Programmable power supply
View Patent ↗A programmable power supply for providing a regulated DC output power is disclosed. The power supply provides the output power to any one of a plurality of electronic devices adapted for receiving the output power at an operational voltage or an operational current. The power supply receives a programming signal to maintain the output power at the operational voltage or operational current associated with a particular selected electronic device. Accordingly, by varying the programming signal, the power supply can be programmed to provide output power to any one of several electronic devices having differing input power requirements.
1. Power supply equipment comprising:
a power supply for producing DC output power at a cable connector disposed on a distal end of a cable, a proximal end of the cable originating at the power supply; and
a connector adapter including:
a first plurality of contacts to mate with the cable connector;
a second plurality of contacts to mate with contacts of an electronic device; and
a conductor that forms a portion of a divider circuit with circuitry within the power supply, the divider circuit programming a parameter of the DC output power produced by the power supply, wherein
the conductor, the first plurality of contacts, and the second plurality of contacts are disposed in a single housing, and at least two contacts in the first plurality of contacts are electrically connected to at least two contacts in the second plurality of contacts without a cable disposed between the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts.
2. The power supply equipment of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the cable includes a connector which detachably mates with a power supply output connector.
3. The power supply equipment of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of contacts have a shape and dimensions based on shape and dimensions of the contacts of the electronic device.
4. The power supply equipment of claim 1 , wherein the divider circuit is voltage divider circuit and the parameter programmed by the voltage divider circuit is voltage.
5. The power supply equipment of claim 1 , wherein the divider circuit is a voltage divider circuit and the parameter programmed by the voltage divider circuit is current.
6. The power supply equipment of claim 1 , wherein the conductor provides a current path to ground potential of the power supply, the current path forming part of the divider circuit.
7. The power supply equipment of claim 1 , wherein the conductor provides a current path to an output voltage of the power supply, the current path forming part of the divider circuit.
8. Power supply equipment comprising:
a power supply for producing output power at a cable connector disposed on a distal end of a cable, a proximal end of the cable originating at the power supply; and
first and second connector adapters, each connector adapter including:
a first plurality of contacts to mate with the cable connector; and
a second plurality of contacts to mate with contacts of an electronic device, wherein
the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts are disposed in a single housing, and at least two contacts in the first plurality of contacts are electrically connected to at least two contacts in the second plurality of contacts without a cable disposed between the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts, and wherein
the power supply produces the output power at a first voltage when the first connector adapter is mated with the cable connector and at a second voltage, different than the first voltage, when the second connector adapter is mated with the cable connector.
9. The power supply equipment of claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the cable includes a connector which detachably mates with a power supply output connector.
10. The power supply equipment of claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of contacts have a shape and dimensions based on shape and dimensions of the contacts of the electronic device.
11. Power supply equipment comprising:
a power supply for producing output power at a cable connector disposed on a distal end of a cable, a proximal end of the cable originating at the power supply; and
a connector adapter including:
a first plurality of contacts to mate with the cable connector; and
a second plurality of contacts to mate with contacts of an electronic device, wherein
the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts are disposed in a single housing, at least two contacts in the first plurality of contacts are electrically connected to at least two contacts in the second plurality of contacts without a cable disposed between the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts, and the connector adapter has a configuration to program a parameter of the output power.
12. The power supply equipment of claim 11 , wherein the parameter of the output power is voltage.
13. The power supply equipment of claim 11 , wherein the parameter of the output power is current.
14. The power supply equipment of claim 11 , wherein the configuration of the connector adapter is an electrical configuration.
15. The power supply equipment of claim 11 , wherein the proximal end of the cable includes a connector which detachably mates with a power supply output connector.
16. The power supply equipment of claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of contacts have a shape and dimensions based on shape and dimensions of the contacts of the electronic device.
17. A connector adapter for use in coupling an electronic device to a power supply, the connector adapter comprising:
a first plurality of contacts to mate with a cable connector of a cable coupled to the power supply; and
a second plurality of contacts to mate with contacts of the electronic device, wherein
the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts are disposed in a single housing, at least two contacts in the first plurality of contacts are electrically connected to at least two contacts in the second plurality of contacts without a cable disposed between the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts, and the connector adapter has a configuration to program a parameter of the output power.
18. The connector adapter of claim 17 , wherein the parameter of the output power is voltage.
19. The connector adapter of claim 17 , wherein the parameter of the output power is current.
20. The connector adapter of claim 17 , wherein the configuration of the connector adapter is an electrical configuration.
21. The connector adapter of claim 17 , wherein the second plurality of contacts have a shape and dimensions based on shape and dimensions of the contacts of the electronic device.