KR20000038124A - Power supply adapter for sensing load and portable electronic device proper to use with thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A power supply adapter is provided to supply a power source when a system is loaded after a AC/DC adapter is connected in the system and to supply the power source from the AC/DC adapter to a portable computer only if the AC/DC adapter and the portable computer are proper to use together. CONSTITUTION: A portable computer system includes a AC/DC adapter and a system unit equipped with circuits which perform functions of computer by being provided from the adapter. The system unit includes a battery, a microcomputer and the first sensor circuit. The AC/DC adapter includes the second sensor circuit, the first power circuit and the second power circuit. The first and second circuits perform radio communications each other. If the system is loaded and the AC/DC adapter and the portable computer are proper to use together, the power source is supplied from the adapter to the portable computer.

Description

AC / DC ADAPTER SENSING LOAD AND PORTABLE ELECTRONICS APPARATUS FOR USE WITH THE SAME

The present invention relates to an electronic device using an AC / DC adapter, and more particularly, to an AC / DC adapter having a sensor circuit and an electronic device suitable for use with the same.

Referring to FIG. 1, a general portable computer 10 includes an AC / DC adapter 20 and a battery 12 to supply power to a system. When AC power is input and the adapter plug 22 is connected to the adapter jack 14 provided in the system, the AC / DC adapter 20 outputs an appropriate DC power voltage of the system. At this time, the power loss is generated by the AC / DC adapter 20 by continuously outputting the power supply voltage regardless of whether the system is used, that is, whether or not the load (for example, system operation, battery charging, and the like).

In addition, if the specifications specified between the AC / DC adapter and the system are different (for example, if the AC / DC adapter and the system are from different products or models), the specifications may be applied when the AC / DC adapter is connected to the system. The AC / DC adapter will work regardless. Therefore, even when connected to a portable computer that is not suitable for the AC / DC adapter there is a problem that the AC / DC adapter operates to supply power to the system.

Referring to FIG. 2, as is well known, the AC / DC adapter 20 may convert the AC power into an AC input terminal through a primary magnetic rectification circuit 26 through an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter 24. Is supplied. The high output voltage of the primary rectifier circuit 26 is then delivered to a transformer 28. At this time, the output voltage of the primary rectifying circuit 26 is provided to the driving circuit 32 and the pulse width modulation (PWM) controller 34 to operate the switching circuit 38. The power supply voltage converted in response to the switching operation is output to the secondary rectifier circuit 30 at a low power supply voltage. This AC power supply voltage is rectified to the DC power supply voltage required by the secondary rectifier circuit 30 and provided to an output circuit (not shown). At the same time, the output voltage determines whether the protection circuit 40 is abnormal and supplies / blocks a power supply voltage fed back to the PWM controller 34 through the photocoupler 42. Therefore, the protection circuit 40 includes an error amplifier circuit, an overcurrent blocking circuit, an overheat prevention circuit, an overvoltage blocking circuit, and the like, and when an abnormality occurs from the output voltage, the protection circuit 40 protects the AC / DC adapter 20 by them. To perform. In normal cases, the output voltage is continuously fed back to the PWM controller 34 through the photo coupler 42.

As described above, the AC / DC adapter according to the related art has a problem in that a power loss occurs when the AC power is applied even when there is no load, by outputting a power supply voltage. In addition, even when different systems are connected to the AC / DC adapter, the AC / DC adapter outputs a power supply voltage to the system, which may cause various problems such as system malfunction and system damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when an AC / DC adapter is connected to the system, an AC / DC adapter for supplying / blocking power in response to the presence or absence of a load and implementing a computer system suitable for use therewith It is.

The present invention also provides an AC / DC adapter and a portable computer that supply a power voltage from the AC / DC adapter to the portable computer only when the AC / DC adapter and the portable computer are suitable for use with each other.

1 is a perspective view of a portable computer having a typical AC / DC adapter;

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the adapter and portable computer shown in FIG.

3 is a perspective view of an adapter having a portable computer and a sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portable computer and adapter shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling a power supply from an AC / DC adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for controlling power supply from an AC / DC adapter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: portable computer 102: adapter jack

104: microcomputer 110: first sensor circuit

120: battery 200: AC / DC adapter

202: plug 204: EMI filter

206: primary rectifying circuit 208: first transformer

210: secondary rectifier circuit 212: drive circuit

214: PWM controller 216: snubber circuit

218: switching circuit 220: protection circuit

222 photocoupler 224 second transformer

226 sensor power supply circuit 228 second sensor circuit

230: power cable

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a portable unit including an AC / DC adapter powered from an AC input stage and a system unit having circuits for performing computer functions by receiving power from the adapter. A computer system comprising: (1) the system unit comprises: a battery; A microcomputer that receives power from the battery and controls to output a wireless signal having a specific frequency; A first sensor circuit for outputting the wireless signal; (2) The adapter includes: a second sensor circuit for receiving the wireless signal and detecting whether it is connected to the system unit, and outputting a detection signal corresponding to the detection result; A first power supply circuit for supplying or disconnecting power of the adapter to the system unit in response to the detection signal; A second power supply circuit provided from the AC input terminal in parallel with the first power supply circuit to supply power to the sensing circuit; The adapter is connected to the system unit in response to the radio signal and supplies power to the system unit if there is a load on the system unit.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the second sensor circuit comprises: not responding to the radio signal unless the radio signal output from the first sensor circuit is equal to a particular frequency.

In a preferred embodiment of this feature, the adapter is connected to the system unit and includes disconnecting power to the system unit if there is no load on the system unit.

In a preferred embodiment of this aspect, the adapter further comprises means for stopping the operation of the second sensor circuit when the battery is completely discharged.

In this embodiment, the operation resumes operation of the second sensor circuit when the operation of the second sensor circuit is stopped and the adapter is connected to the system unit to charge the battery.

In a preferred embodiment of this feature, the sensor circuit further comprises a pull-up resistor of the adapter and thereby detecting whether it is connected to the system unit.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the AC / DC adapter supplies a power supply voltage to the portable computer when the AC / DC adapter and the portable computer are compatible with each other. The AC / DC adapter is then connected to the portable computer and supplies the supply voltage when the portable computer is under load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 shows an AC / DC adapter and a portable computer suitable for use with the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the portable computer 100 and the AC / DC adapter 200 include novel first 110 / second sensor circuits 228.

The portable computer 100 includes a rechargeable battery 120 and an adapter jack 102. It also includes a system unit (not shown) that receives a power supply voltage from the AC / DC adapter 200 or the battery 120 to perform a computer function. For example, the system unit includes components of a typical computer system such as a CPU, a memory, a display device, a hard disk drive, and the like.

The AC / DC adapter 200 is a plug 202 inserted / removed into the adapter jack 102 and a power cable providing power to the plug 202 to supply a power voltage to the portable computer 100. 230.

Therefore, by performing mutual wireless communication between the first and second sensor circuits 110 and 228, it is determined whether there is a system load and whether it is a compatible AC / DC adapter and a portable computer. In case of a match, a power supply voltage is supplied from the AC / DC adapter 200 to the portable computer 100.

In addition, a signal line is added to the power cable 230 in a manner different from the above-described embodiment, and the system load is provided by using a pull-up resistor at the output terminal of the AC / DC adapter. You can also detect the presence of

With continued reference to FIG. 4, the portable computer 100 includes the first sensor circuit 110 and a microcomputer 104.

The microcomputer 104 is a device for controlling power management. The microcomputer 104 determines whether the AC / DC adapter 200 is connected to the adapter jack 102, and correspondingly, the first sensor circuit ( Control 110 to output a wireless signal having a specific frequency. And even when connected, the control to output the wireless signal in response to whether or not the load of the system 100. For example, the first sensor circuit 110 is controlled according to a battery charge state, a system operating state, and the like.

The first sensor circuit 110 may determine the system 100 under the control of the microcomputer 104, and output a radio signal having the specific frequency capable of determining the presence or absence of a load.

In addition, the AC / DC adapter 200 supplies a power supply voltage of the first power supply circuits 204 to 222, the new second sensor circuit 228, and the second sensor circuit 228. , 226).

The second sensor circuit 228 receives a radio signal having a specific frequency from the first sensor circuit 110. In response to the radio signal, a high / low signal is output to the photocoupler 222.

The second power supply circuits 224 and 226 receive a AC power supply voltage and output a proper induction voltage and a power supply voltage for receiving the induction voltage and operating the second sensor circuit 228. Sensor power supply circuit 226.

The first power circuits 204-222 also include components of a typical AC / DC adapter, such as the AC / DC adapter shown in FIG. 2, and operate to supply power voltage to the system by these components. do.

That is, when the AC power is input to the AC input terminal (AC in), it is supplied to the primary rectifier circuit 206 through the Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) filter 204. The high output voltage of the primary rectifier circuit 206 is then passed to another transformer 208.

At this time, the output voltage of the primary rectifying circuit 206 is provided to the driving circuit 212 and the pulse width modulation (PWM) controller 214 to operate the switching circuit 218. The power supply voltage converted in response to the switching operation is output to the secondary rectifier circuit 210 at a low power supply voltage.

The secondary rectifier circuit 210 rectifies the AC power supply voltage to a DC power supply voltage, which is required to provide an output circuit (not shown). At the same time, the output voltage determines whether the protection circuit 220 is abnormal and supplies / blocks a power supply voltage fed back to the PWM controller 214 through the photocoupler 222.

Accordingly, when an abnormality occurs from the output voltage, the protection circuit 220 protects the AC / DC adapter 200 by them. In normal cases, the output voltage is continuously fed back to the PWM controller 214 through the photo coupler 222.

At this time, the second sensor circuit 228 can determine whether it is a system suitable for mutual use from the first sensor circuit 110, and receives a radio signal corresponding to whether there is a load on the determined system. A high / low signal for turning on / off an operation of the photocoupler 222 is output.

Accordingly, in response to the HIGH / LOW signal, the PWM controller 214 modulates a pulse width to control a switching operation, and the switching circuit 218 controls the HIGH / LOW signal. It is turned on / off in response to the signal.

The AC / DC adapter 200 may further include a switch for stopping a function of responding to a radio signal having a specific frequency of the second sensor circuit 228 when the battery 120 is fully discharged. Not shown) or a button (not shown) or the like. In this case, when the operation of the second sensor circuit 228 is stopped, that is, when there is no power supply from the battery 120 or the AC / DC adapter 200 to the system 100, the switch or button And so on temporarily off. Subsequently, the AC / DC adapter 200 is connected to the system 100 to charge the battery 120. When the battery 120 is charged to an appropriate level, the operation of the second sensor circuit 110 is performed. You can resume.

5 and 6 are flowcharts showing a procedure for controlling the power supply of the system 100 from the AC / DC adapter 200 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. 5 illustrates an operation according to a connection state between the AC / DC adapter 200 and the system 100, and FIG. 6 illustrates an operation according to a connection state of a system and the presence or absence of a load. These procedures illustrate the operation of the AC / DC adapter 200.

Referring to FIG. 5, in step S300, the AC / DC adapter 200 receives a radio signal from the first sensor circuit 110 through the second sensor circuit 228 and is connected to the system 100. Determine. At this time, the connection state with the system 100 is determined by a specific frequency of the radio signal.

As a result of the determination, if it is connected to the system 100, the flow proceeds to step S302 to output a high level signal from the second sensor circuit 228 to the photocoupler 222. Subsequently, in step S304, the photocoupler 222 adjusts the current fed back to the PWM controller 214, whereby the switching operation of the switching circuit 218 is performed. Therefore, power is supplied to the system 100 in step S306.

As a result of the determination, if it is not connected to the system 100, the process proceeds to step S308 to output a low level signal from the second sensor circuit 228 to the photocoupler 222. Subsequently, in step S310, the switching circuit 218 is stopped, thereby interrupting the output voltage to the system 100 in step S312.

Therefore, power loss occurs only in the second sensor circuit 228 and the second power supply circuits 224 and 226.

6, the AC / DC adapter 200 receives a radio signal having a specific frequency from the first sensor circuit 110 to the second sensor circuit 228 in step S400 to the system 100. Determine if you are connected. If it is determined that the AC / DC adapter 200 is connected to the system 100, the flow proceeds to step S402 to determine whether the system 100 is in an off state. This is a process for determining whether there is a load of the system when it is connected to the system 100. If it is not connected, the flow proceeds to step S404 to block the output voltage through the procedures S308 to S312 shown in FIG. 5.

If the power of the system 100 is turned off, the flow advances to step S406 to determine whether the battery (120 in FIG. 3) is in a full charge state. If the state of full charge, the process proceeds to step S412 to cut off the power supply voltage of the system 100 and the battery 120. If not, the flow proceeds to step S410 to supply the charging voltage of the battery 120.

In addition, if the power of the system is not off, the process proceeds to step S408 to determine the state of charge of the battery 120. That is, when the battery 120 is in a fully charged state, the process proceeds to step S414 to supply the power voltage of the system 100. If the battery 120 is not fully charged, the process proceeds to step S416 to supply the charge voltage of the system 100 and the battery 120.

As described above, the AC / DC adapter 200 according to the present invention outputs a power supply voltage according to the connection state of the system 100 and the presence or absence of a load. The power supply voltage is output only when the AC / DC adapter 200 and the system 100 are compatible with each other.

As described above, according to the present invention, the AC / DC adapter reduces the power loss by cutting the output voltage when there is no load.

In addition, AC / DC adapters can cut off the supply voltage even when different systems are connected to AC / DC adapters to prevent system malfunction and system damage.

Claims (6)

A portable computer system comprising an AC / DC adapter powered from an AC input stage and a system unit having circuits powered from the adapter to perform computer functions: (1) The system unit is: A battery; A microcomputer that receives power from the battery and controls to output a wireless signal having a specific frequency; A first sensor circuit for outputting the wireless signal; (2) The adapter is: A second sensor circuit configured to receive the radio signal and detect whether it is connected to the system unit, and output a detection signal corresponding to the detection result; A first power supply circuit for supplying or disconnecting power of the adapter to the system unit in response to the detection signal; A second power supply circuit provided from the AC input terminal in parallel with the first power supply circuit to supply power to the sensing circuit; And the adapter is connected to the system unit in response to the radio signal and supplies power to the system unit if there is a load on the system unit. The method of claim 1, The second sensor circuit is: And if the wireless signal output from the first sensor circuit is not equal to a particular frequency, do not respond to the wireless signal. The method of claim 1, And the adapter is connected to the system unit and disconnects power to the system unit if there is no load on the system unit. The method of claim 1 And the adapter further comprises means for stopping the operation of the second sensor circuit when the battery is completely discharged. The method of claim 4, wherein And the means resumes operation of the second sensor circuit when the operation of the second sensor circuit is stopped and the adapter is connected to the system unit to charge the battery. The method of claim 1, And the second sensor circuit is provided with a pull-up resistor of the adapter, thereby detecting whether it is connected to the system unit.