Intelligent power supply and transformation for user devices

• US 10,574,060 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Raji, Reza, Dawes, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US16/039,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20190081484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for intelligent power supply for user devices. An example transformer may comprise a plurality of output terminals. Each of the output terminals may be associated with a different voltage. A regulator device may be in communication with the transformer and with a user device. The regulator device may determine a power requirement of the user device. Based on the power requirement of the user device, the regulator device may determine one of the output terminals of the transformer. The regulator device may cause output, to the user device and from the determined output terminal, of a signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a power requirement of a user device;

determining, based at least on the power requirement of the user device, one of a plurality of output terminals of a transformer, wherein each of the output terminals of the transformer is associated with a different voltage; and

causing output, to the user device and via the determined one of the plurality of output terminals, of a signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the one of the plurality of output terminals is based on a distance between the user device and the transformer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the one of the plurality of output terminals is based on a length of a coupling between the user device and the transformer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the power requirement of the user device comprises receiving an indication of the power requirement of the user device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving, from the one of the plurality of output terminals, a first signal having a voltage associated with the determined one of the plurality of output terminals;

and

wherein the causing output of the signal comprises outputting, to the user device and based on the power requirement of the user device, a second signal having a voltage different than the voltage associated with the determined one of the plurality of output terminals.

6. A system comprising:

a transformer comprising a plurality of output terminals, wherein each of the plurality of output terminals is associated with a different voltage; and

a computing device in communication with the transformer, wherein the computing device is configured to;

determine a power requirement of a user device;

determine, based at least on the power requirement of the user device, one of the plurality of output terminals of the transformer; and

cause output, to the user device and via the determined one of the plurality of output terminals, of a signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the user device comprises at least one of a security system device, a home automation device, a lighting device, a camera device, or a sensor device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the determining the power requirement of the user device comprises receiving, from the user device, an indication of the power requirement of the user device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

receive data for the user device; and

send, to the user device, the data.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the transformer further comprises:

a coil; and

a plurality of output taps coupled to the coil, wherein each of the plurality of output taps is coupled to at least one of the plurality of output terminals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the transformer further comprises a core coupled to the coil, wherein at least a portion of the coil is disposed along a circumference of the core.

10. The system of 9, wherein the receiving the data for the user device comprises receiving, via a first communication protocol, the data;

and

wherein the sending, to the user device, the data comprises sending, to the user device and via a second communication protocol, the data, wherein the second communication protocol is different than the first communication protocol.

13. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to;

determine a power requirement of a user device;

determine, based at least on the power requirement of the user device, one of a plurality of output terminals of a transformer, wherein each of the output terminals of the transformer is associated with a different voltage; and

cause output, to the user device and via the determined one of the plurality of output terminals, of a signal.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the one of the plurality of output terminals is determined based at least on a distance between the user device and the transformer.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the one of the plurality of output terminals is determined based at least on a length of a coupling between the user device and the transformer.

16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to:

receive, via the determined one of the plurality of output terminals, a first signal having a first voltage; and

output, to the user device and based on the power requirement of the user device, a second signal having a second voltage different than the first voltage.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first voltage comprises the voltage associated with the determined one of the plurality of output terminals, and wherein the second voltage complies with a voltage threshold associated with the user device.

19. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the power requirement of the user device comprises a voltage threshold associated with the user device.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein the voltage associated with the determined one of the plurality of output terminals complies with the voltage threshold of the user device.