GB2405751A

GB2405751A - Power Pack with unusual socket

Info

Publication number: GB2405751A
Application number: GB0419324A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheila Hamilton; Charles Jonathan Kennett
Original assignee: Teknek Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Teknek Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2003-09-02
Filing date: 2004-09-01
Publication date: 2005-03-09
Also published as: GB0320488D0; GB0419324D0

Abstract

A rechargeable (via lead 18) power pack 10 with a voltage converter producing a plurality of predetermined voltages and an output socket 14 such that the shape of plug inserted determines the output voltage. Preferably the socket shape is asymmetrical and has a plurality of live receptors (14a-d, fig 2) with each plug having pins positioned to engage the correct receptacle for the desired voltage. The power pack is "pocket sized" and easily transportable. It may also have a USB connection. Also disclosed is a plug adapter for power pack and a light emitting accessory, both of which fit into the socket.

Description

240575 1 1 "Power Packs" 3 This invention relates to power packs suitable

for 4 powering or for recharging portable appliances such as cellular telephones and personal digital 6 assistants (PDAs).

8 In recent years there has been a vast increase in 9 the use of portable electronic equipment. In the case of mobile (cellular) telephones and PDAs, for 11 example, these are typically provided with in-built 12 battery packs which must be recharged from time to 13 time. However a wide variety of chargers and 14 interconnecting plugs are in use, and a person using a number of portable appliances will have to carry a 16 number of chargers and leads.

18 Some portable devices, such as Global Positioning 19 System (GPS) receivers make use of standard-size cells such as AA size, which may be either dry cell 21 or rechargeable. The former is inconvenient and 1 expensive, while the latter once again requires a 2 single-purpose charger.

4 In addition, most chargers require access to mains electricity which may not be available in remote 6 areas.

8 Accordingly, there is a need for systems and 9 equipment which simplify the provision of portable power.

12 The present invention, in one aspect, provides a 13 power pack comprising one or more rechargeable 14 cells, a voltage converter connected to receive power from said cell(s) and adapted to produce a 16 plurality of predetermined output voltages, and an 17 output socket connected to the voltage converter 18 such that a plug inserted in the output socket 19 receives one of said predetermined voltages according to a characteristic of the plug.

22 Preferably, the output socket has a number of live 23 receptacles each receiving one of said voltages, and 24 the characteristic of the plug is the position of its live pin to engage a predetermined one of said 26 receptacles.

28 The power pack typically has a power input socket 29 for receiving power at a voltage suitable for recharging said cell(s), which may be from a mains 31 powered charger or from a portable solar panel. :

1 Preferably, the power pack is readily portable, 2 being of a size readily fitting in a pocket, and has 3 a power capacity between one and three times that of 4 a mobile telephone.

6 From another aspect, the invention provides an 7 adaptor for use with the foregoing power pack, the 8 adaptor comprising a unitary body formed at one side 9 with a plug for engagement with said power pack socket, and at another side with a plug for 11 engagement with the charging power input of a 12 selected portable appliance.

14 The invention further provides an accessory for the foregoing power pack, the accessory comprising a 16 unitary body formed at one side with a plug for 17 engagement with said power pack socket, and carrying 18 a visible light source.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be 21 described, by way of example only, with reference to 22 the drawings, in which: 24 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a power pack forming one embodiment of the invention; 26 Figure 2 shows in more detail a socket used in 27 the power pack if Figure 1; 28 Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the 29 power pack of Figure 1; and Figures 4a and 4b are perspective views from 31 opposite sides of one form of adaptor which may be 32 used with the power pack of Figure 1.

3 Referring to Figure 1, a power pack 10 is housed in 4 a casing 12 and has a power outlet socket 14 which will be described in more detail below. Power 6 output is also available through a USB socket 7 indicated at 16. Power can be supplied to the power 8 pack 10 via a power lead 18 and plug 20 engaging a 9 suitable socket (not seen) in the casing 12.

11 The casing 12 is preferably of a small size for 12 ready portability, being of the same order of size 13 as a portable device such as a mobile phone. For 14 example, the casing 12 could be about 75mm x 35mm x 12mm.

17 Referring to Figure 2, the socket 14 has four 18 receptacles 14a,b,c,d for engagement with pins of a 19 matching plug. The receptacle 14a provides a ground connection, while the receptacles 14b-d provide a 21 number of voltages, for example 4.8, 6.0 and 9.0 22 volts. The socket 14 and matching plug are of an 23 arbitrary shape, and/or the receptacles and pins are 24 arranged asymmetrically, such that only a single orientation is possible, with a given pin always 26 engaging a given receptacle.

28 Referring to Figure 3, the power pack 10 comprises a 29 rechargeable battery 22 and a dc-to-dc voltage converter 24. The battery 22 will typically 31 comprise a number of series-connected cells using 32 nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride or lithium ion 1 technology. Low power, light weight dc-to-dc 2 converters are readily available, typically being 3 based on a switch-mode transistor circuit providing 4 a high frequency square wave input to a transformer, followed by rectification and smoothing. In this 6 example, the voltage converter provides three 7 outputs at different voltages to the three 8 receptacles 14b-d, which can be done by using a 9 multi-tap transformer.

11 Figure 4 illustrates an adaptor 26 for use with the 12 power pack 10. The adaptor 26 has a body 28 which 13 is formed at one end as a plug 30 for engagement 14 with the socket 14, and at the other end with a plug 32 for engagement with the power input socket of a 16 desired device. For example, the plug 32 may be 17 arranged for connection to a particular make and 18 model of mobile phone. It will be noted that the 19 adaptor 26 forms a single compact unit without any exposed cable.

22 The use of the adaptor 26 gives a convenient and 23 cheap means to provide a power supply to a number of 24 different appliances. For example, a person travelling with a mobile phone, a PDA and a GPS 26 receiver could carry a single power pack 10 and 27 three adaptors. Similarly, if a new appliance is 28 purchased it is only necessary to acquire an extra 29 adaptor rather than a new charger.

31 The adaptor 26 also performs a safety function in 32 that the internal connection between input and

J

1 output is wired to ensure the correct voltage. For 2 2 example, if the output plug is adapted for a mobile 3 phone with a battery voltage of 4.8V, the live pin 4 of the plug 30 will be connected to the pin of the plug 28 which mates with the 4.8V receptacle of the 6 socket 14.

8 The power pack can be recharged via the power lead - 9 18 and plug 20 by a conventional mains-powered charger. The user need only have one charger for a 11 variety of appliances, since it need only connect 12 with the power pack 10. Alternatively, the power - 13 pack 10 can be recharged by a solar panel or from a 14 12V source such as a car battery.

16 The battery capacity of the power pack will = 17 typically be between one and three times the battery 18 capacity of a mobile phone. At the lower end, this - 19 can be used to give an emergency top-up to a mobile phone. At the upper end, the power pack can be used 21 to maintain, say, a mobile phone and a PDA on an 22 extended trip.

24 It is envisaged that the power pack can be connected to an appliance and to receive power input at the = 26 same time. In this case, it is desirable that the 27 incoming power is supplied first to recharge the 28 appliance battery, and thereafter to recharge the 29 power pack battery, which may be done by providing a suitable switching means.

1 The power pack 10 is also useful in situations other 2 than powering or recharging portable appliances 3 which have their own internal batteries. For 4 example, a unit consisting of a plug with an integral bulb (or LED) and reflector can be inserted 6 in the socket 14 to provide a torch. A similar unit 7 with a low power bulb or LED and a light sensor can 8 be used to provide an automatic night-light.

The fact that the power pack makes use of a battery 11 plus a voltage converter also has the benefit that 12 its outputs can be held at constant voltages until 13 the battery is exhausted, rather than falling as the 14 battery becomes partially discharged.

16 Instead of the voltage converter producing multiple 17 voltages whenever it is operating, it would be 18 possible to use a voltage converter which is 19 switchable between multiple voltages, with the voltage being selected according to the nature of 21 the plug inserted in the power pack. Other forms of 22 connector may be used. In particular, the power 23 pack outlet may have pins engageable with 24 receptacles on the plug, or flat face-to-face contact arrays may be used.

27 Modifications and improvements may be made to the 28 foregoing embodiment within the scope of the present 29 invention. t

Claims

1 CLAIMS 3 1. A power pack comprising one or more 4 rechargeable cells, a

voltage converter connected to receive power from said cell(s) 6 and adapted to produce a plurality of 7 predetermined output voltages, and an output 8 socket connected to the voltage converter such 9 that a plug inserted in the output socket receives one of said predetermined voltages 11 according to a characteristic of the plug.

13

2. A power pack according to claim 1, in which the 14 output socket has a number of live receptacles each receiving one of said voltages, and the 16 characteristic of the plug is the position of 17 its live pin to engage a predetermined one of 18 said receptacles. 19 =

3. A power pack according to claim 2, in which the 21 output socket and the plug are of asymmetric 22 shape.

24

4. A power socket according to claim 2, in which the receptacles are positioned asymmetrically 26 within the outlet socket.

28

5. A power pack according to any preceding claim, 29 including a power input socket for receiving power at a voltage suitable for recharging said 31 cell(s).

1

6. A power pack according to any preceding claim, 2 which is readily portable, being of a size 3 readily fitting in a pocket, and has a power 4 capacity between one and three times that of a mobile telephone.

7 7. An adaptor for use with the power pack of any 8 preceding claim, the adaptor comprising a 9 unitary body formed at one side with a plug for engagement with said power pack socket, and at 11 another side with a plug for engagement with 12 the charging power input of a selected portable 13 appliance.

8. An accessory for the power pack of any of 16 claims 1 to 4, the accessory comprising a 17 unitary body formed at one side with a plug for 18 engagement with said power pack socket, and 19 carrying a visible light source.

21

9. A power pack substantially as herein described 22 with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

24

10. An adaptor substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

27

11. An accessory substantially as herein described 28 with reference to and as shown in the drawings.