METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL THROUGH AN OUTPUT CABLE OF A POWER SUPPLY

• US 20080180262A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: System General Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Ta-yung, Lin, Jenn-Yu G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,154,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A power supply system is introduced herein. The power supply system includes a power converter to supply a power source to an electronic circuit through an output cable of the power supply. A communication unit is coupled to the output cable of the power supply to develop a communication channel between the power converter and the electronic circuit in order to report the status of the power converter to the electronic circuit.

Claims

1. A power supply system, comprising:

an output cable;

a power converter, for supplying a power source to an electronic circuit through the output cable;

a communication unit, coupled to the output cable, for developing a communication channel between the power converter and the electronic circuit; and

an inductive device, coupled to the output cable, for providing impedance in between the power converter and the communication unit, wherein the communication unit transmits a communication data over the output cable in order to report the status of the power converter to the electronic circuit.

2. The power supply system as claimed in claim 1, in which the inductive device is a common mode choke.

3. The power supply system as claimed in claim 1, in which the communication data is modulated to a frequency-shift-key (FSK) signal coupled to the output cable of the power supply.

4. The power supply system as claimed in claim 3, in which the frequency-shift-key (FSK) signal is a current signal.

5. The power supply system as claimed in claim 3, in which the communication unit comprising:

an output data buffer, for generating an output data in response to the status of the power converter;

an oscillation circuit, for generating the FSK signal in response to the output data;

an output circuit, coupled to the output cable of the power supply, for outputting the FSK signal;

an input circuit, coupled to the output cable of the power supply, for receiving the FSK signal; and

a filtering circuit, coupled to the input circuit, for generating an input data in response to the FSK signal.

6. The power supply system as claimed in claim 1, in which the status of the power converter includes an input voltage, an output voltage and a temperature of the power converter.

7. A power supply comprising:

a power converter, for supplying a power source to an electronic circuit through an output cable of the power supply; and

a communication unit, coupled to the output cable of the power supply, for developing a communication channel between the power converter and the electronic circuit,

wherein the communication unit transmits communication data over the output cable in order to report the status of the power converter to the electronic circuit.

8. The power supply as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an inductive device, coupled to the output cable of the power supply, for separating the communication data from the power source.

9. The power supply as claimed in claim 8, in which the inductive device is a common mode choke.

10. The power supply system as claimed in claim 7, in which the communication data is modulated to a frequency-shift-key (FSK) signal coupled to the output cable of the power supply.

11. The power supply system as claimed in claim 10, in which the frequency-shift-key (FSK) signal is a current signal.

12. The power supply system as claimed in claim 7, in which the communication unit comprising:

an output data buffer, for generating an output data in response to the status of the power converter;

an oscillation circuit, for generating the FSK signal in response the output data;

an output circuit, coupled to the output cable of the power supply, for outputting the FSK signal;

an input circuit, coupled to the output cable of the power supply, for receiving the FSK signal; and

a filtering circuit, coupled to the input circuit, for generating an input data in response to the FSK signal.