Apparatus for charging batteries of devices at a selected DC voltage

Abstract

A battery charging apparatus for charging batteries of fixed voltage charge receiving batteries and flexible voltage charge receiving batteries. A wall receptacle charger outlet, an “all-in-one” vehicle or home charger, a hands-free docking station charger, a wall mountable USB charging strip and a holder for multiple charger receiving devices that includes a charger are disclosed.

Claims

1. A receptacle assembly for mounting in a wall for charging a selectable charge receiving device powered by a DC battery, the assembly comprising: a housing adapted to be secured to the wall; a cover plate attached to the housing; at least one multiple voltage output receptacle provided in the housing and adapted to provide a default level of voltage and a device selected predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage for charging the selectable charge receiving device; wherein the housing and cover plate enclose: a control circuit that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device that is adapted to be charged at the predetermined level of voltage and that provides a charging level signal; a voltage switching circuit that receives the charging level signal; a variable output DC/DC converter circuit controlled by the voltage switching circuit that is configured to provide the predetermined level of voltage to the selected charge receiving device; and at least one single voltage receptacle is provided with a fixed output DC/DC converter circuit that provides a fixed voltage level to at least one fixed charge receiving device connected to the single voltage receptacle.

2. The receptacle assembly of claim 1 further comprising: at least one single voltage receptacle provided on the cover plate that is adapted to provide a fixed voltage level for a fixed charge receiving device that may only be charged at a fixed voltage level.

3. The receptacle assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one single voltage receptacle is provided with a fixed output AC/DC converter circuit that provides a fixed voltage to fixed charge receiving devices connected to the single voltage receptacle and is enclosed by the housing and cover plate.

4. The receptacle assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing and cover plate enclose: a control circuit that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device that is adapted to be charged at the predetermined level of voltage and that provides a charging level signal; a voltage switching circuit that receives the charging level signal; and a variable output AC/DC converter circuit controlled by the voltage switching circuit that is configured to provide the predetermined level of voltage to the selectable charge receiving device.

5. A receptacle assembly for mounting in a wall for charging a selectable charge receiving device powered by a DC battery, the assembly comprising: a housing adapted to be secured to the wall; a cover plate attached to the housing; and at least one multiple voltage output receptacle provided in the housing and adapted to provide a default level of voltage and a device selected predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage for charging the selectable charge receiving device; wherein the housing and cover plate enclose a control circuit that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device that is adapted to be charged at the predetermined level of voltage and that provides a charging level signal; a voltage switching circuit that receives the charging level signal; a variable output converter circuit including an AC/DC converter circuit controlled by the voltage switching circuit that is configured to provide the predetermined level of voltage to the selected charge receiving device; and at least one single voltage receptacle is provided with a fixed output AC/DC converter circuit that provides a fixed voltage level to at least one fixed charge receiving device connected to the single voltage receptacle.

6. The receptacle assembly of claim 5, further comprising: at least one single voltage receptacle provided on the cover plate that is adapted to provide a fixed voltage level for a fixed charge receiving device that may only be charged at a fixed voltage level.

7. A receptacle assembly for mounting in a wall for charging a selectable charge receiving device powered by a DC battery, the assembly comprising: a housing adapted to be secured to the wall; a cover plate attached to the housing; and at least one multiple voltage output receptacle provided in the housing and adapted to provide a default level of voltage and a device selected predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage for charging the selectable charge receiving device; wherein the housing and cover plate enclose a control circuit that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device that is adapted to be charged at the predetermined level of voltage and that provides a charging level signal; a voltage switching circuit that receives the charging level signal; and a variable output converter circuit controlled by the voltage switching circuit that is configured to provide the predetermined level of voltage to the selected charge receiving device, wherein the at least one single voltage receptacle is provided with a fixed output AC/DC converter circuit that provides a fixed voltage to fixed charge receiving devices connected to the single voltage receptacle and is enclosed by the housing and cover plate.

8. A wall-mountable receptacle assembly for charging mobile devices, comprising: a housing configured to mount to a wall; a cover plate attached to the housing; and a control circuit retained within the housing, the control circuit being configured to provide a charging level signal in response to a signal from a selectable charge receiving device; a variable output converter circuit retained within the housing, the variable output converter circuit being electrically coupled to the multiple voltage receptacle and configured to provide a DC charging voltage to the selectable charge receiving device by providing a default level of voltage and a predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage; a voltage switching circuit retained within the housing, the voltage switching circuit being configured to control the DC charging voltage provided by the variable output converter circuit in response to receiving the charging level signal; and a fixed output converter circuit retained within the housing, the fixed output converter circuit being configured to provide a fixed DC charging voltage and being electrically coupled to the fixed voltage receptacle.

9. The mobile device charging station of claim 8, wherein the variable output converter circuit includes a DC/DC converter.

10. The mobile device charging station of claim 8, wherein the variable output converter circuit includes an AC/DC converter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a wall mounted charging receptacle that is connected to a power source and that includes four USB receptacles.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic of the charging receptacle shown in FIG. 1 that is configured to provide AC/DC voltage conversion and a multiple voltage output and an AC/DC voltage conversion and a fixed voltage output.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic of the charging receptacle shown in FIG. 1 that is configured to provide DC/DC voltage conversion and a multiple voltage output and a DC/DC voltage conversion and a fixed voltage output.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery charger including a vehicle DC power adapter and an AC wall plug that a may be alternatively utilized to provide either a multiple voltage or a fixed voltage to a battery of a battery powered device.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hands-free device that is used to provide either a multiple voltage or a fixed voltage to a battery of a battery powered device.

(6) FIG. 6 is a simplified flow chart showing how the charger provides a fixed voltage output as a default but then communicates with the selected charging device to provide a selected higher charging voltage.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a wall mountable strip charging receptacle that is used to provide either a multiple voltage or a fixed voltage to a battery of a battery powered device.

(8) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a holder for a plurality of portable battery operated devices that is used to provide either a multiple voltage or a fixed voltage to a plurality of a battery powered devices.

(9) FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the holder shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

(11) Referring to FIG. 1, a receptacle assembly generally indicated by reference numeral 10 includes a housing 12 that is adapted to be mounted in a wall 14 of a building or a recreational vehicle. The housing 12 is configured to be received in a standard electrical box 16. The housing has mounting tabs 18 that receive screws or bolts 20 for connecting the housing to the electrical box 16. A cover plate 22 encloses the housing 12 that is configured to be received in a standard opening 38 in a cover plate 22.

(12) Three fixed voltage receptacles 24 are illustrated that are provided on the housing 12 above a multiple voltage receptacle 26. The receptacles 24 and 26 as illustrated are Universal Serial Bus (USB) receptacles but it should be understood that other types of receptacles could be used as an alternative.

(13) An electrical cable 30, or wire, is connected to a power supply 32 and is connected in the housing to the USB receptacles as will be more fully described below with reference to FIG. 2. The power supply for a building would be an AC power supply but the power supply for a recreational vehicle would be a DC power supply. An LED power indicator 34 may be provided on the housing to indicate that the receptacles are connected to a source of AC power 32.

(14) A standard wall plate 36 is illustrated that defines a standardized wall plate opening 38. The cover plate 22 attached to the housing 12 is adapted to be received in the opening 38 after the housing 12 is secured within the electrical box 16.

(15) Referring to FIG. 2, an AC/DC control circuit is schematically illustrated that may be incorporated in the receptacle assembly 10. The control circuit is capable of charging a flexible charge receiving device 42 at different device selected charging voltages.

(16) Handshaking signals are sent and received on dedicated data pins 44 of the multiple voltage USB receptacle 26 to connectors that connect the controller circuit 40 to the selected charge receiving device 42. The controller circuit 40 may be an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), a microprocessor microcontroller, or a programmable logic device. The controller circuit 40 queries the selected charge receiving device 42 to determine if the selected charge receiving device is adapted to receive a charge at a different voltage level than a standard voltage of, for example, 5 volts DC. If so, the controller circuit 40 sends a signal at 46 to a voltage and switching and feedback circuit 48 that controls an AC/DC converter circuit 50 to change the charging voltage supplied on the line 52 to the selected charge receiving device 42.

(17) In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, three fixed voltage USB receptacles 24 are shown that are each connected to a fixed charge receiving device 54 and an AC/DC charge converter 56. For illustration purposes only one AC/DC converter circuit 56 is shown in FIG. 2 that may be connected to a plurality of USB sockets. The AC/DC charge converter 56 provides a fixed voltage level on the line 58 to the fixed charge receiving device 54.

(18) Referring to FIG. 3, a DC/DC controller circuit 60 is schematically illustrated that may be incorporated in the receptacle assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1. The controller circuit 60 is capable of charging a selected charge receiving device 62 at different charging rates based upon the voltage provided by the receptacle assembly 10.

(19) Handshaking signals are sent and received on dedicated data pins 64 of the multiple voltage USB receptacle 26 to connectors that connect the controller circuit 60 to the selected charge receiving device 62. The DC/DC controller circuit 60 may be an ASIC, a microprocessor microcontroller or a programmable logic device. The controller circuit 60 communicates with the selected charge receiving device 62 to determine if the selected charge receiving device is adapted to receive a charge at a different voltage level than a standard voltage. If so, the controller circuit 60 sends a signal at 66 to a voltage and switching and feedback circuit 68 that controls a DC/DC converter circuit 70 to change the charging voltage supplied on the line 72 to the selected charge receiving device 62.

(20) In FIG. 1, three fixed voltage USB receptacles 24 are each connected to a fixed charge receiving device 74 and a DC/DC charge converter 76. Only one DC/DC converter circuit 76 is shown in FIG. 3 that may be connected to several USB receptacles. The DC/DC charge converter 76 provides a fixed voltage level on the line 78 to the fixed charge receiving device 74.

(21) Referring to FIGS. 2-4, an “all-in-one” charger 80 is illustrated that includes a 12 volt plug 82 on one end is adapted to be received in a 12 volt power accessory socket in a vehicle (not shown). A pair of AC plug prongs 84 are provided on the charger 80 that are adapted to be received in an AC receptacle wall socket (not shown). At least one socket 86A, and as illustrated, two USB sockets 86A and 86B, may be provided on a housing 88 of the charger 80.

(22) Socket 86A is a multiple voltage receptacle and socket 86B is a fixed voltage receptacle. The 12 volt plug 82 may be connected to the controller circuit 60, voltage switching circuit 68, and variable output AC/DC converter circuit 70 that may all be contained within the housing 88.

(23) Socket 86B is a fixed voltage receptacle that is connected to a fixed output DC/DC converter circuit 76 that provides a fixed voltage to a fixed charge receiving device 74. The fixed output DC/DC converter circuit 76 is also contained within the housing 88.

(24) The prongs 84 for the AC receptacle may be connected to the controller circuit 40 (as shown in FIG. 2), the voltage switching circuit 48, and variable output AC/DC converter circuit 50 that are all contained within the housing 88. Socket 86A provides a multiple voltage from the controller circuit 40, the voltage switching circuit 48, and variable output AC/DC converter circuit 50 to a selected charge receiving device 42. A fixed charge receiving device 54 may be connected to the socket 86B to receive a fixed voltage charge from the fixed output AC/DC converter circuit 76 that is disposed within the housing 88.

(25) Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, a hands-free device 90 is disclosed that is used to provide either a multiple voltage or a fixed voltage to a battery of a battery powered device that is docked in a docking station 92. The hands-free device 90 may be used in a vehicle having 12 volt DC power or may be connected to a source of 110 volt AC power, A socket 93 is provided on the docking station 92 that is adapted to be connected to either a fixed charge receiving battery powered telephone or a selected charge receiving battery powered telephone.

(26) If the hands-free device 90 is connected to an AC power source 32, the controller circuit 40, the voltage switching circuit 48, and variable output AC/DC converter circuit 50 are disposed within the hands free device 90 to charge a selected charge receiving device 42. If the hands-free device is connected to a DC power source 32 such as a vehicle, the controller circuit 60, voltage switching circuit 68, and variable output DC/DC converter circuit 70 may all be contained within the hands-free device 90.

(27) Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, a simplified flow chart 94 is provided that illustrates the algorithm used to provide either a multiple voltage to a selected charge receiving device 42 or 62 or a fixed voltage to a fixed charge device 54 or 74. Initially, at 96, the charger is shown to be providing a fixed voltage as a default output. When a selected charge device is attached to the charger, at 98 the controller circuit 40 or 60 determines, at 100, whether a valid variable output voltage request was received from the selected charge receiving device 42 or 62. If so, the charger output is changed, at 102, to the voltage requested from the device selected charge receiving device. If a valid request is not received at 100 the charger output remains unchanged, at for example 5 volts, at 104.

(28) A more extensive description of the charger circuitry is disclosed in applicants assignee's co-pending application Ser. No. 14/108,884 filed Dec. 17, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

(29) Referring to FIG. 7, a USB receptacle strip assembly is illustrated and is generally indicated by reference numeral 110. The USB receptacle strip assembly 110 includes a housing 112 that has fastener slots 114 at opposite ends that are adapted to receive fasteners such as screws or bolts for securing the housing 112 to a wall (not shown). Three fixed voltage receptacles 116 and one multiple voltage output receptacle 118 are provided on the housing 112. The fixed voltage receptacles 116 are adapted to provide a fixed voltage output to a fixed charge receiving device or a flexible charge receiving device. The flexible voltage receptacle 118 is adapted to provide a default level of voltage or a device selected predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage.

(30) Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the housing 112 encloses a controller circuit 40 that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device 42 that is adapted to be charged at the predetermined level of voltage. The controller circuit 40 provides the charging level signal at 46 to the voltage switching circuit 48. The variable output AC/DC converter circuit 50 is controlled by the voltage switching circuit 48 that is configured to provide the predetermined level of voltage on line 52 to the selectable charge receiving device 42. The housing 112 further encloses the fixed output converter circuit 56 that provides a fixed voltage level to at least one fixed charge receiving device 54 that may be connected to the fixed voltage receptacles 116. A LED indicator light 120 is provided to indicate that the receptacle strip is connected through the wire 122 to a source of power 124. Alternatively, the source of power may be a DC power source in that case the schematic of FIG. 3 would be referenced.

(31) Referring to FIG. 8, a holder 130 for a plurality of portable battery operated devices 132 is illustrated that is adapted to charge a selectable charge receiving device 134 powered by a DC battery (not shown). The holder 130 comprises a rack 136 including a plurality of vertical walls for retaining the plurality of battery operated devices.

(32) Referring to FIG. 9, a housing 138 provided on the bottom of the rack 136. At least one multiple voltage output receptacle 140 is provided on the housing 138 and is adapted to provide a default level of voltage and a device selected predetermined level of voltage that is greater than the default level of voltage for charging the selectable charge receiving device 134.

(33) Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 9, the housing 138 encloses a controller circuit 40 that communicates with the selectable charge receiving device 42 that is adapted to be charged at the predetermined level of voltage and that provides a charging level signal 46 to the voltage switching circuit 48. The variable output AC/DC converter circuit 50 is controlled by the voltage switching circuit 48 that is configured to provide the predetermined level of voltage on line 52 to the selectable charge receiving device 42. The housing 138 further encloses the fixed output converter circuit 56 that provides a fixed voltage level to at least one fixed charge receiving device 54 that may be connected to the fixed voltage receptacles 142. The housing 138 may also include at least one single voltage receptacle 142 and a fixed output converter circuit 56 or 76 that provides a fixed voltage level to at least one fixed charge receiving device connected to the single voltage receptacle 142.

(34) The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.