Universal system for charging at least one portable device

Abstract

A universal system for recharging at least one portable appliance, the dedication of which is being capable from a device ( 4 ) of suiting any portable appliance version by means of at least one adapter ( 6 ) which may be specific in all or part of the relevant portable appliance. The invention, in its preferred alternative embodiments, allows simultaneous or sequential recharging of a plurality of portable appliances. With the invention it is further possible to save electric energy in a stand-by mode and the risks of fire and electrocution in the case of any dysfunction are reduced as compared with the solutions of the state of the art.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A universal system for recharging at least one portable appliance comprising:
 a device for recharging at least one portable appliance by providing electric energy; and   at least one adapter for transferring electric energy in a discontinuous manner from said device to the at least one portable appliance.   
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 32  further comprising guiding and/or maintaining means specific or adaptable to the dimensions of said at least one portable appliance in order to ensure positioning of the latter which is suitable for recharging. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 32  further comprising at least one cable winder and/or one housing for concealing the excess length of at least one cable. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 32  further comprising a bearing surface for receiving the portable appliances to be recharged. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 32  further comprising means for recording and/or reproducing and/or handling voice messages. 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 36 , characterized in that it further comprises means for automatically recognizing the addressee of a voice message upon starting the charging of the portable appliance which is associated with it, the starting of the charging of the portable appliance further causing automatic reading of at least one voice message recorded beforehand intended for the recognized addressee. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device comprises means for disconnecting at least one power supply used for recharging said at least one portable appliance when said at least one portable appliance in connection with said at least one relevant power supply is not being charged or when its recharging is considered as having ended. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 38  wherein said device further comprises an additional time-lag for maintaining charging which defers the instant of effective disconnection from the instant of the detection of the conditions for disconnection. 
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 38  wherein said device automatically disconnects said at least one power supply used for recharging said at least one portable appliance when the power consumed by the corresponding load exceeds a threshold determined beforehand. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device further comprises means for recharging said at least one portable appliance by receiving a command and/or by automatic detection of the starting of the charging of at least one portable appliance. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device further comprises means for automating periodic recharging of at least one portable appliance. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device further comprises means for recharging at least one electric energy accumulator as such and/or at least one simple portable appliance comprising an electric energy accumulator and not comprising any charging supervisor. 
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device further comprises means for ensuring at least one accelerated recharging mode. 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device further comprises means for connecting to an external electric energy source, these means comprising a cable equipped with at least one suitable connector made by overmoulding. 
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device further comprises a self-contained energy source. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device further comprises a single very low voltage power supply source capable of recharging at least one portable appliance, the voltage of this single source being stabilized to a value making it suitable for direct recharging of at least one portable appliance version. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 47  wherein said device blocks the power supply of all or part of said at least one portable appliance in order to remain within the limits of the capacities of said single very low voltage power supply source in the case of a power need above the capacities of said single very low voltage power supply source. 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 47  wherein said device enters in a sequential recharging mode for all or part of said at least one portable appliance when the power need exceeds the limits of the capacities of said single very low voltage power supply source. 
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said device is capable of detecting at least one effect of an intervention of the user in the system or in its close environment, and that the device is capable of automatically changing its functional condition accordingly. 
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein said adapter comprises at least a first sub-assembly connected to the device, said first sub-assembly being capable of transferring electric energy to a portable appliance through wire means comprising at least two contacts and/or through non-wire means comprising at least one primary inductor, the energy transfer being accomplished directly or via a second sub-assembly connected to said at least one portable appliance, the second sub-assembly comprising at least two contacts and/or at least one secondary inductor. 
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 51  wherein said first and second sub-assemblies of said adapter are laid out in order to materialize an interface between them which is capable of transferring electric energy and which is at least partly independent of the specific characteristics of said at least one portable appliance. 
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 51  wherein the contacts and/or the inductors of said adapter which have to cooperate are respectively maintained in a contact and/or coupling position suitable for transferring electric energy through the effect of a force. 
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 51  wherein the maintaining of said second sub-assembly of said adapter or of the portable appliance exerted by a force is controlled by an electric command in connection with the charge condition of the portable appliance. 
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 51  wherein said second sub-assembly of said adapter is associated with means achieving at least partial overcladding of the portable appliance. 
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 55  wherein the connector ensuring the connection of the electric circuits of said second sub-assembly of said adapter with the portable appliance has a reduced protruding portion relatively to the corresponding standard connector when the connector is inserted in the corresponding base of the portable appliance. 
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 55  wherein said second sub-assembly of said adapter further comprises means for restoring at least one original resource of the portable appliance. 
     
     
         58 . The system according to  claim 55  wherein said second sub-assembly of said adapter comprises at least one additional resource relatively to those of the relevant portable appliance and/or at least one standard resource functionally equivalent to at least one specific resource of the relevant portable appliance. 
     
     
         59 . The system according to  claim 55  wherein said second sub-assembly of said adapter further comprises at least one contactless identification means. 
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 32  wherein the means for connecting said device to said at least one portable appliance comprises at least one cable and at least one connector made by overmoulding, said at least one connector being suitable for recharging at least one portable appliance version. 
     
     
         61 . The system according to  claim 60  wherein said adapter further comprises a removable connector type changing device, made by overmoulding, in order to allow the connection of a portable appliance, the connector of which for recharging is not compatible with said at least one connector of the adapter. 
     
     
         62 . The system according to  claim 60  wherein at least one of the parts of said adapter made by overmoulding further comprises one or more diodes mounted in series, in at least one of the power supply circuits, in order to lower the voltage provided by the device to a determined value which is suitable for recharging the relevant portable appliance version.