Patent Publication Number: US-2023143416-A1

Title: Power Adapting Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Taiwanese Application No. 110213119, filed on Nov. 5, 2021. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a power adapting device, more particularly, to an expandable power adapting device structure of a replaceable receptacle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic products are widely used in a modern life. A power supply is an integral part of the use of electronic products. However, with the development of science and technology, all kinds of electronic products have developed a variety of transmission interfaces to meet the needs, which leads to the need for different specifications of power receptacles when connecting various electronic products to the power supply. When traveling abroad, each country has dozens of plug specifications, European specifications, and American specifications. In addition, 3C products, such as mobile phones and laptops, must use the universal serial bus (USB) interface receptacle for charging. However, the USB is divided into type A, type B, type C, and other specifications. Moreover, most household appliances use an alternating current (AC) power supply directly, while small 3C products use a direct current (DC) power supply for powered or charging. 
     It can be seen from the above that a variety of power specifications make it very troublesome to select receptacles. Although there are many kinds of receptacle adapters or transformers sold on the market, when a variety of products are used together, the cost of adapters or transformers will become considerable. In addition, the non-uniform shape of each adapter or transformer product will also lead to restrictions on the use space, which will not only cause crowding and unsightly space, but also may cause doubts about the safety of electricity use. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a power adapting device. The power adapting device comprises an upper housing, a power conversion module, and a lower housing. The upper housing comprises a first slot and a second slot. A first power adapter interface is disposed at a bottom of the first slot. A second power adapter interface is disposed at a bottom of the second slot. The first power adapter interface is configured for conducting an alternate current (AC) power signal to an external device. The second power adapter interface is configured for conducting a direct current (DC) power signal to an external device. The power conversion module, disposed corresponding to the second power adapter interface, is configured to convert the AC power signal into the DC power signal and to transmit the converted DC power signal to the second power adapter interface. The lower housing mates with the upper housing and covers the power conversion module with the upper housing. The lower housing includes a cable transfer interface, electrically connected to an external power supply for transmitting the external power supply to the first power adapter interface or the power conversion module. 
     Optionally, the power adapting device further includes an expansion interface, electrically connected to the cable transfer interface or the power conversion module, for transmitting the AC power signal or the DC power signal to another power adapting device. 
     Optionally, the second power adapter interface is a pogo pin. 
     Optionally, the power adapting device further includes a plurality of power adapters, correspondingly coupled to the first power adapter interface and the second power adapter interface. The first power adapter interface conducts the AC power signal to the external device through one of the power adapters, and the second power adapter interface conducts the DC power signal to the external device through one of the power adapters. 
     Optionally, the power adapter corresponding to the second power adapter interface is provided with a magnetic component for attracting the second power adapter interface. 
     Optionally, the second power adapter interface is provided with a magnetic component for attracting the corresponding power adapter. 
     Optionally, the upper housing is provided with a plurality of slots, each of which is provided with an opening. Each of the power adapters is installed in one of the plurality of slots to connect to the first power adapter interface or the second power adapter interface through the opening of the slots. 
     Optionally, a way in which the power adapters installed in the slots has no directionality. 
     Optionally, the lower housing is provided with a first side wall, a third side wall opposite to the first side wall, and a buckling portion disposed on the third side wall. The power adapting device further comprises a flip cover, connected to the first side wall of the lower housing and provided with an engaging portion engaging the buckling portion of the lower housing to fix the power adapters. 
     Optionally, a size of the second slot is smaller than a size of the first slot. 
     Optionally, the power adapting device further includes an expansion adapter, provided with a first end connecting to the expansion interface and a second end connecting to a cable transfer interface of another power adapter. 
     Optionally, the first end of the expansion adapter is a female interface, and the second end is a male interface; or the first end of the expansion adapter is the male interface, and the second end is the female interface. 
     Optionally, the power adapting device further includes a cable device, electrically connected to the external power supply and the cable transfer interface. 
     Optionally, the power adapting device further includes a protection switch, controlling whether the cable transfer interface transmits the external power supply. 
     Through the embodiment disclosed in the present disclosure, the same power adapting device is capable of supplying both AC power and DC power, and through the power adapting device of the present disclosure, a variety of receptacle types of different specifications may be switched, which is not only convenient but also saves space costs. In addition, the user can use the expansion adapter to extend and connect more power adapting devices according to requirements. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become understood with reference to the following description, appended claims and accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application more clearly, the following briefly introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show merely some embodiments of this application, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts. 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of a power adapting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a left side view of the power adapting device in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of a first power adapter and a second power adapter separated from an upper housing of the power adapting device in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded view of the power adapting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of the power adapting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a top view of the upper housing of the power adapting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a top view of the power adapting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram of a bottom of the first power adapter and the second power adapter of the power adapting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a connection direction diagram of the second power adapter and the second power adapter interface of the power adapting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates two power adapting devices and an expansion adapter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates the two power adapting devices in  FIG.  10    are connected with each other through the expansion adapter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In order to facilitate understanding the technical features, content and advantages of the invention and the efficacy it can achieve, the present disclosure is hereby combined with the accompanying drawings, and the expression of the embodiment is described in detail as follows, and the scheme used therein, the main purpose of which is only for illustrative and auxiliary explanation purposes, may not be the true proportion and precise configuration of the embodiment of the present disclosure, so the proportion and configuration relationship of the attached drawing should not be interpreted, limiting the scope of rights of the invention in the actual implementation. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. 
     The following will refer to the relevant drawings, illustrating various embodiments of the electrical connector and base according to the present disclosure, for ease of understanding, the same components in the following embodiments are illustrated by the same symbols. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  1   , which is a schematic diagram of a power adapting device  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The power adapting device  100  comprises a lower housing  110 , a first power adapter  120 , a second power adapter  130 , a cable device  140 , and an expansion interface  150 . The lower housing  110  of the power adapting device  100  may be further divided into a first side wall  1102 , a second side wall  1104 , a third side wall  1106 , a fourth side wall  1108 , and a bottom surface  1110 . The first side wall  1102 , the second side wall  1104 , the third side wall  1106 , and the fourth side wall  1108  are connected in sequence, and are vertically and circumferentially disposed on the bottom surface  1110  of the lower housing  110 . The expansion interface  150  of the power adapting device  100  is disposed on the second side wall  1104 , and the cable device  140  of the power adapting device  100  is disposed on the fourth side wall  1108 . 
     The first power adapter  120  is, for example, a receptacle of a general commercial AC power supply, and is used to transmit an AC power signal to an external electronic product. It should be understood that the three-hole (live wire, neutral wire/water wire/null wire, and earth wire) receptacle shown in the figure is only for auxiliary explanation, not for limitation. The first power adapter  120  may also be the specifications of household power receptacles in various regions of the world, such as A-type receptacles, B-type receptacles, C-type receptacles, D-type receptacles, E-type receptacles, F-type receptacles, G-type receptacles, H-type receptacles, I-type receptacle, J-type receptacle, K-type receptacle, L-type receptacle, M-type receptacle, and N-type receptacle. 
     The power adapting device  100  has two second power adapters  130  in  FIG.  1   . The size of each of the second power adapters  130  is smaller than that of the first power adapter  120 . The second power adapter  130  may, for example, be a USB type A connector, a USB type C connector, or a mixture of the two, to transmit a DC power signal to an external electronic product. It should be understood that the number or type of the second power adapters  130  shown in the figure is only for auxiliary explanation, not for limitation. 
     The second power adapter  130  may be, for example, a USB type A receptacle, a USB type C receptacle, or a combination of the two, for transmitting DC signals to external electronic products. It should be understood that, the number or type of the second power adapters  130  is exemplified in the figure, which is only used for auxiliary description and is not intended to be limiting. 
     In one embodiment, the power adapting device  100  may have a single second power adapter  130  or more than three second power adapters  130 . In addition, the second power adapter  130  may also be a USB mini-A, a USB mini-B, a USB micro-A, a USB micro-B, a Thunderbolt, a combination thereof, or the like. For example, the power adapting device  100  may have three second power adapters  130 , which respectively are USB type A, USB type C, and Thunderbolt interface, so as to supply power to external electronic devices of three corresponding specifications at the same time. 
     The cable device  140  is used to receive current from an external current source, preferably, it receives an AC power supply. The expansion interface  150  is used to provide a power adapting device  100 , which is capable of being connected in series with another same power adapting device  100 . Therefore, the power adapting device  100  disclosed in the present disclosure is capable of being substantially extended accordingly as needed to simultaneously supply power to external electronic products of more quantity and/or specifications. The cable device  140  and the expansion interface  150  will be described in more detail below. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  2   , which is a left side view of the power adapting device  100  in  FIG.  1   . It can be seen from  FIG.  2    that the power adapting device  100  is further provided with a protection switch  160  in the fourth side wall  1108 . The protection switch  160  allows the user to manually switch whether the power adapting device  100  receives the external power supply transmitted by the cable device  140 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  3   , which is a schematic diagram of a first power adapter and a second power adapter separated from an upper housing  180  of the power adapting device  100  in  FIG.  1   . In this embodiment, the power adapting device  100  has a flip cover  170 , which is fixed on the lower housing  110  to protect the internal components. The first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130  are detachable and replaceable receptacles, and the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130  are fixed by the flip cover  170 . 
     In detail, one side of the flip cover  170  of the power adapting device  100  is fixed to the first side wall  1102  of the lower housing  110  by means of a hinge, for example, so as to facilitate opening and closing. However, the connection manner of the flip cover  170  and the first side wall  1102  is only for auxiliary explanation, not for limitation. In one embodiment, the connection between the flip cover  170  and the first side wall  1102  may also be a flexible plastic element, a plug, an elastic material (such as a spring), or the like. On the other side of the flip cover  170  connected to the first side wall  1102  relative to the flip cover  170 , a buckling portion  1702  is provided with. The buckling portion  1702  is disposed corresponding to an engaging portion  1112  of the third side wall  1106  of the lower housing  110 . When the flip cover  170  is closed, the buckling portion  1702  thereof will be fitted and fixed with the engaging portion  1112  of the third side wall  1106 . The combination method of the buckling portion  1702  and the engaging portion  1112  may be, for example, fixed to each other by means of fastener method, friction force, magnetic attraction, etc., which is not limited in the present disclosure. 
     The flip cover  170  has a through hole  172  and a through hole  174 , the through hole  172  is provided corresponding to the first power adapter  120 , and the through hole  174  is provided corresponding to the second power adapter  130 . The first power adapter  120  is capable of being connected to a plug of an external device through the through hole  172 , and the second power adapter  130  is capable of being connected to a plug of an external device through the through hole  174 . Among them, the through holes  172  is slightly smaller than the first power adapter  120 , and the through hole  174  is slightly smaller than the second power adapter  130 . Therefore, when the flip cover  170  is closed, the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130  can be prevented from being accidentally separated from the power adapting device  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the power adapting device  100  further comprises the upper housing  180 . The upper housing  180  is joined with the lower housing  110 . The upper housing  180  has a first slot  182  and a second slot  184 , which respectively correspond to the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130 . The first slot  182  and the second slot  184  are accommodating spaces designed according to the size of the first power adapter  120  and that of the second power adapter  130  to provide access to the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130 . It should be understood that the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130  can be of any shape or size, and the first slot  182  and the second slot  184  can also be changed accordingly. For example, when the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130  are cube shaped, the first slot  182  and the second slot  184  served as the accommodating space are also cube shaped and slightly larger than the corresponding power adapter for access. Or, when the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130  are cylinder shaped, the first slot  182  and the second slot  184  as the accommodating space are also cylinder shaped and slightly larger than the corresponding power adapter for access. 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4   , which is an exploded view of the power adapting device  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The power adapting device  100  is internally provided with a first power adapter interface  122  and a second power adapter interface  132 , the second power adapter interface  132  is disposed on the power conversion module  134 . In one embodiment, the first power adapter interface  122  is, for example, a three-hole receptacle (the first power adapter interface  122  is composed of three sets of clips as shown in the figure), and the second power adapter interface  132  is, for example, a pogo pin, not for limitation. The first power adapter interface  122  and the second power adapter interface  132  can also be changed according to usage requirements. 
     In addition, the power adapting device  100  is also provided with a cable transfer interface  190 . The cable device  140  can be a separate component through the configuration of the cable transfer interface  190 . As shown in  FIG.  5   , which is a schematic diagram of the power adapting device  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the  FIG.  5   , the cable transfer interface  190  is a female receptacle, and the cable device  140  is a male terminal. The cable device  140  is capable of being stored separately or connected to the power adapting device  100  according to requirements. 
     Back to  FIG.  4   , when the protection switch  160  is turned on and the cable device  140  is connected and transmits the external AC power signal to the power adapting device  100 , the external AC power signal will be transmitted to the first power adapter interface  122  and the power conversion module  134 . Preferably, the first power adapter interface  122  and the power conversion module  134  are electrically connected in parallel. The power conversion module  134  is capable of converting the received AC power signal into a rectifier of the DC power signal, and the power conversion module  134  can further adjust the voltage of the power signal according to requirements. Next, the power conversion module  134  transmits the converted DC power signal to the second power adapter interface  132 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS.  6  and  7    at the same time,  FIG.  6    is a top view of the upper housing  170  of the power adapting device  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  7    is a top view of the power adapting device  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The first slot  182  and the second slot  184  of the upper housing  180  of the power adapting device  100  are respectively provided with at least one opening  1822  and at least one opening  1842 . The openings  1822  are disposed corresponding to the first power adapter interface  122 , and the openings  1842  are disposed corresponding to the second power adapter interface  132 . From the top view of the power adapting device  100  in  FIG.  6   , the first power adapter interface  122  below can be seen from the openings  1822  of the first slot  182 , while the second power adapter  132  below can be seen from the openings  1842  of the second slot  184 . When the first power adapter  120  is connected to the first slot  182 , it can further contact the first power adapter interface  122  through the openings  1822  for electrical connection, and receive the AC power signal provided by the first power adapter interface  122 . When the second power adapter  130  is connected to the second slot  184 , it can further contact the second power adapter interface  132  through the openings  1842  for electrical connection, and receive the DC power signal provided by the second power adapter interface  132 . 
     In the above embodiment, the second slot  184  of the upper housing  180  is further provided with a magnetic component  1844 . When the second power adapter  130  is connected to the second slot  184 , the magnetic component  1844  is capable of attracting the second power adapter  130  by magnetic force to strengthen the connection and fixation therebetween and prevent the transmission instability or signal termination caused by the accidental loosening of the second power adapter  130 . 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the second power adapter  130  may also be provided with magnetic components, as shown in  FIG.  8   , which is a schematic diagram of a bottom of the first power adapter  120  and the second power adapter  130  of the power adapting device  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The first power adapter  120 , for example, is a three pin adapter, which is connected to the first slot  182  to correspond with the three-hole receptacle of the first power adapter interface  122 . The second power adapter  130  is, for example, a pogo pin or a terminal suitable for pogo pin, which is connected to the second slot  184  to correspond with the pogo pin of the second power adapter interface  132 . The second power adapter  130  is provided with a magnetic component  1302 , which is capable of attracting the second power adapter interface  132  by magnetic force to strengthen the connection and fixation of the two. 
     In one embodiment, the second slot  184  may be provided with a magnetic component  1844 , while the second power adapter  130  is not provided with a magnetic component  1302 . In this embodiment, the second power adapter  130  may be provided with a ferromagnetic (strong magnetic) metal corresponding to the magnetic component  1844  for being attracted by the magnetic component  1844 . 
     In another embodiment, the second slot  184  is not provided with a magnetic component  1844 , while the second power adapter  130  is provided with a magnetic component  1302 . In this embodiment, the second slot  184  may be provided with a ferromagnetic (strong magnetic) metal corresponding to the magnetic component  1302  for being attracted by the magnetic component  1302 . 
     In another embodiment, the second slot  184  and the second power adapter  130  are simultaneously provided with their respective magnetic component  1844  and magnetic component  1302 . The magnetic component  1844  and the magnetic component  1302  are correspondingly disposed to attract each other. 
     Please continue to  FIG.  8   . The bottom of the first power adapter  120  is further provided with three protruding adapter terminals  120   a , which are, for example, three-pin plugs of a common household power supply, which are used to electrically connect the three-hole receptacle of the first power adapter interface  122 . The bottom of the second power adapter  130  is further provided with adapter terminals  130   a ,  130   b , and  130   c , which are, for example, for electrically connecting pogo pin, which is used for electrically connecting the second power adapter interface  132 . 
     For the detailed connection mode of the second power adapter  130  and the second power adapter interface  132 , please refer to  FIG.  9   , which is a connection direction diagram of the second power adapter  130  and the second power adapter interface  132  of the power adapting device  100  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the second power adapter interface  132  may be, not for limitation, cross shaped, and is provided with interface terminals  132   a ,  132   b , and  132   c , such as the aforementioned pogo pin. The interface terminal  132   a  at the center has the first voltage level, the four corresponding interface terminals  132   b  adjacent to the interface terminal  132   a  have the second voltage level, and the four corresponding interface terminals  132   c  at the outermost have the third voltage level. 
     For example, the adapter terminals  130   a ,  130   b , and  130   c  of the second power adapter  130  are arranged in a straight line. The adapter terminal  130   a  is used to electrically connect the interface terminal  132   a  to receive the first voltage level, the adapter terminal  130   b  is used to electrically connect the interface terminal  132   b  to receive the second voltage level, and the adapter terminal  130   c  is used to electrically connect the interface terminal  132   c  to receive the third voltage level. As shown in  FIG.  9   , no matter how the second power adapter  130  turns, its adapter terminals  130   a ,  130   b , and  130   c  is capable of being sequentially corresponding to interface terminals  132   a ,  132   b , and  132   c  to receive the corresponding correct voltage. Therefore, the second power adapter  130  does not need to access the second slot  184  in a specific direction to electrically connect the second power adapter  130 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS.  10  and  11   ,  FIG.  10    illustrates two power adapting devices and an expansion adapter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  11    illustrates the two power adapting devices in  FIG.  10    are connected with each other through the expansion adapter according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The power adapting device  100  further comprises an expansion adapter  102 , which is used to connect the power adapting device  100  and the power adapting device  200  in series. The power adapting device  200  is the same product as the power adapting device  100 . The power adapting device  200  has an expansion interface  250  and a cable transfer interface  290 . In detail, the expansion adapter  102  has a first end  102   a  and a second end  102   b . The first end  102   a  of the expansion adapter  102  is used to connect the expansion interface  150  of the power adapting device  100 , and the second end  102   b  is used to connect the cable transfer interface  290  of the power adapting device  200 . 
     In one embodiment, the first end  102   a  of the expansion adapter  102  is a female receptacle that is the same as the cable transfer interface  190 , and the expansion interface  150  is a male plug that is the same as the cable device  140 . Therefore, the first end  102   a  of the expansion adapter  102  is capable of being connected to the expansion interface  150 . In addition, the second end  102   b  of the expansion adapter  102  is a male plug that is the same as the cable device  140 . Therefore, the second end  102   b  of the expansion adapter  102  is capable of being connected to the expansion interface  250  of the power adapter  200 . The connection between the power adapting device  100  and the power adapting device  200  is shown in  FIG.  11   . 
     In the above embodiment, when the cable device  140  is connected to the power adapting device  100  and powered on, the external AC current is capable of being directly transmitted to the expansion interface  150  to further power the power adapting device  200  through the connection of the expansion adapter  102 . The external AC current is also capable of being converted into DC current through the power conversion module  134 , and the converted DC current is transmitted to the expansion interface  150  to further supply power to the power adapting device  200  through the connection of the expansion adapter  102 . 
     It can be seen from the above that the power adapting device  200  can also be connected to the next same power adapting device through another expansion adapter. Therefore, by the teaching of the present disclosure, the power adapting device  100  can be expanded and extended according to actual needs. 
     Above are embodiments of the present disclosure, which does not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent replacements or improvements within the spirit and principles of the embodiment described above should be covered by the protected scope of the disclosure.