Automatic Sensing Power Systems and Methods

• US 20070273208A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Plug, LLC
• Original Assignee: mPATHX, LLC
• Inventors: Miller, Brent, Spano, Steve, Menas, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/39
• 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

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:

receiving the AC power at an AC power level at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, at least one AC to DC regulator, a plurality of DC to DC regulators, each DC to DC regulator corresponding to one of the plurality of DC receptacles, and a processor;

conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

determining at the processor a selected DC power level for each of the plurality of DC receptacles and configuring each of the plurality of DC to DC regulators to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle; and

converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at each of the plurality of DC to DC regulators and generating the DC power at the selected DC power levels for the corresponding DC receptacles, each selected DC power level being independent of other selected DC power levels, and each selected DC power level not being selected from an initially preset conversion level.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving an externally generated communication at the processor, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one of the selected DC power levels; and

processing the communication to determine the at least one selected DC power level.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of communications at the processor, the communications each comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one of the selected DC power levels; and

processing the communications at the processor to determine the selected DC power levels.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a communication at each DC receptacle, each communication identifying the selected DC power level to be generated for the DC receptacle;

receiving each communication from each DC receptacle at the processor; and

processing each communication at the processor to determine the selected DC power level for the corresponding DC receptacle.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving, at each of a plurality of electrical devices, the DC power for at least one of the selected DC power levels from at least one corresponding DC receptacle.

14. The method of claim 13 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 recording device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a communication through at least one DC receptacle, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one first selected DC power level;

transmitting the communication for reception by the processor; and

processing the communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the first selected DC power level based on the configuration data and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises at least one modulator; and

the method further comprises;

receiving, at the at least one modulator, the communication from the at least one DC receptacle; and

transmitting the communication to the processor for processing.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving the communication through the at least one DC receptacle and from an electrical device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

generating data from the processor for reception by the at least one DC receptacle at the processor; and

transmitting the data from the at least one DC receptacle for reception by the electrical device.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein:

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

the method further comprises processing the communication with the first selected DC power level identification at the processor and, in response thereto, configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level.

20. The method of claim 15 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 line-cord power system comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the method further comprises processing the communication with the particular device identification at the processor and, in response thereto, searching the memory to determine the first selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

21. The method of claim 9 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.

22. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises a switch; and

the method further comprises;

generating an enable signal at the processor; and

receiving the AC power and the enable signal at the switch and, in response to the enable signal, enabling the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle.

23. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises a detector; and

the method further comprises;

connecting the at least one DC receptacle with a connector; and

detecting the connector connecting with the at least one DC receptacle at the detector.

24. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises a feedback loop, the feedback loop configured to feedback a first selected DC power level for at least one DC receptacle to the processor; and

the method further comprises processing the feedback and, in response thereto, configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to maintain the first selected DC power level.

25. The method of claim 9 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.

26. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises at least one switch, the at least one switch comprising at least one other member of another group consisting of a software switch and a hardwired switch; and

the method further comprises enabling and disabling at least one receptacle with the at least one switch, the at least one receptacle selected from a group consisting of the at least one AC receptacle and at least one DC receptacle.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises at least one indicator; and

the method further comprises indicating when the at least one receptacle is enabled and disabled with the at least one indicator.

28. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises at least one protection device comprising at least one member of a group consisting of a resettable switch and a fuse; and

the method further comprises terminating, at the at least one protection device, the flow of the 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.

29. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises a reset; and

the method further comprises resetting at least one configuration of at least one DC to DC regulator with the reset.

30. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises a receiving connector; and

the method further comprises;

receiving the AC power at a detachable device through another connector configured to removably connect to at least one member of a group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source, the detachable device comprising at least one other DC receptacle, at least one other AC to DC regulator, at least one other DC to DC regulator, and another processor;

converting the AC power to other DC power at the at least one other AC to DC regulator;

determining at least one second selected DC power level at the other processor and configuring the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level; and

converting the other DC power to the second selected DC power level at the at least one other DC to DC regulator and generating the other DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle.

31. A method for configuring power comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising a plurality of direct current (DC) receptacles, a communication system, at least one AC to DC regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a processor, the connector selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug;

converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

receiving a communication at the communication system, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

processing the communication at the processor, determining the selected DC power level based on the configuration data, and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level; and

converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating 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.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein:

the power system comprises at least one AC receptacle; and

the method further comprises conveying the AC power from the at least one AC receptacle at an AC power level.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein:

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

the method further comprises;

determining a particular selected DC power level for each DC to DC regulator at the processor and configuring each DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the particular DC power level; and

converting the DC power to the particular selected DC power level at each DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at each particular selected DC power level for each corresponding receptacle.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein:

the power system comprises a plurality of DC to DC regulators, one of which corresponds to the at least one DC receptacle; and

the method further comprises;

configuring the corresponding DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle at the processor; and

converting the DC power for the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle at the corresponding DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle.

35. The method of claim 31 further comprising receiving the communication from an electrical device.

36. The method of claim 31 further comprising receiving the DC power at the selected DC power level at an electrical device from the at least one DC receptacle.

37. The method of claim 36 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 recording device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

38. The method of claim 31 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 power system comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the method further comprises processing the communication with the particular device identification at the processor and, in response thereto, searching the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

39. The method of claim 31 further comprising receiving the communication through at least one member of another group consisting of a communication interface and the at least one DC receptacle.

40. The method of claim 31 further comprising receiving the communication in 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.

41. The method of claim 31 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.

42. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

generating a second communication from the power system for reception by a processing device, the 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.

43. The method of claim 31 wherein:

the power system comprises a receiving connector; and

the method further comprises;

receiving the AC power at a detachable device through another connector configured to removably connect to at least one member of a group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source, the detachable device comprising another communication system, at least one other DC receptacle, at least one other AC to DC regulator, at least one other DC to DC regulator, and another processor;

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

converting the AC power to other DC power at the at least one other AC to DC regulator;

determining the second selected DC power level based on the other configuration data at the other processor and configuring the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level; and

converting the other DC power to the second selected DC power level at the at least one other DC to DC regulator and generating the other DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle.

44. The method of claim 31 wherein:

the power system comprises a receiving connector; and

the method further comprises;

receiving the AC power at a detachable device through another connector configured to removably connect to at least one member of a group consisting of the receiving connector and a power source, the detachable device comprising at least one other DC receptacle, at least one other AC to DC regulator, at least one other DC to DC regulator, and another processor;

converting the AC power to other DC power at the at least one other AC to DC regulator;

determining at least one second selected DC power level at the other processor and configuring the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the other DC power to the second selected DC power level; and

converting the other DC power to the second selected DC power level at the at least one other DC to DC regulator and generating the other DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle.

45. A method for configuring power comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power through at least one connector of a power system, the power system comprising at least one direct current (DC) receptacle, a communication system, at least one AC to DC regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a processor, the connector selected from a group consisting of a line-cord and a plug;

converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

receiving a communication at the communication system, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

processing the communication at the processor, and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level; and

converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating 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.

46. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:

receiving the AC power at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, a communication system, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC receptacles;

conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

receiving a communication at the communication system through at least one member of a group consisting of a communication interface and at least one DC receptacle, the communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

processing the communication and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level and configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level; and

converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not initially preset.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising transmitting the communication received by the communication system from an electrical device.

48. The method of claim 46 further comprising receiving the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle at an electrical device.

49. The method of claim 48 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 recording device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

50. The method of claim 46 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 power system comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the method further comprises processing the communication with the particular device identification and, in response thereto, searching the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the configuration data comprises the selected DC power level.

52. The method of claim 46 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.

53. The method of claim 46 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.

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

55. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:

receiving the AC power at a line-cord power system, the line-cord power system comprising at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, a first DC receptacle, a second DC receptacle, at least one modulator, a first DC to DC regulator, a second DC to DC regulator and a processor;

converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

receiving a first signal at the first DC receptacle and receiving a second signal at the second DC receptacle, the first DC receptacle and the second DC receptacle each configured to convey the DC power;

configuring the at least one modulator 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 for processing;

processing the first signal at the processor to determine a first selected DC power level and configuring the first DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the first selected DC power level;

processing the second signal at the processor to determine a second selected DC power level and configuring the second DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the second selected DC power level;

converting the DC power to the first selected DC power level at the first DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the first selected DC power level for the first DC receptacle; and

converting the DC power to the second selected DC power level at the second DC to DC regulator and generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the second DC receptacle.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein:

the power system comprises a first modulator and a second modulator; and

the method further comprises;

receiving at the first modulator the first signal from the first DC receptacle and transmitting the first signal to the processor; and

receiving at the second modulator the second signal from the second DC receptacle and transmitting the second signal to the processor.

57. The method of claim 55 further comprising receiving at the at least one modulator a third signal from the processor and transmitting the third signal with at least one member of a group consisting of the first DC receptacle and the second DC receptacle.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein:

the line-cord power system comprises an AC receptacle and an optical relay; and

the method further comprises;

generating an enable signal at the processor;

receiving the AC power at the optical relay; and

receiving the enable signal from the processor at the optical relay and, in response to the enable signal, enabling the AC power for the AC receptacle.

59. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:

receiving the AC power at an AC power level at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC receptacle, at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, at least one modulator, at least one low current driver, at least one DC to DC regulator, at least one high current switch, a plurality of DC receptacles, and a processor;

conveying the AC power to the at least one AC receptacle;

converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

generating a first driver signal at the at least one low current driver, the first driver signal indicating that a first communication will be generated;

transmitting from the at least one modulator the first communication requesting configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

receiving a second communication with the configuration data at the modulator;

processing the second communication at the processor and, in response thereto, determining the selected DC power level, dynamically configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and generating an enable signal to enable the at least one high current switch to provide the DC power at the selected DC power level; and

dynamically converting the DC power to the selected DC power level at the at least one DC to DC regulator, providing the DC power at the selected DC power level to at least one DC receptacle upon receipt of the enable signal at the at least one high current switch, and generating the DC power at the selected DC power level for the DC receptacle.

60. A method for configuring power comprising:

receiving alternating current (AC) power at an AC power level at a line-cord power system comprising at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC receptacles;

converting the AC power to DC power at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

determining a selected DC power level for each of the plurality of DC receptacles and dynamically configuring the at least one DC to DC regulator to generate the DC power at each selected DC power level; and

dynamically converting the DC power to selected DC power levels at the at least one DC to DC regulator for corresponding DC receptacles and generating the DC power at each selected DC power level for 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.

61. A method for configuring alternating current (AC) power comprising:

receiving the AC power at an AC power level at a line-cord power device comprising at least one AC receptacle, at least one AC to direct current (DC) regulator, at least one DC to DC regulator, and a plurality of DC receptacles;

converting the AC power to DC power at a regulator DC power level at the at least one AC to DC regulator;

configuring each of the plurality of DC receptacles to output DC power at a power level independent of other DC receptacles;

determining a selected DC power level for generation to at least one DC receptacle and generating a signal to configure generating the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle; and

receiving the signal at the at least one DC to DC regulator and, in response, dynamically converting the DC power from the regulator DC power level to the selected DC power level and generating 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 level.