Extended systems and methods for testing power supplies

• US 9,400,314 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Supply Chain Logistics & Electronics, Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Logistics & Electronics Incorporated (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Humphrey, Clark, Partee, Jimmie Paul, Bronsard, Martin, Jecz, Mateusz, Straker, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astacio-Oquendo, Giovanni
• Application Number:
  US13/592,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 324/764.01, 324426-437, 324439-450, 324/762.01, 702 57- 80, 320137-167
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10

Abstract

A system and method for testing multiple power supplies. Multiple power supplies are received including a power-end and an adapter end for connection to a power supply tester. Programmable loads and test parameters are configured for the power supply tester in response to a user selection. The multiple power supplies are automatically tested utilizing the test parameters. Performance characteristics of the multiple power supplies are measured during testing. The performance characteristics of the multiple power supplies are recorded. Results indicating whether each of the multiple power supplies passed the testing are displayed utilizing one or more displays and light emitting diodes.

Claims

1. A method for testing a plurality of mobile charging devices that are used to charge a power supply of a mobile device, comprising:

establishing a connection between a power-end and an adapter-end of each of the plurality of mobile charging devices for connection to a power supply tester;

automatically configuring a plurality of programmable loads and test parameters of the power supply tester for the plurality of mobile charging devices in response to a user selection of a type of power supply to be tested;

automatically testing the plurality of mobile charging devices utilizing the test parameters;

measuring performance characteristics of the plurality of mobile charging devices during testing;

recording the performance characteristics of each of the plurality of mobile charging devices; and

displaying results indicating whether each of the plurality of mobile charging devices passed or failed the testing utilizing one or more displays and light emitting diodes of the power supply tester.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power-end is an AC connector, and the adapter-end is a DC connector, and wherein the power supply tester supports a portion of the plurality of mobile charging devices during testing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user selection is received through an interface of the power supply tester, and wherein the power supply tester provides AC power utilizing a programmable power supply.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power supply tester tests ten or more mobile charging devices of the plurality of mobile charging devices at a time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the testing includes a power test, an open load test, a load test, and a short recovery test.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein testing comprises enabling an AC relay, enabling a power source output, validating current protection, measuring output voltages, disabling the AC relay, and performing a short circuit test.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance characteristics are stored in a database and associated with an identifier for each of the plurality of mobile charging devices.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adapter-end of each of the plurality of mobile charging devices are connected to one of a plurality of adapters of the power supply tester.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more displays and light emitting diodes display results of the test utilizing a color scheme for a user of the power supply tester.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed at least every ten seconds for each of the plurality of mobile charging devices.

11. A power supply tester, comprising:

a plurality of testing modules for testing a plurality of mobile charging devices that are used to charge a power supply of a mobile device, the plurality of testing modules include a set of ports for receiving an adapter-end of each of the plurality of mobile charging devices, a port in communication with the set of ports through one of a plurality of testing circuits, and LEDs indicating whether each of the plurality of mobile charging devices passed or failed the testing, wherein the port is operable to receive a power-end of the plurality of mobile charging devices for providing an alternating current (AC) signal to each of the plurality of mobile charging devices, wherein each of the plurality of testing circuits include a programmable load;

a programmable power supply for providing the AC signal for the plurality of mobile charging devices being tested;

one or more measurement devices for measuring performance information through the plurality of test circuits during testing of each of the plurality of mobile charging devices; and

a display for displaying the performance information to a user indicating whether each of the plurality of mobile charging devices passed or failed the testing.

12. The power supply tester according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of testing circuits perform the testing utilizing test parameters associated with the plurality of mobile charging devices, wherein the test parameters are utilized to configure the programmable load and the programmable power supply.

13. The power supply tester according to claim 12, further comprising:

a user interface for receiving information associated with the plurality of mobile charging devices for setting the test parameters utilized by the plurality of testing circuits.

14. The power supply tester according to claim 11, further comprising:

two or more extensions securing the plurality of testing modules on a first side and a second side of the two or more extensions.

15. The power supply tester according to claim 14, wherein the two or more extensions include ten or more of the plurality of testing modules on the first side and the second side.

16. The power supply tester according to claim 14, wherein the two or more extensions support a wire or body of the plurality of power supply testers.

17. The power supply tester according to claim 14, further comprising:

a database for storing the performance information associated with each of the plurality of mobile charging devices.

18. The power supply tester according to claim 17, wherein the one or more measurement devices measure the performance information of the plurality of mobile charging devices at least every ten seconds.

19. The power supply tester according to claim 14, wherein the two or more extensions are hinged for folding into the power supply tester.

20. The power supply tester according to claim 11, further comprising:

a database in communication with the one or more measurement devices for storing the performance information associated with each of the plurality of mobile charging devices.

21. The power supply tester according to claim 20, wherein performance information is measured by the one or more measurement devices at least every ten seconds for each of the one or more mobile charging devices.

22. The power supply tester according to claim 11, wherein display includes one or more LEDs to indicate whether each of the one or more mobile charging devices passed or failed the testing.

23. A power supply tester, comprising:

a plurality of testing modules for testing a plurality of mobile charging devices that are used to charge a power supply of a mobile device, the plurality of testing modules are integrated with hinged extensions of the power supply tester, the plurality of testing modules include a set of ports for receiving an adapter-end of each of the plurality of mobile charging devices, a port in communication with the set of ports through one of a plurality of testing circuits, and LEDs indicating whether each of the plurality of mobile charging devices passed or failed the testing, wherein the port is operable to receive a power-end of the plurality of mobile charging devices for providing an alternating current (AC) signal to each of the plurality of mobile charging devices, and wherein each of the plurality of testing circuits include a programmable load;

a programmable power supply for providing the AC signal for the plurality of mobile charging devices being tested;

one or more measurement devices for measuring performance information through the plurality of test circuits during testing of each of the plurality of mobile charging devices;

a database for storing the performance information associated with each of the plurality of mobile charging devices; and

a display for displaying the performance information to a user indicating whether each of the plurality of mobile charging devices passed or failed the testing.

24. The power supply tester according to claim 23, wherein the hinged extensions include the plurality of testing modules on a left side and a right side of the hinged extensions.

25. The power supply tester according to claim 23, wherein the one or more measurement devices periodically measure the performance information for each of the plurality of mobile charging devices utilizing a plurality of relays connected to the one or more measurement devices and the plurality of testing circuits.

26. The power supply tester according to claim 23, wherein a first portion of the plurality of mobile charging devices connected to the plurality of testing modules of the left side of hinged extensions are tested while a user connects a second portion of the plurality of mobile charging devices to the plurality of testing modules of the right side of the hinged extensions.