Power Supply Capable of Receiving Digital Communications from Electronic Devices

• US 20090259867A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank Paniagua, Jr., Patrick Edward Weston
• Original Assignee: Frank Paniagua, Jr., Patrick Edward Weston
• Inventors: Weston, Patrick Edward, Paniagua, Frank JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A power supply capable of receiving digital communications from an electrical device is described. The power supply includes a microprocessor and instructions, configured for execution by the microprocessor, to receive a digital communication from a device to be powered by the power supply. A method of supplying power is also described. The method includes receiving a digital communication from a device and supplying power to the device based on the digital communication.

Claims

1. A power supply comprising:

an input port to receive power from a power source;

one or more regulators to convert the received power;

one or more output ports configured to supply converted power to one or more devices; and

a processor configured to communicate digitally with the one or more devices through respective output ports of the one or more output ports, to determine power requirements of the respective devices;

the power supply being configured to remain in an idle state with respect to a first device coupled to a first output port while passively waiting for a digital message from the first device specifying power requirements of the first device and to supply power to the first device in response to subsequent receipt of the digital message from the first device specifying power requirements of the first device.

2. The power supply of claim 1, the power supply being configurable to remain in the idle state with respect to the first device coupled to the first output port while in a non-idle state with respect to a second device coupled to a second output port.

3. The power supply of claim 2, wherein the second state corresponds to supply of power to the second device.

4. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the digital message includes power requirement parameters.

5. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the digital message includes an encoded statement of power requirements.

6. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the digital message includes an identifier of a predefined power profile.

7. The power supply of claim 6, wherein the predefined power profile includes power requirement parameters for the first device and is stored in the power supply.

8. The power supply according to claim 1, wherein the power received from the power source is DC.

9. A method for supplying power to one or more devices, comprising:

at a power supply comprising one or more output ports;

receiving power from a power source;

remaining in an idle state with respect to a first device coupled to a first output port while passively waiting for a digital message specifying power requirements of the first device;

receiving from the first device through the first output port the digital communication specifying power requirements of the first device;

converting the received power in accordance with the power requirements of the first device; and

supplying the converted power to the first device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising,

supplying power to a second device coupled to a second output port while the power supply remains in the idle state with respect to the first device.

11. A power supply comprising:

an input port to receive power from a power source;

a plurality of regulators to convert the received power, comprising first and second programmable regulators to separately provide converted power to a device in accordance with power requirements of the device;

an output port comprising a plurality of conductor lines to supply the converted power to the device; and

a microprocessor configured to communicate digitally with the device through the output port to determine the power requirements of the device.

12. The power supply of claim 11, wherein the first programmable regulator is configured to power the device and the second programmable regulator is configured to charge a battery disposed in the device.

13. The power supply of claim 11, wherein the first programmable regulator is configured to provide constant voltage and the second programmable regulator is configured to provide constant current.

14. The power supply of claim 11, further comprising circuitry to provide a predefined voltage to the device through the output port.

15. The power supply of claim 11, further comprising circuitry to provide power to a microprocessor in the device.

16. The power supply of claim 15, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide a predefined voltage to the microprocessor in the device.

17. The power supply of claim 15, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide the power to the microprocessor in the device via a predefined voltage line configured to be coupled to the microprocessor.

18. The power supply according to claim 11, wherein the power received from the power source is DC.

19. A method for supplying power to a device, comprising:

at a power supply;

receiving power at an input port from a power source;

converting the received power using a plurality of regulators including first and second programmable regulators, the first and second programmable regulators separately providing converted power to a device in accordance with power requirements of the device through an output port comprising a plurality of conductor lines; and

communicating digitally with the device through the output port to determine the power requirements of the device.