Power supply device and power supplying method for power supply device

Abstract

A power supply device comprises: a battery; a charging part charging the battery; a power input to receive one of adapter power from an adapter supplied with external power, or power output from a similarly configured power supply device; a power output part to output one of the adapter power, the power output of a similarly configured power supply device, or the battery power of the battery; and a controller to control the input power to apply power to the charging part and the power output part when the input power is supplied to the power input part, and to control the battery to apply power to the power output part when the input power is not supplied to the power input part. Thus, the present invention provides a power supply device, which is capable of applying power from an adapter to a portable electronic device while charging an internal battery with the adapter power, and a power supplying method for the power supply device.

1 . A power supply device comprising:
 an adapter;   a battery;   a charging part to charge the battery;   a power input part to receive one of:
 adapter power from an adapter supplied with external power, or 
 power output from a similarly configured power supply device, the power input part being shaped to connect to the adapter and a power output part of a similarly configured power supply device; 
   a power output part to output one of:
 the adapter power, 
 the power output of a similarly configured power supply device, or 
 the battery power of the battery; and 
   a controller to control:
 the input power to apply power to the charging part and the power output part when the input power is supplied to the power input part, and to control 
 the battery to apply power to the power output part when the input power is not supplied to the power input part. 
   
   
   
       2 . The power supply device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the power output part comprises:
 a power output terminal having the same configuration as the adapter connecting terminal of the adapter that connects to the power input part; and 
   the power input part comprises:
 a power input terminal having the same configuration as an electronic device connecting terminal of an electronic device that receives either the adapter power or the power output from the power output part. 
   
   
   
       3 . The power supply device according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises:
 a first switching part to control the input power to be applied to the charging part and the power output part; and   a second switching part to control the battery power to be applied to the power output part.   
   
   
       4 . The power supply device according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first switching part comprises:
 a first transistor interposed between the power input part and the power output part and turned on to apply the input power to the charging part and the power output part; 
 a first diode connected in parallel to the first transistor and having an anode connected to one end of the first transistor and a cathode connected to the other end of the first transistor; and 
   the second switching part comprises:
 a second transistor interposed between the battery and the power output part and turned on to apply the battery power to the power output part; and 
 a second diode connected in parallel to the second transistor and having an anode connected to one end of the second transistor and a cathode connected to the other end of the second transistor. 
   
   
   
       5 . The power supply device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 when the input power is supplied through the power input part, the first switching part is switched on and the second switching part is switched off, so as to apply the input power to the charging part and to the power output part; and   when the input power is not supplied through the power input part, the first switching part is switched off and the second switching part is switched on, so as to apply the battery power to the power output part.   
   
   
       6 . The power supply device according to claim S, wherein the controller further comprises:
 a microcontroller that compares the voltage difference between the input power and the battery power with a predetermined reference value, and turns on one of the first transistor and the second transistor according to a result of the comparison.   
   
   
       7 . The power supply device according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller further comprises:
 a microcontroller that controls the first switching part to be switched on and the second switching part to be switched off, so as to apply the input power to the charging part and the power output part when the input power is supplied through the power input part; and controls the first switching part to be switched off and the second switching part to be switched on, so as to apply the battery power to the power output part when the input power is not supplied through the power input part.   
   
   
       8 . The power supply device according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a voltage regulator that regulates one of the input power and the battery power, which is output through the power output part, so as to have a predetermined output voltage level.   
   
   
       9 . The power supply device according to  claim 8 , wherein the voltage regulator further comprises:
 a buck/boost circuit placed ahead of the power output part to regulate one of the input power and the battery power applied to the power output part, so as to have the predetermined output voltage level, and to output the regulated power to the power output part.   
   
   
       10 . A power supplying method for a power supply device having a battery and a charging part charging the battery, the power supplying method comprising:
 connecting an input of the power supply device to a power source, either an adapter or a similarly configured power supply device;   determining whether the input power is supplied to the power supply device through an input configured to receive power;   outputting the input power to an external electronic device or to a similarly configured power supply device, when the input power is supplied to the power supply device; and   outputting the battery power of the battery to an external electronic device or to a similarly configured power supply device, when the input power is not supplied to the power supply device.   
   
   
       11 . The power supplying method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 charging the battery of the power supply device by the charging part that receives the input power.   
   
   
       12 . The power supplying method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 regulating one of the input power and the battery power to have a predetermined output voltage level.   
   
   
       13 . The power supplying method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 powering the portable electronic device by connecting the adapter to the portable electronic device; and   charging the internal battery of the portable electronic device using the adapter power.   
   
   
       14 . The power supplying method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 powering the power supply device by connecting the power output of a second similarly configured power supply device to the power input of the first power supply device; and   charging the internal battery of the first power supply device using the power output of the second power supply device.   
   
   
       15 . A power supplying system comprising:
 an adapter supplying adapter power from an external power source;   a power supply device comprising:
 a battery; 
 a charging part charging the battery; 
 a power input part receiving input power, which is one of: adapter power from an adapter, or power output from a similarly configured power supply device; 
 a power output part outputting one of: the input power or the battery power of the battery, to one of: an electronic device or a similarly configured power supply device; 
 a controller controlling the input power to be applied to the charging part and to the power output part when the power input part is supplied with the input power, and controlling the battery power to be applied to the power output part when the power input part is not supplied with input power; and 
   an electronic device having an electronic device connecting terminal connected to the power output part, the electronic device utilizing one of the input power or the battery power supplied through the electronic device connecting terminal.   
   
   
       16 . The power supplying system according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller comprises:
 a first switching part controlling the input power to be applied to the charging part and the power output part; and   a second switching part controlling the battery power to be applied to the power output part.   
   
   
       17 . The power supplying system according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first switching part comprises:
 a first transistor interposed between the power input part and the power output part and turned on to apply the input power to the charging part and the power output part; 
 a first diode connected in parallel to the first transistor, the first diode having an anode connected to one end of the first transistor and a cathode connected to the other end of the first transistor; and wherein 
   the second switching part comprises:
 a second transistor interposed between the battery and the power output part and turned on to apply the battery power to the power output part; and 
 a second diode connected in parallel to the second transistor, the second diode having an anode connected to one end of the second transistor and a cathode connected to the other end of the second transistor. 
   
   
   
       18 . The power supplying system according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 when the input power is supplied to the power input part, the first switching part is switched on and the second switching part is switched off, so as to apply the input power to the charging part and the power output part; and   when the input power is not supplied to the power input part, the first switching part is switched off and the second switching part is switched on, so as to apply the battery power to the power output part.   
   
   
       19 . The power supplying system according to  claim 18 , wherein the controller comprises:
 a microcontroller that compares a voltage difference between the input power and the battery power with a predetermined reference value and turns on one of the first transistor and the second transistor according to a result of the comparison.   
   
   
       20 . The power supplying system according to  claim 16 , wherein the controller comprises:
 a microcontroller that controls the first switching part to be switched on and the second switching part to be switched off, so as to apply the input power to the charging part and the power output part when the input power is supplied to the power input part; and controls the first switching part to be switched off and the second switching part to be switched on, so as to apply the battery power to the power output part when the input power is not supplied to the power input part.   
   
   
       21 . The power supplying system according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a voltage regulator that regulates one of the input power and the battery power output through the power output part, so as to have a predetermined output voltage level.   
   
   
       22 . The power supplying system according to  claim 21 , wherein the voltage regulator comprises:
 a buck/boost circuit placed ahead of the power output part to regulate one of the input power and the battery power applied to the power output part, so as to have the predetermined output voltage level, and to output the regulated power to the power output part.   
   
   
       23 . The power supplying system according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 the power output part comprises:
 a power output terminal having the same configuration as the adapter connecting terminal of the adapter that connects to the power input part; and wherein 
   the power input part comprises:
 a power input terminal having the same power configuration as an electronic device connecting terminal of an electronic device that connects to the power output part. 
   
   
   
       24 . The power supplying system according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 when the input power is supplied to the power input part of the power supply device, the power supplying system operates in a power supply device charging mode where the charging part charges the battery with the input power input to the power supply device.   
   
   
       25 . The power supplying system according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 when the input power is not supplied to the power input part of the power supply device, the power supplying system operates in a power supply device discharging mode where the battery power of the battery is applied to the power output part through the second switching part and the voltage regulator.   
   
   
       26 . The power supplying system according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 when the adapter connecting terminal of the adapter is connected to the electronic device connecting terminal of the electronic device, so as to apply the adapter power to the electronic device, the electronic device operates with the supplied adapter power and an internal battery of the electronic device is charged with the adapter power.   
   
   
       27 . The power supplying system according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 when the input power is supplied to the power input part of the power supply device and the electronic device is connected to the power output part:
 the charging part charges the battery with the input power input to the power supply device; 
 the input power, regulated by the voltage regulator, is applied to the power output part; 
 the electronic device operates with the input power supplied from the power supply device; and 
 an internal battery of the electronic device is charged with the input power. 
   
   
   
       28 . The power supplying system according to  claim 27 , wherein the system further comprises:
 another power supply device connected to the output part of the power supply device and to the electronic device connecting terminal of the electronic device, the another power supply device comprising:
 another battery; 
 another charging part charging the battery; 
 another power input part receiving adapter power connected to the adapter; 
 another power output part outputting the adapter power to the power supply device; 
 a controller controlling the adapter power to be applied to the charging part and to the power output part when the power input part is supplied with the adapter power, and controlling the battery power to be applied to the power output part when the power input part is not supplied with adapter power.