Apparatus and method for providing power from a power source to a portable electrical device

1. An apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device; the apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing configured for portable employment of the apparatus with different vehicles;

(b) a power interface unit substantially contained within said housing and configured for coupling with said vehicle power source;

(c) a power converter unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power interface unit;

(d) at least one first voltage output connection structure substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit; said at least one first voltage connection structure presenting at least one first voltage output; said at least one first voltage output connection structure being configured for effecting universal serial bus coupling;

(e) first short-circuit protection circuitry substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and said at least one first voltage output connection structures;

(f) at least one second voltage output connection structure substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit; said at least one second voltage connection structure presenting at least one second voltage output different from said at least one first voltage output; said at least one second voltage output connection structure being configured for effecting coupling for charging a mobile phone; and

(g) second short-circuit protection circuitry substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and said at least one second voltage output connection structure.

2. The apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises:

(g) a voltage regulation circuit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and with at least one of said at least one first short circuit protection circuitry and said at least one second short circuit protection circuitry.

3. The apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises:

(e) a voltage regulation circuit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and with said at least one first short circuit protection circuitry.

4. The apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.

5. The apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 4 wherein the apparatus further comprises a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.

6. The apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 2 wherein the apparatus further comprises a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.

7. The apparatus for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 3 wherein the apparatus further comprises a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.

8. An apparatus for providing power from a direct current power source to at least one portable direct current electrical device; the apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing configured for portable employment of the apparatus with different direct current power sources;

(b) a power interface unit substantially contained within said housing and configured for coupling with said direct current power source;

(c) a direct current-to-direct current power converter unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power interface unit;

(d) at least one first voltage output connection structure substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit; said at least one first voltage connection structure presenting at least one first voltage output; said at least one first voltage output connection structure being configured for effecting universal serial bus coupling;

(e) first short-circuit protection circuitry substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and said at least one first voltage output connection structures;

(f) at least one second voltage output connection structure substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit; said at least one second voltage connection structure presenting at least one second voltage output different from said at least one first voltage output; said at least one second voltage output connection structure being configured for effecting coupling for charging a mobile phone; and

(g) second short-circuit protection circuitry substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and said at least one second voltage output connection structure.

9. The apparatus for providing power from a direct current power source to at least one portable direct current electrical device as recited in claim 8 wherein the apparatus further comprises:

(g) a voltage regulation circuit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and with at least one of said at least one first short circuit protection circuitry and said at least one second short circuit protection circuitry.

10. The apparatus for providing power from a direct current power source to at least one portable direct current electrical device as recited in claim 8 wherein the apparatus further comprises:

(e) a voltage regulation circuit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and with said at least one first short circuit protection circuitry.

11. The apparatus for providing power from a direct current power source to at least one portable direct current electrical device as recited in claim 8 wherein the apparatus further comprises a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.

12. The apparatus for providing power from a direct current power source to at least one portable direct current electrical device as recited in claim 9 wherein the apparatus further comprises a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.

13. The apparatus for providing power from a direct current power source to at least one portable direct current electrical device as recited in claim 10 wherein the apparatus further comprises a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.

14. A method for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device; the method comprising:

(a) providing a housing configured for portable employment with different vehicles;

(b) providing a power interface unit substantially contained within said housing and configured for coupling with said vehicle power source;

(c) providing a power converter unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power interface unit;

(d) providing at least one first voltage output connection structure substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit; said at least one first voltage connection structure presenting at least one first voltage output;

(e) providing first short-circuit protection circuitry substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and said at least one first voltage output connection structure;

(f) configuring and operating said at least one first voltage output connection structure for effecting universal serial bus coupling

(g) providing at least one second voltage output connection structure substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit; said at least one second voltage connection structure presenting at least one second voltage output different from said at least one first voltage output;

(h) providing second short-circuit protection circuitry substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and said at least one second voltage output connection structure; and

(i) configuring and operating said at least one second voltage output connection structure for effecting coupling for charging a mobile phone.

15. The method for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 14 wherein the method further comprises:

(g) providing a voltage regulation circuit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit and with at least one of said at least one first short circuit protection circuitry and said at least one second short circuit protection circuitry.

16. The method for providing power from a vehicle power source to at least one portable electrical device as recited in claim 14 wherein the method further comprises providing a thermal protection unit substantially contained within said housing and coupled with said power converter unit.