Portable power charger with two-way charging interface

Abstract

A portable power charger having an internal rechargeable battery is provided with a power connection port than can act in a power input mode when the charger is connected with an external power source via the power connection port and in a power output mode when at least one electronic device is connected to the charger via the power connection port. The power charger may be connected with both an external power source and an electronic device via the power connection port at the same time, wherein the charge supplied from the external power source recharges the charger and any electronic device connected to the charger. The charger also can automatically turn on if a connector cable is connected to the power connection port with either an external power supply or an electronic device connected at the other end of the cable to supply or draw power through the cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable charger unit for recharging at least one electronic device having a rechargeable internal battery, said portable charger unit comprising:
 a charger housing internally storing a rechargeable battery;   a power connection port operatively connected to the internal battery of the charger unit and capable of acting as a power input and a power output depending on what is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port, wherein said power connection port acts as a power input when the power connection port is connected to an external power source that provides an electrical charge to the charger unit, and said charge is used for recharging the internal battery of the charger unit when the charger unit is connected to said power source via the power connection port, or acts as a power output when the power connection port is connected to at least one electronic device, and a charge is provided from the internal battery of the charger unit to the electronic device to recharge the internal battery of said electronic device when said electronic device is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port; and   wherein the connector cable comprises:
 a first end having an interface adapted for connection with the power connection port; 
 a second end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the external power source and the at least one electronic device; and 
 a third end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the at least one electronic device and a second electronic device if the at least one electronic device is already connected to the second end of the connector cable, 
   wherein the charger unit automatically turns on when the first end of the connector cable is connected to the power connection port and either an external power source or at least one electronic device is connected to at least one of the second end or the third end of the connector cable,   wherein the charger unit automatically turns off if one of the following shut-off conditions occurs:
 (i) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and an external power source, the internal battery of the charger unit is fully charged; and 
 (ii) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and at least one electronic device, the internal battery of the at least one electronic device is fully charged. 
   
     
     
         2 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the charger unit automatically turns off after a predesignated time delay following the occurrence of one of the shut-off conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising power indicator means provided on the charger housing to indicate the power capacity in the internal battery of the charger unit. 
     
     
         4 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the power indicator means provides status of battery capacity of the internal battery of the charger unit while said internal battery is being charged. 
     
     
         5 . A portable charger unit for recharging at least one electronic device having a rechargeable internal battery, said portable charger unit comprising:
 a charger housing internally storing a rechargeable battery;   a power connection port operatively connected to the internal battery of the charger unit and capable of acting as a power input and a power output depending on what is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port, wherein said power connection port acts as a power input when the power connection port is connected to an external power source that provides an electrical charge to the charger unit, and said charge is used for recharging the internal battery of the charger unit when the charger unit is connected to said power source via the power connection port, or acts as a power output when the power connection port is connected to at least one electronic device, and a charge is provided from the internal battery of the charger unit to the electronic device to recharge the internal battery of said electronic device when said electronic device is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port; and   a processing unit operatively connected to the internal battery of the charger unit for controlling recharging of the internal battery of the charger unit when the power connection port acts as a power input, and for controlling recharging of the internal battery of the at least one electronic device connected to the charger unit via the power connection port when said port acts as a power output;   wherein the processing unit directs a charge to the at least one electronic device from the external power source via the charger unit when the power connection port of the charger unit is connected to the external power source, and   wherein the power connection port switches from acting as a power input to acting as a power output when the external power source is disconnected from the power connection port while the at least one electronic device remains connected to the power connection port.   
     
     
         6 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 5 , further comprising power indicator means provided on the charger housing and operatively controlled by the processing unit to indicate the power capacity in the internal battery of the charger unit. 
     
     
         7 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the power indicator means provides a status of battery capacity of the internal battery of the charger unit while said internal battery is being charged. 
     
     
         8 . A portable charger unit for recharging at least one electronic device having a rechargeable internal battery, said portable charger unit comprising:
 a charger housing internally storing a rechargeable battery;   a power connection port operatively connected to the internal battery of the charger unit and capable of acting as a power input and a power output depending on what is connected to the charger unit via the power connection port, wherein said power connection port acts as a power input when the power connection port is connected to an external power source that provides an electrical charge to the charger unit via the connector cable, and said charge is used for recharging the internal battery of the charger unit when the charger unit is connected to said power source, or acts as a power output when the power connection port is connected to at least one electronic device via the connector cable, and a charge is provided from the internal battery of the charger unit to the electronic device to recharge the internal battery of said electronic device when said electronic device is connected to the charger unit; and   a connector cable having a first end adaptable for connection with the power connection port and at least a second free end capable of connecting the charger unit with at least one of an external power source and at least one electronic device;   wherein the charger unit automatically turns on when the first end of the connector cable is connected to the power connection port and either an external power source or at least one electronic device is connected to the second free end of the connector cable,   wherein the charger unit automatically turns off if one of the following shut-off conditions occurs:   (i) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and an external power source, the internal battery of the charger unit is fully charged; and   (ii) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and at least one electronic device, the internal battery of the at least one electronic device is fully charged.   
     
     
         9 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the connector cable is capable of connecting the charger unit with the external power source and the at least one electronic device at the same time via the power connection port. 
     
     
         10 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the connector cable comprises:
 a first end having an interface adapted for connection with the power connection port;   a second end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the external power source and the at least one electronic device; and   a third end having an interface adapted for connection with one of the at least one electronic device and a second electronic device if the at least one electronic device is already connected to the second end of the connector cable.   
     
     
         11 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the charger unit automatically turns off after a predesignated time delay following the occurrence of one of the shut-off conditions. 
     
     
         12 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the power connection port switches from acting as a power input to acting as a power output when the external power source is disconnected from the power connection port while the at least one electronic device remains connected to the power connection port, and
 wherein a charge is directed from the internal battery of the charger unit to the at least one electronic device.   
     
     
         13 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 8 , further comprising power indicator means provided on the charger housing to indicate the power capacity in the internal battery of the charger unit. 
     
     
         14 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the power indicator means provides a status of battery capacity of the internal battery of the charger unit while said internal battery is being charged. 
     
     
         15 . A method for using a portable power charger having a rechargeable internal battery operatively connected to a power connection port capable of operating in a power input mode and a power output mode, said method comprising:
 connecting the power charger to a first end of a connector cable via the power connection port of the power charger;   placing the power charger in the power input mode, whereby an electrical charge is provided to the internal battery of the power charger from the external power source to recharge the internal battery of the power charger, in case a second end of the connector cable is connected to an external power source;   placing the power charger in the power output mode, whereby an electrical charge is provided from the internal battery of the power charger to recharge the internal battery of the at least one electronic device, in case the second end of the connector cable is connected to at least one electronic device having an internal battery;   determining if the second end of the connector cable is connected to one of the external power source and the at least one electronic device, and if a third end of the connector cord is simultaneously connected to the other of the external power source and the at least one electronic device; and if so,   waiting until the at least one electronic device already connected to the power charger is fully charged before switching the power charger from the power output mode to the power input mode and thereafter charging the internal battery of the power charger from the external power source.   
     
     
         16 . A method for using a portable power charger having a rechargeable internal battery and a processing unit each operatively connected to a power connection port, said method comprising:
 determining, using the processing unit, if a connector cable is connected to the power connection port; and, if so   determining, using the processing unit, if the connector cable is also connected to at least one of (i) an external power source supplying an electrical charge through the connector cable, and (ii) an electronic device attempting to draw an electrical charge through the connector cable; and, if so   turning on the power charger.   
     
     
         17 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 16 , wherein the charger unit automatically turns off if one of the following shut-off conditions occurs:
 (i) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and an external power source, the internal battery of the charger unit is fully charged; and   (ii) where the connector cable is connected between the power connection port of the charger unit and at least one electronic device, the internal battery of the at least one electronic device is fully charged.   
     
     
         18 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the charger unit automatically turns off after a predesignated time delay following the occurrence of one of the shut-off conditions. 
     
     
         19 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 16 , further comprising power indicator means provided on the charger housing and operatively controlled by the processing unit to indicate the power capacity in the internal battery of the charger unit. 
     
     
         20 . The portable charger unit according to  claim 19 , wherein the power indicator means provides a status of battery capacity of the internal battery of the charger unit while said internal battery is being charged.