Power adapters for powering and/or charging peripheral devices

• US 7,766,698 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Robbin, Jeffrey L., De Iuliis, Daniele, Ng, Stanley Carl, Hodge, Andrew Bert, Anderson, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paladini; Albert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/698,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 323/266, 439/668, 439/502, 439/332, 439/638, 710/62, 363/146, 307/11, 361/679.02
• US Class Current: 439/638
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A power adapter for a peripheral device such as portable electronics device is disclosed. The power adapter includes a housing that contains electrical components associated with the power adapter. The power adapter also includes a data port provided at a surface of the housing. The data port is configured to provide external power to the peripheral device.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

a power connection for receiving power;

a housing that includes electrical components and that receives the power from the power connection; and

a connector assembly electrically coupled to the housing comprising;

a power input configured to receive the power from the housing; and

a first connector and a second connector, wherein the connector assembly is configured to transmit data between the first and second connectors and to provide the power received from the housing at the first and second connectors,

wherein the first connector is a standard IEEE 1394 connector or a standard Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector having a first power contact, the first connector providing the power via the first power contact, and

wherein the second connector is a standard IEEE 1394 connector or a standard Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector having a second power contact, the second connector providing the power via the second power contact.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second power contacts are each electrically coupled to the power connection.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a male connector and the second connector is a female port.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the male connector is configured for insertion into a port of a host or peripheral device.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a transmission cable capable of transmitting both power and data having a first male cable connector at a first end configured for insertion into the female port of the connector assembly and a second male cable connector at a second end configured for insertion into a port of a host or peripheral device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second connectors are configured to couple to a host or peripheral device and to transmit data therefrom, and wherein the connector assembly is configured to transmit data between the coupled host and peripheral devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors is configured to receive an end of a transmission cable for coupling the connector assembly with a host or peripheral device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmission cable capable of transmitting both power and data configured at a first end for coupling with one of the connectors and configured at a second end for coupling with a host or peripheral device, wherein the transmission cable enables the coupled host or peripheral device to be disposed a distance away from the connector assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power transmission line coupling the connector assembly with the housing, wherein the line transmits power from the housing to the connector assembly and enables the connector assembly to be disposed a distance from the housing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power transmission comprises a 2 conductor wire.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors is a 6-wire IEEE 1394 connector.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors is a 4-wire IEEE 1394 port.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors is a IEEE 1394 6-contact male connector.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors is a IEEE 1394 6-contact female connector.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the power connection couples with a power supply to receive power.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the power supply comprises a conventional electrical outlet supplying AC current.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the power connection comprises a plug for connecting to the electrical outlet.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the power supply comprises a source of DC current.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the source of DC current comprises a car lighter outlet.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical components in the housing convert the power from one voltage-current level to another voltage-current level.

21. An electronic system comprising:

a first housing electrically coupled with a power connection, the first housing including electrical components;

a connector assembly electrically provided within a second housing separate from the first housing and coupled to the first housing, the connector assembly comprising;

a power input configured to receive power from the first housing via a power cable; and

a first connection point and a second connection point, wherein the connector assembly is configured to transmit data between the connection points and to provide power received from the first housing at the first and second connection points, wherein the first connection point includes a first male connector; and

wherein the connector assembly is configured for two modes of use;

in a first mode, the connector assembly is mounted on a peripheral device by coupling the first male connector with a port of the peripheral device, wherein the second connection point is coupled with a port of a host device via a transmission line; and

in a second mode, the connector assembly is mounted on the host device by coupling the first male connector with the port of the host device, wherein the second connection point is coupled with the port of the peripheral device via the transmission line, wherein data is transmitted between the two connection points in the first mode and in the second mode.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the connector assembly has only two connectors, the two connectors being the first connector and the second connector.

23. An electronic system comprising:

an adapter to provide power, the adapter located in a first housing;

a power cable electrically coupled with the adapter;

a connector assembly provided within a second housing separate from the first housing and coupled to receive the power from the adapter via the power cable, the connector assembly comprising;

a first connector to connect to a first external device, the first connector having at least one first data contact and at least one first power contact, wherein the first power contact is directly connected to the power cable; and

a second connector to connect to a second external device, the second connector having at least one second data contact and at least one second power contact, wherein the second power contact is directly connected to the power cable,

wherein the first power contact of the first connector provides the power to the first external device connected at the first connector, and the second power contact of the second connector provides the power to the second external device connected at the second connector, and

wherein the first data contact of the first connector is connected to the second data contact of the second connector.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the first data contact of the first connector is on a same transmission line as the second data contact of the second connector.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the adapter receives AC power, converts the AC power to DC power, and provides the DC power.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the adapter is configured to connect to a car lighter outlet.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the first connector and the second connector are along a same axis through the second housing.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the first connector is a male connector for plugging into a port of the first external device, and wherein the second connector is a female connector.