Multi-power charger and battery backup system

Abstract

A multi-power charger comprises an internal battery, receptacles for connecting one or more external power sources, and output receptacles for connecting to an electronic device. A voltage selection circuit determines an operating voltage of the first device and selects a power supply source to supply the operating voltage the device. The power supply source may be the internal battery, the external power source, or both. The operating voltage is delivered to the device via the output receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-power charger comprising:
 an internal battery; 
 a first input receptacle for connecting to a first external power source; 
 a first output receptacle for connecting to a first device; 
 a voltage selection circuit, wherein the voltage selection comprises logic for:
 determining a first operating voltage of the first device; 
 selecting a first power supply source to supply the first operating voltage of the first device, wherein the first power supply source is at least one of the group consisting of the internal battery and the first external power source; and 
 delivering the first operating voltage to the first output receptacle. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The multi-power charger of  claim 1 , wherein the first external power source is selected from the group consisting of an AC adapter, a computer power supply via a Firewire connection, a computer power supply via a USB connection, a vehicle battery via a power adapter, and an airplane electrical system via a power adapter. 
     
     
       3. The multi-power charger of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is selected from the group consisting of an PDA, an MP3 player, a GPS device, notebook computer, and a cell phone. 
     
     
       4. The multi-power charger of  claim 1  further comprising a second output receptacle for connecting to a second device and wherein the voltage selection further comprises logic for:
 determining a second operating voltage of the second device; selecting a second power supply source to supply the second operating voltage of the second device, wherein the second power supply source is at least one of the group consisting of the internal battery and the first external power source; and 
 delivering the second operating voltage to the second output receptacle while simultaneously delivering the first operating voltage to the first output receptacle. 
 
     
     
       5. The multi-power charger of  claim 4 , wherein the first device and the second device are each selected from the group consisting of an PDA, an MP3 player, a GPS device, notebook computer, and a cell phone. 
     
     
       6. The multi-power charger of  claim 4 , wherein the first external power source is selected from the group consisting of an AC adapter, a computer power supply via a Firewire connection, a computer power supply via a USB connection, a vehicle battery via a power adapter, and an airplane electrical system via a power adapter. 
     
     
       7. The multi-power charger of  claim 1  further comprising a second external power source and wherein the voltage selection circuit further comprises logic for:
 selecting a first power supply source to supply the first operating voltage of the first device, wherein the first power supply source is selected from the group consisting of the first internal power source, the first external power source, and the second external power source; and 
 delivering the first operating voltage to the first output receptacle. 
 
     
     
       8. The multi-power charger of  claim 7 , wherein the first external power source and the second external power source are each selected from the group consisting of an AC adapter, a computer power supply via a Firewire connection, a computer power supply via a USB connection, a vehicle battery via a power adapter, and an airplane electrical system via a power adapter. 
     
     
       9. The multi-power charger of  claim 1  further comprising an internal charging circuit, wherein the internal charging circuit comprises logic for:
 receiving power from an internal charging source; 
 receiving power from the first external power source via the first input receptacle; 
 determining whether the internal battery is discharged; 
 if the internal battery is discharged, then determining whether the first external power source and the internal charging source are of sufficient capacity to deliver the first operating voltage of the first device and provide power to the internal battery; 
 if the first external power source and the internal charging source are of sufficient capacity to deliver the first operating voltage of the first device and to provide power to the internal battery, then providing power to the internal battery from at least one of the internal charging source and the first external power source; 
 determining when the internal battery is fully charged; and 
 if the internal battery is fully charged, ceasing providing power to the internal battery. 
 
     
     
       10. The multi-power charger of  claim 9 , wherein the first internal charging source is selected from the group consisting of a solar panel and a hand-cranked dynamo. 
     
     
       11. The multi-power charger of  claim 9 , wherein the first external power source is selected from the group consisting of an AC adapter, a computer power supply via a Firewire connection, a computer power supply via a USB connection, a vehicle battery via a power adapter, and an airplane electrical system via a power adapter. 
     
     
       12. The multi-power charger of  claim 1  further comprising an internal charging circuit, wherein the internal charging circuit comprises logic for:
 receiving power from an internal charging source; 
 receiving power from the first external power source via the first input receptacle; 
 receiving power from the second external power source via the second input receptacle; 
 determining whether the internal battery is discharged; 
 if the internal battery is discharged, then determining whether the first external power source, the second external power source, and the internal charging source are collectively of sufficient capacity to deliver the first operating voltage of the first device and provide power to the internal battery; 
 if the first external power source, the second external power source, and the internal charging source are collectively of sufficient capacity to deliver the first operating voltage of the first device and provide power to the internal battery, then providing power to the internal battery from at least one of the internal charging source, the first external power source, and the second external power source; 
 determining when the internal battery is fully charged; and 
 if the internal battery is fully charged, ceasing providing power to the internal battery. 
 
     
     
       13. The multi-power charger of  claim 11 , wherein the first external power source and the second external power source are each selected from the group consisting of an AC adapter, a computer power supply via a Firewire connection, a computer power supply via a USB connection, a vehicle battery via a power adapter, and an airplane electrical system via a power adapter. 
     
     
       14. The multi-power charger of  claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises a first device battery, wherein the multi-power charger further comprising an external charging circuit and wherein the external charging circuit comprises logic for:
 determining whether the first device battery is discharged; 
 if the first device battery is discharged, then providing power to the first device battery via the first output receptacle; 
 determining whether the first device battery is fully charged; and 
 if the first device battery is fully charged, ceasing providing power to the first device battery. 
 
     
     
       15. The multi-power charger of  claim 4 , wherein the first device comprises a first device battery and the second device comprises a second device battery, wherein the multi-power charger further comprising an external charging circuit and wherein the external charging circuit comprises logic for:
 determining whether the first device battery is discharged; 
 if the first device battery is discharged, then providing power to the first device battery via the first output receptacle; 
 determining whether the first device battery is fully charged; and 
 if the first device battery is fully charged, ceasing providing power to the first device battery; 
 determining whether the second device battery is discharged; 
 if the second device battery is discharged, then providing power to the second device battery via the second output receptacle; 
 determining whether the second device battery is fully charged; and 
 if the first device battery is fully charged, ceasing providing power to the second device battery. 
 
     
     
       16. A portable rechargeable device for the charging of other portable rechargeable devices, comprising:
 a compartment for an onboard rechargeable battery;   a first power input interface for connecting to a first external power source;   a first power output interface for connecting to another portable rechargeable device;   a first alternate onboard power source;   circuitry for recharging said onboard rechargeable battery from one or more of said first external power source and said first alternate onboard power source;   circuitry for selecting a power source from among two or more active power sources and for providing power from said selected power source to one or more of said rechargeable battery and said first power output interface.   
     
     
       17. A portable rechargeable device according to claim 16, further comprising:
 circuitry for automatically detecting whether one or more of said first external power source, and said first alternate onboard power source are an active power source.   
     
     
       18. A portable rechargeable device according to claim 16, further comprising:
 a second alternate onboard power source.   
     
     
       19. A portable rechargeable device according to claim 16, further comprising:
 circuitry for automatically detecting a highest voltage from among active power sources.   
     
     
       20. A portable rechargeable device according to claim 16, further comprising:
 circuitry for automatically providing power from said detected higher voltage power source to said first power output interface for charging another portable rechargeable device.