Power supply system providing two output voltages

• US 7,642,671 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amrany; Adi
• Application Number:
  US11/690,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/12
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• 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: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46

Abstract

A power supply system. The power supply system may have a power circuit having a switch and adapted to generate a first output voltage and a second output voltage, depending on the state of the switch. It also includes an output connector coupled to the power circuit, where the output connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A voltage output indicator device is coupled to the first and second electrical contacts. The voltage output indicator device indicates that the power circuit is producing the first output voltage or the second output voltage, so that the user is aware of the voltage being output by the power supply system.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

a power circuit comprising a switch and adapted to generate a first output voltage or a second output voltage, depending on a state of the switch;

an output connector coupled to the power circuit, wherein the output connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts comprising a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

a voltage output indicator device coupled to the first and second electrical contacts, wherein the voltage output indicator device indicates that the power circuit is producing the first output voltage or the second output voltage;

a first connector capable of being detachably coupled to the output connector; and

a second connector capable of being detachably coupled to the output connector,

wherein the first and second connectors are also capable of being coupled to different electronic devices, and

wherein the power circuit is adapted to provide only the first output voltage or the second output voltage through the output connector, wherein the first output voltage is about 16 V and the second output voltage is about 19 V.

2. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the voltage output indicator device comprises at least one sense element and at least one light element.

3. The power supply system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises a first indicator associated with a first switch position and a second indicator associated with a second switch position, the first indicator also being on the first connector, and the second indicator being on the second connector.

4. The power supply system of claim 3 wherein the first indicator is a first color and the second indicator is a second color.

5. A method comprising:

manipulating a switch in a power circuit to a first state to generate a first output voltage, wherein the power circuit is capable of generating a second output voltage when the switch is in a second state, wherein an output connector is coupled to the power circuit and comprises a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

viewing an output from a voltage output indicator device coupled to the first and second electrical contacts, wherein the voltage output indicator device indicates that the power circuit is producing the first output voltage; and

selecting a first connector comprising an indicator which matches the output from the voltage indicator device; and

attaching the first connector to the output connector,

wherein a second connector is capable of being detachably coupled to the output connector, and wherein the first and second connectors are also capable of being coupled to different electronic devices to supply power to the different electronic devices,

wherein the power circuit is adapted to provide only the first output voltage or the second output voltage through the output connector, and wherein the first output voltage is about 16 V and the second output voltage is about 19 V.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising connecting the first connector to a power port in a portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the voltage output indicator device comprises LEDs with different colors.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the indicator comprises a color.

9. A power supply system comprising:

a power circuit comprising a switch and adapted to generate a first output voltage or a second output voltage, depending on a state of the switch;

an output connector coupled to the power circuit, wherein the output connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts comprising a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

a first connector capable of being detachably coupled to the output connector; and

a second connector capable of being detachably coupled to the output connector,

wherein the first and second connectors are also capable of coupling to and supplying power to different electronic devices, and

wherein the power circuit is adapted to provide only the first output voltage or the second output voltage through the output connector, wherein the first output voltage is about 16 V and the second output voltage is about 19 V.

10. The power supply system of claim 9 wherein the first connector includes a first indicator and the second connector includes a second indicator.

11. The power supply system of claim 10 wherein the first indicator corresponds to a third indicator proximate to a first switch position and the second indicator corresponds to a fourth indicator proximate to a second switch position.

12. The power supply system of claim 11 wherein the first indicator is a first color and the second indicator is a second color, wherein the third indicator includes the first color and the fourth indicator includes the second color.

13. The power supply system of claim 9 further comprising a USB port coupled to the power circuit.

14. The power supply system of claim 9 wherein the power circuit includes an AC to DC conversion circuit.

15. The power supply system of claim 9 wherein the power circuit includes a DC to DC conversion circuit.