System and method for power application to an information handling system

• US 20060220465A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Tonry, Richard M., Hijazi, Mohammed K., Desbois, Patrick, Kingsmore, Terry A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,378,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/30 Charge provided using DC bus or data bus of a computer
• 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

Abstract

An information handling system AC-to-DC adapter provides a low DC power output on initial application of an AC power input. The low DC power output supports communication between the adapter and the information handling system of adapter identification information. The information handling system confirms a proper connection with the adapter and sends an authorization to the adapter to output a high DC power output. The adapter monitors the connection with the information handling system to disable the high DC power output if not needed, such as if the information handling system is disconnected from the adapter or reaches a fully charged battery state.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

plural processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;

a power supply disposed in the housing and interfaced with the processing components, the power supply operable to provide DC power to the processing components; and

a power enablement module associated with the power supply and operable to detect a first DC power current input from a power adapter, the power enablement module further operable to authorize a second DC power current from the power adapter;

wherein the first DC power current is a relatively low output from the adapter and the second DC power current is a substantially full output from the adapter.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the power enablement module authorizes the second DC power current by sending signals pulsed through a ground wire of the power adapter.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless module, the power enablement authorizing the second DC power current by sending signals to the power adapter through the wireless module.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source identification module interfaced with the power enablement module, the power source identification module operable to communicate with the power adapter upon application of the first DC power current to identify the type of power adapter;

wherein the power enablement module restricts the power adapter to the first DC power current until the power source identification module identifies the type of power adapter.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power adapter external to the housing and operable to convert AC power to DC power for use by an information handling system;

a power communication module associated with the power adapter and operable to communicate with the information handling system;

a first power output module operable to output the first DC power current upon application of AC power to the power adapter;

a second power output module operable to output the second DC power current upon communication of authorization for the second DC power current from the information handling system through the power communication module.

6. The information handling system of claim 5 wherein the power communication module periodically polls the information handling system for a predetermined power down condition, the communication module commanding the first DC power current instead of the second DC power current if the predetermined condition exists.

7. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the predetermined condition comprises disconnection of the power adapter from the information handling system.

8. The information handling system of claim 6 wherein the predetermined condition comprises a fully battery charge of the information handling system.

9. A method for supplying power to an electronic system, the method comprising:

accepting AC power at a power adapter;

converting the AC power to a first DC power;

providing the first DC power to the electronic system;

receiving authorization for a second DC power from the electronic system; and

providing the second DC power to the electronic system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first DC power comprises a substantially low power and the second DC power comprises substantially full power.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

requesting identification information by the electronic system from the power adapter;

sending the identification information using the first DC power;

processing the identification information at the electronic system to authorize the second DC power; and

sending from the electronic system the authorization for the second DC power.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

periodically polling by the power adapter for a predetermined power down condition; and

reverting to the first DC power if the predetermined power down condition is detected.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined condition comprises disconnection of the electronic device from the power adapter.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined condition comprises a fully battery charge indication from the electronic system.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic system comprises a portable information handling system.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving authorization further comprises communicating authorization with signal pulses sent across a ground wire connecting between the electronic system and the power adapter.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein receiving authorization further comprises communicating authorization with wireless signals sent between the electronic system and the power adapter.

18. An AC-to-DC power adapter comprising:

an AC power plug operable to receive AC power from an AC power source;

a transformer operable to convert AC power to DC power;

a DC power plug operable to provide DC power to an electronic device;

a low power output module interfaced with the transformer and operable to output a low DC power from the transformer at the DC power plug;

a high power output module interfaced with the transformer and operable to output a high DC power from the transformer to the DC power plug; and

a power communication module interfaced with the low power output module and the high power output module, the power communication module operable to communicate with the electronic device using the low DC power and to restrict output of high DC power by the high power output module until the electronic device sends authorization for high DC power.

19. The AC-to-DC power adapter of claim 18 wherein the electronic device is a portable information handling system.

20. The AC-to-DC power adapter of claim 19 wherein the power communication module is further operable to detect disconnection of the information handling system from the DC power plug and to restrict output of high DC power by the high power output module if disconnection is detected.