Programmable power supply

• US 7,145,787 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Comarco Wireless Technologies Incorporated (Comarco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lanni, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US11/154,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20050266730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 363/78, 363/80, 363/97, 323/280, 323/282, 323/293
• US Class Current: 363/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2027/2819 Planar transformers with printed windings, e.g. surrounded by two cores and to be mounted on printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/24 resilient; resiliently-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/24 for radio transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/4258 using a single converter stage both for correction of AC input power factor and generation of a regulated and galvanically isolated DC output voltage H02M1/4241 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/28 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate ac
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33523 with galvanic isolation between input and output of both the power stage and the feedback loop
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3372 of the parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3378 in a push-pull configuration of the parallel type H02M3/3374 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3382 in a push-pull circuit arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3387 : in a push-pull configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 : Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0203 : Cooling of mounted components H05K1/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0262 : Arrangements for regulating voltages or for using plural voltages
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/029 : having a programmable lay-out, i.e. adapted for choosing between a few possibilities
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 : incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 : incorporating printed inductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/086 : for inductive purposes, e.g. printed inductor with ferrite core
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 : Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 : Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 : Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A power supply system includes a power source and a control circuit. The power source provides DC power. A control circuit, which is remote to the power source, receives the DC power and provides a first DC power signal to an electronic device. The control circuit includes an active component to provide at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to regulate the DC power. A power supply system includes a power source and a control circuit. The control circuit is remote to the power source, receives the DC power, and provides the DC power to an electronic device. The control circuit includes a microprocessor to provide at least one of a voltage control output and a current control output to the power source to regulate the DC power.

Claims

1. A power supply system, comprising:

a power source to a provide DC power; and

a control circuit, remote to the power source and in a separate housing from the power source, to receive the DC power from the power source and provide a DC power signal to an electronic device, wherein the control circuit includes at least one active component to transmit at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to control the DC power output from the power source.

2. A power supply system, comprising:

a power source to a provide DC power; and

a control circuit, remote to the power source and in a separate device from the power source, to receive the DC power from the power source and provide a DC power signal to an electronic device, wherein the control circuit includes an amplifier to transmit at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to control the DC power output from the power source.

3. A power supply system, comprising:

a power source to provide DC power;

a control circuit, remote to the power source, to receive the DC power and provide a first DC power signal, wherein the control circuit includes at least one active component to provide at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to control the DC power; and

an interface to provide the first DC power signal to a first electronic device via a first output port, and a second DC power signal to a second electronic device via a second output port, wherein the interface includes a voltage regulator to tap off of the first DC power signal and produce the second DC power signal.

4. The power supply system according to claim 3, wherein the voltage regulator steps up the first DC power signal to produce the second DC power signal.

5. The power supply system according to claim 3, wherein the voltage regulator steps down the first DC power signal to produce the second DC power signal.

6. The power supply system according to claim 3, wherein the voltage regulator regulates the first DC power signal to produce the second DC power signal.

7. The power supply system according to claim 3, wherein the interface is located within a cable.

8. The power supply system according to claim 3, wherein the interface is located within a tip coupled between the power supply and one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

9. A power supply system, comprising:

a power source to provide DC power; and

a control circuit, remote to the power source, to receive the DC power signal from the power source and provide a DC power signal to an electronic device, wherein the control circuit includes an active component to transmit at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to control the DC power output from the power source, the control circuit is located in a housing separate from the power source, and the housing is disposed at an end of a cable connecting the power source and the housing, the voltage control output or the current control output being transmitted from the control circuit to the power source via the cable.

10. A power supply system, comprising:

a power source to provide DC power;

a control circuit, remote to the power source, to receive the DC power signal and provide a DC power signal to an electronic device, wherein the control circuit includes an active component to provide at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to control the DC power and the control circuit is located in a housing separate from the power source and the housing is disposed at an end of a cable coupling the power source and the housing; and

an interface to provide the DC power signal to the electronic device via a first output port, and to provide an additional DC power signal to another electronic device via a second output port, wherein the interface includes a voltage regulator to tap off the DC power signal and produce the additional DC power signal.

11. The power supply system of claim 10, wherein the interface is located within a second cable connecting the housing of the control circuit and at least one of the electronic device or the additional electronic device.

12. The power supply system of claim 10, wherein the interface is located within a physical enclosure separate from the power source and the housing holding the control circuit.

13. A power supply system, comprising:

a power source to provide DC power; and

a control circuit, remote to the power source, to receive the DC power from the power source and provide a DC power signal to an electronic device, wherein the control circuit includes an amplifier to provide at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to control the DC power output from the power source, and the control circuit is located in a housing separate from the power source, and the housing is disposed at an end of a cable connecting the power source and the housing, the voltage control output or the current control output being transmitted from the control circuit to the power source via the cable.

14. A power supply system, comprising:

a power source to provide DC power;

a control circuit, remote to the power source, to receive the DC power and provide a DC power signal to an electronic device, wherein the control circuit includes a amplifier to provide at least one of a voltage control output or a current control output to the power source to control the DC power, the control circuit is located in a housing separate from the power source, and the housing is disposed at an end of a cable coupling the power source and the housing; and

an interface to provide the DC power signal to the electronic device via a first output port, and an additional DC power signal to an additional electronic device via a second output port, wherein the interface includes a voltage regulator to tap off of the DC power signal and produce the additional DC power signal.

15. The power supply system according to claim 14, wherein the voltage regulator steps up the DC power signal to produce the additional DC power signal.

16. The power supply system according to claim 14, wherein the voltage regulator steps down the DC power signal to produce the additional DC power signal.

17. The power supply system according to claim 14, wherein the voltage regulator regulates the DC power signal to produce the additional DC power signal.

18. The power supply system according to claim 14, wherein the interface is located within a cable.

19. A power supply system, comprising:

a power adapter to receive input power from an external power source, the power adapter providing a first DC power signal; and

an interface to provide the first DC power signal to a first electronic device via a first output port, the interface including a control circuit, the control circuit outputting one of a voltage control output and a current control output to the power adapter to control the first DC power signal, the control circuit including at least one active component, and the interface providing a second DC power signal to a second electronic device via a second output port, wherein the interface includes a voltage regulator to tap off of the first DC power signal and produce the second DC power signal.

20. A power supply system, comprising:

a power adapter to receive input power from an external power source, the power adapter providing a first DC power signal; and

an interface to output the first DC power signal via a first output port, and output a second DC power signal via a second output port, wherein the interface includes a voltage regulator to tap off of the first DC power signal and produce the second DC power signal and also includes a control circuit, the control circuit outputting one of a voltage control output and a current control output to the power adapter to control the first DC power signal, and the control circuit including at least one active component.