Abstract: A charger for providing power to an electronic device from an AC source, incorporating a battery to provide back-up power when no AC source is available. The charger uses a first voltage converter with a smoothing characteristic such that there are periods during each AC cycle, during which the first DC voltage falls substantially from its maximum value, and a second voltage converter, outputting power at a second DC voltage to the electronic device. A battery comprising at least one cell is connected at the output of the first converter such that current can be received by the battery from the first converter and supplied by the battery to the second converter. A controller is used, configured to charge the battery from the first converter, or to supply current from the battery to the second converter for output to the device, during different parts of the AC cycle.

Abstract: A battery driven mobile communication device drawing a base current with periodic high current pulses during transmission. The current pulses may be larger than the current level which the device's battery can supply. The device uses a switched mode power supply with an output capacitor sufficiently large to provide the high current pulses when demanded by the load, without its voltage falling below that necessary to operate the device. This power supply provides the average current drawn by the load, and maintains the capacitor's charge. When the load demands a current pulse, that excess current is drawn from the capacitor, which begins to discharge. Once each pulse is completed, the battery continues to provide the lower baseline current of the device, and at the same time tops up the capacitor to replace the charge used during the pulse. The battery may be a low cost primary battery.

Abstract: A bidirectional battery charge control system for a portable electronic device which uses a rechargeable main battery. The system enables the connection of an auxiliary battery to the device for inputting additional current to the device. Control of the current flow into and out of the auxiliary battery is performed by a bidirectional charger. The auxiliary battery can contain one or more readily available primary or secondary cells, and the bidirectional charger is such that an external charger connected to the device, generally used to charge the main rechargeable battery of the device, can also recharge a secondary cell or cells in the auxiliary battery, if such are installed. The use of such an auxiliary battery enables the main battery to be hard-wired into the device.

Abstract: A charger for recharging the batteries of a portable electronic device even when no external power source is available. A battery or cell is installed within the charger, and when no access is available to a fixed power source into which the charger can be plugged, the internal battery or cell can be used to recharge the electronic device. The internal battery can be a primary battery or a secondary battery. In the latter case, the internal battery can be maintained in a charged state by means of circuitry which, when the charger is plugged into the external power source, charges the internal battery as well as the battery of the electronic device. The external power source can be either an AC power wall socket, in which case the charger includes AC/DC voltage conversion circuits, or a car lighter socket, or the DC output of a conventional wall charger.

Abstract: A power supply for converting AC to a regulated DC output current, utilizing two serial switched mode power supplies, the first providing an intermediate DC output voltage with only moderate ripple properties, this output being input to the second, which operates as a DC/DC converter to provide the desired output with low ripple and good regulation. The diode rectifier assembly has no reservoir/smoothing capacitor, or one of much smaller capacitance than in prior art power supplies. The large resulting rectifier output ripple is overcome by use of the two power supply units, at least the first having a smoothing capacitor at its output. A majority of the energy stored in this capacitor is utilized during each AC half cycle. Such power supplies also provide improved hold-up times. The power supply is also constructed to have low standby power consumption, by use of a double burst configuration.

Abstract: An overall standard sized battery having a physical characteristic for differentiation between rechargeable and non-rechargeable types, and a corresponding feature in the battery cavity of an electronic device, such that the electronic device can discern this physical characteristic. A mechanical modification may be made to the standard size rechargeable batteries. This is detected by the electronic product, and enables the product to easily distinguish between standard primary batteries and rechargeable batteries having the same overall standard size dimensions. The product is configured to safely recharge only secondary batteries. Possible mechanical modifications to the battery include: the size and/or shape of the positive tip or the negative end of the battery; the cross-sectional shape of the barrel of the battery; an added notch or projection on the battery; and extension or shortening the length of the battery. Detection methods may be mechanical, optical, electrical or magnetic.

Abstract: A battery charge control system including an algorithm for determining whether the battery chemistry of a battery pack for use in a portable electronic device is primary, in which case charging is prevented, or secondary, in which case charging is enabled. The routine operates by measuring the terminal voltage and temperature of the battery under certain predetermined tests, which generally include a combination of voltage and internal impedance tests performed during charge or discharge. Additionally, a method is described to detect and to correct for lack of cell balance within the rechargeable battery pack of a portable electronic device. A cell or cells of the battery pack which are close to depletion, or are completely depleted, are detected, and a discharge/charge routine is executed to provide for optimum recharging of all of the cells of the battery, thus ensuring proper cell balance, and most efficient power usage.

Abstract: A portable battery-powered power supply or charger for use with electronic devices containing a primary or secondary battery. In order to control the current flow into and out of its battery, the portable power supply uses a bidirectional charge controller. The battery is installed in a housing which preferably has a single connector port to which a flexible current lead may be plugged. The bidirectional charge controller enables the battery either to supply current to the electronic device, to charge the device's internal battery, or it allows the battery, if it is a secondary battery, to be charged by connection to an externally powered charger, such as a wall mains adapter. Both of these functions are achieved through a single connection port.

Abstract: A bidirectional battery charge control system for a portable electronic device which uses a rechargeable main battery. The system enables the connection of an auxiliary battery to the device for inputting additional current to the device. Control of the current flow into and out of the auxiliary battery is performed by a bidirectional charger. The auxiliary battery can contain one or more readily available primary or secondary cells, and the bidirectional charger is such that an external charger connected to the device, generally used to charge the main rechargeable battery of the device, can also recharge a secondary cell or cells in the auxiliary battery, if such are installed. The use of such an auxiliary battery enables the main battery to be hard-wired into the device.

Abstract: A metal halide magnetic/electronic ballast with a compensation function for adjustment in autotransformer output voltage, which applies the compensation in various steps of voltage, to maintain the power constant. The metal halide ballast provides constant monitoring of the autotransformer input voltage, enabling the level to be stepped by triac switching. The triac switching is controlled by a switching control provided by a microcontroller. Less components are required, making the present invention simpler, less expensive to manufacture and more reliable.

Abstract: This invention discloses an improved rechargeable battery pack (30) particularly suitable for use with cellular telephones (32) or other portable devices, wherein the battery pack (30) includes at least one rechargeable cell (40), at least one primary cell (52), and a rechargeable cell recharger (34), including a voltage converter (50), receiving an output from the at least one primary cell (52) at a first voltage and converting it to a second voltage suitable for recharging the at least one rechargeable cell (40).

Abstract: A metal halide magnetic/electronic ballast with a compensation function for adjustment in autotransformer output voltage, which applies the compensation in various steps of voltage, to maintain the power constant. The metal halide ballast provides constant monitoring of the autotransformer input voltage, enabling the level to be stepped by triac switching. The triac switching is controlled by a switching control provided by a microcontroller. Less components are required, making the present invention simpler, less expensive to manufacture and more reliable.

Abstract: This invention discloses a battery pack assembly for use with hand-held electronic equipment including a base unit which is mechanically and electrically compatible with the hand-held electronic equipment, and which comprises battery adaptor circuitry but does not comprise a battery, and a separate battery pack unit which is removably mountable on the base unit and is mechanically and electrically compatible therewith for providing electrical power to the hand-held electronic equipment.

Abstract: A low voltage illumination system, comprising a pair of terminals for connecting to a source of low frequency a.c. voltage, a frequency converter coupled to the source of a.c. voltage for converting the low frequency a.c. voltage to high frequency a.c. voltage, and a step down transformer coupled to an output of the frequency converter for converting to high frequency, low voltage a.c. A synchronous rectifier is coupled to a secondary of the step down transformer for converting the high frequency low voltage a.c. to a low magnitude nominally d.c. voltage, and a pair of conductors is connected to the low magnitude nominally d.c. voltage for connecting low voltage lamps thereto. Optionally, the step down transformer is of planar design and an integral overload protection circuit is provided responsive to a drop in output impedance across the conductors commensurate with an overload for interrupting power thereto.

Abstract: A high power, high efficiency power converter for illumination loads, with low heat dissipation. In the preferred embodiment, the converter utilizes a switching means pair providing a high frequency inverter, provided by a pair of FETs, each arranged in one of a pair of gate driver loops connected to the auxiliary windings of a transformer whose primary winding samples the current through an illumination load. The periodic turn-off and turn-on operation of each of the FET switches is defined as the switching frequency, which is dependent on a Zener diode connected across the FET gate in each of the respective driver loops. The Zener breakdown voltage determines the winding voltage and transformer saturation point, at which time one FET switches off, and the other turns on. Use of FETs as the switching device provides several advantages, including a quicker switching time and reduced switching losses and power dissipation.