Method for adapter over-current-protection (OCP) protection and user warning
First Claim
1. A computer-implementable method for detecting whether a power adapter is coupled with an information handling system satisfies certain power requirements of the information handling system, the method comprising:
- detecting when a power adapter is coupled to the information handling system;
determining a power adapter power capacity upon detection of coupling of the power adapter to the information handling system;
determining whether the power adapter power capacity satisfies the power requirements of the information handling system; and
,preventing the power adapter from powering the information handling system when the power adapter power capacity does not satisfy the power requirements of the information handling system via an adapter override circuit, the adapter override circuit being included within the information handling system, the adapter override circuit comprising a power detector control circuit and a switch, the switch of the adapter override circuit being located between the power adapter and power distribution of the information handling system, the power distribution comprising a layer of a printed circuit board, the power detector and control circuit activating a power adapter disable signal when the power adapter power capacity is lower than the power requirements of the information handling system, the power adapter disable signal causing the switch to stop powering the information handling system from the power adapter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for detecting when a lower power adapter is coupled with an information handling system having higher power requirements. More specifically, in certain embodiments, a circuit (such as an embedded controller (EC)) detects an adapter wattage when an adapter plug-in is detected. If a lower wattage power adapter is detected (e.g., a 45 W power adapter), the embedded controller activates a signal (e.g., an AC_DISABLE signal) to stop powering the information handling system from the adapter. In certain embodiments, the information handling system is powered from a battery associated with the information handling system when the power adapter power capacity does not satisfy the power requirements of the information handling system. In certain embodiments, the circuit substantially simultaneously generates a low power warning. In certain embodiments, the adapter wattage may be detected via an adapter identifier (e.g., power supply identifier (PSID) signal) which is provided via a bus such as a single line bus.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer-implementable method for detecting whether a power adapter is coupled with an information handling system satisfies certain power requirements of the information handling system, the method comprising:
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detecting when a power adapter is coupled to the information handling system; determining a power adapter power capacity upon detection of coupling of the power adapter to the information handling system; determining whether the power adapter power capacity satisfies the power requirements of the information handling system; and
,preventing the power adapter from powering the information handling system when the power adapter power capacity does not satisfy the power requirements of the information handling system via an adapter override circuit, the adapter override circuit being included within the information handling system, the adapter override circuit comprising a power detector control circuit and a switch, the switch of the adapter override circuit being located between the power adapter and power distribution of the information handling system, the power distribution comprising a layer of a printed circuit board, the power detector and control circuit activating a power adapter disable signal when the power adapter power capacity is lower than the power requirements of the information handling system, the power adapter disable signal causing the switch to stop powering the information handling system from the power adapter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system comprising:
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a processor; a data bus coupled to the processor; a power supply coupled to the processor and the data bus; and
,a power protection system, the power protection system detecting whether a power adapter coupled with the information handling system satisfies certain power requirements of the information handling system, the power detection system comprising an adapter override circuit, the power protection system being configured for; detecting when a power adapter is coupled to the information handling system; determining a power adapter power capacity upon detection of coupling of the power adapter to the information handling system; determining whether the power adapter power capacity satisfies the power requirements of the information handling system; and
,preventing the power adapter from powering the information handling system when the power adapter power capacity does not satisfy the power requirements of the information handling system via the adapter override circuit, the adapter override circuit comprising a power detector control circuit and a switch, the switch of the adapter override circuit being located between the power adapter and power distribution of the information handling system, the power distribution comprising a layer of a printed circuit board, the power detector and control circuit activating a power adapter disable signal when the power adapter power capacity is lower than the power requirements of the information handling system, the power adapter disable signal causing the switch to stop powering the information handling system from the power adapter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A power protection system, the power protection system detecting whether a power adapter coupled with the information handling system satisfies certain power requirements of the information handling system comprising:
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circuitry for detecting when a power adapter is coupled to the information handling system; circuitry for determining a power adapter power capacity upon detection of coupling of the power adapter to the information handling system; circuitry for determining whether the power adapter power capacity satisfies the power requirements of the information handling system; and
,circuitry for preventing the power adapter from powering the information handling system when the power adapter power capacity does not satisfy the power requirements of the information handling system via an adapter override circuit, the adapter override circuit comprising a power detector control circuit and a switch, the adapter override circuit being included within the information handling system, the switch of the adapter override circuit being located between the power adapter and power distribution of the information handling system, the power distribution comprising a layer of a printed circuit board, the power detector and control circuit activating a power adapter disable signal when the power adapter power capacity is lower than the power requirements of the information handling system, the power adapter disable signal causing the switch to stop powering the information handling system from the power adapter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification