Multiple output power supply that configures itself to multiple loads

• US 20070030716A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mihai-Costin Manolescu
• Original Assignee: Mihai-Costin Manolescu
• Inventors: Manolescu, Mihai-Costin
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/84
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33515 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33561 having more than one ouput with independent control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/217 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

A two stage multiple output power supply device is capable of outputting programmable DC voltages onto multiple outputs. The first stage receives an AC supply voltage and outputs a DC supply voltage. The second stage includes a DC-ID controller and multiple DC-to-DC converters, each DC-to-DC converter receiving the DC supply voltage and capable of outputting a programmable DC voltage onto a conductor of a power cord to power an electrical device. For each DC-to-DC converter, the DC-ID controller receives information in an AC signal on the conductor, the information indicating the voltage and current requirements and the polarity of an electrical device connected to the power cord for that DC-to-DC converter. In response to the information, the DC-ID controller controls the DC-to-DC converter to set a magnitude, a polarity and a current limit for the programmable DC voltage that will be output by the DC-to-DC converter.

Claims

1. A power supply comprising:

a first stage that receives an AC supply voltage and that outputs a DC supply voltage; and

a second stage comprising;

a first DC-to-DC converter that receives the DC supply voltage and that is capable of outputting a first programmable DC voltage onto a first conductor;

a second DC-to-DC converter that receives the DC supply voltage and that is capable of outputting a second programmable DC voltage onto a second conductor; and

a DC-ID controller that is AC coupled to the first conductor, wherein the DC-ID controller receives first information from the first conductor and in response controls the first DC-to-DC converter such that the first programmable DC voltage has a first magnitude that is dependent upon the first information received from the first conductor, and wherein the DC-ID controller is AC coupled to the second conductor, wherein the DC-ID controller receives second information from the second conductor and in response controls the second DC-to-DC converter such that the second programmable DC voltage has a second magnitude that is dependent upon the second information received from the second conductor.

2. The power supply of claim 1,

wherein the first programmable DC voltage is a voltage present between the first conductor and a first ground conductor, wherein the first conductor and the first ground conductor are conductors of a first DC power connector, wherein the first information is first digital information carried in a first AC signal present on the first conductor, wherein the first AC signal is present on the first conductor when there is substantially no DC voltage between the first conductor and the first ground conductor, and wherein the DC-ID controller in response to receiving the first information controls the first DC-to-DC converter such that the first programmable DC voltage has the first magnitude, and

wherein the second programmable DC voltage is a voltage present between the second conductor and a second ground conductor, wherein the second conductor and the second ground conductor are conductors of a second DC power connector, wherein the second information is second digital information carried in a second AC signal present on the second conductor, wherein the second AC signal is present on the second conductor when there is substantially no DC voltage between the second conductor and the second ground conductor, and wherein the DC-ID controller in response to receiving the second information controls the second DC-to-DC converter such that the second programmable DC voltage has the second magnitude.

3. The power supply of claim 2, wherein the DC-ID controller is capable of receiving third digital information carried in a third AC signal, the third AC signal being present on the first conductor when the first programmable DC voltage of the first magnitude is present on the first conductor, wherein the third digital information is status information about a first electrical device, the first electrical device being a device that is powered by the power supply through the first DC power connector, wherein the status information is taken from the group consisting of:

temperature information, fault condition information, humidity information, watchdog timer information, fan condition information, on/off information.

4. The power supply of claim 2, wherein the first AC signal is a first pulse train of spike-shaped pulses, and wherein the second AC signal is a second pulse train of spike-shaped pulses.

5. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the first information is received across a first power cord and into the DC-ID controller, the first power cord having no more than two conductors, and wherein the second information is received across a second power cord and into the DC-ID controller, the second power cord having no more than two conductors.

6. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the DC-ID controller can control the first DC-to-DC converter such that the first magnitude is a negative value, and wherein the DC-ID controller can control the second DC-to-DC converter such that the second magnitude is a negative value.

7. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the DC-ID controller receives third digital information carried in the first AC signal, wherein the third digital information is status information about a first electrical device, the first electrical device being a device that is connected to the first conductor, wherein the status information is taken from the group consisting of:

temperature information, fault condition information, humidity information, watchdog timer information, fan condition information, on/off information.

8. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the DC-ID controller recieves third digital information carried in a third AC signal, wherein the third AC signal is present on the first conductor at a time when the first programmable DC voltage of the first magnitude is not present on the first conductor, wherein the third digital information is status information about a first electrical device, the first electrical device being a device that is connected to the first conductor, wherein the status information is taken from the group consisting of:

temperature information, fault condition information, humidity information, watchdog timer information, fan condition information, on/off information.

9. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the DC-ID controller maintains information about a maximum power output capability of the first stage, wherein the DC-ID controller maintains information about a maximum power output setting of the first DC-to-DC converter, wherein the DC-ID controller maintains information about a maximum power output setting of the second DC-to-DC converter, and wherein the DC-ID controller controls the first and second DC-to-DC converters such that the maximum power output capability of the first stage is not exceeded.

10. A method comprising:

(a) receiving a first AC signal onto a first contact of a first DC power connector, the first DC power connector being a part of a power supply, the first DC power connector also having a second contact, wherein there is substantially no DC voltage between the first and second contacts during the receiving of (a), wherein the first AC signal carries first information;

(b) the power supply using the first information to output a first programmable DC voltage onto the first DC power connector;

(c) receiving a second AC signal onto a first contact of a second DC power connector, the second DC power connector being a part of the power supply, the second DC power connector also having a second contact, wherein there is substantially no DC voltage between the first and second contacts during the receiving of (c), wherein the second AC signal carries second information; and

(d) the power supply using the second information to output a second programmable DC voltage onto the second DC power connector.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the power supply uses the first information to determine a magnitude of the first programmable DC voltage, and wherein the power supply uses the second information to determine a magnitude of the second programmable DC voltage.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the power supply comprises a first stage, a first DC-to-DC converter, and a second DC-to-DC converter, the method further comprising:

(e) receiving an AC supply voltage onto the first stage of the power supply, the first stage outputting an intermediate DC voltage;

(f) using the first DC-to-DC converter to convert the intermediate DC voltage into the first programmable DC voltage; and

(g) using the second DC-to-DC converter to convert the intermediate DC voltage into the second programmable DC voltage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the power supply comprises a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller interprets the first information and controls the first DC-to-DC converter so that the first DC-to-DC converter outputs the first programmable DC voltage, wherein the microcontroller interprets the second information and controls the second DC-to-DC converter so that the second DC-to-DC converter outputs the second programmable DC voltage.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

(e) prior to (a) outputting a first energizing AC signal onto the first contact of the first DC power connector, wherein energy of the first energizing AC signal is used to generate the first AC signal received in (a); and

(f) prior to (c) outputting a second energizing AC signal onto the first contact of the second DC power connector, wherein energy of the second energizing AC signal is used to generate the second AC signal received in (c).

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

(e) receiving a third AC signal onto the first contact of the first DC power connector, the third AC signal being present on the first contact when the first programmable DC voltage is present on the first contact, the third AC signal carrying third information, wherein the third information is status information about a first electrical device, the first electrical device being a device that is powered by the power supply through the first DC power connector, wherein the status information is taken from the group consisting of;

temperature information, fault condition information, humidity information, watchdog timer information, fan condition information, on/off information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power supply comprises a visual indicator, the method further comprising:

(f) indicating the status information on the visual indicator of the power supply.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first DC power connector has no more than two contacts, and wherein the second DC power connector has no more than two contacts.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the power supply uses the first information to determine a polarity of the first programmable DC voltage, and wherein the power supply uses the second information to determine a polarity of the second programmable DC voltage.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the power supply uses the first information to determine a current limit of the first programmable DC voltage, and wherein the power supply uses the second information to determine a current limit of the second programmable DC voltage.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein a first electrical device is coupled to the power supply and as a result the first AC signal is transmitted from the first electrical device to the power supply, whereupon the power supply automatically outputs the first programmable DC voltage to the first electrical device.

21. A power supply comprising:

a first DC power connector, the first DC power connector having a first contact and a second contact;

a second DC power connector, the second DC power connector having a first contact and a second contact; and

means for receiving a first AC signal onto the first DC power connector when there is substantially no DC voltage between the first and second contacts of the first DC power connector, the means also being for outputting a first DC voltage onto the first DC power connector, wherein a magnitude of the first DC voltage depends upon first information carried in the first AC signal, the means also being for receiving a second AC signal onto the second DC power connector when there is substantially no DC voltage between the first and second contacts of the second DC power connector, the means also being for outputting a second DC voltage onto the second DC power connector, wherein a magnitude of the second DC voltage depends upon second information carried in the second AC signal.

22. The power supply of claim 21, wherein the means comprises a microcontroller integrated circuit, a first DC-to-DC converter and a second DC-to-DC converter, wherein the microcontroller integrated circuit is AC coupled to the first DC power connector and is AC coupled to the second DC power connector, the microcontroller integrated circuit controlling the first DC-to-DC converter and also controlling the second DC-to-DC converter.

23. The power supply of claim 21, wherein the means is also for receiving a third AC signal onto the first DC power connector, the third AC signal carrying status information about an electrical device coupled to the power supply, wherein the status information is taken from the group consisting of:

temperature information, fault condition information, humidity information, watchdog timer information, fan condition information, on/off information.

24. The power supply of claim 21, wherein the means is also for outputting a first energizing AC signal onto the first DC power connector, wherein energy of the first energizing AC signal is used to generate the first AC signal, and wherein the means is also for outputting a second energizing AC signal onto the second DC power connector, wherein energy of the second energizing AC signal is used to generate the second AC signal.