Patent Publication Number: US-8536829-B2

Title: Charging system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a charging system, and more particularly to the charging system capable of retaining a desire junction effect between a power supply unit and an electronic product and capable of allowing the electronic product to be quickly disconnected and taken for daily use. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Since the technology is continuously developed, people may require electronic products to have more functions, especially for consumer electronics. A conventional electronic product having larger size (e.g. a compact disc player, a telephone or a desktop computer) is simplified to form a portable electronic product with high efficiency (e.g. a multimedia player (MPEG Audio Layer-3, MP3), a mobile phone or a laptop computer) to increase the efficiency for people in daily life. 
     The power required for the foregoing portable electronic products is mostly adapted with a rechargeable battery such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium cell. The rechargeable battery is mainly charged by a charging device. The charging device comprises a charging seat and a power source plug. The charging seat and the power source plug are connected by wires, and the charging seat is disposed with a power conversion module and a charging slot so that the rechargeable battery can be placed in the charging slot to supply power for the electronic products during the power charging mode. 
     Some charging devices integrate the power conversion module into a side of the power source plug and are electrically connected to the electronic products through a wire equipped with an electric connector to supply power for the electronic products during the power charging mode. Moreover, when some portable electronic products are used, a charging device as a movable power is carried to charge the electronic product. 
     However, the portable electronic products are charged by a power supply system with grid-connection or the movable power source, the portable electronic products are electrically connected to the charging device through wires or the electric connector. While immediately taking the electronic products (e.g. an important call is coming when the mobile phone is charging), the electronic products are still connected with wires which causes inconvenience. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor(s) of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a charging system as a principle objective so that a desire junction effect between a power supply unit and an electronic product can be retained, and the electronic product can be quickly taken by slightly imposing force. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the charging system of the invention basically comprises at least an adapter unit and a power supply unit. Two ends of a casing of the adapter unit is equipped with a first coupling unit and a second coupling unit respectively and electrically connected to the power supply unit and the electronic product. A casing of the power supply unit is disposed with a third coupling portion electrically connected to the first coupling portion of the adapter unit. A first magnetic attraction unit and a second magnetic attraction unit, which are attracted to each other, are respectively disposed to a coupling place between the adapter unit and the power supply unit. 
     When the invention is implemented, the charging system has a power conversion module disposed inside the casing of the power supply unit. The power conversion module convert alternating current power into direct current power required for charging or operating the electronic product. 
     When the invention is implemented, the charging system has at least one rechargeable battery disposed inside the casing of the power supply unit. The rechargeable battery supplies direct current power required for charging or operating the electronic product so as to form a movable power source. 
     When the invention is implemented, the charging system has at least one rechargeable battery and a power conversion module disposed inside the casing power supply unit. The power conversion module converts alternating current power into direct current power as a supplement power for the rechargeable battery, and the rechargeable battery supplies power required for charging or operating the electronic product so as to form a movable power source. 
     Under each structural form, the first magnetic attraction component and the second magnetic attraction component are respectively composed of a magnet and an iron member. 
     Under each structural form, the first magnetic attraction component and the second magnetic attraction component are composed of magnets. 
     Under each structural form, the charging system can integrate a voltage step-down circuit inside the casing of the adapter unit or the power supply unit, and a detection circuit electrically connected to the third coupling portion and the voltage step-down circuit. Output voltages of the voltage step-down circuit are automatically regulated through the detection circuit detecting a state of the electronic product, thereby supplying power required for charging or operating the electronic product. 
     Specifically, the charging system of the invention further has a storage unit for containing the power supply unit under a structural form as the movable power source. The storage unit has a channel for entering and exiting the electronic product and deeply positioning the electronic product, thereby ensuring the coupling of the adapter unit and the power supply unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional drawing of an appearance of a charging system according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional drawing of an appearance of a charging system at another visual angle according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a power supply unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a power supply unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an assembled architecture of a charging system according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an assembled architecture of a charging system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an assembled architecture of a charging system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram of an assembled architecture of a charging system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a structural diagram of an appearance of an adapter unit according to a seventh of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a decomposition drawing of an adapter unit according to a seventh of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a decomposition drawing of a movable conduction sleeve and a push button according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional drawing of a structure according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional drawing of a structure at another angle according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram of positioning status of a push button according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic diagram of a charging system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The foregoing and other technical characteristics of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the illustration of the related drawings. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  for a three-dimensional drawing of a charging system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention and a three-dimensional drawing of a charging system at another view angle in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention are depicted. The charging system  10  of the invention comprises at least one adapter unit  10  and a power supply unit  20 . Each adapter unit  10  is to dispose a first coupling portion, which is electrically connected to the power supply unit  20 , on a casing and a second coupling portion  12  electrically connected to an electronic product  30 . The second coupling portion  12  is equipped with electrode contacts (not shown in the figure) matching with a predetermined format of the electronic product  30 . 
     The power supply unit  20  supplies power required for charging or operating the electronic product  30  and is equipped with a third coupling portion  21  that is electrically connected to the adapter unit  20 . 
     A first magnetic attraction component  13  and a second magnetic attraction component  22 , which attract to each other, are respectively disposed to a coupling place between the adapter unit  10  and the power supply unit  20 . The first magnetic attraction component  13  and the second magnetic attraction component  22  are respectively composed of a magnet and an iron member or composed of magnets. A desire junction effect between the adapter unit  10  and the power supply unit  20  can be retained by utilizing the attraction effect of the first magnetic attraction component  13  and the second magnetic attraction component  22 . 
     When the charging system of the invention is in use, the first coupling portion  11  and the second coupling portion  12  of the adapter unit  10  are utilized to electrically connect the power supply unit  20  and the electronic product  30 . The electronic product  30  has at least one electrode contact  31 . The power transmission between the power supply unit  20  and the electronic product  30  can be formed by contacting each electrode contact such that the electronic product  30  is charged by utilizing the power supply unit  20 . Of course, the charging system of the invention can be equipped with other adapter unit, which is different from the specification of the second coupling portion, to replace different electronic products. 
     Specifically, while urgently taking the electronic product  30 , the electronic product  30  can be separated from the power supply unit  20  to quickly use the electronic product  30  by slightly impose forces. The operation of the electronic product  30  may not be influenced due to the power supply unit  20 . 
     In embodiments shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a power conversion module  23  is disposed inside a casing of the power supply unit  20  of the charging system. Alternating current power is converted by the power conversion module  23  into direct current power for charging or operating the electronic product  30 . The charging system of the invention as shown in  FIG. 3 , at least one rechargeable battery  24  is disposed inside the casing of the power supply unit  20 . The rechargeable battery  20  supplies direct current power for charging or operating the electronic product to form a movable power source with convenient carry. 
     Of course, the charging system of the invention can be shown in  FIG. 4 , a power conversion module  23  and at least one rechargeable battery  24  are disposed inside the casing of the power supply unit  20 . The power conversion module  23  converts alternating current power into direct current power as a supplement power for the rechargeable battery  24 , and the rechargeable battery  24  supplies power required for charging or operating the electronic product. 
     Moreover, the charging system of the invention can be shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , the third coupling portion  21  of the power supply unit  20  has electrode contacts  26  with predetermined numbers/formats. The first coupling portion  11  of the adapter unit  10  has electrode contacts  14  with predetermined numbers/formats. Electrical connection is formed by contacting the electrode contacts  26 ,  14  to achieve a goal of delivering power to the electronic product  30  from the power supply unit  20 . 
     Further, the charging system of the invention can be shown in  FIG. 4 , at least one rechargeable battery  24  is disposed inside the power supply unit  20 . The third coupling portion  21  has a first induction coil  25  connected to the rechargeable battery  24 . The first coupling portion  11  of the adapter unit  10  has a second induction coil  15 . The second induction coil  25  is connected to the second coupling portion  12 . Since the first induction coil  25  and the second induction coil  15  induces electromagnetic waves, the rechargeable battery  24  supplies power required for charging or operating the electronic product  30  to achieve a goal of charging the electronic product  30  in a non-contact manner. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the charging system of the invention can further integrate a voltage step-down circuit  41  inside the casing of the power supply unit  20  and dispose a switch  42 , which switches output voltage of the voltage step-down circuit  41 , on the power supply device  10 . As shown in FIG.  5 , power of charging or operating the electronic product  30  is manually switched according to a demand of the electronic product  30 . Of course, the voltage step-down circuit can be disposed inside the adapter. 
     In the foregoing embodiments, the charging system of the invention can be shown in  FIG. 6 , a voltage step-down circuit  41  and a detection circuit  43 , which is electrically connected to the first coupling portion  11  and the voltage step-down circuit  41 , are integrated inside the casing of the power supply unit  20 . The detection circuit  43  is used for detecting the status of the electronic product  30  and automatically regulates the output voltage of the voltage step-down circuit  41  to supply power required for charging or operating the electronic product. Further, when the electronic product  30  is completely charged, the voltage step-down circuit  41  is stopped supplying power to the electronic product  30 . 
     The voltage step-down circuit  41  and the detection circuit  43  can also be disposed inside the adapter  10  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The detection circuit  43  can further detect current transmission state of the first coupling portion  11  and the second coupling portion  12 . A display module  44  is disposed on the casing of the adapter  10  to display the operation state of the power adapter. A microcontroller  45  is disposed inside the casing. The microcontroller  45  is electrically connected to the detection circuit  43  and the display module  44  and presets a plurality of control modes corresponding to the display module  44 . The microcontroller mainly receives signals of the detection circuit  43  and controls the operation of the display module  44 . A switch circuit  46  is further disposed inside the casing of the adapter  10  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The switch circuit  46  is electrically connected to the first coupling portion  11 , the second coupling portion  12  and the microcontroller  45 . The microcontroller  45  controls the motion of the switch circuit  46  based upon the signals of the detection circuit  43  to control whether or not circuits of the first coupling portion  11  and the second coupling portion  12  are conducted, thereby preventing the service life of the electronic product from being influenced by unusual power supply. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , when the adapter is implemented, the adapter unit  10  comprises a casing  16 , the first coupling portion  11 , the second coupling portion  12 , several movable conduction sleeves  50 , and several push buttons  60  correspondingly disposed with the movable conduction sleeves  50 . The casing  16  has several slot holes  161  axially arranged. The first coupling portion  11  is disposed on the casing  16  and has electrode contacts  14  with predetermined numbers/formats, and the second magnetic attraction component  13 . 
     The second coupling portion  12  is disposed on the casing  16  and electrically connected to the first coupling portion  11 . The second coupling portion  12  has an electrode spindle  121  and an electrode bushing  122  normally stretching out the casing. 
     The several movable conduction sleeves  50  are sequentially laminated to an external ring of the electrode bushing  122  and respectively connected to the push button  60  piercing through the casing. Each movable conduction sleeve  50  can be relatively shifted and retain the junction effect. The movable conduction sleeve  50  located to the extreme inner layer rubs against the electrode bushing  122 . 
     The several push buttons  60  individually pierce through the slot hole  161  of the casing  16  and are connected to the movable conduction sleeve  50  to form a linking effect together with the movable conduction sleeve  50 . While in implementation, as shown in  FIG. 11  to  FIG. 13 , each push button  60  is disposed with a clamping port  61  at a side of the casing  16 . A tail of each movable conduction sleeve  50  is bent with a protrusion plate  51  for inserting into the clamping port  61  of the push button  60  to form the linking effect between the push button  60  and the movable conduction sleeve  50 . More specifically, a tail of the movable conduction sleeve  50 , which is relatively disposed to the outer layer, is equipped with a trough  52  that is passed by the protrusion plate  51  of the movable conduction sleeve  50  relatively disposed to the inner layer, thereby relatively reducing the length of the adapter unit  10 . 
     Each push button  60  is disposed with an extending plate  62  for covering the slot hole  161  of the casing  16  and a positioning cavity  63  at its wall surface. The casing  16  has flexible protruding buckles  162  at two ends of the sliding stroke performed by the push button  60  in each slot hole  161  to cross the positioning cavity  63  of the push button  60  as shown in  FIG. 14 , thereby achieving goals of positioning the push button  60  and the movable conduction sleeve  50 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 13 , when the adapter unit  10  of the invention is used, it does not only electrically connect a user object from the second coupling portion, but also allows the user to selectively push one or multiple movable conduction sleeves  50  toward a front of the casing  16  through the push button  60  relatively appearing the casing  16 . The movable conduction sleeves  50  at different positions or having different numbers are utilized to incorporate with the electrode bushing  122  to form a specific externally diameter so as to match the application demand for different objects. 
     Further, the charging system of the invention can further comprise a storage unit  70  (a cell phone case as shown in the figure) as shown in  FIG. 15  for containing the power supply unit  20  under a structural shape exhibited by the movable power source. The storage unit  70  has a channel  71  provided for entering and exiting the electronic product  30  and for positioning the electronic product  30  to ensure coupling the adapter unit  10  and the power supply unit  20 . 
     Specifically, the charging system of the invention does not only deliver power of the power supply unit to the electronic product through replacement of different adapter units so as to charge the electronic product real-time, but also further utilizes magnetic attraction effect to form the junction effect between the adapter unit and the power supply unit. When a user urgently needs to take the electronic product, the electronic product can be separated from the power supply unit by slightly imposing forces. The electronic product can be quickly taken without influencing the operation of the electronic product such that the practicality and the convenience of the charging system can be relatively improved. 
     The charging system improves over the prior art and complies with patent application requirements, and thus is duly filed for patent application. While the invention has been described by device of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those generally skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.