Prior art

The USPTO database can be accessed through the Patent Public Search tool.

For US patent 8610397, the following prior art references are cited:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,652 to Yang

   • Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,652 to Yang.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text for 6,184,652, but US8610397B2 indicates it was prior art. The description of US8610397B2 states this patent "is directed to a mobile phone battery charger with a USB interface."
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a mobile phone battery charger with a USB interface. It includes a USB-compatible plug for receiving power from a computer, a DC converter to adjust the voltage, and a mobile phone battery charging plug. The charger can detect the battery type (e.g., Li or Ni-MH) and its charge level, aiming to eliminate the need for different chargers for different battery types.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates elements of claims 1, 11, and 18 that relate to a battery charger with a connector (specifically USB), a charging circuit, and the ability to detect battery type for charging. However, 8610397 emphasizes identifying both portable device type and rechargeable battery type, and adjusting charging based on a comparison of their parameters to prevent damage, which 6,184,652 may not fully address. The text states 6,184,652 allows a user to "not purchase different kinds of chargers for different battery types."

2. U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,610 to Yang

   • Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,610 to Yang.
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text for 6,362,610, but US8610397B2 indicates it was prior art.
   • Brief Description: This patent discloses a universal USB power supply unit. It features a USB port connector that plugs into a USB port and a charging connector for an electronic product. An automatic voltage regulator with a DC voltage transformer converts the USB voltage (e.g., 5V) to the required charging voltage. A feedback control voltage output circuit adjusts the output voltage to a preset level, and a voltage parameter for the specific electronic device is preset within the charging connector using a variable resistor.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,652, this patent potentially anticipates aspects of claims 1, 11, and 18 concerning a USB-based charger and adjusting voltage. However, 8610397's focus on identifying both device and battery types and comparing their charging parameters for safe charging goes beyond simply providing a universal USB power supply with a preset voltage for a device. The 8610397 patent explicitly states that despite the advantages of such chargers (referring to 6,184,652 and 6,362,610), "problems may still arise when different types of batteries are interchanged in different portable devices" because "these parameters may not always match with those of a given portable device," potentially causing damage.