Smart Powering and Pairing System and Related Method

• US 20110181111A1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hulvey, Robert, Walley, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,178,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

According to one disclosed embodiment, a smart powering and pairing system includes a power conversion unit (PCU) having a communication module, a power management module and a pairing module. The PCU can convert mains power into a form that can be used to power a plurality of electronic devices. In one embodiment, the PCU can transparently pair a connected electronic device to a group of subsequently connected electronic devices by accepting pairing information from the connected electronic device and using it to pair the subsequently connected devices. In another embodiment, the PCU can transparently pair a group of connected electronic devices by applying generated security data to all the connected devices. In another embodiment, a power conversion unit can use security data to un-pair connected electronic devices.

Claims

1. A smart powering and pairing system comprising:

a power conversion unit (PCU) configured to power a plurality of electronic devices;

the PCU being further configured to communicate with and pair at least two of the plurality of electronic devices.

2. The smart powering and pairing system of claim 1, wherein the PCU is configured to receive a power management parameter from at least one of the plurality of electronic devices, the power management parameter being used to regulate an output power characteristic of a power provided to the at least one of the plurality of electronic devices.

3. The smart powering and pairing system of claim 1, wherein the PCU is further configured to pair the at least two of the plurality of electronic devices so that they communicate through the PCU using a secure communication protocol.

4. The smart powering and pairing system of claim 1, wherein the PCU is configured to receive a pairing information from one of the at least two of the plurality of electronic devices.

5. The smart powering and pairing system of claim 4, wherein the PCU is configured to retain the pairing information for a period of time.

6. The smart powering and pairing system of claim 4, wherein the PCU is configured to retain the pairing information until an event occurs.

7. The smart powering and pairing system of claim 4, wherein the pairing information comprises an identity description.

8. The smart powering and pairing system of claim 4, wherein the pairing information comprises a security data.

9. A power conversion unit (PCU) for use in a smart powering and pairing system, the PCU comprising:

a communication module;

a power management module (PMM);

a pairing module;

the communication module and the PMM being configured to communicate with and power a plurality of electronic devices;

the communication module and the pairing module being configured to communicate with and pair at least two of the plurality of electronic devices.

10. The PCU of claim 9, wherein the PMM is configured to power at least one of the plurality of electronic devices using a wired power conduit.

11. The PCU of claim 9, wherein the PMM is configured to power at least one of the plurality of electronic devices using a wireless power conduit.

12. The PCU of claim 9, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices over a communication channel formed over a power conduit.

13. The PCU of claim 9, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with at least one of the plurality of electronic devices over a wireless communication channel formed separate from a power conduit.

14. The PCU of claim 9, wherein the pairing module includes a physical authentication device used to enable the pairing module.

15. The PCU of claim 14, wherein the physical authentication device is a fingerprint reader.

16. The PCU of claim 14, wherein the physical authentication device is an electronic key fob detector.

17. A method for use by a power conversion unit (PCU) for pairing a first electronic device with a second electronic device, the PCU having a controller configured to perform the method comprising:

detecting a power connection between the first electronic device and the PCU;

establishing a first communication link between the first electronic device and the PCU;

receiving pairing information from the first electronic device by the PCU;

establishing a second communication link between the second electronic device and the PCU;

using the pairing information to pair the second electronic device to the first electronic device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pairing information comprises an identity description, the PCU being configured to use the identity description to distinguish the second electronic device from a plurality of other electronic devices.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the pairing information comprises a security data, the PCU being configured to use the security data to pair the second electronic device to the first electronic device.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving an instruction to un-pair the first and second electronic devices from one another;

un-pairing the first electronic device and the second electronic device.