System for shared power supply in computer peripheral devices
First Claim
1. A system for sharing power in a computer peripheral device, comprising:
- a local power supply;
a power supply interface adapted to receive an external power source; and
a power sharing circuit coupled to the local power supply and to the power supply interface, the power sharing circuit structured to simultaneously provide power to the peripheral device from both the local power supply and from the external power source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power sharing circuit in a peripheral device that can combine power from both an external power supply and from an internal power supply is disclosed. The external power supply could be a computer bus, for example. The power sharing circuit has power inputs from both the computer bus and from the internal power supply, and has an output that powers the load circuitry in the peripheral device. The power sharing circuit monitors power used by the load circuitry and determines from where the power that drives the load circuitry will originate. The power can originate from either the internal or external power supply, or from a combination of the power supplies. The power sharing circuit can modify the origin of power provided to the load circuitry based on how much power it is using.
138 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for sharing power in a computer peripheral device, comprising:
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a local power supply;
a power supply interface adapted to receive an external power source; and
a power sharing circuit coupled to the local power supply and to the power supply interface, the power sharing circuit structured to simultaneously provide power to the peripheral device from both the local power supply and from the external power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A peripheral device comprising:
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a load circuit for consuming power in the peripheral device;
a local power source for providing power in the peripheral device;
a power source interface adapted to receive an external power source; and
a power sharing circuit coupled to the local power supply and to the power supply interface, the power sharing circuit structured to provide power to the load circuit from both the local power source and from the external power source at the same time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for providing power to a load circuit in a computer peripheral device, comprising:
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providing from a power source external to the peripheral device power requirements of the load circuit up to a threshold amount of power; and
providing from a combination of the external power source and from a power source internal to the peripheral device the power requirements of the load circuit if the power requirements of the load circuit exceed the threshold amount. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for providing power to a load circuit in a computer peripheral device, comprising:
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providing an initial amount of power to the load circuit from an external source;
allowing the load circuit to increase the amount of power drawn from the external source;
monitoring the amount of power drawn from the external source; and
adding power from a local power source to the amount of power drawn from the external source once the amount of power drawn from the external source exceeds a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification