Abstract:
A multiple electronic device power supply, battery charger, and USB docking system has a plurality of power ports for charging/powering electronic devices and a plurality of USB ports for coupling peripheral devices to a computer or large electronic device. Electronic devices which may be charged using the present invention can require current from less than 500 mA to approximately 6 A. Voltage setting resistors in specialized adapters serve to set the voltage needed for individual devices in order to manage current and voltage distribution throughout the present invention, particularly when large and mid-sized electronic devices are connected to the present multiple device charger and docking system. Default settings set the voltage output at 24 volts if not otherwise directed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a battery charging device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a battery charging device that is able to power and/or charge both small and large devices, and has integrated docking ports which serve as USB ports for peripheral devices. 
     Today&#39;s technology savvy, generation has accumulated numerous electronic gadgets, from laptop computers, cell phones, and personal digital assistants, to digital cameras, portable DVD players, and the like. The list is endless. For each of these electronic devices, either a replacement battery is needed, which can be very costly, or a way to recharge the current battery. In order to recharge the current battery in each of these electronic devices, a separate battery, charger is necessary for each individual device. Not only can purchasing multiple battery chargers be costly, but it can also get messy and confusing. Generally, a battery charger consists of a outlet plug, a bulky, heavy transformer box positioned near the outlet plug, followed by a long cord that connects to the device to be charge. More often than not batter, chargers end up thrown in a drawer together until needed. Trying to untangle the resulting confusion of cords is time consuming and frustrating. 
     In addition to charging these devices, there are also the peripheral connectors which connect peripheral devices, such as keyboards, printers, mice, portable storage units, and the like to larger electronic devices such as computers. When two or more peripheral devices need to be connected, there can be several USB buses, cords, and connectors involved. The number of devices, battery chargers cords, and adapters for connecting to other devices can be enormous. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device and system that minimizes the number of electronic device chargers needed, minimizes the number of electrical outlets needed to provide current/voltage to the chargers, increases the number of peripheral devices that can be connected simultaneously to a USB compatible bus, and organizes the charging devices and docking systems into one convenient, tidy package. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable, multiple electronic device power supply, charger, and USB docking system has a plurality of power ports for powering or charging electronic devices and a plurality of USB ports for coupling peripheral devices to a computer or other electronic device. The present system may be used to power or charge electronic devices requiring current from less than 500 mA to approximately 6 A. Voltage setting resistors in specialized adapters serve to regulate the voltage needed for individual devices. The present system manages current and voltage distribution and is particularly useful when large and mid-sized electronic devices are connected to the present system. The present system conserves as well as distributes power, without the need for multiple wall plugs, multiple wall outlets, multiple car plugs, or multiple transformers for each electronic device. The present system uses a single wall or car outlet to power/charge the present invention and subsequently and/or simultaneously power/charge multiple devices simultaneously. Default settings can set the voltage output of the power converter at a desired voltage, such as 24 volts, if not otherwise directed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the portable multi-device charger and docking system in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the portable multi-device charger and docking system shown charging several small electronic devices and a laptop computer and utilizing the USB port to connect an ancillary storage device to a laptop computer; 
         FIG. 3  is a first side view of the present charger and docking system; 
         FIG. 4  is a second side view of the electronic device input for the present charger and docking system; 
         FIG. 5  is a third side view of the USB input for the present charger and docking system; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram that may be used to couple multiple electronic devices to the present multi-device charger and docking system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
     A portable electronic power supply and battery charger of the present invention is configured to power/charge multiple small electronic devices simultaneously, such as those requiring 500 mA or less, as well as medium and larger devices requiring a greater amount of current, from 500 mA to 6 A or more. In addition, the portable power supply and battery charger of the present invention also includes docking ports, in particular USB ports, for coupling peripheral or other electronic devices to each other. The present invention is also capable of directly powering a device regardless of the presence of a batter in the device needing power. Thus, in the present context, the present battery charger also can be configured as a power supply. The terms battery charger and power supply may be used interchangeably in the present application. 
     Turning now to the figures and in particular  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated an embodiment of the present multiple device power supply, charger, and docking system (hereafter charging unit)  10  while  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the charging unit  10  in use. The charging unit  10  in the present example has a housing  12  with multiple ports including input port  20 , small electronic device ports  16 , medium electronic device port  24 , large electronic device port  18 , and USB ports  14 . (Hereafter, the device ports are collectively referred to as power ports). The charging unit  10  in  FIG. 2  is connected to two small electronic devices A at its power ports  16 . In addition, the charging unit  10  is also connected to a USB storage device C at one of the USB ports  14  and a laptop computer D at large electronic device power port  50 . In addition, the laptop computer D is connected to the peripheral device C through connection port  22 . The charging unit  10  housing  12  also has several LED (light emitting diodes) on the sides of the housing and at each of the ports for illumination of the ports. 
     Each device is connected to the charging unit  10  through adapters. For example, the small electronic devices A are connected to the charging unit  10  through adapters  70 . The laptop computer D is coupled to the charging unit  10  through power adapter  50  and USB adapter  40 . The medium sized electronic device, in the present context, (not shown) would be coupled to the charging unit  10  through adapter  80 . 
       FIGS. 3-5  are side views of the housing  12  showing various input and output ports of the charging unit  10 . In  FIG. 3 , the charging unit  10  of the present invention receives power through input port  20 , either 120/240V AC or through 12V DC (such as a car charger). Power port  18  is configured for charging large electronic devices including, but not limited to, laptop computers. A large electronic device, in the present context, refers to an electronic device requiring approximately 2 A to approximately 6 A or more of current. 
     In  FIG. 4 , power ports  16  for three small electronic devices are shown with a power port  24  configured for a medium sized electronic device. A small electronic device refers to one that requires approximately 500 mA or less of current, such as wireless Bluetooth headsets, cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants, multimedia players, and the like. A medium sized device, in this context, refers to those devices requiring between approximately 500 mA and 2 A of current, including, but not limited to portable DVD players, digital cameras, video cameras, navigational units, portable gaming systems, and the like. 
     In  FIG. 5 , three USB ports  14  are shown with a USB data transfer port  22  for data transfer from/to another electronic device such as a computer D. While in a present embodiment, USB ports are shown, it is understood, and those skilled in the art will recognize, that other USB-type buses, such as mini-USB ports and the like, may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The USB ports  14  are configured to support such peripheral devices as keyboards, mouse, printers, USB storage devices, portable hard drives, and the like. As shown, each side of the charging unit  10  is configured with LEDs  30  for illumination and each of the ports also are configured with LEDs such that the port opening is illuminated. If it is desired to have the LEDs dimmed or completely off, such as during the night, a dimmer/on/off switch  95  is also configured in the charging unit  10 . 
     While the present example shows the present multi-device charger and docking system  10  having three power ports  16  to charge small electronic devices, and one medium and one large device, this is not intended to limit the number or type of device that can be serviced by the present invention. It is understood that the present invention may be configured to charge more or less than three small devices and/or one medium and/or one large device. It is also understood that more or less USB ports may be present and all are within the spirit of the present invention. In addition to charging batteries, the present invention can also serve as a direct power source to electronic devices, such as laptops, regardless of whether a battery is present in the device needing power. 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic block diagram that may be used to couple multiple electronic devices and multiple peripheral devices to the present charging unit  10 . The charging unit  10  receives power from a 120/240 VAC source, which is converted to direct current through an AC/DC converter. The charging unit  10  may also be powered directly from a 12V DC source (such as a car charger). A power converter, in the present example a buck/boost converter, is used to adjust the voltage needed for the load (i.e. the electrical devices being charged), depending on the magnitude of current required by the devices coupled to the charging device and docking system  10 . The buck-boost converter of the present embodiment is a type of converter that has an output voltage magnitude that can be greater than, equal to, or less than the input voltage magnitude. The default value for output voltage at the buck/boost converter in a present embodiment is 24V DC. 
     The output voltage from the power converter (default is 24V) is divided amongst the load coupled to the charging unit  10  according to their individual requirements. In the present example, the 5.4V regulator feeds the USB bus. The 6.4V regulator feeds the small power ports such that small electronic devices may be charged, and the adjustable regulator is configured to feed medium sized devices E at the corresponding power port. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the charging unit  10  has multiple power ports  16 ,  18 ,  24  for electronic devices A, C, D, and E to be charged. Each set of power ports  16 ,  18 ,  24  has short circuit and over-current protection provided. In addition, the AC-to-DC converter is located within the housing  12 , rather than outside the housing  12  as traditional chargers are configured. Therefore, no bulky heavy transformers are necessary outside the housing, as are required in prior art devices. 
     In order for the charging unit  10  to be able to simultaneously charge small, medium, and large devices, the charging unit  10  works in conjunction with power adapters. The adapters couple the electronic devices to the charging unit. In addition, voltage regulator signals or inputs, such as that provided by voltage setting resisters, within the adapters signal the presence of a large or medium sized electronic device that requires additional current/voltage. In a preferred embodiment, adapters are specific for each manufacturer of device, such that, for example, a laptop computer from one manufacturer may signal voltage requirements that are different from an adapter configured for a second manufacturer of laptop computers. 
     In the present embodiment, the adapter  50  includes a voltage setting resistor that signals the power converter (the buck/boost converter in this example) of the presence of an electronic device requiring additional voltage. The voltage output of the buck/boost converter is then regulated such that the output voltage can be divided to adequately feed the load. Similarly, when an adapter is coupled to power port  24 , the voltage setting resistor in the adapter  80  signals the adjustable voltage regulator  90  of the presence of an electronic device requiring additional voltage. The adjustable voltage regulator  90  compensates and provides an output voltage compatible with the needs of the medium sized electronic device E coupled to the adapter  80 . In addition, the dimmer switch  95  may be provided to dim or turn off the LED lights as desired. 
     The advantages of the present invention are clear. Rather than having a charging device with a fixed voltage output configured to charge only a few devices, the present invention allows multiple different electronic devices to be charged simultaneously with the use of adapters, voltage dividers, and adjustable voltage regulators. In addition, the present invention minimizes the number of electronic device chargers needed, minimizes the number of electrical outlets needed to provide current/voltage to the charging unit, increases the number of peripheral devices that can be connected simultaneously to a USB compatible bus, and organizes the charging devices and docking system into one convenient, tidy package. 
     All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.