A side-wired power bank

Abstract

This application provides a side-mounted power bank, comprising: a shell containing a main control board and a battery pack; the main control board having a charging interface and a power supply cable electrically connected thereto; the charging interface exposed outside the shell; a power connector at the end of the power supply cable; a cable tray on the side of the shell for storing the power supply cable and power connector; and a support frame connected to the shell via a hinge. By providing a cable tray and an integrated foldable support frame on the side of the shell, and connecting them via a hinge, the specific technical problems of messy and difficult-to-store power supply cables, lack of convenient support functions, and decreased portability after adding support functions are effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of power bank technology, and in particular to a side-wired power bank. Background Technology

[0002] A power bank, also known as a portable charger or power bank, is a portable charger that can be carried by an individual and stores its own electrical energy. It is mainly used to charge consumer electronic products such as handheld mobile devices (e.g., cordless phones, laptops), especially in situations where there is no external power supply.

[0003] Traditional power banks have the following main problems: (1) The power supply cable (output cable) of traditional power banks is usually loosely placed or wrapped around the body, which is easy to get tangled, knotted, or lost, and takes up space and is not neat and beautiful when carried or stored. (2) When users use power banks to charge mobile phones and other devices and watch the screen at the same time (such as video calls or watching videos), they need to hold the power bank and the mobile phone or find an additional support to place the mobile phone and the power bank, which is inconvenient and affects the user experience. (3) Although adding a support function to the power bank can make it easier to watch, a simple fixed support structure may increase the volume or make it difficult to store, affecting the essential attribute of the power bank as a portable device. Therefore, this utility model proposes a side-wiring power bank to at least partially solve the problems that may exist in the prior art. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the aforementioned problems, this application is made in order to provide a side-wired power bank that overcomes or at least partially solves the aforementioned problems.

[0005] One embodiment of this application discloses a side-wired power bank, comprising:

[0006] The outer casing contains a main control board and a battery pack; the main control board has a charging interface and is electrically connected to a power supply cable.

[0007] The charging interface is exposed outside the housing; the power supply cable has a power connector at its end.

[0008] The side of the housing is provided with a cable tray for receiving the power supply cable and the power supply connector;

[0009] A support frame, which is connected to the housing via a hinge.

[0010] Optionally, the cable tray is provided with a magnetic or elastic clip at the position corresponding to the power supply connector.

[0011] Optionally, the main control board is also equipped with LED indicator lights and function buttons;

[0012] The LED indicator lights and function buttons protrude from the side of the housing.

[0013] Optionally, the support frame is an irregularly shaped support frame;

[0014] The outer casing is provided with a support groove;

[0015] The ends of the irregularly shaped bracket are right angles;

[0016] When the irregularly shaped bracket is housed in the bracket slot, it is flush with the outer shell, and the right angle is aligned with one corner of the outer shell.

[0017] Optionally, the ends of the irregularly shaped bracket are also provided with protective pads.

[0018] Optionally, both the charging interface and the power connector are USB interfaces.

[0019] Optionally, the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing;

[0020] The upper and lower housings are connected by a built-in snap-fit ​​structure.

[0021] Optionally, a Hall sensor is also provided at the position corresponding to the power supply connector in the cable take-up groove, and the Hall sensor is electrically connected to the main control board;

[0022] The Hall sensor is used to control the connection status between the main control board and the power supply line.

[0023] Optionally, the main control board has two electrically connected components, and the battery pack has an even number of components;

[0024] Furthermore, the battery packs described in the even array are divided into two groups, each electrically connected to one of the main control boards.

[0025] This application has the following advantages:

[0026] In the embodiments of this application, a main control board and a battery pack are housed inside the outer casing. The main control board has a charging interface and a power supply cable electrically connected to it. The charging interface is exposed outside the outer casing. The end of the power supply cable has a power connector. The side of the outer casing has a cable tray for storing the power supply cable and the power connector. A support frame is connected to the outer casing via a hinge. By providing a cable tray on the side of the outer casing, the problems of traditional power bank cables being easily tangled, knotted, lost, and taking up space and being unsightly when carried and stored are solved. At the same time, the support frame connected by the hinge allows users to place their mobile phones while charging without holding them or finding additional supports, improving the user experience, and without excessively affecting the portability of the power bank due to the added support function. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the description of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a first-view structural diagram of a side-wiring power bank according to an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a second-view structural diagram of a side-wiring power bank according to an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a third-view structural diagram of a side-wiring power bank according to an embodiment of this application;

[0031] Figure 4 This is an exploded structural diagram of a side-wiring power bank provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0032] In the attached diagram, 101 is the outer casing; 102 is the power supply cable; 103 is the power supply connector; 104 is the cable tray; 105 is the support frame; 106 is the hinge; 107 is the protective pad; 111 is the lower casing; 112 is the upper casing; 201 is the main control board; 202 is the battery pack; 203 is the LED indicator; 204 is the function button; and 205 is the charging interface. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] Reference Figures 1 to 4 This application provides a side-wiring power bank, comprising: a housing 101, inside which a main control board 201 and a battery pack 202 are electrically connected; the main control board 201 is provided with a charging interface 205 and a power supply cable 102 electrically connected thereto; the charging interface 205 is exposed outside the housing 101; the end of the power supply cable 102 is provided with a power connector 103; the side of the housing 101 is provided with a cable tray 104 for receiving the power supply cable 102 and the power connector 103; and a support frame 105, which is connected to the housing 101 by a hinge 106.

[0035] The power bank's casing 101 features a dedicated cable management slot 104 on its side, providing storage space for the power cable 102 and power connector 103. Users can wind or embed the power cable into the slot and secure the connector within, resulting in a neat appearance and effectively preventing cables from getting tangled or snagged on other items in bags or pockets. This reduces the risk of cable loss or damage and enhances portability. The integrated support frame 105 within the casing 101 provides the power bank with inherent support capabilities. Users can place their phones or other devices at an angle on the power bank without needing to carry an additional stand or find a support, and the support frame 105 provides support (essentially, the power bank itself integrates a support frame to support the phone, etc.), freeing up their hands and significantly improving the user experience for scenarios such as watching videos and making video calls. The support frame 105 is connected via a hinge 106, allowing it to rotate and fold relative to the casing. When not in use, the support frame 105 can be folded and fitted to the back of the casing 101, maintaining the power bank's compact shape and portability, and avoiding the additional bulk of a support structure. The cable tray 104 and the support frame 105 share space, with the cable tray 104 located on the side and the support frame 105 mounted on the back via a hinge 106. This compact layout allows for partial space reuse (e.g., the support frame 105 covers or is flush with the cable tray 104 when retracted), further optimizing space utilization and allowing for better control of the overall device size while adding two practical functions (storage and support). The storage and retrieval of the power cable 102 are directly completed in the cable tray 104 on the side, and the unfolding and retraction of the support frame 105 can also be achieved through a simple rotation operation, making the user operation intuitive, convenient, and quick. Integrating the power cable 102 and the cable tray 104 into the side of the housing makes the device look more integrated and the design more compact, avoiding the clutter of external cables and additional accessories and improving the product's appearance.

[0036] When users travel and put the power bank in their backpack, the power cord can be neatly stored in the cable tray 104 to avoid tangling with other items; while waiting for their flight, they can open the support bracket 105, place their mobile phone on it, and watch videos while charging.

[0037] In some embodiments of this application, the cable tray 104 is provided with a magnetic or elastic clip at the position corresponding to the power connector 103. Providing a magnetic or elastic clip at the position corresponding to the power connector 103 in the cable tray 104 can more securely fix the power connector 103, preventing it from accidentally slipping out during storage, and further improving the convenience and reliability of storage.

[0038] For example, a magnet can be placed in the take-up groove 104, and a magnet with opposite magnetic poles or an iron sheet or a material that can be attracted by a magnet can be placed at the corresponding position of the power supply connector 103. Alternatively, a magnet can be placed in the power supply connector 103, and a corresponding iron sheet or a material that can be attracted by a magnet, such as silicon steel sheet, nickel sheet or other magnetically attracted materials, can be placed in the take-up groove 104.

[0039] After the power cord 102 and power connector 103 are pressed into the cable tray 104, the power connector 103 is magnetically attached to the cable tray 104, so the cord will not easily come undone even if the power bank shakes in the backpack. When the user puts the power bank containing the power cord 102 into their pocket, the power connector will not easily detach from the cable tray while walking, thanks to the magnetic or elastic clips.

[0040] Furthermore, the main control board 201 is also equipped with an LED indicator 203 and a function button 204; the LED indicator 203 and the function button 204 protrude from the side of the housing 101. The LED indicator 203 and the function button 204 protruding from the side of the housing 101 on the main control board 201 make it convenient for users to intuitively understand the working status of the power bank (such as remaining power, charging status, etc.) and to easily operate the function buttons (such as switching the power on and off, switching the output mode, etc.).

[0041] In some embodiments of this application, the support frame 105 is an irregularly shaped bracket; the outer shell 101 is provided with a bracket slot; the end of the irregularly shaped bracket is a right angle; when the irregularly shaped bracket is stored in the bracket slot, it is flush with the outer shell 101, and the right angle is aligned with one corner of the outer shell 101. Using an irregularly shaped bracket with a right angle at its end, it can be stored flush with the outer shell and aligned with one corner, which not only ensures the overall aesthetics of the power bank but also minimizes the volume change caused by adding a bracket, without affecting its portability; at the same time, the bracket slot makes the bracket storage more organized.

[0042] By using a uniquely shaped bracket, with its first end connected to the middle of the housing 101 and its second end extending to a corner at a right angle, multi-angle support can be achieved compared to a power bank without a bracket. Compared to a single-direction bracket, it offers more support direction options. Addressing the instability issue of rotatable brackets, this uniquely shaped structure, in conjunction with the housing, forms a stable triangular support structure, enhancing support stability. Specifically, when the uniquely shaped bracket is unfolded, because its second end aligns with the long and short sides of the housing 101, it forms a stable triangular support structure with the hinge 106 regardless of whether the power bank is placed vertically or horizontally. For example, when a user places their phone on a table to watch a video, they can unfold the power bank's uniquely shaped bracket, using the second end of the bracket to contact the table, tilting the power bank so the phone rests against it for stable support, facilitating video viewing. The angle can be adjusted as needed.

[0043] Furthermore, the end of the irregularly shaped bracket is also provided with a protective pad 107. The protective pad at the end of the irregularly shaped bracket prevents the bracket from scratching the device when supporting it, protecting the device's appearance. The protective pad 107 is made of TPU material. TPU material has good wear resistance, elasticity, and flexibility, allowing it to better adapt to various usage scenarios. It is not easily damaged even after long-term use, ensuring both protective effect and good anti-slip performance, further enhancing the user experience. For example, when using a power bank to support a phone for taking photos outdoors, even on uneven ground, the TPU material protective pad 107 can adhere tightly to the ground through its elasticity and flexibility, providing stable support, while maintaining good protection and anti-slip effects even after repeated use.

[0044] Furthermore, both the charging port 205 and the power connector 103 are USB interfaces. The USB interfaces conform to the interface standards of most current electronic devices, offering broad compatibility and allowing users to easily connect different devices to the power bank.

[0045] The USB interface mentioned above can preferably be a Type-C interface, which not only makes it easy to remove the cable, but also offers broad compatibility, adapting to most electronic devices on the market. Current electronic devices, whether mobile phones, tablets, or other devices that support USB charging, can easily connect to this power bank for charging.

[0046] It should be noted that the Type-C interface, also known as USB Type-C, is a USB interface form factor standard. It is smaller than both Type-A and Type-B, and can be used in both PCs (host devices) and external devices (slave devices, such as mobile phones). USB Type-C has 4 pairs of TX / RX pins, 2 pairs of USB D+ / D- pins, 1 pair of SBU pins, 2 CC pins, 4 VBUS pins, and 4 ground pins.

[0047] In some embodiments of this application, the outer casing 101 includes an upper casing 112 and a lower casing 111; the upper casing 112 and the lower casing 111 are connected by a built-in snap-fit ​​structure. The connection of the upper casing 112 and the lower casing 111 via the built-in snap-fit ​​structure makes installation and disassembly more convenient compared to other connection methods (such as screw connections), facilitating production assembly and subsequent maintenance and replacement of internal components (such as the main control board and battery pack). Figure 4 As shown, the depth of the upper housing 112 is greater than that of the lower housing 111. A snap-fit ​​can be provided inside the upper housing 112, and a buckle adapted to the snap-fit ​​can be provided in the lower housing 111. For example, in a production workshop, workers can quickly assemble the upper housing 112 and the lower housing 111 into a power bank shell by connecting them with the buckle; when the power bank malfunctions and needs repair, repair personnel can also easily disassemble the shell for inspection.

[0048] Furthermore, a Hall sensor is also provided at the position corresponding to the power supply connector 103 in the take-up slot 104. The Hall sensor is electrically connected to the main control board 201. The Hall sensor is used to control the connection state between the main control board 201 and the power supply line 102. Preferably, the power supply connector 103 is equipped with a magnet, and a corresponding metal part (a material that can be attracted by a magnet, such as iron or nickel) is provided at the position of the corresponding take-up slot 104. This metal part serves as the trigger for the Hall sensor. When the power supply connector 103 is taken into the take-up slot 104, the magnet attracts the metal part, making it magnetic, thereby triggering the Hall sensor and disconnecting the power supply line 102 from the main control board 201. Essentially, when the power supply line 102 and the power supply connector 103 are taken into the take-up slot 104, the power supply line 102 is disconnected from the main control board 201. Only when the power supply connector 103 is removed from the take-up slot 104 can the power supply line 102 be connected to the main control board 201, thereby supplying power to peripheral devices.

[0049] In addition, when the take-up groove 104 is provided with an elastic clip for fixing the power supply connector 103, a micro switch type sensor can also be provided in the take-up groove 104, which is triggered by the elasticity of the elastic clip.

[0050] A Hall sensor, positioned corresponding to the power connector 103 in the cable tray 104, controls the connection status between the main control board 201 and the power cable 102 based on whether the power connector 103 is properly retracted. When the power connector 103 is retracted, the connection between the power cable and the main control board is automatically cut off to avoid unnecessary power loss; when the power connector is removed, the connection is automatically restored for convenient use. For example, if the user does not use the power bank for a long time and retracts the power connector 103, the Hall sensor detects the change in connector position and controls the main control board 201 to stop supplying power to the power cable 102, extending the power bank's battery life; when the user uses it again, removing the power connector automatically restores power.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the main control board 201 has two electrically connected components, and the battery pack 202 has an even array; the even array battery pack 202 is divided into two groups, each electrically connected to one of the main control boards 201.

[0052] The aforementioned main control board 201 has two electrically connected components. The battery packs 202 are configured as even-numbered groups, each connected to one main control board 201. This allows for balanced management of the battery packs 202, improving battery life and charging efficiency. Furthermore, it provides redundancy in case of component failure, enhancing the stability and reliability of the power bank. For example, during prolonged use, the two main control boards 201 can better coordinate the charging and discharging processes of the two battery packs 202, resulting in more balanced power consumption and charging speed, thus extending overall battery life. If one main control board 201 fails, the other can still maintain some functionality.

[0053] It should be noted that the dual main control board 201, as a power bank solution, can use conventional technical solutions. Specifically, the first main control board 201 serves as the core buck-boost converter (battery voltage <-> intermediate bus voltage, such as 12V), performs precise battery status monitoring (voltage, current, temperature), battery protection (secondary protection), passive balancing, basic charging management, and communicates with the second main control board 201. The second main control board 201 serves as the protocol and interface board, handling input / output fast charging protocol negotiation (PD, QC, AFC, etc.), multi-port intelligent power distribution, buck-boosting from the intermediate bus voltage to various fast charging voltages, user interface (display, buttons), system logic control, and communication with the first main control board 201. Alternatively, the first main control board 201 can handle some fast charging protocols: for example, in addition to the core buck-boost, it can also handle input protocols. This blurs the functional division, increases the complexity and heat generation of the first main control board 201, weakens the advantage of the dual-board distributed heat source, and is not an optimized solution. The second main control board 201 directly manages battery charging and discharging: bypassing the core buck-boost and battery management functions of the first main control board 201, the second main control board 201 directly controls battery charging and discharging.

[0054] It should also be noted that the two main control boards 201 have the same function and serve as hot backups for each other. They require extremely complex communication and arbitration logic to avoid conflicts, but this communication and arbitration logic is not within the scope of protection of this application, so it will not be elaborated here.

[0055] Although preferred embodiments of the present application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of the embodiments of the present application.

[0056] Finally, it should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or terminal device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or terminal device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or terminal device that includes said element.

[0057] The above provides a detailed description of a side-wiring power bank provided by this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A side-wired power bank, characterized in that, include: The outer casing contains a main control board and a battery pack; the main control board has a charging interface and is electrically connected to a power supply cable. The charging interface is exposed outside the housing; the power supply cable has a power connector at its end. The side of the housing is provided with a cable tray for receiving the power supply cable and the power supply connector; A support frame, which is connected to the housing via a hinge.

2. The power bank of claim 1, wherein, The take-up groove is provided with a magnetic or elastic clip at the position corresponding to the power supply connector.

3. The power bank according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main control board is also equipped with LED indicator lights and function buttons; The LED indicator lights and function buttons protrude from the side of the housing.

4. The power bank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame is an irregularly shaped bracket; The outer casing is provided with a support groove; The ends of the irregularly shaped bracket are right angles; When the irregularly shaped bracket is housed in the bracket slot, it is flush with the outer shell, and the right angle is aligned with one corner of the outer shell.

5. The power bank according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ends of the irregularly shaped bracket are also provided with protective pads.

6. The power bank according to claim 5, characterized in that, Both the charging interface and the power connector are USB interfaces.

7. The power bank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing includes an upper casing and a lower casing; The upper and lower housings are connected by a built-in snap-fit ​​structure.

8. The power bank according to claim 2, characterized in that, A Hall sensor is also provided at the position corresponding to the power supply connector in the wire take-up groove, and the Hall sensor is electrically connected to the main control board; The Hall sensor is used to control the connection status between the main control board and the power supply line.

9. The power bank according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main control board has two electrically connected components, and the battery pack has an even array of components. Furthermore, the battery packs described in the even array are divided into two groups, each electrically connected to one of the main control boards.

Images