a displaceable member configured to determine if the power source is provided by the aircraft power source.

11. The power converter as specified in claim 10 wherein the displaceable member is configured to be displaced upon coupling to the aircraft power source.

12. The power converter as specified in claim 11 wherein the connector comprises a plug including the displaceable member.

13. The power converter as specified in claim 11 wherein the displaceable member is configured to be depressed upon coupling of the connector to the aircraft power source.

14. The power converter as specified in claim 13 wherein the displaceable member is configured to be depressed by a member forming a portion of the aircraft power source.

15. The power converter as specified in claim 14 wherein the portion comprises a protruding said member.

16. The power converter as specified in claim 15 wherein the protruding member comprises an annular member.

17. The power converter as specified in claim 9 wherein the connector comprises a plug.

18. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein second circuit is configured to be electrically coupled to the aircraft power source.

19. The power converter as specified in claim 18 wherein the converter further includes a connector configured to couple to the aircraft power source.

20. The power converter as specified in claim 19 wherein the connector is configured to couple the aircraft power source to the second circuit.

21. The power converter as specified in claim 20 wherein the connector comprises a plug.

22. The power converter as specified in claim 21 wherein the plug has an electrode configured to couple to the aircraft power source.

23. The power converter as specified in claim 22 wherein the plug is configured to couple to a receptacle of the aircraft power source.

24. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the second circuit comprises a receiver configured to wirelessly sense the frequency component of the power source.

25. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the second circuit comprises a filter circuit configured to filter the frequency component from the power source.

27. The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the second circuit is configured to detect the frequency component of an aircraft auxiliary power unit (APU).

28. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the second circuit comprises a switch configured to switch states upon the second circuit coupling to the aircraft power source.

29. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the second circuit is configured to provide a signal at the output indicative of the presence of the aircraft power source.

30. The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the second circuit is configured to detect an artifact of the aircraft power source.

31. The power converter as specified in claim 5 further comprising a loading circuit configured to be selectively coupled to the second circuit and enhance signal detection of the frequency component.

26. The power converter as specified in claim 26 wherein the filter is selected from the group consisting of a gyrator, a tuned digital filter, a phase locked loop, and a resonant tank.