METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISCOVERING A POWER SOURCE ON A PERIPHERAL BUS
First Claim
1. A power source comprising:
- a power line;
a ground line;
available power circuitry operatively coupled to the power line and the ground line, wherein the available power circuitry is configured to provide a first voltage on a first output and a second voltage on a second output, the first and second voltages indicating a level of power available from the power source; and
a connector including a power pin coupled to the power line, a ground pin coupled to the ground line, a first digital data pin coupled to the first output of the available power circuitry, and a second digital data pin coupled to the second output of the available power circuitry,wherein when the connector is coupled to a peripheral bus connector of an electronic device;
the power line is operable to provide power to a peripheral bus connector of an electronic device via the power pin, andthe first and second digital data pins are operable to provide the first and second voltages to respective digital data input pins of the peripheral bus connector of the electronic device.
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Abstract
Improved techniques to recognize a power source on a peripheral bus and/or determine power available from the power source via the peripheral bus are disclosed. Typically, the peripheral bus is supported by a cable connected between a host device and an electronic device. In this case, the host device is a power source (e.g., power adapter or battery pack) and the cable is used to provide power from the power source to the electronic device. Hence, by understanding the power available from the power source, the electronic device can manage its power utilization so as to operate in a stable and reliable manner. The electronic device is, for example, a portable computing device. Examples of portable computing devices include a Portable Digital Assistant (PDA) and a portable media player.
4 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A power source comprising:
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a power line; a ground line; available power circuitry operatively coupled to the power line and the ground line, wherein the available power circuitry is configured to provide a first voltage on a first output and a second voltage on a second output, the first and second voltages indicating a level of power available from the power source; and a connector including a power pin coupled to the power line, a ground pin coupled to the ground line, a first digital data pin coupled to the first output of the available power circuitry, and a second digital data pin coupled to the second output of the available power circuitry, wherein when the connector is coupled to a peripheral bus connector of an electronic device; the power line is operable to provide power to a peripheral bus connector of an electronic device via the power pin, and the first and second digital data pins are operable to provide the first and second voltages to respective digital data input pins of the peripheral bus connector of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of providing power to a peripheral bus connector of an electronic device from a first connector of a power source, the method comprising:
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providing power to the first connector of the power source using a power line and a ground line, wherein a power pin of the first connector is coupled to the power line and a ground pin of the first connector is connected to the ground line; determining, with available power circuitry, at least two indicator voltages based on voltages on the power line and the ground line, the indicator voltages indicating a level of power available from the power source; and providing respective indicator voltages from the available power circuitry to first and second digital data pins of the first connector; when the first connector is coupled with the peripheral bus connector of the electronic device, providing the respective indicator voltages from the first and second digital data pins of the first connector to respective digital data input pins of the peripheral bus connector of the electronic device, thereby providing a level of power available to the electronic device from the power source. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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an electronic device having a peripheral bus connector; a power source including; a power line; a ground line; available power circuitry operatively coupled to the power line and the ground line, wherein the available power circuitry is configured to provide a first voltage on a first output and a second voltage on a second output, the first and second voltages indicating a level of power available from the power source; and a connector including a power pin coupled to the power line, a ground pin coupled to the ground line, a first digital data pin coupled to the first output of the available power circuitry, and a second digital data pin coupled to the second output of the available power circuitry, wherein when the connector is coupled to a peripheral bus connector of an electronic device; the power line is operable to provide power to a peripheral bus connector of an electronic device via the power pin, and the first and second digital data pins are operable to provide the first and second voltages to respective digital data input pins of the peripheral bus connector of the electronic device; and a cable having a first connector that connects with the peripheral bus connector of the electronic device and a second connector that connects with the connector of the power source. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification