Serial channel emulator

• US 20080319732A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Inventors: Farnsworth, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US11/821,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319732A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

A serial channel emulator adapted to react and respond to an electronic device in such a way that the electronic device will allow a third party power adapter containing the serial channel emulator to power the electronic device is presented. The serial channel emulator utilizes a processing unit to emulate a serial channel in the third party power adapter by receiving data from the electronic device, making decisions based upon the data, and delivering an appropriate response to the electronic device in order to allow the third party power adapter to be used instead of a proprietary device. Once the electronic device has established communication with the power adapter and received the appropriate response, the electronic device would allow the third party power adapter to power and/or charge the electronic device based on responses from the serial channel emulator disposed in the third party power adapter.

Claims

1. A serial channel emulator adapted to cooperate with a portable electronic device requiring power to operate, comprising:

a third party power adapter adapted to provide power to the portable electronic device, the third party power adapter not being authorized for use with the device by the device supplier;

a processing unit adapted, in response to a query from the electronic device, to emulate a serial channel and provide response data to the electronic device so to allow the third party power adapter to supply power to the electronic device; and

a storage device adapted to store the response data for retrieval by the processing unit.

2. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the device has a processor adapted to communicate with an authorized electronic device, wherein the processing unit is not an authorized electronic device.

3. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a microcontroller.

4. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a discrete semiconductor device.

5. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

6. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

7. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is a general purpose processing platform.

8. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a laptop.

9. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

10. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

11. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a smartphone.

12. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a portable music player.

13. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a portable video player.

14. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a gaming system.

15. The serial channel emulator of claim 1, wherein the power adapter is programmable.

16. A method of emulating a serial channel in a power adapter, comprising:

supplying power to a portable electronic device with a third party power adapter not authorized for use with the device by the device supplier;

receiving an authentication request from the electronic device;

determining what information is requested in the authentication request;

retrieving the information requested in the authentication request;

arranging the information requested into a response with an appropriate format for transmission to the electronic device; and

transmitting the response to the electronic device so to allow power to be supplied to the electronic device by the third party power adapter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information requested is that required to initialize communication.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the information requested is a serial number.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the information requested is specific stored data bytes.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the information is arranged into Recommended Standard-232 (RS-232) format.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the information is arranged into Universal Serial Bus (USB) format.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the information requested is confirmation of received data.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the information requested is the programmable power adapter state.