Power converter with integral battery
A portable and lightweight power converter adapted to power a portable electronic device, and in addition, which includes a high power battery adapted to provide an output DC voltage to operate and/or charge a portable electronic device when no source power is present. Advantageously, the power converter includes converter circuitry as well as a high power battery packaged as an extremely small device, and further configured to charge a battery of a portable electronic device multiple times with recharging. The converter may further include charging circuitry configured to charge the converter battery when input power is connected.
1 . A power converter, comprising:
a housing;
a power converter circuit disposed in the housing and having an input configured to receive either an AC voltage or a DC voltage, and provide a converted DC output voltage at an output;
a battery disposed in the housing and configured to provide a DC voltage to the output when no voltage is provided to the input; and
wherein the battery is configured to couple to electrically and operate or charge a portable electronic device, wherein the battery is configured to generate power up to 15 watts, and a power density of at least 0.75 watts/cubic inch.
2 . The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the power converter has a power density of at least 1.0 watts/cubic inch.
3 . The power converter as specified in claim 2 wherein the power density is at least 1.2 watts/cubic inches.
4 . The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the power converter battery is configured to generate continuous power up to 10 watts and the housing has a volume of less than about 13.33 cubic inches.
5 . The power converter as specified in claim 4 wherein the battery is configured to continuously generate power of up to 5 watts and the housing has a volume of less than about 6.67 cubic inches.
6 . The power converter as specified in claim 4 wherein the power converter has a power density of at least 1.0 watts/cubic inch.
7 . The power converter as specified in claim 5 wherein the power converter has a power density of at least 1.0 watts/cubic inch.
8 . The power converter as specified in claim 6 wherein the housing has a volume of less than about 6.48 cubic inches.
9 . The power converter as specified in claim 7 wherein the housing has a volume of less than about 4.46 cubic inches.
10 . The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the DC output voltage is selectable.
11 . The power converter as specified in claim 10 further comprising a removable program module configured to establish the value of the DC output voltage.
12 . The power converter as specified in claim 11 wherein the removable program module comprises a tip connector configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the portable electronic device.
13 . The power converter as specified in claim 1 wherein the battery is configured to fully charge a battery of the portable electronic device at least 2 times without charging.
14 . The power converter as specified in claim 1 further comprising a charging circuit configured to charge the battery when the voltage is provided to the input.
15 . The power converter as specified in claim 14 wherein the charging circuit automatically charges the battery when the voltage is provided to the input.
16 . The power converter as specified in claim 13 wherein the battery is user replaceable.
17 . The power converter as specified in claim 11 wherein the battery is user replaceable.
18 . The power converter as specified in claim 16 wherein the battery comprises an alkaline or Lithium Ion battery.
19 . The power converter as specified in claim 17 wherein the battery comprises a Lithium Ion or Lithium Polymer battery.