Multi-output power supply

• US 8,519,564 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Pance, Aleksandar, Rundle, Nicholas Alan, Field, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/778,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20110278923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7039 the coupling part with coding means activating the switch to establish different circuits
• 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: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826

Abstract

An apparatus for providing power to an electronic device may include a power input configured to receive an input voltage from a power supply, and a rectifier operatively connected to the power input and configured to convert the input voltage to a first voltage. The rectifier may further be configured to transmit the first voltage to a first power output operatively connected to the rectifier. The apparatus may further include a power converter operatively connected to the rectifier and configured to convert the first voltage to a second voltage different than the first voltage and a first relay operatively connected to the rectifier to selectively prevent the first voltage from being transmitted through the first power output. The power converter may further be configured to transmit the second voltage to a second power output operatively connected to the power converter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing power to an electronic device, comprising:

a power input configured to receive an input voltage from a power supply;

a rectifier operatively connected to the power input and configured to convert the input voltage to a first voltage;

a first power output connector operatively connected to the rectifier, wherein the rectifier is further configured to transmit the first voltage to the first power output connector;

a power converter operatively connected to the rectifier and configured to convert the first voltage to a second voltage different than the first voltage;

a second power output connector operatively connected to the power converter, wherein the power converter is further configured to transmit the second voltage to the second power output connector; and

a first relay operatively connected to the rectifier to selectively prevent the first voltage from being transmitted through the first power output connector,

wherein a state of the first relay is determined at least in part by a state of a first control line,

wherein the first control line does not transmit the first voltage,

wherein the first relay includes a first logic configured to determine whether a first electronic device operatively connected to the first power output connector is compatible with the first voltage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second relay operatively connected to the power converter to selectively prevent the second voltage from being transmitted through the second power output connector,

wherein a state of the second relay is determined at least in part by a state of a second control line,

wherein the second control line does not transmit the second voltage,

wherein the second relay includes a second logic configured to determine whether a second electronic device operatively connected to the second power output connector is compatible with the second voltage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first logic comprises a first logic circuit operatively connected to the first control line.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first control line and the first power output connector are contained within a single output connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the single output connector terminates in a magnetic MAGSAFE connector.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first logic is configured to determine whether an electronic device is compatible with the first voltage based at least partially on whether the control line is in an active or inactive state.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing enclosing at least the first power output connector and the second power output connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first power output connector is a connector and the second power output connector is a USB port.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is 18.5 volts.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second voltage is greater than the first voltage.