Power supply device

The present application claims the benefit of priority from the China Patent Application No. 201921249876.4, filed on 1 Aug. 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

1. Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of electronic cigarette technologies, and more particularly to a power supply device of an electronic cigarette.

2. Description of the Related Art

Electronic cigarette technologies are developing rapidly. An electronic cigarette mainly uses a built-in rechargeable battery to provide power required by internal electronic elements, allowing the user to perform related operations on electronic cigarettes. For ease of carrying, an electronic cigarette is generally smaller in size than common electronic devices. Therefore, a power supply device for use in combination with the built-in rechargeable battery of the electronic cigarette needs to be re-designed.

Some embodiments of the present application provide a power supply device, including a housing, a circuit board, and a connecting assembly. The housing defines an accommodation space, and includes: a housing positioning component, a first opening, and a second opening. The housing positioning component is disposed in the accommodation space. The circuit board is disposed in the accommodation space, and includes a circuit board positioning component, a power input port, and a power output port. The power input port is disposed corresponding to the first opening. The power output port is disposed corresponding to the second opening. The connecting assembly is configured to connect the housing positioning component and the circuit board positioning component, and position the circuit board in the accommodation space of the housing.

The present application will be described according to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional diagram of a power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 1A according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device taken along line B-B′ in FIG. 1A according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 1D is a three-dimensional diagram of a housing of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 1E is a three-dimensional diagram of a circuit board of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 1F is another three-dimensional diagram of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2A is a three-dimensional diagram of a power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 2A according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device taken along line B-B′ in FIG. 2A according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2D is an exploded view of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2E is a three-dimensional diagram of a housing of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2F is a three-dimensional diagram of a circuit board of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2G is a top view of the circuit board of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 2H is another three-dimensional diagram of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3A is a three-dimensional diagram of a power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 3A according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device taken along line B-B′ in FIG. 3A according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3D is an exploded view of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3E is a three-dimensional diagram of a housing of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3F is a three-dimensional diagram of a circuit board of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3G is a top view of the circuit board of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 3H is another three-dimensional diagram of the power supply device according to some embodiments of the present application.

To make the objectives, the technical solutions, and the advantages of the present application more comprehensible, the following further describes the present application in detail with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present application is not limited to the accompanying drawings and the following embodiments.

With reference to FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C , FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional diagram of a power supply device 10 according to the present application, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device 10 taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 1A according to the present application, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device 10 taken along line B-B′ in FIG. 1A according to the present application. As shown in the figures, the power supply device 10 includes a housing 101 , a circuit board 102 and a connecting assembly 103 . The housing 101 defines an accommodation space 101 C, configured to accommodate the circuit board 102 . The housing 101 includes a housing positioning component 101 F disposed in the accommodation space 101 C. A circuit board positioning component 102 F is formed on the circuit board 102 . The connecting assembly 103 is configured to connect the housing positioning component 101 F and the circuit board positioning component 102 F, so as to position the circuit board 102 in the accommodation space 101 C of the housing 101 .

In some embodiments, the connecting assembly 103 includes a male part of a fastener group, the circuit board positioning component 102 F is a through hole formed on the circuit board 102 , and the housing positioning component 101 F includes a female part of the fastener group corresponding to the connecting assembly 103 . Therefore, after the connecting assembly 103 is passed through the circuit board positioning component 102 F and connected to the housing positioning component 101 F, the circuit board 102 is fixed in the accommodation space 101 C of the housing 101 .

In particular, the male part included in the connecting assembly 103 has two ends, a cross section of one end is smaller than the through hole of the circuit board 102 , and a cross section of the other end is larger than the through hole of the circuit board 102 . In this way, when one end of the male part is passed through the through hole of the circuit board 102 and engaged with the female part included in the housing positioning component 101 F, the other end of the male part presses against the circuit board 102 , so that the circuit board 102 is fixed in the accommodation space 101 C.

With reference to FIG. 1D , FIG. 1E and FIG. 1F , FIG. 1D is a three-dimensional diagram of the housing 101 according to the present application, FIG. 1E is a three-dimensional diagram of the circuit board 102 according to the present application, and FIG. 1F is another three-dimensional diagram of the power supply device 10 according to the present application. As shown in FIG. 1D , an opening 101 A and an opening 101 B are formed on the housing 101 . As shown in FIG. 1E , an electronic element is configured on the circuit board 102 . The electronic element includes a power input port 102 A and a power output port 102 B. The circuit board positioning component 102 F is formed on one side of the power output port 102 B. As shown in FIG. 1F , when the circuit board 102 is fixedly disposed in the accommodation space 101 C of the housing 101 , the position of the power input port 102 A corresponds to the position where the opening 101 A is formed in the housing 101 , and the position of the power output port 102 B corresponds to the position where the opening 101 B is formed in the housing 101 . Therefore, the power input port 102 A is exposed to the opening 101 A, and the power output port 102 B is exposed to the opening 101 B.

In this way, through the opening 101 A, the power input port 102 A is connected to a power input element (for example, a transformer) by a transmission wire, and receives power supplied by the power input element. The power input port 102 A is electrically connected to the power output port 102 B through a circuit on the circuit board 102 . The circuit converts the power and provides the converted power to the power output port 102 B. On the other hand, through the opening 101 B, the power output port 102 B is connected to an electronic device, and provides the converted power to the electronic device (for example, an electronic cigarette). In some embodiments, the power output port 102 B is a male port, which extends through the opening 102 B and protrudes from an outer surface of the housing 101 , to connect to a female port of the electronic device.

In some embodiments, the opening 101 B is formed on a top surface 101 TS of the housing 101 , and the opening 101 A is formed on a side surface 101 SS of the housing 101 . The top surface 101 TS is adjacent to the side surface 101 SS. On the other hand, the power input port 102 A receives a power input element along a direction D 1 , and the power output port 102 B receives an electronic device along a direction D 2 . In some embodiments, an angle between the direction D 1 and the direction D 2 is about 45 degrees to 135 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle between the direction D 1 and the direction D 2 is about 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees or 90 degrees.

With reference to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D , FIG. 2A is a three-dimensional diagram of a power supply device 20 according to the present application, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device 20 taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 2A according to the present application, FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device 20 taken along line B-B′ in FIG. 2A according to the present application, and FIG. 2D is an exploded view of the power supply device 20 according to the present application. As shown in the figures, the power supply device 20 includes a housing 201 , a circuit board 202 , a connecting assembly 203 and a power storage element 204 . The housing 201 defines an accommodation space 201 C, configured to accommodate the circuit board 202 and the power storage element 204 .

Specifically, the housing 201 includes a housing positioning component 201 F disposed in the accommodation space 201 C. A circuit board positioning component 202 F is formed on the circuit board 202 . The connecting assembly 203 is configured to connect the housing positioning component 201 F and the circuit board positioning component 202 F, so as to fix the circuit board 202 in the accommodation space 201 C of the housing 201 .

In some embodiments, the connecting assembly 203 includes male parts (for example, two screws in the figures) of two fastener groups, the circuit board positioning component 202 F includes two through holes, and the housing positioning component 201 F includes female parts (for example, two screw holes in the figures) of the fastener groups corresponding to the connecting assembly 203 . Therefore, after the two male parts are respectively passed through the two through holes of the circuit board 202 and connected to the female parts of the housing 201 , the circuit board 202 is fixed in the accommodation space 201 C of the housing 201 .

In addition, the accommodation space 201 C of the housing 201 further includes a space configured to accommodate the power storage element 204 . As shown in the figures, the power storage element 204 is disposed between the circuit board 201 and a bottom portion of the housing 201 . The bottom portion of the housing 201 is provided with a bottom cap 207 , removably disposed at the bottom portion of the housing 201 , and configured to close the accommodation space 201 C of the housing 201 after elements (for example, the circuit board 202 , the connecting assembly 203 , and the power storage element 204 ) are disposed in the housing 201 .

With reference to FIG. 2E to FIG. 2H , FIG. 2E is a three-dimensional diagram of the housing 201 according to the present application, FIG. 2F is a three-dimensional diagram of the circuit board 202 according to the present application, FIG. 2G is a top view of the circuit board 202 according to the present application, and FIG. 2H is another three-dimensional diagram of the power supply device 20 according to the present application. As shown in FIG. 2E , an opening 201 A and an opening 201 B are formed on the housing 201 . As shown in FIG. 2F and FIG. 2G , an electronic element is configured on the circuit board 202 . The electronic element includes a power input port 202 A and a power output port 202 B. The circuit board positioning component 202 F is disposed on two sides of the power output port 202 B. As shown in FIG. 2H , when the circuit board 202 is fixedly disposed in the accommodation space 201 C of the housing 201 , the position of the power input port 202 A corresponds to the position where the opening 201 A is formed in the housing 201 , and the position of the power output port 202 B corresponds to the position where the opening 201 B is formed in the housing 201 . Therefore, the power input port 202 A is exposed to the opening 201 A, and the power output port 202 B is exposed to the opening 201 B.

In this way, through the opening 201 A, the power input port 202 A is connected to a power input element (for example, a transformer) by a transmission wire, and receives power supplied by the power input element. The power input port 202 A is electrically connected to the power output port 202 B through a circuit on the circuit board 202 . The circuit converts the power and provides the converted power to the power output port 202 B. On the other hand, through the opening 201 B, the power output port 202 B is connected to an electronic device, and provides the converted power to the electronic device (for example, an electronic cigarette). In some embodiments, the power output port 202 B is a male port, which extends through the opening 202 B and protrudes from an outer surface of the housing 201 to connect to a female port of the electronic device.

In some embodiments, the power storage element 204 is electrically connected to the power input port 202 A and the power output port 202 B of the circuit board 202 . The power storage element 204 is configured to: store the power supplied by the power input element through the power input port 202 A, and provide the stored power to the electronic device when the electronic device is connected to the power output port 202 B.

In some embodiments, the opening 201 B is formed on the top surface 201 TS of the housing 201 , and the opening 201 A is formed on the side surface 201 SS of the housing 201 . The top surface 201 TS is adjacent to the side surface 201 SS. On the other hand, the power input port 202 A receives a power input element along a direction D 1 , and the power output port 202 B receives an electronic device along a direction D 2 . In some embodiments, an angle between the direction D 1 and the direction D 2 is from 45 degrees to 135 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle between the direction D 1 and the direction D 2 is approximately 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees or 90 degrees.

With reference to FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D , FIG. 3A is a three-dimensional diagram of a power supply device 30 according to the present application, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device 30 taken along line A-A′ in FIG. 3A according to the present application, FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device 30 taken along line B-B′ in FIG. 3A according to the present application, and FIG. 3D is an exploded view of the power supply device 30 according to the present application. As shown in the figures, the power supply device 30 includes a housing 301 , a circuit board 302 , a connecting assembly 303 , a power storage element 304 , a buffer element 305 , a buffer element 306 and a bottom cap 307 . The housing 301 defines an accommodation space 301 C, configured to accommodate the circuit board 302 , the power storage element 304 , the buffer element 305 and the buffer element 306 .

Specifically, the housing 301 includes a housing positioning component 301 F disposed in the accommodation space 301 C. A circuit board positioning component 302 F is formed on the circuit board 302 . The connecting assembly 303 is configured to connect the housing positioning component 301 F and the circuit board positioning component 302 F, so as to fix the circuit board 302 in the accommodation space 301 C of the housing 301 .

In some embodiments, the connecting assembly 303 includes male parts (for example, two screws in the figures) of two fastener groups, the circuit board positioning component 302 F includes two through holes, and the housing positioning component 301 F includes female parts (for example, two screw holes in the figures) of the fastener groups corresponding to the connecting assembly 303 . Therefore, after the two male parts are respectively passed through the two through holes of the circuit board 302 and connected to the female parts of the housing 301 , the circuit board 302 is fixed in the accommodation space 301 C of the housing 301 .

In addition, the accommodation space 301 C of the housing 301 further includes a space configured to accommodate the power storage element 304 , the buffer element 305 , and the buffer element 306 . As shown in the figures, in the accommodation space 301 C, the circuit board 302 is disposed between a top surface of the housing 301 and the power storage element 304 , and the power storage element 304 is disposed between the circuit board 302 and a bottom portion of the housing 301 .

Further, the buffer element 305 is disposed between the circuit board 302 and the power storage element 304 , and configured to prevent hard contact between the circuit board 302 and the power storage element 304 , so as to prevent the elements from possible damage caused by collision. In some embodiments, a surface of the buffer element 305 is opposite to a surface of the power storage element 304 , and the area of the surface of the buffer element 305 is substantially equal to the area of the surface of the power storage element 304 . In this way, by designing the buffer element 305 to completely cover the power storage element 304 , the buffering function of the buffer element 305 is maximized. In addition, the buffer element 305 is also configured to prevent hard contact between the connecting assembly 303 and the power storage element 304 .

On the other hand, the buffer element 306 is disposed between the power storage element 304 and the bottom cap 307 at the bottom portion of the housing 301 , and configured to prevent hard contact between the power storage element 304 and the bottom cap 307 , so as to prevent the elements from possible damage caused by collision. In some embodiments, a surface of the buffer element 306 is opposite a surface of the power storage element 304 , and the area of the surface of the buffer element 306 is substantially equal to the area of the surface of the power storage element 304 . In this way, by designing the buffer element 306 to completely cover the power storage element 304 , the buffering function of the buffer element 306 is maximized.

In some embodiments, the bottom cap 307 is removably disposed at the bottom portion of the housing 301 , and configured to close the housing 301 after elements (for example, the circuit board 302 , the connecting assembly 303 , the power storage element 304 , the buffer element 305 and the buffer element 306 ) are disposed in the housing 301 .

With reference to FIG. 3E to FIG. 3H , FIG. 3E is a three-dimensional diagram of the housing 301 according to the present application, FIG. 3F is a three-dimensional diagram of the circuit board 302 according to the present application, FIG. 3G is a top view of the circuit board 302 according to the present application, and FIG. 3H is another three-dimensional diagram of the power supply device 30 according to the present application. As shown in FIG. 3E , an opening 301 A and an opening 301 B are formed on the housing 301 . As shown in FIG. 3F and FIG. 3G , an electronic element is configured on the circuit board 302 . The electronic element includes a power input port 302 A, a power output port 302 B, and a light emitting element 302 L. The circuit board positioning component 302 F is disposed on two sides of the power output port 302 B. As shown in FIG. 3H , when the circuit board 302 is fixedly disposed in the accommodation space 301 C of the housing 301 , the position of the power input port 302 A corresponds to the position where the opening 301 A is formed in the housing 301 , and the position of the power output port 302 B corresponds to the position where the opening 301 B is formed in the housing 301 . Therefore, the power input port 302 A is exposed to the opening 301 A, and the power output port 302 B is exposed to the opening 301 B.

In this way, through the opening 301 A, the power input port 302 A is connected to a power input element (for example, a transformer) by a transmission wire, and receives power supplied by the power input element. The power input port 302 A is electrically connected to the power output port 302 B through a circuit on the circuit board 302 . The circuit converts the power and provides the converted power to the power output port 302 B. On the other hand, through the opening 301 B, the power output port 302 B is connected to an electronic device, and provides the converted power to the electronic device (for example, an electronic cigarette). In some embodiments, the power output port 302 B is a male port, which extends through the opening 302 B and protrudes from an outer surface of the housing 301 to connect to a female port of the electronic device.

In some embodiments, the light emitting element 302 L is electrically connected to the power input port 302 A and the power output port 302 B. When the power input port 302 A receives power from the power input element or when the power output port 302 B outputs power to the electronic device, the light emitting element 302 L starts to emit light. In short, the light emitting element 302 L is configured to indicate that the power supply device 30 is in use.

In some embodiments, the power supply device 30 further includes a light-emitting-element shield 308 . The light-emitting-element shield 308 is disposed on the circuit board 302 and corresponding to the light emitting component 302 L, and configured to cover the light emitting component 302 L. When covering the light emitting element 302 L, the light-emitting-element shield 308 can guide and concentrate the light emitted by the light emitting element 302 L, thereby enhancing the indicator effect of the light emitting element 302 L.

In some embodiments, the power storage element 304 is electrically connected to the power input port 302 A and the power output port 302 B of the circuit board 302 . The power storage element 304 is configured to: store the power supplied by the power input element through the power input port 302 A, and supply the stored power to the electronic device when the electronic device is connected to the power output port 302 B.

In some embodiments, the opening 301 B is formed on a top surface 301 TS of the housing 301 , and the opening 301 A is formed on a side surface 301 SS of the housing 301 . The top surface 301 TS is adjacent to the side surface 301 SS. However, the power input port 302 A receives a power input element along a direction D 1 , and the power output port 302 B receives an electronic device along a direction D 2 . In some embodiments, an angle between the direction D 1 and the direction D 2 is 45 degrees to 135 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle between the direction D 1 and the direction D 2 is approximately 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees or 90 degrees.

In some embodiments, the material of the buffer element 305 , the buffer element 306 , and the light-emitting-element shield 308 includes an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. In some embodiments, the power input port 101 A, 201 A or 301 A includes one of a universal serial bus (USB) input port, a mini USB input port, a micro USB input port, or a USB-C input port. In some embodiments, the power output port 101 B, 201 B or 301 B includes one of a USB output port, a mini USB output port, a micro USB output port or a USB-C output port.

Based on the above, the present application provides some power supply devices of a size and design that are more suitable for carrying. In addition, some power supply devices provided by the present application not only have real-time power receiving and charging functions, but also can store power for future use.

It should be noted that the implementation of the power supply device of the present application is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and power supply devices composed of different element combinations shall all be possible implementation aspects. Therefore, any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made without departing from the spirit and principle of the present application shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.