JPH08182191A - Power source adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To selectively form DC power sources of various specifications to be supplied without switch operation by inserting a power source information unit attached to an electronic apparatus to the power source information unit socket of a power source adapter. CONSTITUTION: A power source information unit PIU is engraved on upper and lower parts with power source information having selective meaning in response to the uneven state. A power source information reader RPIU reads power source information, i.e., DC voltage information IDCV, DC current information IDCI and DC polarity information IDCP from the unit PIU inserted to a power source information unit socket SPIU, and transmits it to a controller CTLU. The controller CTLU controls the operations of an AC-DC converter ADCV and a DC output selector POSW. That is, the information unit attached to an electronic apparatus EEQP is merely inserted to an electronic information unit socket to selectively and automatically obtain the DC power source to be supplied to the apparatus EEQP.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power adapter,
For example, the present invention relates to a technology that is particularly effective when used as a power supply adapter that forms and supplies a DC power supply necessary for various electronic devices such as home appliances based on an AC 100 V (volt) AC power supply.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various electronic devices such as home appliances and the like which require a DC power source such as a radio cassette tape recorder, a video game (video game) and a personal computer. In addition, there is a power adapter that forms a predetermined DC power source based on an AC 100V AC power source and supplies the power to these electronic devices.

[0003]

In recent years, the types and number of electronic devices that require a DC power source are increasing, and the specifications such as the voltage value, current value and polarity of the DC power source to be supplied to the electronic device are also diverse. Is going on. For this reason, conventionally, a method has been adopted in which a dedicated power adapter is attached to or built in each electronic device, but these power adapters are not used at the same time, which wastes resources and costs. In order to deal with this, a so-called multi-power adapter that selectively forms a plurality of DC power supplies with different specifications by switching the switch, etc. is commercially available, but the switch operation does not stop every time the electronic device used changes. As a result, the user may feel annoyed and the electronic device may be damaged by an erroneous operation of the switch.

An object of the present invention is to realize a power supply adapter capable of selectively forming and supplying a DC power supply of various specifications without operating a switch or the like. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the cost by eliminating the waste of resources and expenses of the power adapter and the electronic device that requires the power adapter.
It is to improve its usability.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0006]

The outline of the representative one of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows. That is, various electronic devices that require a DC power source are attached to or built in a power source information unit that is independently configured to hold power source information such as the voltage value, current value, and polarity of the DC power source. A power supply information unit socket for inserting the power supply information unit, and a power supply information reading unit for reading the power supply information from the power supply information unit inserted in the power supply information unit socket or built in the electronic device, and the power supply information reading unit. An AC / DC converter that selectively forms a DC power supply having a predetermined voltage value and current value according to the read power supply information, and a DC output that selectively switches the polarity of the DC power supply output from the AC / DC converter The selection unit and the selection unit are basically used.

[0007]

According to the above means, the power information unit attached to the electronic device is inserted into the power information unit socket of the power adapter, or the power information unit built in the electronic device and the power information reading unit of the power adapter are provided. By simply connecting the two, it is possible to selectively and automatically form and supply a DC power supply that meets the power supply specifications of various electronic devices. As a result, a power supply adapter capable of selectively forming and supplying a DC power supply of various specifications can be realized without requiring a user's switch operation, etc., and therefore a power supply adapter and an electronic device requiring the same It is possible to reduce the cost by eliminating the waste of resources and expenses, and improve its usability.

[0008]

1 is an external view of a first embodiment of a power adapter PADP to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment thereof. Also,
3 and 4 show the power adapter PAD of FIGS. 1 and 2.
First and second power supply information units PIU used for P
5 is an external view of each of the embodiments, and FIG. 5 shows the DC output code CDC of the power adapter PADP of FIGS. 1 and 2.
An external view of one embodiment of O is shown. Based on these drawings, the outline and characteristics of the configuration and operation of the power adapter PADP of this embodiment and the method of use will be described. In addition, the power supply information unit PIU of FIG. 3 and FIG.
It is attached as a component to the electronic device EEQP which receives DC power from the power adapter PADP of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the power adapter PADP of this embodiment is not particularly limited, but is pulled out from the power information unit socket SPIF and DC output jack JDCO incorporated in the front panel of the box and the back of the box. Power cord and A attached to the tip
C input plug PACI. Of these, the power supply information unit socket SPIF, the power adapter PA
A power information unit PIU attached to an electronic device EEQP that receives a DC power supply from DP is inserted, and a DC output jack JDCO is inserted with a DC output plug PDCO attached to one end of a DC output code CDCO. Further, the AC input plug PACI is inserted into an AC outlet for home use, and takes in AC 100V AC power supply as its operating power supply to the power supply adapter PADP.

Here, the power supply information unit PIU is shown in FIG.
, A key-shaped metal piece or a plastic piece is provided, and the upper and lower parts thereof have power source information having a meaning that is selective according to the form of the unevenness, that is, DC voltage information IDCV and DC current information IDCI and The DC polarity information IDCP is inscribed in each. Among them, the DC voltage information IDCV indicates the voltage value of the DC power source to be supplied to the electronic device EEQP to which the power source information unit PIU is attached, and the DC current information IDCI and the DC polarity information IDC.
P indicates the current value and the polarity, respectively. In this embodiment, the DC voltage information IDCV and the DC current information IDCI held in the power supply information unit PIU have a DC power supply voltage value (DCV) and current value (DCI) of 9 respectively.
DC and polarity information IDCP
Is the DC output plug PDCO of the DC output code CDCO
It means that +, that is, a positive potential should be supplied to the outside of, and −, that is, a negative potential should be supplied to the inside thereof. These pieces of power supply information are also printed or stamped on the grip portion of the power supply information unit PIU.

The power supply information unit PIU may be realized by a substrate on which three integrated circuits IC1 to IC3 are mounted, as illustrated in FIG. In this case, the integrated circuits IC1 to IC3 each include a non-volatile memory in which the DC voltage information IDCV, the DC current information IDCI, and the DC polarity information IDCP are written, and the power supply information unit PIU is further written in these non-volatile memories. Selection switch SLSW for selectively transmitting the power source information
And a connector CON for transmitting the power supply information selected by the selection switch to the power supply adapter PADP. When the power supply information unit PIU has such a board form, since the power supply information regarding the plurality of electronic devices EEQP can be held by one power supply information unit PIU, the required number of power supply information units can be reduced. Become.

On the other hand, the DC output code CDCO has DC output plugs PDCO at both ends thereof, as illustrated in FIG.
And a DC input plug PDCI are provided to transfer the DC power generated by the power adapter PADP to the electronic device EEQP. At this time, the DC output plug PD provided at one end of the DC output code CDCO
CO is the DC output jack JD of the power adapter PADP
The DC input plug PDCI inserted into the CO and provided at the other end is the DC input jack JD of the electronic device EEQP.
It is inserted in CI. The DC input plug PDCI is
It may be inserted into the DC input jack JDCI of the electronic device EEQP via a predetermined conversion adapter, which allows various shapes of plug jacks to be accommodated.

By the way, the power adapter PADP is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply information reading unit RPIU, the control unit CTLU, the AC / DC converter ADCV and the DC output selecting unit POSW are included. Of these, the power information reading unit RPIU is a power information unit socket SPI.
The power supply information, that is, the DC voltage information IDCV, the DC current information IDCI and the DC polarity information IDCP are read from the power supply information unit PIU inserted in F, and the control unit CTLU is read.
To communicate. In addition, the control unit CTLU, based on the power supply information supplied from the power supply information reading unit RPIU, the AC / AC
It controls the operations of the DC converter ADCV and the DC output selection unit POSW. Furthermore, AC / DC converter ADC
V is an AC input via the AC input plug PACI
Based on an AC power supply of 100V, a DC power supply having a voltage value and a current value corresponding to the power supply information, that is, the DC voltage information IDCV and the DC current information IDCI is selectively formed. Polarity information IDCP
The polarity of the DC power source output from the AC / DC converter ADCV is selectively set in accordance with.

That is, the power adapter PAD of this embodiment
In P, only the power supply information unit PIU attached to the electronic device EEQP is inserted into the power supply information unit socket SPIF, in other words, the DC operation to be supplied to the electronic device EEQP without requiring the switch operation by the user's judgment. It is possible to selectively and automatically obtain a power supply with a predetermined voltage value, current value, and polarity corresponding to the specifications thereof, which allows the power adapter PADP and the resources and cost of the electronic device EEQP that requires it. It is possible to reduce the cost by eliminating the waste of the cost, improve the usability, and prevent the electronic device EEQP from being damaged due to an erroneous switch operation.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of a power adapter PADP to which the present invention is applied. It should be noted that this embodiment basically follows the embodiment of FIG. 2 described above, and therefore only the portions different from this will be described.

In FIG. 6, the power supply adapter PADP of this embodiment is not provided with a power supply information unit socket SPIF, and the power supply information unit PIU for holding the power supply information regarding the DC voltage to be supplied to the electronic device EEQP is one of them. It is built into the electronic device EEQP as a unit. In this embodiment, the power supply information unit PIU is composed of, for example, a nonvolatile memory, and the power supply information held by this power supply information unit PIU, that is, the DC voltage information IDCV, DC.
The current information IDCI and the DC polarity information IDCP are supplied from the power information unit PIU to the power information input code CPIU.
Is read by the power supply information reading unit RPIU in the power supply adapter PADP.

That is, the power adapter PAD of this embodiment
In P, the power source information regarding the DC power source to be supplied to the electronic device EEQP is the electronic device EEQP itself, that is, the electronic device E.
It is held by the power supply information unit PIU built in the EQP, and simply by connecting the power supply information input code CPIU, in other words, without making the user aware of the power supply information at all, the electronic device EEQP is stored. The DC power supply to be supplied can be selectively and automatically obtained with a predetermined voltage value, current value, and polarity suitable for the specifications. As a result, the usability of the power supply adapter PADP can be further improved, and erroneous selection or loss of the power supply information unit can be prevented.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of a power supply adapter PADP to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 8 shows an external view of the second embodiment. Since these embodiments basically follow the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 1, respectively, description will be added only to portions different from them.

In FIG. 7, the power supply adapter PADP of this embodiment has two power supply information reading units RPIU1 and RPIU2, and AC / DC converters ADCV1 and ADC provided corresponding to these power supply information reading units.
V2 and DC output selectors POSW1 and POSW2
Is provided. Of these, the power supply information reading unit RPIU1
Is coupled to the power information unit PIU1 built in the electronic device EEQP1 via the power information input code CPIU1 and the power information input jack JPIU1, and the power information reading unit RPIU2 is connected to the power information input code CPIU.
2 and a power information input jack JPIU2 to be coupled to a power information unit PIU2 incorporated in the electronic device EEQP2. Further, the AC / DC converters ADCV1 and ADCV2 are connected to the A / C converters via the AC input plug PACI.
AC100V AC power is commonly supplied, and these AC
The DC power output from the / DC converter is supplied to the corresponding DC output selection units POSW1 and POSW2. Further, the DC power output from the DC output selection unit POSW1 is DC output jacks JDCO1 to D
The DC power supplied to the electronic device EEQP1 via the C output code CDCO1 and output from the DC output selector POSW2 is supplied from the DC output jack JDCO2 to the electronic device EEQP2 via the DC output code CDCO2.

In this embodiment, the electronic device EEQP1
, And EEQP2 use DC power supplies of different specifications as their operating power supplies, and power supply information units PIU1 and PIU2 built in these electronic devices hold different power supply information corresponding thereto. Power adapter PA
The AC / DC converter ADCV1 of DP forms power supply information held by the power supply information unit PIU1, that is, a direct current having a voltage value and a current value that meet the specifications of the electronic device EEQP1, and the AC / DC converter ADCV2 is
The power supply information held by the power supply information unit PIU2, that is, a direct current having a voltage value and a current value that meet the specifications of the electronic device EEQP2 is formed. Also, the power adapter PA
The DC output selection unit POSW1 of the DP sets the polarity of the DC power source output from the AC / DC converter ADCV1 to the polarity corresponding to the specifications of the electronic device EEQP1 and supplies it to the electronic device EEQP1, and the DC output selection unit POSW2 A
The polarity of the DC power source output from the C / DC converter ADCV2 is set to a polarity that matches the specifications of the electronic device EEQP2 and supplied to the electronic device EEQP2.

That is, the power adapter PAD of this embodiment
P is capable of simultaneously forming and supplying a DC power supply matching the respective specifications to two electronic devices EEQP1 and EEQP2 that use DC power supplies of different specifications as their operating power supplies. The required number can be reduced, and the resources and cost of the power adapter PADP and the electronic device which requires it can be further reduced.

By the way, the power adapter PA of this embodiment
The DP is the wall WALL of the building, as illustrated in FIG.
And its power supply information input jacks JPIU1 and JPIU2 and the DC output jacks JDCO1 and JDCO2 are embedded and exposed. As a result, the power adapter PADP can be used as easily as an AC outlet, and its convenience can be further enhanced, and the floor surface of the building can be efficiently used.
Space saving can be achieved.

The effects obtained from the above embodiments are as follows. That is, (1) a variety of electronic devices that require a DC power supply are attached with or built in a power supply information unit independently configured to hold power supply information such as the voltage value, current value and polarity of the DC power supply, A power supply information unit socket for inserting the power supply information unit into the power supply adapter, a power supply information reading unit for reading out the power supply information from the power supply information unit inserted in the power supply information unit socket or built in the electronic device, and the power supply information. An AC / DC converter that selectively forms a DC power supply having a predetermined voltage value and a current value according to the power supply information read by the reading unit, and a polarity of the DC power supply output from the AC / DC converter. The power supply information unit attached to the electronic device is powered by configuring the switching DC output selection unit as a basic component. DC power supply that matches the power specifications of various electronic devices by simply inserting it into the power information unit socket of the power adapter or connecting between the power information unit built into the electronic device and the power information reading section of the power adapter. The effect is that it can be formed and supplied selectively and automatically.

(2) According to the above item (1), it is possible to realize a power supply adapter capable of selectively forming and supplying a DC power supply of various specifications without requiring a switch operation by a user. can get. (3) According to the above items (1) and (2), it is possible to reduce the cost by eliminating the waste of resources and expenses of the power adapter and the electronic device that requires the power adapter, and improve the usability. Is obtained.

(4) In the above items (1) to (3), one power adapter has a plurality of power information reading units,
An AC / DC converter and a DC output selector are provided,
By making it possible to simultaneously form and supply DC power supplies matching the respective specifications to multiple electronic devices that use DC power supplies of different specifications as their operating power supplies, the required number of power adapters can be reduced, and The effect is that the resources and cost of the electronic device which requires this can be further reduced. (5) In the above items (1) to (4), the power adapter can be used as easily as an AC outlet by mounting the power adapter by embedding it in a wall of a building so as to expose the connection portion. As a result, the convenience can be further enhanced and the floor surface of the building can be efficiently used.

Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say. For example, in FIG. 1, the box body of the power adapter PADP can have any shape, and the arrangement of the jacks and sockets on the front panel can be set arbitrarily. In FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, the power supply adapter PADP can have any block configuration, and the voltage of the AC power supply can also be set arbitrarily. 3 and 4, the content of the power supply information is not restricted by these embodiments, and the shape of the power supply information unit PIU is arbitrary. In FIG. 4, the integrated circuit I
C1 to IC3 can be integrated as one integrated circuit.

In FIG. 5, the DC output plug PDCO and the DC input plug PDCI can have any shape.
6 and 7, the power supply information input code CPIU and the DC output code CDCO or the power supply information input codes CPIU1 and CPIU2 and the DC output code CD
CO1 and CDCO2 may each be integrated as a single cord. In FIG. 7, the power adapter PAD
The P can include three or more power source information reading units, an AC / DC converter, and a DC output selecting unit, and a control unit corresponding to these power source information reading units, AC / DC converters, and DC output selecting units. The CTLU may be divided. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the power information units PIU1 and PIU2 can take the socket form of FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 8, the power adapter PADP and the shape and arrangement of the connection portion thereof may take various embodiments.
A cover may be provided to protect the connection.

In the above description, a case where the invention is mainly applied to a power supply adapter for a household electronic device which is a field of use which is the background of the invention made by the inventor has been described, but the invention is not limited thereto. However, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a power adapter used for electronic devices for various purposes such as office work and factory use. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be widely applied to a power supply adapter that forms and outputs a DC power supply based on at least an AC power supply and an apparatus that requires such a power supply adapter.

[0029]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows. In other words, various electronic devices that require a DC power source are attached to or built in a power information unit that is independently configured to hold power information such as the voltage value, current value, and polarity of the DC power source. A power information unit socket for inserting the power information unit, and a power information reading unit for reading the power information from the power information unit inserted in the power information unit socket or built in the electronic device,
An AC / DC converter that selectively forms a DC power supply having a predetermined voltage value and a current value according to the power supply information read by the power supply information reading unit, and a polarity of the DC power supply output from the AC / DC converter. The power supply information unit attached to the electronic device is inserted into the power supply information unit socket of the power supply adapter, or the power supply information unit and the power supply adapter built in the electronic device are basically configured by a DC output selection unit that switches electrically. It is possible to selectively and automatically form and supply a DC power source that meets the power source specifications of various electronic devices by simply connecting the power source information reading unit. As a result, a power supply adapter capable of selectively forming and supplying a DC power supply of various specifications can be realized without requiring the user to perform a switch operation, etc., and therefore a power supply adapter and an electronic device that requires the power supply adapter. To reduce costs by eliminating waste of resources and expenses
Its usability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a first embodiment of a power supply adapter to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the power supply adapter of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a first embodiment of a power supply information unit used in the power supply adapter of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing a second embodiment of the power supply information unit used in the power supply adapter of FIG.

5 is an external view showing an embodiment of a DC output cord of the power adapter of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of a power supply adapter to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of a power adapter to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing a second embodiment of a power supply adapter to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

PADP ... Power adapter, SPIU ... Power information unit socket, PACI ... AC input plug, J
DCO ... DC output jack. PIU ... Power supply information unit, RPIU ... Power supply information reading unit, CTL
U ... Control unit, ADCV ... AC / DC converter, POSW ... DC output selection unit, EEQP ... Electronic device, CDCO ... DC output code, PDCO ...
-DC output plug, PDCI ... DC input plug. I
DCV ... DC voltage information, IDCI ... DC current information, IDCP ... DC polarity information, IC1 to IC3 ...
・ Integrated circuit, SLSW ... Selection switch, CON ...
·connector. CPIU ... Power supply information input code. EE
QP1 to EEQP2 ... Electronic device, PIU1 to PIU2
... Power supply information unit, CPIU1 to CPIU2 ...
・ Power supply information input code, RPIU1 to RPIU2 ...
Power source information reading unit, ADCV1 to ADCV2 ... A
C / DC converter, POSW1 to POSW2 ... D
C output selector, CDCO1 to CDCO2 ... DC output code, JDCO1 to JDCO2 ... DC output jack. WALL ... wall.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A DC power source is formed and output based on a predetermined AC power source, and the specifications of the DC power source can be selectively and automatically switched according to power source information obtained from an external power source information unit. Power adapter characterized by. 2. The power supply information unit is attached to an electronic device that is independently configured to hold at least the power supply information and is supplied with the DC power supply, and the power supply adapter is the power supply. A power supply information unit socket for inserting an information unit, and a power supply information reading unit for reading the power supply information from the power supply information unit inserted in the power supply information unit socket are provided. Item 1. Power adapter. 3. The power supply information unit is built in an electronic device which is supplied with the DC power, and the power supply adapter inputs a predetermined power supply information from the power supply information unit built in the electronic device. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply information reading unit for taking in the power supply information supplied via a cord. 4. The power supply information includes DC voltage information about a voltage value of the DC power supply, DC current information about a current value of the DC power supply, and DC polarity information about a polarity of the DC power supply. Is an AC / DC converter that forms the DC power supply having a voltage value and a current value according to the DC voltage information and the DC current information, and a DC power supply output from the AC / DC converter according to the DC polarity information. 4. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a DC output selection unit that selectively switches polarities. 5. The power supply adapter is capable of simultaneously forming and supplying the DC power supplies having different specifications to a plurality of the electronic devices. Alternatively, the power adapter of claim 4. 6. The power supply adapter according to claim 1, wherein the power supply adapter is embedded in a wall of a building or the like so as to expose at least a connecting portion thereof. The power supply adapter according to claim 4 or claim 5.