POWER CONVERTER WITH REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION WHEN TOGGLING BETWEEN SLEEP AND NORMAL MODES DURING DEVICE CHARGING
First Claim
1. A method of operating an electronic device that receives power from a power converter that operates in a sleep mode and an active mode, comprising:
- while the power converter is connected to the electronic device, periodically using circuitry in the electronic device to switch the power converter between the sleep mode and the active mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices may have batteries that power internal circuitry. A power converter may connect to an input-output port in an electronic device to deliver power to the electronic device. Battery charging circuitry in the electronic device may be used to charge the battery in an electronic device while power is delivered from the power converter. The power converter may have load detection circuitry. When an output load is present, the power converter operates in an active mode and delivers power to the electronic device. When the output load is not present, the power converter enters a low-power standby mode. The electronic device has switching circuitry that periodically either electrically couples or electrically isolates the input-output port from internal circuitry. When the input-output port is isolated, the power converter senses that no output load is present and enters the standby state to conserve power.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating an electronic device that receives power from a power converter that operates in a sleep mode and an active mode, comprising:
while the power converter is connected to the electronic device, periodically using circuitry in the electronic device to switch the power converter between the sleep mode and the active mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electronic device to which an alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) power converter is selectively coupled, comprising:
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a battery; a connector to which output lines in the power converter are electrically connected; and circuitry that is configured to; receive power from the battery while electrically isolating the connector from the battery while the power converter is connected to the connector; and receive power from the power converter through the output lines while electrically coupling the connector to the battery. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method of operating an electronic device that has a battery so that a power converter that is attached to the electronic device can periodically enter a low-power sleep state, comprising:
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while powering the electronic device from the battery, electrically isolating the attached power converter from the electronic device using switching circuitry in the electronic device so that the attached power converter senses an absence of output loading and enters the low-power sleep state; and when voltage on the battery falls below a given amount, electrically connecting the attached power converter to the electronic device using the switching circuitry so that the attached power converter senses that an output load is present and wakes from the low power sleep state to supply power to the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic device, comprising:
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an input; a battery producing a battery voltage; circuitry coupled to the battery; a switch circuit coupled to the input that is operable in an open state that electrically isolates the input from the circuitry and a closed state that electrically connects the input to the circuitry; and a voltage detector in the circuitry that senses the battery voltage, wherein the circuitry is configured to; open the switch circuit to electrically isolate the input whenever the voltage detector senses that the battery voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage; and close the switch circuit to electrically connect the input to the circuitry whenever the voltage detector senses that the battery voltage has fallen below a second threshold, wherein the second threshold voltage is lower than the first threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for operating a system that includes an electronic device with a connector and that includes a power converter that is sometimes connected to the connector and that is sometimes disconnected from the connector, the method comprising:
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whenever the power converter is disconnected from the connector, using load detection circuitry in the power converter to detect an absence of an output load in the power converter and, in response to detection of the absence of the output load, placing the power converter in a sleep mode; and whenever the power converter is connected to the electronic device periodically electrically isolating circuitry in the electronic device from the connector to which the power converter is connected while powering the circuitry with a battery. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification