Power Adapter Having a Universal Serial Bus Hub

• US 20110239008A1
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Power Systems Technologies Company Limited (Flex, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Power Systems Technologies Company Limited (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hua, Fang, Lam, Kean W., Teltz, Richard W.
• Application Number:
  US13/070,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20110239008A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A power adaptor for a host device and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power adapter includes a power converter and a universal serial bus hub. The power adapter also includes an integrated power/universal serial bus connector, coupled to the power converter and the universal serial bus hub, configured to provide power to and universal serial bus communication with a host device.

Claims

1. A power adapter, comprising:

a power converter;

a universal serial bus (“

USB”

) hub; and

an integrated power/USB connector, coupled to said power converter and said USB hub, configured to provide power to and USB communication with a host device.

2. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein said host device comprises a personal computer or a wireless communication device.

3. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one USB connector on said power adapter.

4. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 further comprising an ac power connector configured to receive a power cable to provide power to said power converter from a source of electrical power.

5. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 further comprising a power/USB port configured to couple said power converter and said USB hub via a cable to said integrated power/USB connector.

6. The power adapter as recited in claim 5 wherein ones of leads of said cable provide power from said power converter to said host device via a power connector of said integrated power/USB connector, and ones of leads of said cable provide USB communication between said USB hub and said host device via a USB connector of said integrated power/USB connector.

7. The power adapter as recited in claim 6 wherein said power connector comprises a barrel end and a removable adapter tip configured to extend a reach of said power connector to said host device.

8. The power adapter as recited in claim 6 wherein said power connector comprises a barrel end and a key located on a side thereof and at least one USB contact located on a side of said key.

9. The power adapter as recited in claim 5 wherein said cable comprises an insulating sheath about a periphery thereof, a power lead and return ground lead, first and second shielded USB differential pair leads, an anti-static drain lead, a nonconductive filler and a ground lead.

10. The power adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein said power converter comprises a bridge rectifier, an active clamp forward power train and a controller.

11. A method, comprising:

providing power via a power converter;

providing universal serial bus (“

USB”

) communication with a USB hub; and

providing said power and said USB communication from said power converter and said USB hub, respectively, to a host device via an integrated power/USB connector.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said host device comprises a personal computer or a wireless communication device.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising receiving a USB-enabled device via a USB connector.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising providing power to said power converter from a source of electrical power.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising coupling said power converter and said USB hub via a cable to said integrated power/USB connector.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein ones of leads of said cable provide power from said power converter to said host device via a power connector of said integrated power/USB connector, and ones of leads of said cable provide USB communication between said USB hub and said host device via a USB connector of said integrated power/USB connector.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising extending a reach of said power connector to said host device with a removable adapter tip coupled to a barrel end of said power connector.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said power connector comprises a barrel end and a key located on a side thereof and at least one USB contact located on a side of said key.

19. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said cable comprises an insulating sheath about a periphery thereof, a power lead and return ground lead, first and second shielded USB differential pair leads, an anti-static drain lead, a nonconductive filler and a ground lead.

20. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said power converter comprises a bridge rectifier, an active clamp forward power train and a controller.