Automatic sensing power systems and methods

• US 20060202557A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank P. Paniagua, Jr
• Original Assignee: mPATHX, LLC
• Inventors: Menas, Gregory W., Miller, Brent A., Spano, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,816,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/22 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An automatic sensing power system automatically determines a power requirement for an electrical device, converts power to the required level, and outputs the power to the electrical device when the electrical device is connected to the automatic sensing power system.

Claims

1. A line-cord power system for configuring alternating current (AC) power, the line-cord power system comprising:

a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles;

at least one AC receptacle configured to convey AC power at an AC power level;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

a plurality of DC to DC regulators, each corresponding to one of the DC receptacles and each configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to a selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle, each selected DC power level independent of other selected DC power levels, each selected DC power level not selected from an initially preset conversion level; and

a processor configured to determine each selected DC power level, to dynamically configure each DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power levels to the corresponding DC receptacles.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive an externally generated communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one of the selected DC power levels and to process the communication to determine the at least one selected DC power level.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive a plurality of communications, each comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one of the selected DC power levels and to process the communications to determine the selected DC power levels.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

each DC receptacle is configured to receive a communication identifying the selected DC power level to be generated to the DC receptacle; and

the processor is configured to receive each communication from each DC receptacle and to process each communication to determine the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electrical devices, each configured to receive the DC power for at least one of the selected DC power levels from at least one corresponding DC receptacle.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein at least one electrical device comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recoding device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein:

at least one DC receptacle is configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one first selected DC power level and to transmit the communication for reception by the processor; and

the processor is configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the first selected DC power level based on the configuration data, to dynamically configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the first selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising at least one modulator configured to receive the communication from the at least one DC receptacle and to transmit the communication to the processor.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising an electrical device configured to transmit the communication for reception by the at least one DC receptacle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the processor is configured to generate data for reception by the at least one DC receptacle; and

the at least one DC receptacle is configured to transmit the data for reception by the electrical device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration data comprises an identification of the first selected DC power level; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the first selected DC power level identification and, in response thereto, to dynamically configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level and to enable generating the DC power at the first selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification selected from a group consisting of a device name, a model name, and another device identification;

the system comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the particular device identification and, in response thereto, to search the memory to determine the first selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to generate an enable signal and the system further comprises a switch configured to receive the AC power, to receive the enable signal, and, in response to the enable signal, to enable the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one DC receptacle is configured to connect with a connector and the system comprises a detector configured to detect the connector connecting with the at least one DC receptacle.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a feedback loop configured to feedback a first selected DC power level for at least one DC receptacle to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to process the feedback and, in response thereto, to configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to maintain the first selected DC power level.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the line-cord power system comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a power strip, a rack mount system, and a cabinet mount system.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one switch configured to enable and to disable at least one receptacle selected from a group consisting of the at least one AC receptacle and at least one DC receptacle, the at least one switch comprising at least one other member of another group consisting of a software switch and a hardwired switch.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising at least one indicator configured to indicate when the at least one receptacle is enabled and disabled.

20. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one protection device configured to terminate the flow of AC power through at least one component of the line-cord power system selected from the at least one AC receptacle and the AC to DC regulator when another selected power level is at least approximately reached, the at least one protection device comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a resettable switch and a fuse.

21. The system of claim 1 further comprising a reset to reset at least one configuration of at least one DC to DC regulator.

22. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a receiving connector configured to convey AC power; and

a detachable device comprising;

another connector configured to receive AC power and to removably connect to at least one member of a group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source;

at least one other DC receptacle;

another AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to other DC power;

at least one other DC to DC regulator configured to receive the other DC power from the other AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the other DC power to at least one second selected DC power level, and to generate the other DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle; and

another processor configured to determine the second selected DC power level, to dynamically configure the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level, and to enable generating the other DC power at the second selected DC power level to the at least one other DC receptacle.

23. A system for configuring power comprising:

at least one connector configured to convey alternating current (AC) power and selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug;

a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not selected from an initially preset conversion; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level based on the configuration data, to dynamically configure the DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising at least one AC receptacle configured to convey AC power at an AC power level.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein:

the system comprises a plurality of DC to DC regulators, each corresponding to one of the DC receptacles;

each DC to DC regulator is configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to a particular selected DC power level, and to generate the particular selected DC power level for the corresponding receptacle; and

the processor is configured to determine the particular selected DC power level for each DC to DC regulator, to dynamically configure each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the particular DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at each particular DC power level to each corresponding DC receptacle.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein:

the system comprises a plurality of DC to DC regulators, one of which corresponds to the at least one DC receptacle and is configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power for the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; and

the processor is configured to dynamically configure the corresponding DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

27. The system of claim 23 further comprising an electrical device configured to transmit the communication received by the communication system.

28. The system of claim 23 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the electrical device comprises at least one member of another group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recoding device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification selected from another group consisting of a device name, a model name, and another device identification;

the system comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the particular device identification and, in response thereto, to search the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

31. The system of claim 23 wherein the communication system is configured to receive the communication through at least one member of another group consisting of a communication interface and the at least one DC receptacle.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein the communication system is configured to communicate via at least one format selected from another group consisting of a universal serial bus format, a Bluetooth format, an Ethernet format, a Firewire format, a cable format, a phone line format, a digital subscriber line service format, and an internet protocol format.

33. The system of claim 23 wherein the configuration data identifies at least one member of another group consisting of the selected DC power level and the at least one DC receptacle.

34. The system of claim 23 wherein:

the processor further is configured to generate a second communication comprising status data for the power system, the status data comprising at least one member of another group consisting of an operation of the power system, an event log of the power system, a disable of the at least one DC receptacle, an enable of the at least one DC receptacle, a state of the at least one DC receptacle, a voltage setting for the at least one DC receptacle, a current setting for the at least one DC receptacle, a power setting for the at least one DC receptacle, another communication received, the received communication, a device identification received for an electrical device, the selected DC power level, a power surge, a critical event for the power system, a blown fuse, a blown circuit, a fault, a process breakdown, and another circuit event for the power system; and

the communication system is configured to receive the second communication from the processor and to transmit the second communication from the power system.

35. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a receiving connector configured to convey AC power; and

a detachable device comprising;

another connector configured to receive AC power and to removably connect to at least one member of a group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source;

another communication system configured to receive another communication comprising other configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one second selected DC power level;

at least one other DC receptacle;

another AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to other DC power;

at least one other DC to DC regulator configured to receive the other DC power from the other AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level, and to generate the other DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle; and

another processor configured to process the other communication and, in response thereto, to determine the second selected DC power level based on the other configuration data, to dynamically configure the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level, and to enable generating the other DC power at the second selected DC power level to the at least one other DC receptacle.

36. The system of claim 23 wherein the system further comprises a detachable device comprising:

a receiving connector configured to convey AC power; and

a detachable device comprising;

another connector configured to receive AC power and to removably connect to at least one member of a group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source;

at least one other DC receptacle;

another AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to other DC power;

at least one other DC to DC regulator configured to receive the other DC power from the other AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the other DC power to at least one second selected DC power level, and to generate the other DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle; and

another processor configured to determine the second selected DC power level, to dynamically configure the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level, and to enable generating the other DC power at the second selected DC power level to the at least one other DC receptacle.

37. A system for configuring power comprising:

at least one connector configured to convey alternating current (AC) power and selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug;

at least one direct current (DC) receptacle;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not selected from an initially preset conversion; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level, to dynamically configure the DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

38. A line-cord power system for configuring alternating current (AC) power, the line-cord power system comprising:

a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

at least one AC receptacle configured to convey AC power at an AC power level;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not initially preset; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level, to dynamically configure the DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle;

wherein the communication system is configured to receive the communication through at least one member of a group consisting of a communication interface and the at least one DC receptacle.

39. The system of claim 38 further comprising an electrical device configured to transmit the communication received by the communication system.

40. The system of claim 38 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the electrical device comprises at least one member of another group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recoding device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification selected from another group consisting of a device name, a model name, and another device identification;

the system comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the particular device identification and, in response thereto, to search the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein the configuration data comprises the selected DC power level.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein the configuration data identifies a specific DC receptacle as the at least one DC receptacle to which the selected DC power level is to be generated.

45. The system of claim 38 wherein the configuration data identifies a next available DC receptacle as the at least one DC receptacle to which the selected DC power level is to be generated.

46. The system of claim 38 wherein the communication identifies the at least one DC receptacle to which an electrical device can be connected.

47. A line-cord power system for configuring alternating current (AC) power, the line-cord power system comprising:

a first direct current (DC) receptacle configured to convey DC power and to receive a first signal;

a second DC receptacle configured to convey DC power and to receive a second signal;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

a first DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to a first selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the first selected DC power level for the first DC receptacle;

a second DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to a second selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the second DC receptacle;

a processor configured to process the first signal to determine the first selected DC power level, to process the second signal to determine the second selected DC power level, to dynamically configure the first DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level, to dynamically configure the second DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the second selected DC power level, to enable generating the DC power at the first selected DC power level to the first DC receptacle, and to enable generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level to the second DC receptacle; and

at least one modulator configured to receive the first signal from the first DC receptacle, to receive the second signal from the second DC receptacle, and to transmit the first and second signals to the processor.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one modulator comprises:

a first modulator configured to receive the first signal from the first DC receptacle and to transmit the first signal to the processor; and

a second modulator configured to receive the second signal from the second DC receptacle and to transmit the second signal to the processor.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the at least one modulator is configured to receive a third signal from the processor and to transmit the third signal through at least one member of a group consisting of the first DC receptacle and the second DC receptacle.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein the processor is configured to generate an enable signal, the system further comprising:

an AC receptacle; and

an optical relay configured to receive the AC power, to receive the enable signal from the processor, and, in response to the enable signal, to enable the AC power to the AC receptacle.

51. A line-cord power system for configuring alternating current (AC) power, the line-cord power system comprising:

a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles;

at least one modulator configured to transmit a first communication requesting configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level and to receive a second communication with the configuration data;

at least one AC receptacle configured to convey AC power at an AC power level;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level;

at least one high current switch configured to receive the DC power from the DC to DC regulator at the selected DC power level and to provide the DC power at the selected DC power level to at least one DC receptacle upon receipt of an enable signal;

at least one low current driver configured to generate a first driver signal to the at least one DC receptacle indicating that the first communication will be generated from the system; and

a processor configured to configure the low current driver to generate the first driver signal, to enable the modulator to generate the first communication, to receive the second communication from the modulator, to process the second communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level, to dynamically configure the DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the enable signal to enable the high current switch to provide the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

52. A line-cord power system for configuring alternating current (AC) power, the line-cord power system comprising:

a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles;

at least one AC receptacle configured to convey AC power at an AC power level;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to selected DC power levels for corresponding DC receptacles, and to generate the DC power at each selected DC power level to each corresponding DC receptacle, each selected DC power level being independent of other selected DC power levels, the selected DC power levels not being initially preset conversions; and

a processor configured to determine each selected DC power level for each corresponding DC receptacle and to dynamically configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to generate the DC power at each selected DC power level to each corresponding DC receptacle.

53. A line-cord power device for configuring alternating current (AC) power, the line-cord power device comprising:

at least one AC receptacle configured to convey AC power at an AC power level;

a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, each configured to output DC power at a power level independent of other DC receptacles;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert the AC power to DC power at a regulator DC power level;

a processor configured to determine a selected DC power level for generation to at least one DC receptacle and to generate a signal to configure generating the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle; and

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to receive the signal from the processor and, in response, to dynamically convert the DC power from the regulator DC power level to the selected DC power level and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not selected from an initially preset conversion level.