WO2005093937A1 - Multi-outlet ac/dc adapter - Google Patents
Multi-outlet ac/dc adapter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2005093937A1 WO2005093937A1 PCT/IB2004/006428 IB2004006428W WO2005093937A1 WO 2005093937 A1 WO2005093937 A1 WO 2005093937A1 IB 2004006428 W IB2004006428 W IB 2004006428W WO 2005093937 A1 WO2005093937 A1 WO 2005093937A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- outlet
- receptacle
- module
- wall
- adapter
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R25/00—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits
- H01R25/003—Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
- H01R31/06—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter
- H01R31/065—Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with built-in electric apparatus
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
- H01R13/665—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit
- H01R13/6675—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit with built-in power supply
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R31/00—Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
- H01R31/02—Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter
Abstract
An AC/DC adapter is provided either by incorporating an AC to DC converter in a multiple outlet wall adapter which includes at least one standard AC plug receptacle and at least one DC receptacle. Electronic devices which require DC power can be plugged into to the AC/DC adapter by a power cord having a universal DC plug at one end and a connector or plug specific to the make and/or model of the electronic device at the other end. The universal DC plug corresponds with the DC receptacle provided on the AC/DC adapter. The adapter may be formed as one integrated unit or as an assembly which includes an AC module and a DC module. In the assembly, the AC and DC modules are constructed so that they can be fitted together and used as one conveniently sized unit, but module can be used independently of the other. The AC module plugs into one outlet receptacle of a wall outlet and includes the at least one AC plug receptacle. The AC module can be formed as a wall plate or a wall plate cover and has an opening for allowing access to another outlet receptacle of the wall outlet. The DC module can be plugged into the wall outlet at the receptacle exposed through the opening in the AC module, and includes the at least one DC receptacle. THE AC/DC adapter can also be integrally provided in a power strip.
Description
MULTI-OUTLET AC/DC ADAPTER
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application
Serial No. 60/434,436, filed December 19, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed to AC/DC adapter devices providing a plurality of universal DC outlets.
Background of the Invention
[0003] Electrical power accessed through electrical wall outlets is typically provided as AC current. When an electronic device requires DC power instead of AC, an AC/DC adapter must be provided to convert the AC current to DC current before supplying the power to the device.
[0004] The AC/DC adapter is typically embodied as a relatively large and heavy block which is either plugged directly into a wall outlet or a power strip, or is provided as part of the power cord of the device between the device and the plug. Both of these arrangements can be cumbersome, as the bulky adapters generally take up more space than would be desirable. For example, when an electronic device having an AC/DC converter plug is plugged into a wall outlet or a power strip, the converter plug often occupies the space over additional outlet receptacles or blocks the additional receptacles so as to prevent other devices from being plugged into the outlet receptacles adjacent to the one in which the adapter is plugged into. In the latter adapter arrangement, the adapter is typically placed on the floor, which often interferes with the arrangement of furniture, cleaning, and is unsightly. Thus, it is desirable to find a more convenient way to provide DC power from an AC outlet, preferably with the extra bulk associated with the power cord of each electronic device which requires DC power.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] A first aspect of the present invention includes a wall adapter which is formed as a wall plate or a wall plate cover and has an AC/DC adapter incorporated with the wall plate or wall plate cover. The adapter includes an AC module embodied as a wall plate or wall plate cover, and a DC module.
[0006] The AC module includes plug prongs for being inserted into an outiet receptacle of the wall outlet to draw AC power, and at least one and preferably a plurality of AC plug receptacles for receiving the prongs of a plug for an electrical device. The AC module is configured such that when it is plugged into the wall outlet, whether the AC module is a wall plate or wall plate cover, only one outiet receptacle of a duplex wall outlet is occupied. The other receptacle of the wall outiet may be accessible through an opening formed in the AC module wall plate or wall plate cover. Such opening is aligned with the unoccupied wall outlet receptacle when the AC module is plugged into the other receptacle.
[0007] The DC module has plug prongs for being inserted into an outlet receptacle of a wall outiet, and is shaped to complement the shape and structure of the AC module. The DC module includes circuitry to convert the AC current drawn from the wall outlet to DC current, which may then be accessed via a plurality of universal DC plug receptacles provided in the DC module.
[0008] By providing the AC module and DC module as separate units, each unit may be used independently of the other. For example, the AC module may be used as a standard multi- outlet adapter that is plugged into one of the two outlet receptacles of a wall outlet, and which also allows access to the other outlet receptacle of the wall outlet through the opening of the AC module wall plate or wall plate cover. Similarly, the DC module may be used without the AC module by simply plugging the DC module directly into one of the outlet receptacles of a wall outlet and leaving the other receptacle unoccupied.
[0009] In a variation of this aspect of the invention, the AC/DC wall adapter may be constructed as an integrated unit instead of as an AC module and a separate DC module.
[0010] A second aspect of the invention provides a power strip having an AC/DC adapter function incorporated therein, and which includes a plurality of DC receptacles thereon for accessing the DC power. The power strip may also include at least one AC outlet receptacle as in typical power cords, additional functions such as surge protection, and additional types of receptacles, such as telephone or data line receptacles, coax connectors, etc.
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0012] Fig. 1 shows an example of a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] Fig. 2 is a side view of the invention shown in Fig. 1;
[0014] Fig. 3 is a further illustration of the invention shown in Fig. 1, showing the AC module as a separate unit from the DC module;
[0015] Fig. 4 shows the AC module portion of the invention shown in Fig. 1;
[0016] Fig. 5 shows another example of the first embodiment of the invention;
[0017] Fig. 6 shows the AC module portion of the invention shown in Fig. 5;
[0018] Fig. 7 shows an example of a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] Fig. 8 is a side view of the invention shown in Fig. 7; and
[0020] Fig. 9 shows an example of a third embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0021] An example of a first embodiment of an AC/DC adapter assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figs. 1-4. The AC/DC adapter assembly 100 generally comprises an AC module 102 and a DC module 104. The AC module 102 and the DC module 104 are matingly shaped so that they can be fitted together in a complementary manner. For example, the AC module 102 has a receptacle portion 118 and a base portion 116. The DC module 104 is sized and shaped to fit on the base portion 116 and abutting the receptacle portion 118 so that the combined unit forms a block-like structure. Such complementary arrangement is further illustrated in Figs. 5-6, wherein the top surface of the AC module 102' is curved to match the curve of the bottom surface of the DC module 104'.
[0022] The AC module 102 is preferably formed as a wall plate or wall plate cover, and includes plug prongs 108 (Fig. 2) for being inserted into an outlet socket of a wall outlet. If formed as a wall plate, the plug prongs 108 are plugged into one of the outlet receptacles of the wall outlet, and then the AC module 102 may be secured to the wall outiet box, in place of a standard wall plate, with a screw 118 similarly to the manner in which a typical wall plate is installed over the outiet. If, on the other hand, the AC module 102 is formed as a wall plate cover, the AC module 102 may be attached to the wall outlet over the existing wall plate by simply plugging the plug prongs 108 into one of the outlet receptacles of the wall outiet. Optionally, the edge 126 of AC module 102 may be formed to have a depth to be fitted or snapped on over and onto the existing wall plate so that the AC module 102 sits flush against the wall.
[0023] The AC module 102 also includes at least one and preferably a plurality of AC plug receptacles 106 formed on the receptacle portion 118 thereof, and
an opening 112 formed on the base portion 116. The opening 112 is sized and shaped to correspond with the shape of an outlet receptacle of the wall outiet, and is positioned on the base portion such that when the AC module 102 is plugged into an outiet receptacle of the wall outlet, another outiet receptacle is exposed and accessible through the opening 112. Although not required, the base portion 116 may includes a locking mechanism 114 which engages the DC module 104 when it is placed in the proper position on the AC module 102, so that the DC module 104 and the AC module 102 can be maintained together as a unit even if neither unit is plugged into an outiet receptacle.
[0024] Optionally, the AC module 102 may also include additional functions, such as surge protection for electronic devices plugged into the AC plug receptacles 106. Indicators and control switches 110 may be provided on the housing of AC module 102 for controlling the additional functions.
[0025] The DC module 104 includes plug prongs 124 for being inserted into the outlet receptacle of the wall outlet exposed through the opening 112 of the AC module 102. The DC module thereby draws AC current from the wall outiet, converts the AC current to DC current, whereby the DC power can be accessed via at least one, and preferably a plurality of DC receptacles 120, 122 provided on the DC modulel04.
[0026] While the AC module 102 and the DC module 104 are preferably constructed to be used together as a complete AC/DC adapter on a wall outlet, each module may optionally be used on a wall outlet without the other. Thus, when the AC module 102 is attached to the outiet without the DC module 104, the outlet receptacle exposed through the opening 112 is available for use as an additional plug receptacle for supplying AC power. Similarly, when the DC module 104 is attached to a wall outlet without the AC module 102, only one plug receptacle is available for supplying AC power.
[0027] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 7-8. The AC/DC adapter 200 of this embodiment is similar to the adapter assembly 100 of
the first embodiment except that instead of providing the AC module as a separate unit from the DC module, the AC and DC functions are integrated into a single unit 210.
[0028] In a third embodiment of the present invention, an AC/DC adapter is integrated into a power strip, as shown in Fig. 9. Like the adapters 100 of Fig. 1 and 200 of Fig. 5, the power strip 300 provides at least one, and preferably a plurality of AC plug receptacles 302, as well as at least one, and preferably a plurality of DC receptacles 304. If desired, the power strip 300 may also provide additional types of connection receptacles such as telephone/data connection receptacles 306, cable/video line connectors 308, and/or other input/output connectors for a variety of electronic communication devices or information processors, e.g. USB ports.
[0029] In the U.S., the AC power level output from a standard wall socket is 120 N, while in Europe and Asia, the standard AC power level is 220 N - 240 N. Upon converting the AC current to a DC current, the AC/DC adapter also reduces the voltage level of the DC power supplied to each DC outlet receptacle to a level closer to the level of DC power used by most electronic devices which use DC power, e.g., 24 V. Even after reducing the voltage of the DC power, most electronic devices which use DC power typically still require further adjustment of the power level for safe and proper operation of the device. Moreover, different types of electronic devices use different voltage levels, and additional differences may be found between different brands and different models. For example, a PDA requires a different type of connector and a different power level requirement than a digital camera. Also, among the varieties of digital cameras, for example, model A of brand X may have a different voltage requirement from model B of brand X.
[0030] In order to fine tune the power level further to meet the requirements of an electronic device to be plugged into the adapter, therefore, each DC outlet receptacle is preferably used in conjunction with a DC-to-DC connection cable having at one end thereof a universal DC plug which corresponds with the DC outlet receptacle of the adapter. The other end of the connection cable includes or is attachable to a connector/plug which is specifically designed to fit the type and/or model of the electronic device. Thus, in the preferred embodiment in which the
adapter outputs DC power at 24 V at each DC outiet receptacle, the device-specific connector adjusts the voltage level further from 24N to the required level.
[0031] In the preferred embodiment, due to the relatively large amount of energy drawn by laptop computers in general, in order to avoid overloading the adapter, one of the DC outlet receptacles is specifically designated for laptop computers and requires a differently sized plug or differently configured plug than the other DC outlet receptacles (e.g., see receptacle 122 in Fig. 1). However, the manner of connecting a laptop computer is the same as described above, wherein a DC-to-DC connection cable is provided having a special laptop plug at one end for being inserted into the laptop outlet of the wall plate adapter, and a plug specifically designed for the particular make and model of laptop computer at the other end. In this manner, no more than one laptop computer can be accommodated by the adapter at any given time.
[0032] Other electronic features may also be incorporated into the AC module, DC module, integrated AC/DC adapter, or AC/DC power strip, such as a surge protection circuit, a timer, etc. by providing the appropriate circuitry in the housing of the respective unit.
[0033] A charger function may be provided in the AC/DC adapter unit of the present invention, to thereby enable the recharging of rechargeable batteries for devices such as mobile telephones, upon connecting the batteries to the AC/DC adapter unit with a cable having a standard DC plug at one end and a plug specific to the make and model of the mobile telephone at the other end.
[0034] Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.
Claims
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A multi-outlet AC/DC adapter system comprising: an AC module which is mountable to an electrical wall outlet, the AC module including a first set of plug prongs which can be inserted into an outlet receptacle of a wall outlet, and at least one AC outlet receptacle; and an AC to DC adapter including at least one DC outiet receptacle and a second set of plug prongs which can be inserted into an outlet receptacle of a wall outiet, said AC to DC adapter having a shape which can be matingly fitted with the wall plate.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one DC outiet receptacle includes one DC outiet providing DC power at a first power level and at least one DC outiet providing DC power at a second power level.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the AC module is formed as a wall plate having an opening aligned with a second outlet receptacle of a wall outlet when the plug prongs of the AC module are inserted into a first outlet receptacle of a wall outlet.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the AC module is formed as a wall plate cover which is mountable over and onto a wall plate, and wherein the wall plate cover has an opening formed therein which is aligned with a second outlet receptacle of a wall outlet when the plug prongs of the AC module are inserted into a first outlet receptacle of a wall outiet.
5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one connection cable each having a distal end thereof configured to be connected to one of the at least one DC outiet receptacles, each of the at least one connection cable also having a device-specific connector attachable to the proximal end thereof for connecting to an electronic device.
6. A multi-outlet AC/DC system comprising: an adapter which is mountable to an electrical wall outlet, the adapter mcluding a set of plug prongs which can be inserted into an outiet receptacle of a wall outlet, and at least one AC outiet receptacle; an AC to DC converter circuit; and at least one DC outlet receptacle.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one DC outlet receptacle includes one DC outiet providing DC power at a first power level and at least one DC outlet providing DC power at a second power level.
8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the adapter is formed as a wall plate.
9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the adapter is formed as a wall plate cover which is mountable over and onto a wall plate.
10. The system according to claim 6, further comprising: at least one connection cable each having a distal end thereof configured to be connected to one of the at least one DC outlet receptacles, each of the at least one connection cable also having a device-specific connector attachable to the proximal end thereof for connecting to an electronic device.
11. An AC/DC power strip comprising: a main housing; at least one AC outlet receptacle for providing AC power to an electrical device on the housing; an AC to DC converter circuit provided in the main housing; at least one DC outiet receptacle for providing DC power to an electrical device on the housing a power cable extending from the main housing.
12. The power strip according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of a telephone connector receptacle, a data line connector receptacle, a cable/video connector receptacle and a USB receptacle on the housing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2004/006428 WO2005093937A1 (en) | 2004-03-29 | 2004-03-29 | Multi-outlet ac/dc adapter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2004/006428 WO2005093937A1 (en) | 2004-03-29 | 2004-03-29 | Multi-outlet ac/dc adapter |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2005093937A1 true WO2005093937A1 (en) | 2005-10-06 |
Family
ID=35056520
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2004/006428 WO2005093937A1 (en) | 2004-03-29 | 2004-03-29 | Multi-outlet ac/dc adapter |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2005093937A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2007053743A2 (en) * | 2005-11-01 | 2007-05-10 | Earhugger, Inc. | Systems and methods for powering an electronic device from selectable power sources |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN2435876Y (en) * | 2000-08-17 | 2001-06-20 | 伊博电源（杭州）有限公司 | Multiple input adapter power supply |
| CN2479664Y (en) * | 2001-04-20 | 2002-02-27 | 诺迪亚克电脑配件(上海)有限公司 | Power supply connector with adapter inside |
| CN1412922A (en) * | 2002-12-11 | 2003-04-23 | 北京泰尼高新技术有限公司 | Switch power supply adaption method and system |
| CN1120616C (en) * | 1996-12-30 | 2003-09-03 | 三星电子株式会社 | Adapter of digital camcorder having jack |
-
2004
- 2004-03-29 WO PCT/IB2004/006428 patent/WO2005093937A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN1120616C (en) * | 1996-12-30 | 2003-09-03 | 三星电子株式会社 | Adapter of digital camcorder having jack |
| CN2435876Y (en) * | 2000-08-17 | 2001-06-20 | 伊博电源（杭州）有限公司 | Multiple input adapter power supply |
| CN2479664Y (en) * | 2001-04-20 | 2002-02-27 | 诺迪亚克电脑配件(上海)有限公司 | Power supply connector with adapter inside |
| CN1412922A (en) * | 2002-12-11 | 2003-04-23 | 北京泰尼高新技术有限公司 | Switch power supply adaption method and system |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2007053743A2 (en) * | 2005-11-01 | 2007-05-10 | Earhugger, Inc. | Systems and methods for powering an electronic device from selectable power sources |
| WO2007053743A3 (en) * | 2005-11-01 | 2008-01-10 | Earhugger Inc | Systems and methods for powering an electronic device from selectable power sources |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US7140922B2 (en) | Multi-outlet AC/DC adapter | |
| US11445626B2 (en) | Power outlet module including USB plug in location other than outlet face | |
| US8696368B2 (en) | Wall mountable universal serial bus and alternating current power sourcing receptacle | |
| US9112319B2 (en) | Modular electrical connector module | |
| US20070072476A1 (en) | Universal serial bus hub | |
| US6486789B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for delivering uninterrupted power | |
| US9356454B2 (en) | Apparatus for charging batteries of devices at a selected DC voltage | |
| US7623182B2 (en) | Camera interface module | |
| US20170214201A1 (en) | Wall plate | |
| US8758031B2 (en) | Electrical wiring device with high current USB charging capabilities | |
| US8610313B2 (en) | DC power outlets in fixed power distribution systems in or on wall installations | |
| US20080012423A1 (en) | USB connector devices for charging | |
| US20070091656A1 (en) | Power adapter | |
| CN105264719A (en) | Low voltage power receptacle | |
| CA2290835A1 (en) | Multi-deck electric outlet assembly | |
| US9257823B2 (en) | Low voltage power receptacle for modular electrical systems | |
| US20160055996A1 (en) | Wall mountable rocker switch and universal serial bus power sourcing receptacle | |
| US11682863B2 (en) | Secure outlet device and method | |
| US20040130213A1 (en) | Multiple outlet DC power module | |
| US20200028342A1 (en) | Low voltage dc electrical outlets | |
| WO2009150538A2 (en) | Socket with charge slot(s) | |
| WO2005093937A1 (en) | Multi-outlet ac/dc adapter | |
| US20020151212A1 (en) | Cord-reel assembly partially mounted within a wall | |
| KR200270405Y1 (en) | a plug receptacle | |
| EP2676335B1 (en) | Built-in multi-purpose outlet unit with usb power supply |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NA NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW |
|
| AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
| 121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
| NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
| WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Country of ref document: DE |
|
| 122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase | ||
| 122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |