TIME-DOMAIN MULTIPLEXING OF POWER AND DATA

• US 20120280563A1
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Eric, Hinch, Bryan R., So, Tommee
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may allow an electronic device to control a power adapter. One example may provide an electronic system where an electronic device may control a power adapter through a communication channel. Data transferred in the communication channel may include the temperature of the power adapter, the charging capability of the adapter, and other types of data. In one example, power and data may share the same two wires, and the power and data may be time-division multiplexed. That is, the two wires may convey power and data at different times. Another example may include circuitry to detect a connection between the electronic device and the power adapter. Once a connection is detected, power may be transferred from the power adapter to the electronic device. This power transfer may be interrupted on occasion to transfer data between the power adapter to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A power adapter comprising:

power conversion circuitry to receive AC power and provide DC power;

detect circuitry for detecting a connection of an electronic device to a first wire and a second wire;

power circuitry to provide the DC power over the first wire and ground over the second wire; and

communication circuitry to receive first signals from the electronic device over the first and second wire and to provide second signals to the electronic device over the first and second wire.

2. The power adapter of claim 1 wherein the first signals comprise instructions to provide data.

3. The power adapter of claim 2 wherein the second signals comprise temperature data.

4. An electronic device comprising:

detect circuitry for detecting a connection of a power adapter to a first wire and a second wire;

power receiving circuitry to receive DC power over the first wire and ground over the second wire from the power adapter;

charging circuitry to charge a battery using the received DC power; and

communication circuitry to provide first signals to the power adapter over the first and second wire and to receive second signals from the power adapter over the first and second wire.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 wherein the first signals comprise instructions to provide data.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 wherein the second signals comprise temperature data.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 wherein the first signals comprise an advanced warning that a battery is about to be charged.

8. The electronic device of claim 7 wherein the battery is a fuel-cell battery.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 wherein the electronic device is a fuel-cell system.

10. The electronic device of claim 4 further comprising a first circuit used by the power adapter to determine a connection to the electronic device and to provide information regarding the electronic device.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein first circuit comprises a resistor.

12. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein first circuit comprises a first resistor in parallel with a series combination of a diode and a second resistor.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 wherein first circuit comprises a first resistor in parallel with a diode.

14. An electronic system comprising a power adapter and an electronic device connected together using a cable having conductors consisting of a power conductor and a ground conductor,

wherein the power adapter is configured to detect that the electronic device is connected to the power conductor and the ground conductor, and the electronic device is configured to detect that the power adapter is connected to the power conductor and the ground conductor,

the power adapter is configured to provide power to the electronic device using the power conductor and the ground conductor, and the electronic device is configured to receive power from the power adapter using the power conductor and the ground conductor;

and

the electronic device is configured to provide first signals to the power adapter using the power conductor and the ground conductor, and the power adapter is configured to provide second signals to the electronic device using the power conductor and the ground conductor.

15. The electronic system of claim 14 wherein the first signals comprise instructions to provide data.

16. The electronic system of claim 15 wherein the second signals comprise temperature data.

17. A power adapter and cable apparatus comprising:

a power adapter comprising;

power conversion circuitry to receive AC power and provide DC power;

power circuitry to provide the DC power over the first wire and ground over the second wire; and

communication circuitry to provide signals over the first and second wire;

a cable comprising;

the first wire; and

the second wire; and

a plug comprising;

a light-emitting diode; and

circuitry to receive the signals over the first wire and the second wire and to provide at least a part of a current path for the light-emitting diode.

18. The power adapter and cable apparatus of claim 17 wherein the signals comprise instructions to turn on the light-emitting diode.

19. A power adapter comprising a connection detection circuit, the connection detection circuit comprising:

a first voltage supply;

a first resistor coupled between the first voltage supply and a first conductor in a cable;

a series circuit comprising a switch and a second resistor coupled between the first voltage supply and the first conductor in the cable; and

a voltage detect circuit coupled to the first conductor in the cable.

20. The power adapter of claim 19 wherein the first voltage supply comprises a low-dropout regulator.

21. The power adapter of claim 19 wherein the switch c a field-effect transistor.

22. The power adapter of claim 19 wherein when the switch is in a first state and the voltage detect circuit detects a first voltage in a first range, the switch is placed in a second state and a second voltage is detected.

23. The power adapter of claim 22 wherein a difference between the first detected voltage and the second detected voltage is used to determine a type of electronic device that the cable is connected to.

24. An adapter comprising:

a first connector receptacle to receive a first connector insert having a first form factor;

a second connector insert having a second form factor to be inserted in a second connector receptacle;

a first resistor coupled between the first connector receptacle and the second connector insert;

a switch coupled in parallel with the first resistor; and

control circuitry to close the switch when a voltage above a first threshold is received at the first connector receptacle.

25. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the first connector insert is coupled to a cable and the second connector receptacle is housed in an electronic device.

26. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the switch comprises a field-effect transistor and the control circuitry comprises a second resistor between a source and a gate of the field-effect transistor.

27. The adapter of claim 26 wherein the control circuitry further comprises a series combination of a resistor and a diode between the gate of the field-effect transistor and ground.