Power adapter including peripheral unit capable of supplying power for computer and the peripheral unit

• US 20070067654A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Adachi, Masaharu
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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

Abstract

This patent specification describes a power adapter which includes a power unit including a converter to supply power to a computer and a peripheral unit configured to communicate with the computer and to be controlled by the computer. Further, the power adapter includes a multiplexing-demultiplexing circuit configured to multiplex and demultiplex a power signal with a data or control signal.

Claims

1. A power adapter, comprising:

a power unit including a converter to supply power to a computer; and

a peripheral unit configured to communicate with the computer and to be controlled by the computer.

2. The power adapter of claim 1, wherein the converter further supplies power to the peripheral unit.

3. The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a connector arranged at the power unit and configured to connect the converter to the peripheral unit.

4. The power adapter of claim 3, wherein the peripheral unit is detachably attached to the power unit with the connector.

5. The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a cable including a power line and a transmission line.

6. The power adapter of claim 5, wherein the cable is detachably attached to the power adapter.

7. The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a multiplexing-demultiplexing circuit configured to multiplex and demultiplex a power signal with a data signal or control signal.

8. The power adapter of claim 7, wherein the multiplexing-demultiplexing circuit multiplexes and demultiplexes the power signal to the computer with a first data signal to the computer or a second data signal to the peripheral unit controlled by the computer.

9. The power adapter of claim 7, wherein the multiplexing-demultiplexing circuit multiplexes and demultiplexes the power signal to the peripheral unit supplied from the computer with a first data signal to the computer or a second data signal to the peripheral unit controlled by the computer.

10. The power adapter of claim 1, further comprising:

a multiplexing circuit arranged in the power adapter and configured to multiplex a first power signal to the peripheral unit from the computer with a second power signal to the peripheral unit from the power unit.

11. A cable, comprising:

a power line configured to supply power from a power adapter to a computer; and

a transmission line integrated with the power line and configured for communication between the computer and a peripheral unit arranged at the power adapter.

12. The cable of claim 11, further comprising:

a first power pipe including the power line to supply the power to the computer from the power adapter; and

a data pipe including the transmission line to provide a medium for communication between the computer and the peripheral unit.

13. The cable of claim 12, further comprising:

a second power pipe including a second power line to supply power to the peripheral unit from the computer.

14. The cable of claim 12, wherein at least one of the pipes is detachable from the cable.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a computer;

a power adapter which includes

a power unit configured to supply power, and

a peripheral unit configured to communicate with the computer and to be controlled by the computer; and

a cable including a power line to supply power and a transmission line to transmit a data signal or control signal.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the power adapter further includes a multiplexing-demultiplexing circuit configured to multiplex and demultiplex the power with the data signal or control signal.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the multiplexing-demultiplexing circuit multiplexes and demultiplexes the power to the computer with the data signal or control signal to the peripheral unit from the computer.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the multiplexing-demultiplexing circuit multiplexes and demultiplexes the power to the peripheral unit supplied from the computer with a first data signal to the computer and a second data signal to the peripheral unit controlled by the computer.