GB2551547A

GB2551547A - Electrical power adaptor

Info

Publication number: GB2551547A
Application number: GB1610857.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dhanjal Avtarjeet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-06-21
Filing date: 2016-06-21
Publication date: 2017-12-27
Also published as: GB201610857D0

Abstract

A universal power supply unit may provide electrical/electronic signals across a variety of potentials to portable computing devices such as laptops, tablets, mobile phone or other such small to medium sized devices. The power supply unit includes a first housing 02 which may include a voltage step down transformer / rectifier to provide a DC voltage via a plurality of USB connectors (Fig 04, 026). A second housing 03 may engage with the first in a nested or slot in connection. A series of second housings may be provided which have 2 or 3 pins 031 in flat or round configuration to suit at least UK, USA or European mains voltage sockets. Housing 02 and 03 are connected mechanically and electrically via sliding engagement (Fig 06, 032). A female socket 0252 may be provided on the inner face of housing 02. The device may be stored in a travel case with at least one set of leads (Figs 09 011).

Description

Title: ELECTRICAL POWER ADAPTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Electrical Power Adapter for portable computing devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Most portable computing devices, including laptops, netbooks, tablet computers and mobile phones are provided with internal batteries to provide power. However battery life is always limited and sooner or later batteries need to be charged by connecting to a suitable power supply or other power source, which in turn is connected to the mains power.

[0003] Most mains power supplies globally are AC (Alternating C urrent) and comply with two voltage standards 110 or 240 and 50-60 MHz, whereas most of the electronic devices are designed to run on batteries of lower voltage DC power between 5 to 25 volts. The power supplies are built to either charge these batteries and/or provide direct power to the electronic devices.

[0004] The correct voltage and type of power for charging the batteries of these portable computing devices is provided by plugging into the mains power supply using power supply units, also called power adapters. These power supply units comprise a step-down transformer unit also known as power adapter, equipped not only to step down the voltage but from AC power to DC power necessary for charging the batteries built into these computing devices.

[0005] Whilst most of the smaller portable devices such as mobile phones and tablets need only 5V DC power and to be charged normally once in 24 hours for normal use, however medium size computing devices such as laptops or netbooks need higher voltage and these devices are thus more power hungry. As a result laptops need to be connected to a power sources if used more than the battery life, which is normally only between 2 to 3 hours only.

[0006] Many portable computing device users while on the move carry their laptops with them to be used in trains, airplanes and in the waiting areas or other such locations, thus its necessary for them to carry an additional battery pack or a portable power adapter. This means that especially laptops users have to carry with their machines a power supply also known as power adapter, with an output DC cable which is normally fixed to the transformer permanently, and on the input side a 2/3 pin female socket connectible to a detachable input cable which is normally attached to a fairly large electrical plug on the other end, depending upon the country of use.

[0007] Most laptop companies take pride in making their laptops slim and smart, but very little or no attention is paid to the additional peripherals those are essential for the normal use of these laptops which include the power adapters, accompanying cables and the mains plugs which vary from country to country. Even within the European Union there are at least 5 different standards for plugs and sockets.

[0008] This problem is particularly made worse in UK and other countries where UK electrical plug and socket are in use, by its exceptionally large 3 pin plug, which has remained unchanged since its introduction in 1947.

[0009] It is also not convenient for regular travellers along with their portable computing device to carry a loose bundle comprising a power supply with a fixed output cable, an input cable with bulky plug on the end; that means at least 3 pieces of equipment to carry in addition to the portable device.

[0010] A common type of power supply units/adapter, comprise a plug connected directly to the wall sockets and having a fixed output cable. However fixed output cables have limitations inherent in the very design itself, which includes; 1. When by chance someone stumbles into the output cable, this results in the power adapter unit being pulled out of the socket, with the potential to break the plug pins/prongs. 2. By repeated coiling and uncoiling the fixed cable may eventually be damaged, resulting in the user having to purchase a replacement unit 3. The output cable may have a fixed plug not compatible with the device thatthe user may need to power.

[0011] S ummary of the Invention [0012] A universal power supply unit (00) is provided having a voltage step down transformer, also known as power adapter, (02) capable of providing electrical/electronic signals of variety of potentials to portable computing devices such as laptops, tablets, mobile phone or other such small to medium sized devices.

[0013] The said power adapter (02) having two faces ' the input face (02a) is designed to host different detachable plug-in modules (03) suitable to connect to mains power socket/s (01) and an output face (02b) hosting one or more USB ports (026) connectible to standard USB cable/s (04); [0014] The said different plug-in modules (03), the different detachable plug-in modules (03 are frictionally detachable and interchangeable to suit to different sockets, and have collapsible pins/prongs (031 u .) for storage and transport; [0015] The said power adapter (02) may also have an alternative 2 or 3 pin power input socket (0252), located on its input face (02a), accessible only for use when the plug-in module (03) is NOT engaged for safety reasons.

[0016] The said USB ports (026) connectible to standard USB cable/s (04) to provide power for portable electronic devices, and capable of transferring data between given ports and the device/s; the said USB ports (026) may physically be located over more than one face of power adapter (02) [0017] The said power adapter (02), the USB cable/s (04) and a set of detachable plug-in modules (03) all neatly pack in a compact valet/casing (09) having suitable compartments for each component the complete casing/unit (09) which is convenient for transport with the laptops and other electronic devise.

[0018] The said valet/casing (09) may be made from a rigid or flexible material, may include a single module or a combination of connectible modules, and may comprise a hinged, Snap-On, zipped or other such a closing mechanism (096u ) depending upon the material used.

Description of the Drawings FIG 01 - is a representation of a power supply unit (00) with Power adapter (02) plug-in module (03) situated on the input side (02a) of the power adaptor and three female USB output ports/sockets (026) situated on the output side (02b) of the power adaptor aligned for insertion into a standard UK socket (01), consistent with the present invention. Two of the female USB output ports are positioned on one face of the output side and a third USB port positioned on the relative top face of the output side FIG 02 - is a representation of a Power adapter (02), plugged into a standard UK socket (01), and two USB output ports (026), and a USB hub (05) plugged into the third port adding plurality of additional USB ports consistent with the present invention. FIG 03 - is a representation of a power supply unit with Power adapter (02), plugged into a standard UK socket (01), and two USB output ports (026) on the output face (02b) of the Power adapter (02), and a Type A male USB plug (04) ready to be plugged into its USB port (026), and on the relative top face of the output side of the power adaptor a USB port (026) is aligned to receive a converter from USB type A male to USB micro male, suitable to be connected to a smart phone or other such devices, consistent with the present invention. FIG 04 - is a representation of a power supply unit with Power adapter (02), plugged into a standard UK socket (01), and two USB output ports (026) on the output face (02b) of the power adapter (02), and a USB hub (05) available to be plugged into its third port (026) on the top face, consistent with the present invention. FIG 05 - is a representation of a plug-in arrangement on the back of the power supply (02), a slidingly/frictionally removable plug-in module (03). Here the plug-in module (03) has three pins/prongs (031u ) suitable to engage with Type G (UK) wall sockets (01). The back of the unit (02) also expresses a pair of slide-in contacts (025) suitable to engage/make contact with corresponding contact point (035) part of the plug-in modules (03) which comprises slidable collars (022) on both sides to engage the module (032), consistent with the present invention. FIG 05a - is also a representation of a plug-in arrangement on the back of the power supply (02), a slidingly removable plug-in module (03). Here the plug-in module (03) has three pins/prongs (031 u ) suitable to engage with Type G (UK) wall sockets (01). When the said plug-in modules is disengaged from the power adapter, it reveals a second power input socket (0252), can receive a Clover leaf 3-pin mains cable instead of C7 2-pin wire, as expressed in the previous figure, consistent with the present invention. FIG 06 - is a representation of a sectional view of power adaptor (02) engaged with plug-in module (03) which highlights electrically conductive connections (025) and (035) nested in the recesses of the slide-in collars (022) and (032) respectively. FIG 06a - is a representation of a sectional view of power adaptor (02) disengaged with plugin module 03 which highlights electrically conductive connections (025) and (035) nested in the recesses of the slide-in collars (022) and (032) respectively, providing finger safe handling when any of the plug-in modules is not engaged. FIG 07 - is a representation of a rearview of series of power adapters (02) expressing three variations of the slidingly removable plug-in module (03) those are shown with prongs of each variation of the plug-in modules elect at 90 degrees ready to be engaged with corresponding poweradapters as in FIG 05, consistent with the present invention. FIG 08 - This figure expresses a series of three embodiments (UK, Euro & NEMA versions) of the power adapter (02) with plug-in modules disengaged from the power adapters revealing a second power input socket (0252) that normally remains covered by the plug-in modules (03) when engaged with power adapter (02). The input socket (0252) of the power supply unit (02) can receive a C7 2-pin mains cable, this second input arrangement is provided to be useful when suitable plug-in module is not available. FIG 09 - is a representation of a valet/casing (09), expressing 2 separate closing flaps, with magnetic closing system, consistent with the present invention. FIG 10 - is a representation of a valet/casing (09) comprising three storage pockets, one larger flap is shown closed and second flap open showing two pockets/compartments one holding a pair of plug-in modules (03), and the other pocket holding a rolled up the USB cable/s (04) to store after use, consistent with the present invention. FIG 11 - is a representation of valet/casing (09) comprising three storage pockets, one larger flap is shown open showing a power adapter (02) and second flap open showing two pockets/compartments one holding a pair of plug-in modules (03), and the other pocket holding a rolled up the USB cable/s (04) to store after use, consistent with the present invention.

[0019] Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments [0020] A universal power supply unit (00) is provided having a voltage step down transformer (02), also known as power adapter, capable of providing electrical/electronic signals across a variety of potentials to portable computing devices such as laptops, tablets, mobile phone or other such small to medium sized devices.

[0021] Universal PowerSupply Unit(00) comprises 3 functional components: [0022] a voltage step down transformer (02), also known as a power adapter, an output face (02b) hosting one or more USB ports (026) connectible to standard USB cable/s (04) as expressed in FIGS-03-04 and a plug-in module/s (03) connectible to mains power sockets on the input side of the power adaptor and designed to be connectible to the said power adapter frictionally, thus making power supply unit functional globally, by using a suitable plug-in module connectible to the sockets available locally.

[0023] The power adapter (02) having two faces ' input face (02a) and output face (02b); as expressed in FIGS. 01-05. The said input face (02a) is designed to host different detachable plug-in modules (03) suitable to be plugged in to mains power socket/s (01) [0024] The plug-in module/s connectible to mains power sockets has collapsible pins/prongs making the unit convenient for storage and transport The plug-in module (03) connectible to mains power sockets, when engaged with the said power adapter (02), is also electrical connected to the power adapter (02) using a set of conducting contact points (025u .) and (035u .).

The conducting contact points (025ϋ .) and (035u .) are located within the narrow groves on both sides, to avoid any accidental hand contact with these points (025u .) and (035u .) [0025] Where a suitable plug-in module/s is not available to plug in to the local wall sockets, a mains 2/3 pin socket (0252) is provided on the input face of the power adapter (02).

[0026] The said mains 2/3 pin socket (0252) is not accessible for use, while a plug-in module (03) is in use for safety reasons. When said mains 2/3 pin socket (0252) is in use through a 2/3 wire plugged lead, as shown in figure 06 and 06a.

[0027] The power adapter (02) is provided with one or more of standard USB output ports (026) designed to provide electrical power for small to medium size portable electronic devices from mobile phone to laptops requiring various power potentials. Using the latest USB protocols, the said USB output ports (026) may also be designed to transferring electronic data between the given ports and the devices attached to it.

[0028] The USB ports (026) connectible to standard USB cable/s (04) may physically be located over more than one face of power adapter (02) as expressed in FIG-02.

[0029] The power adapter (02), the USB cable/s (04) and a set of detachable plug-in modules (03) all neatly pack in a compact valet/casing (09) having suitable compartments for each component the complete casing/unit (09) as expressed in FOGS 09-11 for convenient storage and transport with the laptops and other electronic devise.

[0030] The said valet/casing (09) may be made from a rigid or flexible material, may include a single module or a combination of connectible modules, and may comprise a hinged, Snap-On, zipped or other such a closing mechanism (096u ) depending upon the material used.

Claims

What is claimed

1. A power supply unit for supplying power to small to medium size electronic devices, comprising a power adaptor (02) with an input side (02a) possessing electrically conductive contacts (025) nested in the recesses of the slide-in collars (022) and an output side (02b) having a plurality of female US B ports/sockets; interchangeable plug-in modules (03) frictionally connectible to the power adapter (02), and pluggable to compatible mains wall sockets, having collapsible pins/prongs for storage, possessing electrically conductive contacts(G35) nested in the recesses of the slide-in collars (032), wherein, the slide-in collars (022) and (032) when engaged not only hold/lock the plug-in modules (03) to the power adapter (02) securely but provide finger safe connection between the two;

2. A power supply unit according to claim one, further comprising a second power input socket (0252) located on the input side of the power adapter, accessible when the plug-in module (03) is not engaged to the power adaptor,

3. A power supply unit according to claim 2, wherein the second power input socket (0252) is a 2 or 3 pin female connector.