POWER SUPPLY EQUIPMENT UTILIZING INTERCHANGEABLE TIPS TO PROVIDE POWER AND A POWER INDICATION SIGNAL TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120212078A1
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: LANNI, THOMAS W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,153,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/151
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/00 Automatic systems in which deviations of an electric quantity from one or more predetermined values are detected at the output of the system and fed back to a device within the system to restore the detected quantity to its predetermined value or values, i.e. retroactive systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 Overheat or overtemperature protection

Abstract

Power supply equipment includes an adapter which converts power from a power source to DC power for powering an electronic device. The power supply equipment includes circuitry which produces a power indication signal for use by the electronic device to control power drawn by the electronic device. A cable, which is electrically coupled to the adapter, has a connector at its distal end. The power supply equipment further includes a tip which has an input connector and an output connector. The input connector of the tip is detachable mateable to the connector on the distal end of the cable. The output connector of the tip is detachably mateable to the electronic device. The tip output connector has a shape and size dependent on the shape and size of a power input opening of the electronic device. The tip provides the power indication signal, as well as the DC power, to the device.

Claims

1. Power supply equipment comprising:

an adapter to convert power from a power source, external to the adapter, to DC power for powering an electronic device which is external to the power source and the adapter;

a cable having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being electrically coupled to the adapter and the distal end terminating in a connector;

a power indication circuit which generates a power indication signal for use by the electronic device to control power drawn by the electronic device; and

a tip which includes;

an input connector which is detachably mateable to the connector, and

an output connector which is detachably mateable to the electronic device,

wherein the tip provides the DC power and the power indication signal to the electronic device, and

wherein the output connector has a shape and a size dependent on the shape and size of a power input opening of the electronic device.

2. The power supply equipment of claim 1, wherein the power indication signal is one or more digital bits.

3. The power supply equipment of claim 1, wherein the power indication signal is a voltage magnitude.

4. The power supply equipment of claim 1, wherein the power indication signal being in a first state indicates that the electronic device is to enable charging of its internal battery and the power indication signal being in a second state indicates that the electronic device is to disable charging of its internal battery.

5. The power supply equipment of claim 1 including a second tip having a second input connector which is detachably mateable to the connector and having a second output connector which is detachably mateable to a second electronic device, wherein the second output connector has a shape and size dependent on the shape and size of a power input opening of the second electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power indication signal is one or more digital bits.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power indication signal is a voltage magnitude.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to the power indication signal being in a first state, the electronic device enables charging of its internal battery, and in response to the power indication signal being in a second state, the electronic device disables charging of its internal battery.

6. A system comprising:

power supply equipment external to a power source and including;

an adapter to convert power from a power source, external to the adapter, to DC power for powering an electronic device which is external to the power source and the adapter;

a cable having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being electrically coupled to the adapter and the distal end terminating in a connector;

a power indication circuit which generates a power indication signal for use by the electronic device; and

a tip which includes;

an input connector which is detachably mateable to the connector, and

an output connector which is detachably mateable to the electronic device,

wherein the tip provides the DC power and the power indication signal to the electronic device, and

wherein the output connector has a shape and a size dependent on the shape and size of a power input opening of the electronic device; and

the electronic device, external to the power source and the power supply equipment, which receives the DC power and the power indication signal, wherein the power indication signal is used by the electronic device to control power drawn by the electronic device.