Electric appliance equipped with redundant battery enabled by the main power supply
A system to provide power to a peripheral device is equipped with a primary cell, secondary rechargeable cell, or super capacitor, and a redundant battery which is charged through a power control circuit, the redundant battery in turn charging the primary cell, secondary rechargeable cell, or super capacitor through another power control circuit connected between the redundant battery and the primary cell, secondary rechargeable cell, or supper capacitor. The redundant battery may be located in the peripheral unit, so as to charge the primary cell, secondary rechargeable cell, or super capacitor when the peripheral unit is disconnected from a base unit, and/or in the base unit, so as to charge cells in the peripheral unit when the base unit is disconnected from a main power supply. The peripheral unit may be a wireless mouse, trackball, keyboard, telephone handset, or the like, and the base unit may include a receiver as well as a power supply interface.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical appliance equipped with a redundant battery enabled by a main power supply to charge standby cells, featuring convenience of operation at reduced cost.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With most wireless peripheral or control means, such as, a wireless computer mouse, cordless trackball, cordless keyboard, or cordless telephone set for indoor use, it is standard practice to have them equipped with a primary cell, a secondary rechargeable cell or super capacitor, or similar energy storage means to drive associated circuits, and to eventually transmit signals to receivers, in one-way, i.e., simplex, or two-way, i.e., duplex mode of operations.
A drawback of the above-mentioned cordless peripheral installation is that due to gross power consumption, charging or replacement of cells is often required, which is especially annoying when the unit is suspended or on stand by for charging to functionable power. A computer, information-enriched household electric appliance, indoor cordless telephone set, or the main unit of an electric appliance is equipped with a reception circuit which drives a reception device, or a two-way transceiver device or has an A.C. or D.C. power supply which drives other interface devices. The power can be provided by the main power supply to a computer, information-enriched electric appliance, indoor cordless telephone set or electric appliance, or alternatively, indirectly from wired peripheral devices powered by the main power supply, such as a receiver or a keyboard or other wired peripheral device. The power source is connected to a power supply interface which supplies the load with power and, as an additional feature, charges one or more sets of batteries through ports PO in or on the main unit of a computer, information-enriched household electric appliance, indoor cordless telephone, other electric appliance, or notebook computer or monitor; or alternatively, in the form of one or more sets of redundant rechargeable batteries and ports P0′ installed on a wired peripheral device such as a keyboard or receiver set attached to a cord assembly, or in the form of one or more sets of redundant rechargeable batteries and ports P0′ on cordless peripheral equipment, wherein the power source is the main power supply.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe redundant battery and port P0′ for charging purposes according to the invention may be installed as a redundant set on the casing, receiver, keyboard, or other wired peripheral device associated with an electric appliance, or in or on a computer unit, an information-enriched household electric appliance, an indoor cordless telephone set, or installed into a cordless peripheral so that the main power supply can be supplied with low voltage D.C. or be in an A.C. line voltage which converts to a D.C. source through transformation and rectification to feed a redundant battery through a port P0′, or peripheral circuit. Power is provided to one or more sets of redundant batteries for charging purposes through a port P0′, which optionally resides in or on the main casing, monitor or receiver, so as to charge in turn the redundant energy storage device ESD101′ which consists of a secondary cell or super capacitor coupled thereto. The main power supply may further be coupled to a power supply interface serving as input to the cordless peripheral via the power supply output interface, to regulate the charging voltage and charging with respect to the energy storage device ESD101 in a cordless peripheral device, as well as actuation of control in the cordless peripheral device, or actuation of the emission circuit T101 or two-way transceiver RT101. Furthermore, the same battery and port P0′, of the one or more sets serves as redundant equipment for charging purposes. When required, the battery serves as an redundant energy storage device ESD101′.
As shown in
A receiver circuit REC101 comprises an R.F., infrared or ultrasonic receiving circuit which further is comprised of solid-state electronic elements or electromechanical components to receive manually controlled or audio or video signals. The circuit REC101 is installed onto a receiver casing H101, i.e., the main casing of a computer, information-enriched household electric appliance, indoor cordless telephone set, electric appliance, a monitor unit, a notebook computer or a peripheral device such as keyboard. Once the computer or electric appliance accesses power by way of cord set CB100, the receiver circuit RC101 becomes a source of power to the one or more sets of redundant batteries and port P0′ for charging purposes, located within the receiver casing H101 and to the receiver itself. The received signal may be transferred to the main unit via cord set CB100, where the cordless interface is a two-way duplex mode. This receiver circuit REC101 may be replaced with a two-way transceiver RT101, where the main power supply is an A.C. system. The receiver circuit may be equipped with a converter for rectification of A.C. into D.C. to drive the receiver circuit and to serve as a source of charging power to the redundant battery through port P0′, or for feeding to the power output interface PS101.
A cord set CB100 is furnished between the power supply to a receiver, a main computer unit, an information-enriched household electric appliance, an indoor cordless telephone set or a monitor. For example, the cord set can include socket/plug sets of PS2, USB, IEEE1394 or other chosen interface specification to connect the power supply to the main computer unit, information-enriched electric appliance, indoor cordless telephone or monitor unit, or for direct connection inside a casing in symbiotic relation with the devices, so as to transmit signals and to supply the power needed to empower the redundant battery through port P0′ in the casing of a computer, other electric appliance or monitor, or other cord-bearing peripheral and relevant circuit.
A power output interface PS101 is composed of an electric power transmission means and installed onto an independently provided receiver casing, where the receiver is in a symbiotic relationship with the main unit or peripheral device. The interface may be installed on the main casing unit or on the casing of a monitor, a receiver or other peripheral device. The power output interface PS101 is preferably a like-electrode-on-like-electrode coupling with a power input interface PS102 on a cordless peripheral, whereby energy on the main unit is transferred to electric energy storage unit ESD101 in the cordless peripheral.
A power input interface PS102, in the form of an electric power transmitter composed of conductive contacts or a plug/socket assembly, couples the like-electrode couplings with the power output interface PS101 on the main unit casing, the monitor, the receiver or other peripheral, whereby the electrical energy delivered to the main unit is transferred to the electric energy storage ESD101 in the cordless peripheral or in the redundant electric energy storage ESD101.
A coupling means links the power output interface with the power input interface and can include:
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- 1. A means to transmit electric energy comprising matching means to couple the power output interface PS101 with the power input interface PS102;
- 2. A means to transmit electric energy comprising means to superpose the power output interface PS101 with the power input interface PS102;
- 3. A means to transmit electric energy by interposition of a supplemental magnet between the power input interface PS102 and the power output interface PS101;
- 4. A means to transmit electric energy by mounting electromagnetically conductive contacts between the power output interface PS101 and the power input interface PS102;
- 5. A means to randomly charge by interpositioning a plug/socket assembly between the power output interface PS101 and the power input interface PS102;
- 6. A means to optionally charge by the furnishing a power cord interposed between the power output interface PS101 and the power input interface PS102. The power cord and its corresponding plug/socket assembly can be removed, stowed away or wound inside the casing;
- 7. A polarity error-proofing means permitting mutual coupling destined for the transmission of electric energy between the power output interface PS101 and the power input interface PS102, featuring:
- (A) a series connection of a reverse isolation diode in the power supply circuit; or
- (B) a polarity error-proofing geometry in the conductive contacts or plug/socket assembly; or
- (C) a supplemental magnet sub-assembly in the conductive contacts or plug/socket assembly between the power output interface PS101 and the power input interface PS102, such that mutual attraction will result when coupling of the correct polarity is made between the output side and the input side of the power supply, but mutual repulsion would ensue if the coupling is unmatched due to a polarity error, thus achieving a polarity error detection effect.
A receiver casing H101 can be either independent or integral with the main casing unit, monitor or other peripheral, which houses the receiver circuit REC101 or two-way transceiver RT101. The receiver casing H101 is furnished with one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes, fitted with conductive contacts C101, C102, or a power supply plug/socket assembly, or adapted for power cord storage and may be concurrently furnished with an extension hub.
A peripheral circuit T101 comprising solid-state electronic elements or electromechanical parts, is driven by the energy storage device ESD101 which consists of primary or secondary cells or a super capacitor, so as to convert input by manual operation or audio or video signals into electric signals which is to be further converted into R.F., infrared, ultrasonic signals for transmission to the transceiver REC101 that forms part of the receiver. Where the cordless interface features two-way transmission/receiving capabilities, the peripheral circuit T101 may be replaced by a two-way transmission/receiving device RT101.
A cordless peripheral casing H102 is in the form of an independent housing complete with R.F., infrared or ultrasonic transmitting keyboard, mouse, trackball or other cordless peripheral devices. These devices incorporate other control or operational capabilities, the relevant mechanisms, controls for ad hoc peripherals and the emission circuit T101, or a two-way transceiver circuit device RT101, other relevant circuit structure, including furnishing one or more sets of batteries and ports P0, or the electric energy storage EDS101 which comprises a primary cell, a secondary cell or super capacitor, to account for a power source of a cordless peripheral, where the cordless peripheral features rechargeable capabilities. There may be provided one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes, to be incorporated into relevant circuit structure in a redundant energy storage ESD101′ for the secondary cell or super capacitor. On the casing may be mounted a power input interface PS102 which consists of a plug/socket assembly or of conductive contacts C101′, C102′. There may be provided a power control REG101, or a redundant power control REG101′ specifically for power storage ESD101 or redundant power storage ESD101′ or for both in common service. The power storage ESD101 and redundant power storage ESD101′ are provided where needed. Power control REG101 or redundant power control REG101′ controls electric power coming from power output interface PS101, for the purpose of charging the power storage ESD101 or redundant power storage ESD101′.
A power control REG101 or a redundant power control REG101′ for installation in the main casing of a computer, an information-enriched household electric appliance on a monitor casing, or a receiver, where one or more sets of linear analogue voltage degrading circuit or wave interception (PWM) circuit, composed of electromechanic or solid-state electronic parts on the casing of a cord-bearing peripheral or cordless peripheral, to regulate the power supply required for the redundant battery through port P0′ for charging purposes fitted on the main casing of a computer, an information-enriched household electric appliance, an indoor cordless telephone set, other electric appliance, or on a monitor casing, a receiver or other peripheral equipment. To control the electric power that is fed to the power input interface PS102 on the cordless peripheral device, an illuminated display of the condition of charging control by current restriction or voltage restriction with respect to the energy storage ESD101 or redundant energy storage ESD101′ is included.
Any of the electric appliances defined in the foregoing is furnished with a redundant battery that is fed by a main power supply. The power control circuit, in addition to yielding control, regulation and display performances by means of conventional technique such as linear analogue circuit or wave interception circuit(PWM), may be executed by a series connection with zener diodes, or with any other diode having a zener effect and photo-emitting effect at the same time, so-called light-emitting diode to achieve in concurrent voltage degrading and display of current transmission state at the same time. The circuits below are examples featuring convenience at reduced cost.
Referring to
As further illustrated in the example given in
An electric appliance pursuant to the invention is equipped with a redundant battery owing its power to the main power supply. Among various embodiments of the application, apart from structures in which casings are installed independent of each other, it is also possible to correlate by coupling engagement the receiver compartment with cordless peripheral devices, the coupling may for example may be through the intervention of an electric transmission interface.
Alternatively, a power line roller means RW1000 serving to backwind the wire by a spring mechanism or through a manual winding technique, or an arrangement for storing powerlines facilitate using and storing of power lines to save space, may be installed. An example is illustrated in
The power supply to aforementioned computer, information-based household appliances, indoor cordless telephone, or the main unit of an appliance is a redundant battery and port P0′ used for charging purposes in place of a power supply, and may be arranged as follows:
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- (1) installed to the main unit casing of a computer, notebook computer or appliance. For example in a notebook computer, as shown in
FIG. 16 , one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes is installed on a chosen position on a notebook computer housing N101, to facilitate the placement of an energy storage means ESD101′ capable of charging/discharging as required. Once the energy that is stored in the energy storage means on the notebook computer itself, or the line voltage delivered to the notebook computer is converted into a low voltage D.C., it provides a randomized charging power supply to the redundant battery through the port P0′ for charging purposes through regulation at the ad hoc redundant power supply control means REG101′; - (2) installed on a monitor as shown in
FIG. 17 , there is provided one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes on the monitor M101 into which is to be loaded a redundant electric energy storage means ESD101′ into which is to be a charged power supply for release when there is a need for that, power to the redundant battery through the port P0′ is fed at random as procured from the power supply on the monitor, by way of the redundant power control means REG101′; - (3) installed onto a cord-bearing keyboard as shown in
FIG. 18 . An access wire assembly CB100 attaches to the main unit, which relates to the installation of one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes at the bottom or other chosen location of a traditional keyboard KB101, to accommodate an energy storage means ESD101′ meant to receive charging and to discharge when needed. The power supply to the redundant battery and port P0′ during charging is provided in a randomized manner from the main unit D.C. source transmitted by the cord assembly CB100 on a cord-bearing keyboard, regulated at a redundant power control REG101′; - (4) installed in a one-way or two-way receiver/transceiver that transmits signals and electric energy, and associated with the main unit by a cord assembly CB100. The one-way receiver or two-way transceiver is coupled with cordless peripheral means by virtue of one-way or two-way receiving/transmission signals or video/audio signals, complete with one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes, into which is to be loaded redundant electric energy storage means ESD101′ serving to receive charging and to discharge when needed. The power from the main unit power supply is delivered by cord assembly CB100, by way of redundant power control REG101′, and serves as a randomized power source to the redundant battery through the port P0′ for charging purposes;
- (5) installed on other cord-bearing peripheral equipment comprising a main unit and a cord assembly CB100, for the purpose of power transmission and signal transmission, including, for example, a scanner, digital camera, tabulator or speaker. One or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes is installed at a chosen location as needed. Redundant electric energy storage means ESD101′ charges and discharges when needed. The power delivered by cable assembly CB100 from the main unit will make for a randomized power for charging purposes to the redundant battery and port P0′ by way of power control means REG101′;
- (6) furnished on the main unit of an information-based household electric appliance or cordless peripheral, in the form of one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes as seen in
FIGS. 1-2 orFIGS. 14-15 , into which is loaded redundant energy storage means ESD101′ which charges and discharges when needed; - (7) installed into the main seat of a household cordless cellular to phone set or a hand-held receiver and speaker, shown in
FIG. 19 . The redundant battery and port P0′ receives power through the signal cord S100 on the main unit BS101, or from an auxiliary power supply PS200, which is a D.C. source of low rating voltage D.C. which is converted from line voltage. This is regulated by the redundant power control REG101′ to account for a source of power with which to enable the redundant battery and port P0′, and to provide randomized charging of redundant energy storage means ESD101′ on the main unit BS101 of the cordless phone or on a cordless hand-held cellular handset HY101. The main unit or handset may be installed with one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes, into which is to be loaded a redundant energy storage means ESD101′ serving both to charge and to discharge when needed; - (8) installed in the casing of a household cord-bearing phone set, shown in
FIG. 20 . Because for the need of multiple functions in cord-bearing telephone sets, certain models already have been provided with auxiliary power sources. In this case, the power supply of the main unit BS102 signal line S100 or an auxiliary power source PS200 of low voltage D.C. converted from line voltage may account for the power needed for charging purposes to the redundant battery or adaptor P0′ for charging purposes, in which case, randomized charging is made possible with respect to the redundant energy storage means ESD101′ as arranged, to the main unit BS102 or hand-held handset and assembly HY102 of a cord-bearing phone set and furthermore, may be provided where appropriate, one or more sets of redundant batteries and ports P0′ for charging purposes, into which is to be installed redundant energy storage means ESD101′ meant to charge and discharge when needed; - (9) it and the redundant energy storage means ESD101′ deployed in order may be any two or more of the devices or means, or arrangements disclosed in items 1 through 8 in this paragraph herein before.
- (1) installed to the main unit casing of a computer, notebook computer or appliance. For example in a notebook computer, as shown in
In summary, the present invention relates to an electrical appliance equipped with a redundant battery featuring charging capabilities and, for example, be a computer, an information-based household electric appliance, an indoor cordless telephone set, another main unit housing, a monitor casing or keyboard, a receiver with a cord assembly, a cord-bearing interface or a cordless peripheral. This invention uses a low-cost randomized power transmission interface for randomly charging a secondary rechargeable cell or super capacitor, other energy storage means arranged in the primary battery as well as the redundant battery that is installed in a computer, the main unit of another appliance, keyboard, receiver, an otherwise cord-bearing peripheral casing or housing, cordless peripheral assemblies inclusive, thus, rendering unnecessary the provision of any independent charging circuit or equipment for the same purpose, which is truly a novel design permitting substantial cut of production cost while increasing the usefulness, convenience feature of the appliance processed accordingly.
Claims
1. An electrical device having a cable including a plug/socket assembly, or at least one plug/socket assembly installed onto the electrical device itself, and having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply of a main equipment associated with said electrical device to a primary storage device, wherein said charging circuit includes in order to charge at least one redundant electrical storage device for, said charging circuit receiving power from said main power supply and supplying said power to said primary storage device redundant electrical storage device, and
- wherein said redundant electrical storage device includes a primary cell, secondary cell, or super capacitor.
2. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a power cord.
3. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a receiver.
4. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a receiver and power cord.
5. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 1, wherein said primary storage device is connected to said charging circuit by an interface.
6. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 5, further comprising at least one power control circuit coupled to the interface to control power from the main power supply.
7. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 5, wherein said interface comprises a power output interface and a power input interface.
8. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 5, wherein said at least one redundant electrical storage device is included before the interface and after the interface.
9. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 5, wherein said primary storage device is in parallel with said redundant electrical storage device.
10. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 9, further comprising at least one power control circuit in series with said redundant electrical storage device.
11. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 7, further comprising magnetic contacts to couple the power output interface and the power input interface together.
12. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 7, further comprising electromagnetic contacts to couple the power output interface and the power input interface together.
13. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 7, further comprising a polarity-error proofing geometry in conductive contacts between the power output interface and power input interface to couple the power output interface and the power input interface together.
14. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 7, further comprising a plug/socket assembly to couple the power output interface and the power input interface together.
15. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 7, further comprising conductive convex-concave contacts to couple the power output interface and the power input interface together.
16. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 7, further comprising concentric contacts to couple the power output interface and the power input interface together.
17. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 7, wherein said power input interface is included in a base unit of the electrical device and the power output interface is included in a peripheral device, said base unit and said peripheral device are in a chassis-borne engagement.
18. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 6, wherein said power control circuit comprises at least one photo-emitting diode and at least one current limiting resistor.
19. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 6, wherein said power control circuit comprises at least one zener diode.
20. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 19, wherein said zener diode is in series with at least one resistor.
21. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 6, wherein said power control circuit comprises a charging state display.
22. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 6, wherein said power control circuit comprises a reverse isolation diode.
23. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 3, wherein the receiver circuit comprises solid-state circuitry or electro-mechanical components to convert input by manual operation or audio or video signals into electrical signals.
24. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 2, wherein the power cord is an interface connection.
25. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 3, wherein said receiver circuit further comprises a transceiver to receive and transmit signals.
26. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 8, further comprising a peripheral device which comprises said power input interface, said redundant electrical storage device and said primary storage device, wherein said peripheral device further comprises solid-state circuitry or electro-mechanical components to convert input by manual operation or audio or video signals into electrical signals.
27. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 26, wherein said peripheral device further comprises a transceiver to receive said electrical signals and transmit R.F., infrared or ultrasonic signals to a transceiver in said receiver circuit.
28. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 6, wherein the energy storage device is randomly charged by the power control circuit.
29. An electrical device having a charging circuit for supplying power from a main power supply to a primary storage device of claim 23, said receiver further comprising a transceiver to receive said electrical signals and transmit R.F., infrared or ultrasonic signals to a transceiver in a peripheral device.
30. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, further including a battery seat for removably mounting said redundant storage device in said main equipment, a wired peripheral device, or a receiver of a wireless peripheral device.
31. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main equipment is selected from the group consisting of a computer, a telephone set, and an electric appliance.
32. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical device is selected from the group consisting of a wired mouse, a wired trackball, a wired keyboard, and a wired telephone set.
33. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless mouse, a wireless trackball, a wireless keyboard, or a wireless telephone set.
34. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging circuit is further arranged to charge a primary electrical storage device of the electrical device.
35. An electrical device as claimed in claim 34, wherein said primary electrical storage device includes various chargeable/dischargeable electrical storage devices such as a primary cell, secondary cell, or super capacitor.
36. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical device is a wired peripheral device further provided with at least one cable having at least one plug/socket assembly or directly provided with at least one plug/socket assembly for external power output or for simultaneously power output and signal transmission, in addition to said cable with a plug/socket assembly for connecting with the main equipment.
37. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical device is a wireless peripheral further provided with at least one cable having at least one plug/socket assembly or directly provided with at least one plug/socket assembly for external power output or for power output and signal transmission, in addition to said cable with a plug/socket assembly.
38. An electrical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical device is a wireless peripheral device capable of wireless transmission, and said wireless transmission is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency, infrared, or ultrasonic transmission.
Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 8, 2005
Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
Inventor: Tai-Her Yang (Dzan-Hwa)
Primary Examiner: Edward Tso
Attorney: Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
Application Number: 11/101,659
International Classification: H02J 7/00 (20060101);