Ac/dc power converter

Abstract

A dual input AC/DC power converter ( 10 ) having dual inputs ( 12, 14 ) adapted to receive both an AC and DC input and provide a selectable DC voltage output ( 16 ) and a second DC output ( 18 ). The dual input AC/DC power converter ( 10 ) comprises a power converter circuit ( 20 ) having an AC-to-DC converter ( 22 ), a DC-to-DC booster converter ( 24 ), a feedback circuit ( 26 ), a filter circuit ( 25 ) and a DC-to-DC buck converter ( 28 ). Advantageously, the power converter ( 10 ) resolves many of system management problems associated with carrying all of the different interface components necessary to power a wide variety of mobile products from either an AC or DC power supply. In addition, the power converter ( 10 ) also advantageously includes dual output voltage terminals ( 16/18 ) to allow for multiple mobile devices of varying power requirements to be powered, simultaneously, by a single converter.

1 . A method of generating at least two independently selectable DC output voltages in response to either an AC input voltage or a DC input voltage, the method comprising:
 converting the received AC or DC input voltage to a first selectable DC output voltage at a first output terminal; and   receiving the first selectable DC output voltage and generating a second DC output voltage at a second output terminal, wherein the second DC output voltage is independent of, and substantially lower than the first selectable DC output voltage.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selectively establishing the voltage magnitude of the first selectable DC output voltage using a removable program module. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first selectable DC output voltage is provided by an AC-to-DC flyback converter in response to receiving the AC input voltage. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first selectable DC output voltage is provided by a DC/DC boost converter in response to receiving the DC input voltage. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising filtering the first selectable DC output voltage via a filter circuit, the filter circuit providing a filtered DC output voltage of between 15 VDC and 25 VDC. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the filter circuit output is coupled to a DC-to-DC buck converter, wherein the DC-to-DC buck converter is adapted to provide the second DC output voltage of between 3 VDC and 15 VDC. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the removable program module comprises a key having a set of resistors, and wherein the first selectable DC output voltage is a function of the value of one of the resistors. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the key establishes an output voltage function. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the key establishes an output current limiting function. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the AC input voltage can have a range of 90 VAC to 265 VAC. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DC input voltage can have a range of 11 VDC to 16 VDC. 
   
   
       12 . A power converter comprising:
 a first circuit configured to convert an AC input voltage to a first DC voltage;   a second circuit configured to convert a DC input voltage to a second DC voltage;   a third circuit receiving the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage, and configured to generate a first selectable DC output voltage, wherein the first selectable DC output voltage is provided to a first output terminal; and   a fourth circuit receiving the first selectable DC output voltage and generating a second DC output voltage which is independent of, and substantially lower than the first selectable DC output voltage, and wherein the second DC output voltage is provided to a second output terminal.   
   
   
       13 . The power converter of  claim 12 , wherein the first output terminal is configured to be connected to a first portable electronic device, and wherein the second output terminal is configured to be connected to a second portable electronic device. 
   
   
       14 . The power converter of  claim 12 , further comprising a removable program module in a feedback circuit configured to selectively establish the voltage magnitude of the first selectable DC output voltage. 
   
   
       15 . The power converter of  claim 12 , further comprising an AC-to-DC flyback converter configured to provide the first selectable DC output voltage in response to receiving the AC input voltage. 
   
   
       16 . The power converter of  claim 12 , further comprising a DC/DC boost converter configured to provide the first selectable DC output voltage in response to receiving the DC input voltage.