Power charging module and temperature-based methods of using same

A method of charging devices, the method comprising the steps of

• providing a power charging module, the power charging module having a plurality of charging ports configured to deliver power to external devices, the plurality of charging ports including a first charging port and a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor being adjacent one of the charging ports;
• defining a plurality of thermal condition ranges, wherein the plurality of thermal condition ranges include a nominal thermal condition range, a critical thermal condition range, and an intermediate thermal condition range, the intermediate thermal condition range being between the nominal thermal condition range and the critical thermal condition range;
• sensing a temperature at each of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor;
• determining a corresponding thermal condition range for each sensed temperature;
• delivering a standard maximum power output to each of the charging ports if the sensed temperatures from both the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are within in the nominal thermal condition range;
• delivering the standard maximum power output to the first charging port and a modified maximum power output to at least one of the other charging ports if the sensed temperature from either the first temperature sensor or the second temperature sensor is within the intermediate thermal condition range and the sensed temperature from the other of the first temperature sensor or the second temperature sensor is categorized in the nominal thermal condition range;
• and
• discontinuing power output to at least one of the charging ports if the sensed temperature from either the first temperature sensor or the second temperature sensor is categorized in the critical thermal condition range.

A power charging system, the power charging system comprising:

• a plurality of charging ports, each being configured to deliver power to a device operatively connected to the charging port, wherein the device is an external device;
• a temperature sensor operative to generate temperature signals indicative of a sensed temperature;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• store a plurality of thermal condition ranges, the plurality of thermal condition ranges including a nominal thermal condition range, at least one intermediate thermal condition range, and a critical thermal condition range, the at least one intermediate thermal condition range being between the nominal thermal condition range and the critical thermal condition range;
• store a standard maximum power output setting for the charging ports and a modified maximum power output setting for the charging ports;
• determine the sensed temperature at the temperature sensor based upon the temperature signals;
• upon the sensed temperature being within the critical thermal condition range, discontinue power output to at least one charging port, wherein the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor for determining a first sensed temperature and further including a second temperature sensor adjacent at least one charging port for generating a second sensed temperature, and the controller is further configured to
• deliver power to each of the charging ports according to the standard maximum power output setting upon both of the first sensed temperature and the second sensed temperature being within the nominal thermal condition range, and
• deliver power to one of the charging ports according to the standard maximum power output setting and to another of the charging ports according to the modified maximum power output setting upon one of the first sensed temperature and the second sensed temperature being within the nominal thermal condition range and the other of the first sensed temperature and the second sensed temperature being within the intermediate thermal condition range.