Portable battery charger
First Claim
1. A portable charger for charging a device, the charger comprising:
- (a) a housing;
(b) a battery contained within the housing and having a battery voltage;
(c) an output power connector for providing output power to a device;
(d) an input source for providing power at a system voltage, comprising(i) a DC power input at the system voltage, and(ii) an AC power input having an AC/DC converter to convert AC to DC power at the system voltage;
(f) a power path controller connected to the input source, for controlling input power; and
(g) a power multiplexer connected between the power path controller and an output power connector, configured to control output power, wherein the power path controller directs the power from the input source to the output power connector and the battery simultaneously, which power path controller directs at least some of the power from the input source to the output power connector when a device is connected to the output power connector; and
wherein the power multiplexer directs power simultaneously from the power path controller and the battery to the output power connector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable device charger is disclosed, which is able to charge portable devices whether it is connected to an external power supply or not. The charger connects to household AC power as well as USB DC power, and further has a photovoltaic cell. It manages the input power from these three sources to charge a portable device and/or recharge the charger'"'"'s battery, by supplementing the input power with battery power if the device demands more power than the input source, and charging the battery with remaining power if the device demands less power than is provided by the input source. The charger turns off the AC/DC converter and draws no power from the AC source if the battery is full and there is no attached device.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A portable charger for charging a device, the charger comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a battery contained within the housing and having a battery voltage; (c) an output power connector for providing output power to a device; (d) an input source for providing power at a system voltage, comprising (i) a DC power input at the system voltage, and (ii) an AC power input having an AC/DC converter to convert AC to DC power at the system voltage; (f) a power path controller connected to the input source, for controlling input power; and (g) a power multiplexer connected between the power path controller and an output power connector, configured to control output power, wherein the power path controller directs the power from the input source to the output power connector and the battery simultaneously, which power path controller directs at least some of the power from the input source to the output power connector when a device is connected to the output power connector; and
wherein the power multiplexer directs power simultaneously from the power path controller and the battery to the output power connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of charging a device battery, comprising the steps of
(a) connecting a DC input source and an AC input source to a charger for providing input power; -
(b) connecting a device to the charger; (c) charging a device battery of the device with input power from the charger; (e) a multiplexer providing an overcurrent signal when the device battery demands exceed the input power; and (f) multiplexing output power with power from a charger battery when an overcurrent signal is provided. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of charging a device battery, comprising the steps of
(a) connecting one or more input power sources to a charger for providing input power; -
(b) connecting a device to the charger; (c) charging a device battery of the device with input power from the charger; (d) a multiplexer providing an overcurrent signal when the device battery demands exceed the input power; and (e) multiplexing output power with power from a charger battery when an overcurrent signal is provided.
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Specification