Universal Ethernet Power Adapter

• US 20100049994A1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kinetic Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kinetic Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Ghoshal, Sajol
• Application Number:
  US12/194,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements

Abstract

A power apparatus enables communication on a network. The power apparatus comprises a power adapter and a power injector coupled to the power adapter. An Ethernet output terminal is coupled to the power injector which enables power management and universal connection to the power adapter.

Claims

1. A power apparatus comprising:

a power adapter;

a power injector coupled to the power adapter; and

an Ethernet output terminal coupled to the power injector enabling power management and universal connection to the power adapter.

2. The power apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a universal jack that connects devices universally to the power adapter;

an Ethernet transformer coupling the power injector to the universal jack; and

a Power Line Communication (PLC) controller communicatively coupled between the Ethernet transformer and a line input terminal to the power adapter, the PLC controller controlling data communication on a conductor that also carries electric power transmission.

3. The power apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a universal serial bus (USB) interface that communicatively couples the power adapter to a device.

4. The power apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

the power adapter comprising a power transformer and a digital isolator that form an isolation boundary; and

a bidirectional communication pathway coupled across the isolation boundary.

the power transformer converting line alternating current (AC) voltage to at least one selected direct current (DC) voltage.

5. The power apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

the power adapter further comprising a power factor correction circuit that adjusts electric load characteristics to improve power factor toward unity.

6. The power apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a computer power supply comprising;

the power adapter;

a Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector coupled to the power adapter; and

an Ethernet jack coupled to the PoE injector enabling universal connection of computers to the power adapter.

7. The power supply according to claim 6 further comprising:

an Ethernet output terminal coupled to the Ethernet jack that connects computers universally to the power adapter;

an Ethernet transformer coupling the Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector to the Ethernet jack; and

a Power Line Communication (PLC) controller communicatively coupled between the Ethernet transformer and a line input terminal to the power adapter, the PLC controller controlling data communication on a conductor that also carries electric power transmission.

8. The power supply according to claim 6 further comprising:

the power adapter comprising a power transformer and a digital isolator that form an isolation boundary; and

a bidirectional communication pathway coupled across the isolation boundary,

the power transformer converting line alternating current (AC) voltage to at least one selected direct current (DC) voltage.

9. A method of forming a power apparatus comprising:

providing a power adapter;

coupling a power injector to the power adapter;

coupling an Ethernet transformer to the power injector;

managing power in the power adapter; and

providing universal connection to the power adapter.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

communicatively coupling a Power Line Communication (PLC) controller between the Ethernet transformer and a line input terminal to the power adapter;

controlling data communication on a conductor that also carries electric power transmission;

coupling a universal serial bus (USB) interface to the power adapter;

communicatively coupling the power adapter to a device via the USB interface;

incorporating a power factor correction (PFC) circuit in the power adapter; and

adjusting electric load characteristics to improve power factor toward unity via the PFC circuit.

11. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

forming an isolation boundary in the power adapter comprising a power transformer and a digital isolator; and

coupling a bidirectional communication pathway across the isolation boundary.

12. A power apparatus comprising:

a power adapter comprising;

a power transformer that transfers electrical energy across an isolation barrier from a primary to a secondary and passes a secondary output voltage; and

a link controller that encodes a data protocol onto the secondary output voltage.

13. The power apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising:

the link controller encoding adapter status and control information onto the secondary output voltage;

the data protocol selected from a group consisting of spread spectrum, frequency-shift key (FSK), phase-shift key (PSK), and baseband;

the secondary output voltage transmitted on a two-wire interface; and

the power adapter comprising an alternating current (AC)—

direct current (DC) adapter.

14. The power apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising:

a recipient device coupled to the power adapter to receive the secondary output voltage, the recipient device comprising a recipient link controller operative using a link data protocol corresponding to the data protocol for receiving and transmitting control/status information to the power adapter in bidirectional communicated encoded onto the secondary output voltage.

15. A method for monitoring a power apparatus comprising:

converting electrical energy to a selected voltage level;

transmitting power at the selected voltage level to a recipient device;

encoding data relating to the conversion of electrical energy and conversion control information into a link control protocol; and

combining the encoded data onto the transmitted power.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

transferring the electrical energy across an isolation barrier from a primary to a secondary;

passes a secondary output voltage to the secondary; and

encoding the link control protocol onto the secondary output voltage.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

receiving the secondary output voltage at a recipient device via a line coupled to a power adapter;

decoding the data relating to the conversion of electrical energy and conversion control information according to the link control protocol;

encoding data at the recipient device according to the link control protocol;

combining the encoded data onto the line coupled to the power adapter; and

transmitting control/status information to the power adapter in bidirectional communication encoded onto the secondary output voltage.

18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

encoding adapter status and control information onto the secondary output voltage;

selecting the link control protocol from a group consisting of spread spectrum, frequency-shift key (FSK), phase-shift key (PSK), and baseband; and

transmitting the secondary output voltage on a two-wire interface.

19. A power apparatus comprising:

a logic operative in a link controller in combination with a power transformer that transfers electrical energy across an isolation barrier from a primary to a secondary and passes a secondary output voltage, the logic operative to encode a data protocol onto the secondary output voltage.

20. The power apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising:

the power transformer operative to convert electrical energy to a selected voltage level and transmit power at the selected voltage level to a recipient device; and

the logic operative to encode data relating to the conversion of electrical energy and conversion control information into a link control protocol and combine the encoded data onto the transmitted power.

21. The power apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising:

the power transformer operative to transfer the electrical energy across an isolation barrier from a primary to a secondary and pass a secondary output voltage to the secondary; and

the logic operative to encode the link control protocol onto the secondary output voltage.

22. The power apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising:

the logic operative to encode adapter status and control information onto the secondary output voltage;

the link control protocol is selected from a group consisting of spread spectrum, frequency-shift key (FSK), phase-shift key (PSK), and baseband; and

the secondary output voltage is transmitted on a two-wire interface.

23. The power apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising:

a logic operative in the recipient device that receives the secondary output voltage via a line coupled to a power adapter and decodes the data relating to the conversion of electrical energy and conversion control information according to the link control protocol.

24. The power apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising:

the logic operative in the recipient device encoding data according to the link control protocol and combining the encoded data onto the line coupled to the power adapter.

25. The power apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising:

the logic operative in the recipient device transmitting control/status information to the power adapter in bidirectional communicated encoded onto the secondary output voltage.