Method and apparatus for recharging batteries in a more efficient manner

摘要

A battery charger including a converter unit, a terminal adaptor, a cable, a battery, and/or multiple power connectors. A terminal, such as an electronic device, can be connected to the converter unit using the cable or directly to the converter unit without the cable. The converter unit determines when to draw power from an external power and when to cease drawing power from the external power source by detecting a power enablement condition or a power disablement condition. The power disablement condition occurs when the terminal is fully charged, the terminal is disconnected from the converter unit, and/or a charge time of the terminal exceeds the predetermined charge time threshold. The power enablement condition occurs when the terminal is initially connected to the converter unit and/or the terminal needs to be charged. The battery supplies power to components of the converter unit and/or the terminal.

主权项

1. An electric charge cutoff device for delivering power to a terminal, comprising:
a housing; a terminal adaptor connectable to the terminal; a cable for extending from the housing and connected to the terminal adaptor; a power connector plug connected to the housing and configured to receive power from a power source external to the housing; a sensor circuit positioned within the housing and for electrically coupling to the cable, and configured to detect a variation in a capacitance of the cable; a latched relay positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the power connector plug and configured to electrically couple to the terminal adaptor, and configured to disable reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source in response to the sensor circuit detecting the variation in the capacitance of the cable; and a renewable energy source positioned within the housing and electrically coupled to the sensor circuit, and configured to provide power to the sensor circuit when reception of power by the power connector plug from the power source is disabled.