Modular power adapter

• US 20100254162A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Systems LLC (AppBrilliance, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/15
• 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 3/155 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

A modular power adapter and method for using the same which increases the ease of a user'"'"'s travel with portable electronic devices. The modular power adapter includes an output module which may be interchangeably and detachably coupled to DC input module or an AC input module. The output module and the input module are provided in separate housing structures thereby effectively spreading the heat dissipated from the modular power adapter.

Claims

1. A modular power adapter system comprising:

a direct current (DC) input module to receive a DC voltage and generate a first DC output voltage;

an alternating current (AC) input module to receive an AC voltage and generate a second DC output voltage; and

a DC output module which detachably couples to either the DC input module or the AC input module, and when coupled to the DC input module converts the first DC output voltage to a DC operational voltage for an electronic device, and when coupled to the AC input module converts the second DC output voltage to the DC operational voltage for the electronic device.

2. The modular power adapter system of claim 1, wherein the DC voltage is supplied via a cigarette lighter socket of an automobile.

3. The modular power adapter system of claim 1, wherein the AC voltage is supplied via a wall outlet.

4. The modular power adapter system of claim 1, wherein the first DC output voltage is regulated.

5. The modular power adapter system of claim 1, wherein the second DC output voltage is regulated.

6. The modular power adapter system of claim 1, wherein the first DC output voltage is equal to the second DC output voltage.

7. A modular power adapter system comprising:

an input power module to receive a input voltage from a power source and to generate a regulated direct current (DC) voltage and at least one reference voltage; and

an output power module detachably coupled to the input module to receive the regulated DC voltage and the at least one reference voltage from the input power module and to adjust the regulated DC voltage to produce a regulated output voltage to operate an electronic device.

8. The modular power adapter system according to claim 7, wherein the input module is configured to receive a DC voltage from the power source.

9. The modular power adapter system according to claim 7, wherein the input module is configured to receive an alternating current (AC) voltage from the power source.

10. The modular power adapter system according to claim 7, further including a power regulator configured to detect a load across an output interface of the output power module and to control a power consumption of the modular power adapter system based on the load.

11. The modular power adapter system according to claim 7, further including a protection circuit to prevent operation when an operating temperature reaches a predetermined level.

12. The modular power adapter system according to claim 7, further including a protection circuit to prevent operation when the input voltage is below a predetermined voltage level.

13. A modular power adapter system comprising:

an input power module to receive an input voltage from an external power source and to generate a regulated direct current (DC) voltage and at least one reference voltage; and

an output power module detachably coupled to the input power module to receive the regulated DC voltage and the at least one reference voltage from the input power module and to adjust the regulated DC voltage to produce a regulated output voltage to operate an electronic device, wherein

the input power module and the output module are provided in separate housing to distribute the heat generated by the modular power adapter.

14. The modular power adapter system according to claim 13, wherein the power source is a DC power source.

15. The modular power adapter system according to claim 13, wherein the power source is an alternating current (AC) power source.

16. The modular power adapter system according to claim 13, wherein the electronic device is a laptop computer.

17. A method for providing a modular power connection, comprising:

receiving via an input power module, a voltage from a power source and generating an direct current (DC) voltage and at least one reference voltage;

receiving via an output power module, the DC voltage and the at least one reference voltage from the input power module;

regulating the received DC voltage to produce a regulated output voltage; and

outputting the regulated output voltage to operate an electronic device coupled to output power module, wherein the input power module and the output power module are detachably coupled together.

18. A method for providing a modular power connection using a modular power adapter, the method comprising:

connecting a portable electronic device to a DC output module;

selecting a power source and a corresponding input module with which to power a portable electronic device, the corresponding input module being selected from a plurality of input modules, at least one of which receives DC power and at least one of which receives AC power;

connecting the corresponding input module to the DC output module; and

connecting the selected power source to the corresponding input module.