Voltage adapter for a battery-powered camera system

Abstract

A voltage adapter for a battery-powered camera, including a boost regulating circuit, which is positionable between a camera and a camera battery. The power adapter being in communication with the battery and an appliance (e.g., a camera, a light, etc.) such that a constant boosted voltage (e.g., greater than the output voltage of the battery) is supplied to the appliance as the battery discharges. In a preferred embodiment the power supply further includes a buck regulator to maintain the proper output voltage when the battery voltage is greater than the output voltage.

1 . An voltage adapter for a battery-powered camera comprising: 
 a power supply, including a voltage boost circuit, wherein the power supply is positionable between a camera and a camera battery, such that when the power supply is electronically coupled to the camera battery, said power supply draws power from the camera battery and provides a regulated voltage to an appliance over at least a portion of the camera battery discharge cycle, and wherein said regulated voltage is greater than the voltage produced by said camera battery.    
   
   
       2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the regulated voltage remains substantially constant.  
   
   
       3 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the power supply is controlled by a microprocessor.  
   
   
       4 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply further includes a voltage monitoring circuit, said voltage monitoring circuit causing the voltage boost circuit to be disengaged from the appliance when the camera battery voltage drops to a predetermined voltage level.  
   
   
       5 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply provides an electrical connection suitable for powering the appliance.  
   
   
       6 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply further comprises a voltage buck circuit, wherein said power supply provides the regulated voltage that is less than the voltage produced by said camera battery.  
   
   
       7 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is a motion picture and television camera.  
   
   
       8 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is a motion picture and television camera battery.  
   
   
       9 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is a video camcorder.  
   
   
       10 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is a video camcorder battery.  
   
   
       11 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is said camera.  
   
   
       12 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a lighting device.  
   
   
       13 . The adapter of  claim 12 , wherein the lighting device consists of one or more light emitting diodes, wherein said light emitting diodes emit light levels sufficient for image capture.  
   
   
       14 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is configured to be contained within or integrated with the camera battery housing.  
   
   
       15 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply further includes a current monitoring circuit, wherein said current monitoring circuit is configured to monitor the output current of said power supply in order to maintain proper operating conditions.  
   
   
       16 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is external to the appliance.  
   
   
       17 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is further configured to provide a more preferred voltage to the appliance, wherein said preferred voltage is substantially similar to the rated voltage of the appliance and wherein said rated voltage is greater than the initial voltage produced by said camera battery.  
   
   
       18 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the regulated voltage is maintained over substantially all of the discharge cycle of the camera battery.  
   
   
       19 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the regulated voltage is set to a pre-determined voltage.  
   
   
       20 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein said regulated voltage is greater than the initial voltage produced by the camera battery.