Electric power conversion systems – Current conversion – With conductive support mounting
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-03
2001-07-24
Berhane, Adolf Deneke (Department: 2838)
Electric power conversion systems
Current conversion
With conductive support mounting
C363S146000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266261
ABSTRACT:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to power supplies and in particular relates to power supplies for use with a variety of different devices.
2. Related Art
Prior art power supplies include a variety of techniques, particularly those used for powering microelectronics such as the class of computers commonly known as “notebook” computers such as the Powerbook Series available from Apple Computer of Cupertino California and the Thinkpad Series available from International Business Machines (IBM) of Armonk, N.Y. More recently, even smaller personal computers referred to as “sub-notebooks” have also been developed by various companies such as Hewlett-Packard's Omnibook. The goal of these notebooks and sub-notebooks designs is to reduce the size and weight of the product. Currently, notebooks typically weigh about six pounds and sub-notebooks weigh slightly less than four pounds.
Many of these notebook and sub-notebook computers have a battery that must be recharged. Also, typically the computers are designed to be operated from external power sources such as line current and the electrical power system of automobiles.
To power these computers, the manufacturer typically provides an external power source. The external power source may be a switching power supply that may weigh close to a pound and may be about eight inches long, four inches wide and about four inches high. Smaller power supplies do exist but frequently they lack sufficient power to charge new batteries such as nickel hydride batteries.
Such external power supplies therefore contribute substantial additional weight that the user of the computer must carry with him or her to permit battery charging and/or operation from an electrical socket. Further, the external power supply is bulky and may not be readily carried in typical cases for such notebook and sub-notebook computers. In addition, conventional power supplies often have difficulty providing the necessary power curve to recharge batteries that have been thoroughly discharged. Also, a power supply is needed for each peripheral device, such as a printer, drive or the like. Thus, a user needs multiple power supplies.
While it has long been known to be desirable to reduce the size and weight of the power supply, this has not been readily accomplished. Many of the components such as the transformer core are bulky and have significant weight. Further, such power supplies may need to be able to provide DC power of up to seventy-five watts, thereby generating substantial heat. Due to the inherent inefficiencies of power supplies, this results in substantial heat being generated within the power supply. Reduction of the volume, weight and heat are all critical considerations for a power supply in this type of application and cannot be readily accomplished. In particular, it is believed to be desirable to have a package as thin as possible and designed to fit within a standard pocket on a shirt or a standard calculator pocket on a brief case. In addition, conventional power supplies are device specific and each device requires its own power supply. Therefore, users need multiple power supplies, which consumes space and increases unnecessary weight.
Cellular telephones are also extensive users of batteries. Typically, cellular telephone battery chargers have been bulky and are not readily transportable. Moreover, cellular telephone battery chargers often take several hours, or more, to charge a cellular telephone battery.
SUMMARY
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system for providing DC power to an electronic appliance. a primary power adapter includes a power input terminal adapted for receiving an AC voltage within a set range and a power output terminal for providing a DC signal to meet an input power requirement of the electronic appliance. A secondary power adapter includes a DC power input terminal adapted for receiving a power signal from a DC power source at a set voltage range, and a power output terminal adapted to couple to the input power terminal of the primary power adapter to apply an intermediate power signal to the power input terminal of the primary power adapter within the set range. The intermediate power signal applied to the input power terminal of the primary adapter may cause the primary adapter to provide a power signal to meet the input power requirement of the portable electronic appliance.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5838559 (1998-11-01), Lam
patent: 5973948 (1999-10-01), Hahn et al.
patent: 6061261 (2000-05-01), Chen et al.
patent: 6111772 (2000-08-01), Lee et al.
patent: 6172891 (2001-01-01), O'Neal et al.
Berhane Adolf Deneke
Comarco Wireless Technologies, Inc.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
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