A method provides a virtual presentation includes providing a toy that is represented on a website via a virtual replica of the toy, wherein the toy is associated with a registration code; validating the registration code; responsive to said validating, displaying said virtual replica of the toy representing said toy on said website; providing at least one virtual room on the website for the virtual replica of the toy; offering one or more virtual furnishings for the at least one virtual room; providing content that allows the one or more virtual furnishings to be arranged in the at least one virtual room; and interacting the virtual replica of the toy with at least one of the one or more virtual furnishings.

System and method for toy adoption and marketing

The invention provides a power delivery system for a mobile device. The power delivery system includes a contactor device and a plurality of first electrical contacts on the contactor device disposed in an interspersed arrangement wherein first electrical contacts of one polarity are interspersed with first electrical contacts of a second polarity throughout the contactor body.

Alternative wirefree mobile device power supply method and system with free positioning

A CCFL power converter circuit is provided using a high-efficiency zero-voltage-switching technique that eliminates switching losses associated with the power MOSFETs. An optimal sweeping-frequency technique is used in the CCFL ignition by accounting for the parasitic capacitance in the resonant tank circuit. Additionally, the circuit is self-learning and is adapted to determine the optimum operating frequency for the circuit with a given load. An over-voltage protection circuit can also be provided to ensure that the circuit components are protected in the case of open-lamp condition.

High-efficiency adaptive DC/AC converter

A series current regulator with an on-silicon temperature sensor (102) formed over current battery protection device (100) The protection device (100) regulates current in a pass element (101) linearly while sensing the junction temperature of the pass element (101) If the temperature of the pass element (101) reaches a predetermined threshold, the on-silicon temperature sensor (102) actuates a switch (104) which causes the pass element (101) to go into a high impedance mode The protection device offers advantages over positive temperature coefficient (PTC) and further includes faster trip time and lower leakage current

Silicon equivalent ptc circuit

A selector circuit configured to select among a DC power source and a plurality of batteries for an electronic device. The selector circuit is responsive to an output signal from an associated power management unit. The selector circuit is further configured to permit parallel operation of two or more of the batteries. The selector circuit may further act to independently verify power conditions and override instructions from the PMU in certain instances to enhance power supply safety and battery life such as by preventing inter battery current flow from a higher potential battery to a lower potential battery coupled in parallel. A power supply block including the selector circuit and an electronic device including the power supply block is also provided. The selector circuit may be integrated with a charging circuit on one integrated circuit.

Selector circuit for power management in multiple battery systems

Following the constant-current portion of a rechargeable battery charging scheme with repeated current pulses having a lower current value than that of the constant current portion, for at least part of the period of the pulse, can increase the amount of time that elapses before the voltage of the rechargeable battery is at or above a threshold voltage, thereby decreasing the total charge time for the rechargeable battery. Various current pulse shapes can be used to reduce the total charge time for the rechargeable battery, including, for example, a ramped pulse that begins at a low current level and increases over some or all of the period of the pulse, and a constant current pulse whose current level is reduced from that of the constant-current portion of the rechargeable battery charging scheme by a specified amount. The specified amount of reduction can, for example, be a fixed percentage of the current level of the constant-current portion of the rechargeable battery charging scheme, or it can be based on the parameters of the battery being charged.

Adaptive fast charging of lithium-ion batteries

For an electronic device having at least one power switch for each of two or more power sources such that the power switches can be selectively activated or deactivated depending on a signal supplied to them, a protection circuit having a current-sense circuit coupled to measure the current from the two or more power sources, and a latch for producing a switch deactivating signal and applying it to the switches in response to an over-current signal from the current-sense circuit can protect the switches and the electronic device from soft-short circuits and absolute short circuits. Bypass resistors coupled to the switches allow the electronic device to receive a small current ("pre-charge") before any of the switches are activated so that a comparator can test for the presence of various types of short circuits. Additionally, the precharging brings the electronic device to a higher voltage (as compared to no pre-charging) when one of the switches is activated, thereby helping to reduce in-rush currents. Blanking logic allows the protection circuit to tolerate certain in-rush currents by preventing the latch from triggering (e.g., supplying the latch with an under-current signal) for an appropriate time period.

Protection circuit for electronic devices

An inverter circuit having dual converters for driving a fluorescent lamp comprising a pulse width modulator coupled to receive a feedback signal indicative of current in the fluorescent lamp. The pulse width modulator generates driving signals that are received by a synchronously switching voltage regulator having a high side driver and a low side driver. A self-resonant converter is coupled between the synchronously switching voltage regulator and the fluorescent lamp and generates a voltage signal for illuminating the fluorescent lamp. The self-resonant converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and at least one secondary winding, a capacitor coupled in parallel with the primary winding, and a full bridge circuit. The full bridge circuit may include four switching transistors, such as MOSFETs coupled in an H-configuration to the primary winding and the capacitor. A zero voltage detector controls switching of the synchronously switching voltage regulator based on voltage input to the self-resonant converter. A timer circuit is coupled to the self-resonant converter and the zero voltage detector, and outputs signals to control the frequency of oscillation in the self-resonant converter based on the signals from the self-resonant converter and the zero voltage detector.

Voltage regulator with double synchronous bridge CCFL inverter

A system for charging dual battery packs. The system includes a charger for supplying current to charge a first battery pack when the first battery pack is electrically coupled to the computer system. The charger supplies current to charge a second battery pack when the second battery pack is electrically coupled to the computer system. The system also includes a charge controller, such as a keyboard controller executing a program stored in a memory, for controlling the charging of the first battery pack and the second battery pack such that the charger charges the first battery pack to a first level, the charger charges the second battery pack to a second level, and the charger simultaneously charges the first battery pack and the second battery pack when the first battery pack is charged above the first level and below a third level and the second battery pack is charged above the second level and below a fourth level. Each battery pack includes a processor, an associated memory, back to back FETs, and lithium ion cells.

Dual battery pack charging in a computer system

A battery charging apparatus, computer system and method provide current from a single power line to charge either a first battery or multiple batteries in an independent mode or a simultaneous mode. The apparatus includes an AC-to-DC adapter, the power line, and a battery charging control system that measures the charge of the individual batteries and compares the measured charge. If the charging system detects a difference in charge between the batteries, the lowest or the lower charged batteries are charged until the charging system detects no difference in charge, and then resumes simultaneous charging. The battery charging control system also includes a comparator circuit that determines whether to enable charging in the independent mode or the simultaneous mode based on input from a user or input from a computer system. The computer system includes a processor, a memory, a bus, a power line, and a battery charging apparatus coupled to the power line. The battery charging apparatus capable of simultaneously charging a plurality of batteries with a single power line and allowing current from the power line to charge either a first battery or multiple batteries in either an independent mode or a simultaneous mode. The method includes simultaneously charging a plurality of batteries using a power line, providing a battery charging apparatus with an AC-to-DC adapter and a power line, providing a battery system, and enabling current from the power line to charge either a first battery or a plurality of batteries simultaneously or independently.

Barry K. Kates

Papers

Adaptive fast charging of lithium-ion batteries

Protection circuit for electronic devices

Voltage regulator with double synchronous bridge CCFL inverter

Dual battery pack charging in a computer system

Adaptive multiple battery charging apparatus