JP2004179035A - Ac adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an AC adapter capable of easily controlling power source condition of a plurality of devices requiring a different power source. <P>SOLUTION: This AC adapter 1 is provided with an AC/DC transformer 12 for transforming voltage of the input alternating current to output direct current voltage, a sensor 14 for detecting a value of the direct current output through an output terminal 13 after the transformation of voltage by the AC/DC transformer 12, and a control switch 6 for controlling output from an output terminal 15 for taking out the alternating current voltage by switching on the basis of a result of the detection by the sensor 14. The AC adapter 1 detects the on/off operation of external equipment connected to the AC adapter with the sensor 14, and switches the control switch 16 synchronously with the detected on/off operation of the external equipment to turn on/off an output from the output terminal 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an AC adapter connected to an AC power supply and performing voltage conversion on an AC voltage input from the AC power supply.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, various devices that require a DC power supply as a driving source, such as a charging device for charging a secondary battery as a power source of a portable personal computer or a mobile phone, and a portable music reproducing device, have become widespread. ing. Such various devices include a so-called AC (Alternating Current) adapter for converting an input AC voltage into a DC voltage by inserting a plug into a so-called outlet socket for supplying an AC voltage. To supply power. That is, the AC adapter inserts a plug protruding from the housing into the outlet outlet and connects the plug, and also applies a DC voltage such as a pin jack provided at the end of the cord pulled out of the housing. A DC voltage can be supplied to the connected device by inserting a terminal for taking out the device into the various devices described above.
[0003]
Here, a plurality of outlet outlets are usually provided side by side within a predetermined area, even when provided on a wall surface of a house or the like, or provided on a power supply member such as a so-called table tap. Often. On the other hand, AC adapters have various shapes and sizes, but the projected area of the housing is larger than the area occupied by a general outlet. Therefore, in the AC adapter, when a plug is connected to one outlet outlet, the other outlet outlet and its surroundings are covered by the housing of the AC adapter, and the other outlet outlet is covered. This causes a problem that the insertion port is made unusable or difficult to use.
[0004]
In order to solve such a problem, an AC outlet is separately provided in the housing as an AC adapter for directly taking out the AC voltage input from the outlet, and the AC adapter is covered with the housing as if it were a table tap. Techniques have been developed that can be used as substitutes for the outlets that have been used (for example, see Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-180946
[Patent Document 2]
JP, 8-294276, A As for an AC adapter, various technologies in pursuit of a convenient form are developed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, for example, a television game machine requires a television device for displaying game contents, in addition to a game main device for operating a game. Here, since the game main unit usually requires a DC power source as a drive source, it is necessary to use an AC adapter to obtain the required drive power. On the other hand, a television device does not need to use an AC adapter, and can obtain necessary driving power by inserting a plug provided at an end of a cord drawn out of a housing into an outlet outlet. . In recent years, in many cases, a plurality of devices requiring different power supplies are used in parallel.
[0008]
In such a usage mode, if the AC adapter described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 described above is used, the number of outlets to be used can be reduced, which is convenient. That is, in the case of a video game machine, for example, the plug of the television device is inserted into an outlet outlet provided in the housing of the AC adapter and used, and a terminal for extracting a DC voltage is connected to the game terminal. What is necessary is just to insert and use it to a main body apparatus.
[0009]
However, in the conventional AC adapter, power supply to a plurality of devices, such as power supply to a game device and power supply to a television device, cannot be linked. That is, in the conventional AC adapter, the on / off operation of a plurality of devices cannot be controlled in conjunction with each other, such as the on / off operation of the game main unit and the on / off operation of the television device. .
[0010]
Therefore, in the conventional AC adapter, even when the power of one device is turned on, a situation in which the power of the other device is turned off frequently occurs, and the user can change the power status of each device. It had to be managed, and I couldn't deny a complicated feeling. For example, in the above-described usage pattern, when the television game machine is terminated, nothing is displayed on the television device, and therefore, the user often forgets to turn off the television device.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide an AC adapter that can easily manage the power supply states of a plurality of devices that require different power supplies.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An AC adapter according to the present invention that achieves the above object is an AC adapter that is connected to an AC power supply and performs voltage conversion on an AC voltage input from the AC power supply. DC voltage output means for extracting a DC voltage obtained by performing voltage conversion, AC voltage output means for extracting an AC voltage input from the AC power supply, and detection means for detecting a current value output from the DC voltage output means And control means for controlling the output from the AC voltage output means based on the detection result by the detection means.
[0013]
In such an AC adapter according to the present invention, the output from the AC voltage output means is controlled based on the current value output from the DC voltage output means, and the AC voltage is synchronized with ON / OFF of the DC voltage output means. The output means is also turned on and off.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
This embodiment is an AC (Alternating Current) adapter that converts an input AC voltage into a DC voltage by inserting a plug into a so-called outlet outlet that supplies an AC voltage as an AC power supply and connecting the plug. is there. This AC adapter is provided with an outlet outlet for taking out an AC voltage input from an outlet as it is, in addition to a DC voltage output terminal for taking out a DC voltage obtained by performing voltage conversion, and a DC voltage output terminal. A sensor for detecting a current value output from the power supply is provided, and an output from an outlet provided in the housing is controlled based on a detection result by the sensor.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, in an AC adapter 1, for example, an outlet (not shown) provided on a power supply member such as a wall of a house or a table tap on one surface of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 2. And a pair of plugs 3 for projecting an AC voltage input from an outlet through the plug 3 is provided on another surface of the housing 2. An outlet outlet 4 is provided. In the AC adapter 1, for example, a DC voltage obtained by performing voltage conversion on an AC voltage input from an outlet via the plug 3 at the end of the cord drawn out of the housing 2 is provided. A DC voltage output terminal 5 such as a pin jack is provided.
[0017]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the AC adapter 1 performs voltage conversion on an AC voltage input through an input terminal 11 that is electrically connected to the plug 3 and outputs an AC / DC voltage. A DC (Alternating Current to Direct Current) converter 12, a sensor 14 for detecting a DC current value after voltage conversion by the AC / DC converter 12 which is output through an output terminal 13 electrically connected to the DC voltage output terminal 5, A control switch 16 that controls the output from an output terminal 15 that opens and closes based on the detection result of the sensor 14 and that is electrically connected to the outlet 4.
[0018]
Such an AC adapter 1 has a sensor 14 that has a DC current value after voltage conversion by an AC / DC converter 12 that is output through an output terminal 13 that is electrically connected to a DC voltage output terminal 5, that is, a DC voltage. An on / off operation of an external device (not shown) connected via the output terminal 5 is detected. The AC adapter 1 opens and closes the control switch 16 in synchronization with the on / off operation of the external device detected by the sensor 14, and turns on / off the output from the output terminal 15 electrically connected to the outlet 4. I do. That is, when the external device is turned on, the AC adapter 1 allows the AC voltage to be taken out from the outlet 4 by closing the control switch 16, while the external device is turned off. In this case, the supply of the AC voltage to the outlet 4 is stopped by opening the control switch 16.
[0019]
Thereby, the AC adapter 1 is connected to the external device (not shown) connected via the outlet receptacle 4 in accordance with the on / off operation of one external device connected via the DC voltage output terminal 5. On / off operation can be controlled in conjunction. Therefore, in the AC adapter 1, even when the power of one external device is turned on, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the power of the corresponding external device is turned off. By turning on / off one connected external device, another external device connected via the outlet 4 can be turned on / off, and the user manages the power state of each device. You can eliminate the hassle.
[0020]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the outlets 4 are described as being one pair, but the present invention may be provided with a plurality of pairs of outlets.
[0021]
As described above, it goes without saying that the present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, the AC adapter according to the present invention controls the output from the AC voltage output means based on the current value output from the DC voltage output means, thereby enabling the user to change the power supply state. Can be eliminated, and the convenience can be greatly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of an AC adapter shown as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal circuit configuration of the AC adapter.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 AC adapter 2 Housing 3 Plug 4 Outlet outlet 5 DC voltage output terminal 11 Input terminal 12 AC / DC converters 13, 15 Output terminal 16 Control switch

Claims (4)

In an AC adapter connected to an AC power supply and performing voltage conversion on an AC voltage input from the AC power supply,
DC voltage output means for extracting a DC voltage obtained by performing voltage conversion on the AC voltage input from the AC power supply,
AC voltage output means for extracting an AC voltage input from the AC power supply,
Detecting means for detecting a current value output from the DC voltage output means;
An AC adapter comprising: control means for controlling an output from the AC voltage output means based on a detection result by the detection means. The detection means detects an on / off operation of an external device connected via the DC voltage output means, and the control means synchronizes with the on / off operation of the external device detected by the detection means. 2. The AC adapter according to claim 1, wherein an output from said AC voltage output means is turned on / off. 2. The AC adapter according to claim 1, further comprising voltage conversion means for performing voltage conversion on an AC voltage input from the AC power supply. 2. The AC adapter according to claim 1, wherein the AC voltage output means is configured as an outlet insertion hole formed in a part of the housing.

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