WO2008134784A2

WO2008134784A2 - Electronic adapter for the optimal utilization of electrochemical storage elements in electric consumers

Info

Publication number: WO2008134784A2
Application number: PCT/AT2008/000145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Rudolf Reiter
Original assignee: Thomas Rudolf Reiter
Priority date: 2007-05-03
Filing date: 2008-04-22
Publication date: 2008-11-13
Also published as: AT505018B1; WO2008134784A3; AT505018A4

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic adapter which has the form of commercial electrochemical energy stores (disposable and rechargeable batteries,...) and inside which a somewhat smaller electrochemical energy store, an electronic switched-mode power supply unit, an electronic controller, and a sensor are accommodated. When the sensor signals that the mobile device that has been equipped with said adapter instead of a conventional electrochemical store is to be turned on, the electronic controller activates the switched-mode power supply unit which electronically increases the voltage of the integrated electrochemical energy store in a clocked manner to the desired value as long as energy is required or until the energy store is completely empty.

Description

Electronic adapter for optimum utilization of electrochemical storage elements in electrical consumers

The invention relates to an electronic adapter of the form commercial electrochemical energy storage (batteries, rechargeable batteries ...) and in the interior of a slightly smaller electrochemical energy storage, an electronic switching power supply, an electronic control and an environmental sensor are housed.

An analysis of the batteries thrown away by typical Austrian households reveals that they are not empty at all but still have residual capacity of up to 50%. The main reason for this is that many battery-powered devices switch off at a voltage of 1.35V per battery.

If this residual capacity were to be fully exploited, the battery waste could be reduced by about a third.

Another, much greater reduction of the battery consumption could be done by the more frequent use of batteries.

The use of rechargeable batteries is often a foregone conclusion because they usually have a much lower nominal voltage (NiCd batteries approx. 1.25V) than batteries (approx. 1.5V alkaline).

By incorporating a switching power supply according to the invention into the adapter, the voltage of the electrochemical energy store, which is also installed in the adapter, is electronically adjusted to the value of e.g. a still almost new battery or charged batteries hochclocked up for as long as energy is needed or until the electrochemical storage in the adapter is completely emptied.

This ensures that:

• the often wasted residual capacity of electrochemical energy storage is fully utilized,

• portable devices that can be operated with batteries when the supply voltage drops below 1.35V per battery,

• Portable older devices that require battery designs that are no longer manufactured, but can continue to operate through the use of adapters of the same design, but equipped with readily available electrochemical storage devices.

• Devices with high supply voltage are also suitable for mobile use by the use of adapters which electronically boost the voltage to a multiple of the built-in electrochemical energy storage unit.

• Main operating parameters (brightness, number of revolutions, ...) of portable devices remain constant over the entire life of the battery, thus reducing the overall amount of waste. By way of example, FIG. 1 shows, as an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adapter (1) in whose interior there is an electrochemical energy store (2) and an electronic circuit (3) comprising the switching power supply, the control electronics and the sensor.

The adapter housing consists of an upper part (4) with the positive pole (5) and a cap (6), which forms the negative pole.

Since the electronic switching power supply is in the moment in operation, where the adapter is equipped with the electrochemical energy storage and a switched-mode power supply consumed even at idle energy and thus wastes valuable battery or battery energy, it must be ensured with an electronic control system that the adapter only is in operation when energy is actually needed. According to the invention this is achieved in that a sensor collects environmental data from which it can be concluded that the mobile device should be used. By way of example, this may be a sensor for vibration, vibration, temperature, humidity or the like. Control electronics now continuously monitor the sensor and activate the switching power supply when the device to be supplied must be in operation. A block diagram is shown in FIG. 2.

Since many portable devices are charged in a network station during breaks in operation, a charging circuit with diode function was also provided, which also allows charging the built-in battery in the adapter, in such a way that its charging parameters are met and flow in the discharge operation no return currents.

Claims

claims

1. A device for utilizing the residual energy of electrochemical storage elements, characterized in that having in a battery form housing (1) a memory element (2) in a receiving holder and a known circuit (3) for high clocking of the residual voltage of the memory element (2) the original rated or operating voltage are arranged.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the circuit (3) with a sensor (3) for vibrations, shocks, temperature, humidity or the like. Connected, which via a timer (3) for a longer period of rest, the circuit (3 ) turns off, or turns on again after activation.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for use with rechargeable storage elements (2), the circuit (3) is additionally provided with a charging circuit (3).