AU2011101621C4 - Travel Adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

TRAVEL ADAPTOR A travel adaptor (212) for providing mains power (101) to a mains device (123) and USB 5 power (215) to a USB device (229), the adaptor (212) comprising a first mains plug module (203) having pins (201) configured to mate with corresponding apertures (107) of a first mains socket module (106) connected to the mains power (105), a second mains socket module (209) having apertures (210) configured to mate with corresponding pins (121) of a second mains plug module (122) connected (124) to the mains device (123), and 10 at least one USB module (206) configured to mate with a matching USB module (228) connected (230) to the USB device (229), wherein the USB module (206) is configured to receive (205) power from the first mains socket module (106) via a power conversion module (208) configured to convert mains power to USB power. DnonAno)In 1 091211

Description

S&F Ref: P020402 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address Ross Alec Jackson, of Applicant: of 16 Brookhollow Avenue, Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, 2153, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Ross Alex Jackson Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: Travel adaptor The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5843c(5824520_l ) TRAVEL ADAPTOR Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to power adaptors and, in particular, to a travel adaptor configured for providing, when travelling, both electrical mains power (such as 230VAC in Australia for example) to a portable mains device, such as a charger for a 5 laptop computer, and suitably conditioned electrical power referred to as USB power (typically +5VDC) for a "USB device", being an electronic device, such as a smart phone, equipped with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. Background The number of portable electronic devices in daily use, such as laptop Personal 10 Computers (PCs), mobile telephones, media players and the like, continues to increase, and travellers carry an increasing number of such devices with them on their travels. In this information age, the traveller may wish to conduct business "on the move" and it may be desirable to simultaneously connect both a laptop and a mobile telephone to mains power. However, as standards for mains power plugs and sockets typically vary 15 from country to country, the traveller may need to carry multiple mains power adapters with them, so that they can simultaneously connect devices to mains power. Alternately, the traveller can suffer reduced productivity, and connect only one device at a time to mains power. Summary 20 It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements. The inventor realised that while mains plugs and sockets conform to a multiplicity of different standards in different countries, necessitating the use of travel adaptors while -2 travelling, standardised USB plugs and sockets (eg see Fig. 4) are increasingly used in a variety of portable electronic devices. Accordingly, while it is still necessary for a traveller to take a travel adaptor with them in order to enable them to use a mains device (such as a charger for a personal Computer for example) when travelling, it is possible to obtain a 5 significant advantage by incorporating a USB module in the travel adaptor thereby enabling the traveller to both provide mains power to mains device, and to provide USB power to a USB device (such as a smart phones for example). Disclosed are arrangements, referred to as Integrated Multi-Power Adapter (IMPA) arrangements, which provide both mains power and USB power from the same 10 travel adaptor. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a travel adaptor for providing mains power to a mains device and for providing USB power to a USB device, the adaptor comprising: a first mains plug module having pins arranged in a first configuration, the pins being configured to mate with corresponding apertures of a 15 first mains socket module connected to the mains power, said apertures of the first mains socket module being arranged in said first configuration; a second mains socket module having apertures arranged in a second configuration, the apertures being configured to mate with corresponding pins of a second mains plug module connected to the mains device, said pins of the second mains plug module being arranged in said second 20 configuration; and at least one USB module configured to mate with a matching USB module connected to the USB device; wherein: the first mains plug module is electrically connected to the second mains socket module; and the USB module is configured to receive power from the first mains socket module via a power conversion module - 2a configured to convert mains power to USB power, wherein the power conversion module comprises a switch mode power convertor. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a travel adaptor for providing mains power to a mains device and for providing USB power to a USB device, 5 the adaptor comprising: a single first set of pins arranged according to a single first standard, the single first set of pins being configured to mate with a first set of apertures connected to the mains power; a single second set of apertures arranged according to a single second standard that is different to the first standard, the single second set of apertures being configured to mate with corresponding pins connected to the mains device; 10 and at least one USB module configured to mate with a matching USB module connected to the USB device; wherein: the single first set of pins is electrically connected to the single second set of apertures; and the USB module is configured to receive power from the single second set of apertures via a power conversion module configured to convert mains power to USB power; and wherein the power conversion module comprises a switch 15 mode power convertor.

-3 Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings Some aspects of the prior art and at least one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings and appendices, in which: 5 Fig. 1 shows a prior art arrangement for providing electric power to a portable device when travelling; Figs. 2A and 2B show functional block diagram examples for an IMPA travel adaptor; Fig. 3 shows one physical implementation of an IMPA travel adaptor; and 10 Fig. 4 shows illustrations of some of the different types of USB standards which may be supported by the IMPA arrangements. Detailed Description including Best Mode Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features 15 have for the purposes of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears. It is to be noted that the discussions in this specification relating to prior art arrangements relate to discussions of devices which may form public knowledge through their use. Such discussions should not be interpreted as a representation by the present 20 inventor(s) or the patent applicant that such devices in any way form part of the common general knowledge in the art. Fig. 1 shows a prior art arrangement for providing electric power to a portable device when travelling. When a person travels, they often take portable devices such as laptop computers and mobile phones with them. Since different standards are generally -4 used in different countries for mains plugs and sockets, travellers must take travel adaptors with them to enable them to use the portable devices. Fig. 1 shows a mains device 123, which may be a charger for a personal laptop computer (not shown), which receives mains power via a cord 124 attached to a mains plug 5 122 (also referred to as a plug module). The mains plug module 122 has pins 120, 121 which typically meet the standards of the country in which the mains device 123 is purchased. While in their home country, the person wishing to use the mains device 123 connects, as depicted by a dashed arrow 118, the mains plug module 122 into a suitable mains socket module 102. The mains socket module 102 has apertures 103, 104 which are 10 configured to mate with the corresponding pins 120, 121 of the mains plug module 122. When the mains plug module 122 is mated (i.e. plugged into) the mains socket 102 then electric mains power 101 flows to the mains device 123 enabling the person to use that device. Fig. 1 depicts, for ease of illustration, plug modules and socket modules having 15 two pins and two apertures respectively. Clearly three pins and three corresponding apertures can also be used. When travelling and wishing to take the mains device 123 with them, the traveller acquires a travel adaptor 113 for this purpose. The adaptor 113 has a mains socket module 115 with apertures 116, 117 configured to mate, as depicted by a dashed arrow 119, with 20 the pins 120, 121 of the mains plug module 122 associated with the mains device 123. The travel adaptor 113 also has a mains plug module 112 having pins 109, 111 configured to mate, as depicted by a dashed arrow 110 with respective apertures 107, 108 of a mains socket module 106 in the country in which the traveller is located.

-5 Thus, for example if the mains device 123 is for use in Australia, and the traveller wishes to use the device 123 in the UK, then the mains socket module 115 of the travel adaptor 113 will conform to Australian standards, and the mains plug module 112 will conform to UK standards. When the Australian traveller travels to the UK she plugs the 5 mains plug module 122 into the mains socket module 115 of the travel adaptor, and plugs the mains plug module 112 of the travel adaptor 113 into the mains socket module 106 in the UK, thereby enabling power 105 to flow to the mains device 123 via a connection 114. Figs. 2A and 2B show functional block diagrams of one example of the disclosed IMPA travel adaptor. 10 Fig. 2A shows an IMPA travel adaptor 212 having a mains socket module 209 with apertures 210 and 211 according to one configuration, a mains plug module 203 having pins 201, 202 according to another configuration, and a USB module (typically a USB socket module) 206. Accordingly, for example, the apertures 210, 211 of the mains socket module 209 15 may conform to an Australian power standard, the pins 201, 202 of the mains plug module 203 may conform to a UK power standard, and the USB module conforms to one of the various USB standards depicted in Fig. 4. The mains socket module 209 is connected, as depicted by a heavy line 207, to the mains plug module 203. A power conversion module 208 is connected, as depicted by a 20 connection 205, to the connection 207. The power conversion module 208 thus receives mains power via the connection 205, and outputs converted power, suitable for the USB module 206 (which may be referred to as a USB charging port) as depicted by connection 204. USB power 215 is thus available from the USB module 206 of the IMPA travel -6 adaptor 212 at the same time as electric mains power 213 is available from the mains socket module 209 for the mains device 123. Fig. 2B shows the power conversion module 208 in more detail. The connection 207 between the mains socket module 209 and the mains plug module 203 comprises, in 5 the example shown, three connections 223, 222 and 221 being respectively a "live" connection, a "neutral" connection, and an "earth" connection. Respective connections 205 are tapped off the aforementioned connections 221, 222 and 223 and are provided to the power conversion module 208. The power conversion module 208 may be implemented in a number of different 10 ways. Thus, for example, in one arrangement a switch-mode power supply is used to convert the mains power flowing in the connection 207 to USB power at the output 204 of the power conversion module 208. In another example, a transformer and associated smoothing circuits may be used. In one example, the power conversion module 208 supplies +5 volts DC on a 15 connection 231 to a connection pad 224 in the USB connection module 206. The power conversion module 208 also provides ground potential on a connection 232 to a ground connection pad 225 in the USB connection module 206. When the traveller wishes to power the USB device 229 which may, for example, be a mobile phone, the traveller mates a USB connection module 228 of the USB device 20 229 to the corresponding USB connection module 206 as depicted by a dashed arrow 227. Fig. 3 shows one implementation 300 of an IMPA travel adaptor. A first view 310 shows a body section 308 having pins 301, 302 and 303 according to a pin configuration conforming to the UK standard. A USB connection port 307 is also shown. A second view 310, in which the IMPA travel adaptor 300 has been inverted, shows -7 apertures 304, 305, 306 according to an aperture configuration conforming to the Australian standard, and the USB port 309. Clearly other styles of pins and apertures may be used, for example American or European style plugs. Furthermore, there may be one or more USB sockets, and various 5 USB configurations may be provided. Industrial Applicability The arrangements described are applicable to electrical appliance industry. The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and 10 spirit of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive. Thus for example, while the present specification has been directed primarily to USB modules of Type A in Fig. 4, IMPA travel adapters can support other types of USB modules, and can provide, in a single IMPA travel adaptor, a number of USB modules which may be the same or different. 15 In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including", and not "consisting only of'. Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises" have correspondingly varied meanings.

Claims (5)

1. A travel adaptor for providing mains power to a mains device and for providing USB power to a USB device, the adaptor comprising: 5 a first mains plug module having pins arranged in a first configuration, the pins being configured to mate with corresponding apertures of a first mains socket module connected to the mains power, said apertures of the first mains socket module being arranged in said first configuration; a second mains socket module having apertures arranged in a second 10 configuration, the apertures being configured to mate with corresponding pins of a second mains plug module connected to the mains device, said pins of the second mains plug module being arranged in said second configuration; and at least one USB module configured to mate with a matching USB module connected to the USB device; wherein: 15 the first mains plug module is electrically connected to the second mains socket module; and the USB module is configured to receive power from the first mains socket module via a power conversion module configured to convert mains power to USB power; wherein the power conversion module comprises a switch mode power convertor. 20

2. A travel adaptor according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of USB modules, wherein the power conversion module can be configured to provide a desired amount of USB power to each said USB module. -9

3. A travel adaptor according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of USB modules conform to different USB standards.

4. A travel adaptor for providing mains power to a mains device and for providing 5 USB power to a USB device, the adaptor comprising: a single first set of pins arranged according to a single first standard, the single first set of pins being configured to mate with a first set of apertures connected to the mains power; a single second set of apertures arranged according to a single second standard 10 that is different to the first standard, the single second set of apertures being configured to mate with corresponding pins connected to the mains device; and at least one USB module configured to mate with a matching USB module connected to the USB device; wherein: the single first set of pins is electrically connected to the single second set of 15 apertures; and the USB module is configured to receive power from the single second set of apertures via a power conversion module configured to convert mains power to USB power; and wherein the power conversion module comprises a switch mode power convertor. 20

5. A travel adaptor according to claim 4 comprising a plurality of USB modules, wherein; wherein: the power conversion module can be configured to provide a desired amount of USB power to each said USB module; and - 10 the plurality of USB modules conform to different USB standards. ROSS ALEC JACKSON Patent Attorneys for the Applicant 5 SPRUSON&FERGUSON