Henry Michael Wolff

US Patent:

20030230934, Dec 18, 2003

Filed:

Jun 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/173248

Inventors:

Gary Cordelli - Indialantic FL, US
Henry Wolff - Bethesda MD, US

International Classification:

H02J001/00

US Classification:

307/043000

Abstract:

The modular power supply of the present invention provides a new device and method for powering multiple portable and/or small devices each requiring an AC or DC current source at one of various low-voltage levels. The invention comprises a main power base that is capable of converting AC power levels in common use internationally into a main low-level DC bus, which may, for example, be 24VDC. The AC input source and the derived DC voltage are then supplied via separate buses to smaller power “blocks” of two distinct designs, one for transforming the AC bus voltage to a low-voltage AC output, and one for converting the DC bus voltage to a low-voltage DC output. The DC blocks are of a common design, but are differentiated in that their respective output voltages are set by a “programming” element. The AC blocks are of a second common design, but are differentiated in that their respective output voltages are set by a “programming” transformer. All of these power “blocks” are of such a physical design that any DC block can only make contact with the DC bus and any AC block can only make contact with the AC bus. All of the blocks share a common output connector type and a common shape. In this way, a certain number of blocks, set by the size and output power of the power base unit, may be chosen from the group of all AC and DC blocks. Such blocks can be interchanged in placement on the power base unit in various permutations so as to meet the AC or DC input requirements of the various equipment that is to be powered by the invention.