US 7,843,084 B2Granted

Electronic device capable of automatically selecting a power source

AssigneesHONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

InventorsHan-Che Wang, Xin Zhao, Hong-Sheng Ouyang, Xiao-Guang Li, Shin-Hong Chung

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Abstract

An exemplary electronic device capable of automatically selecting a power source includes two power ports configured to connect to external power sources and a battery compartment configured to receive a battery module. The voltage of the battery module is higher than at least one of the external power sources. The electronic device further includes a power selection module allocated between the battery module and the power port which selects the lower voltage. Three diodes are respectively located on the output path of the three power sources. A path switch that controls whether power to the device comes from the battery compartment or a power port is located between the anode of the battery compartment and the diode located on the output path of the battery module. Among the multiple power sources, the external power source providing a higher voltage is the first to be chosen to power the electronic device.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An electronic device capable of automatically selecting a power source, comprising:

a battery compartment configured for receiving a battery module;
a first power port configured to connect to a first external power source which provides power with a voltage higher than a voltage of the battery module;
a second power port configured to connect to a second external power source which provides power with a voltage lower than the voltage of the battery module;
a DC/DC converter configured for converting power from the battery module, the first external power source, or the second external power source to a required voltage to power the electronic device;
at least three unidirectional switches, wherein a first one of the at least three unidirectional switches is configured for conducting the power from the first power port to the DC/DC converter when being forward biased between the first power port and the DC/DC converter;
a second one of the at least three unidirectional switches is configured for conducting the power from the second power port to the DC/DC converter when being forward biased between the second power port and the DC/DC converter;
and a third one of the at least three unidirectional switches is configured for conducting the power from the battery module to the DC/DC converter when being forward biased between the battery compartment and the DC/DC converter;
a path switch connected between the battery compartment and the third unidirectional switch, for maintaining or cutting off power from the battery module to the third one of the at least three unidirectional switches;
a power selection module connected to the battery compartment, the second power port, and the path switch, wherein the power selection module controls the path switch to switch off if the second power port is connected to the second external power source, cutting off power from the battery module to the third of the at least three unidirectional switches.

6 more elements

An electronic device capable of automatically selecting a power source, comprising:

a battery compartment configured for receiving one or more battery modules;
a first power port configured to connect to a first external power source, which provides power with a voltage lower than a voltage of the battery module;
a DC/DC converter connected to both the battery compartment and the first power port and configured for converting power from either the battery module or the first external power source to a suitable voltage to power the electronic device;
a path switch connected between the battery compartment and the DC/DC converter, for maintaining or cut off power from the battery module to the DC/DC converter;
a first power selection module connected to the battery compartment, the first power port and the path switch, wherein the first power selection module controls the path switch to switch off when the first power port is connected to the first external power source, cutting off power from the battery module to the DC/DC converter.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/175,440Filed 17 Jul 2008
Priority: CN 2007 1 00756328 Aug 2007
Published: US 2009/0039709 A112 Feb 2009
Granted: 30 Nov 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H02J 1/108
Parallel operation of DC sources: having arrangements for blocking reverse current flow, e.g. using diodes
H02J 7/855
Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries: with circuits adapted for supplying loads from…
H02J 7/933
Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage: the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
H02J
Power supply and charging