Powering An Electrical Device Through a Legacy Adapter Capable of Digital Communication

• US 20090177906A1
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Green Plug, Inc.
• Inventors: Yassaie, Hossein, Paniagua, Frank JR., Mody, Parag
• Granted Patent: US 8,296,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• 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

Abstract

A legacy adapter for use with devices to be powered by a power adapter is described. The legacy adapter includes a multi-purpose power connector configured to couple to a power adapter external to the electrical device, a connector configured to connect the electrical device, and a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with the power adapter. The microprocessor communicates power requirements of the electrical device to the power adapter through the multi-purpose power connector. A related method of receiving power from a power adapter external to an electrical device through a legacy adapter is also described.

Claims

1. A legacy adapter for use with an electrical device comprising:

a multi-purpose power connector configured to couple to a power adapter external to the electrical device;

a connector configured to connect the electrical device; and

a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with the power adapter, wherein

the microprocessor communicates power requirements of the electrical device to the power adapter through the multi-purpose power connector.

2. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the power requirements include one or more of:

voltage, current, and wattage parameters.

3. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the power requirements include at least a voltage requirement and a current requirement.

4. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the electrical device includes a rechargeable battery and the microprocessor communicates one or more of the following:

device identification information, power requirements, proprietary information, battery identification information, and battery condition information.

5. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the electrical device includes a rechargeable battery and the microprocessor communicates battery identification information and battery condition information.

6. The legacy adapter of claim 5, wherein the battery condition information includes one or more of:

number of times the battery has been charged, amount of time the battery has held a charge, length of time since last charge, and temperature of the battery.

7. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is a portable device.

8. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is a microcontroller.

9. The legacy adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory in communication with the microprocessor for storing power requirements of the device, wherein the microprocessor is configured to communicate digitally with the power adapter the power requirements stored in the memory.

10. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to digitally communicate proprietary information of the electrical device to the power adapter.

11. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein communicating digitally includes communicating in accordance with a packet layer protocol.

12. The legacy adapter of claim 11, wherein the packet layer protocol includes at least four message types.

13. The legacy adapter of claim 12, wherein the messages types include three flow control message types and a power statement message type.

14. The legacy adapter of claim 11, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a checksum to detect errors.

15. The legacy adapter of claim 11, wherein the packet layer protocol includes a payload segment.

16. The legacy adapter of claim 15, wherein the payload segment is encrypted.

17. The legacy adapter of claim 15, wherein the payload segment includes proprietary information.

18. The legacy adapter of claim 11, wherein the packet layer protocol is encapsulated by a Universal Serial Bus protocol.

19. The legacy adapter of claim 1, wherein the legacy adapter is external to the electrical device.

20. A method of receiving power from a power adapter external to an electrical device through a legacy adapter, comprising:

receiving an initial predefined voltage to facilitate communication between the external power adapter and the legacy adapter;

digitally communicating power requirements of the electrical device to the power adapter through a power plug receptacle in the legacy adapter;

receiving power supplied by the power adapter based on the power requirements of the electrical device; and

providing the received power to the electrical device.